Blanton Bourbon

Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon ‘08 Release 2008

I bought this bottle a couple of years ago based on the way the bottle looked without knowing much about the bourbon itself. STOP!! Before you start in on me about buying something based on looks, be careful; we all have done it at one point or another. Maybe not with something as important as whiskey — you probably did it with something as trivial as a house or car, for God’s sake. Regardless, we’ve all done it; the difference is I’m not afraid to admit it. The good news is your chances of doing well based on appearances when buying whiskey are better than most things I can think of. The attraction was an unusual shape to the bottle; so I took a chance. Not only is the bottle an odd shape, it has a cool stopper that has a horse with a jockey on the top as well. Now that I have bored you to tears on the anatomy of this bottle and its very cool stopper and the lame reason why I decided to by it, I will lend a thought or two on whether or not it was a good decision.

This is a single-barrel whiskey, which only means that they didn’t mix it with any other barrels before the bottling. The distilleries would like you to think that the master distiller grades every barrel, and passes ones that he feels as great into the single-barrel category. I don’t want to get on a rant here, but I think the single-barrel thing is more of a marketing tool than it is about the quality of the bourbon or a statement of the whiskey’s expression itself. I could be wrong….. One thing I can say about single-barrel whiskey is every one is a bit different so don’t expect one to taste exactly like another. The good news is they normally list the barrel number on the bottle so if you do find a barrel that you particularly like, it’s easy to track another one down.

The first time I tried this whiskey I didn’t give it much thought, and I figured I just spent $45.00 on some nice shelf art. Normally blowing $45.00 on shelf art quite frankly would burn me up; but on the other hand, it looks much better than a lot of the cat stuff/cat paraphernalia the wench has adorned our walls, halls, and every other nook and cranny in our house with, so I didn’t feel that bad about buying it under the circumstances and quickly justified the purchase in my mind as a piece of art (yes, I consider Whiskey art), even if it did end up being bad. It wasn’t until the second time I picked it up that I realized that this was more than just a pretty bottle and very cool stopper — it was really good bourbon.

The nose on this bourbon is floral with strong vanilla/spice, with some beautiful oak-wood coming through, as well as some of the grain. There are times the nose on whiskey is quite different than what hits your tongue, but this bourbon doesn’t have any secrets. It is what it is; the taste is true to the nose. The mouth feel is a bit light, but very much what your nose passed on. It starts a bit warm and spicy, with the warm feel settling down very quickly, with the vanilla and wood immediately coming to the surface. The grain is a bit more subdued than what you first picked up when you breathed it in, but still rears its head to remind you it’s bourbon and nothing else. The finish is very nice, fairly long and spicy, with a residual vanilla end to it.

While this bourbon is a bit on the lighter side, it still has all the classic character of really good bourbon. This is a good starter bourbon for someone who is wanting to get into fine bourbon for the first time. I certainly recommend this whiskey for all it has in terms of flavor and style, with the added bonus of a very cool bottle and stopper.

Cheers !!
Mark

Distillery: Blanton Bourbon (Produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery)
From: Frankfort, Kentucky
Age: None Given
Proof: 93
Cost: $45.00-2 years ago
Purchased: Harvards In Aiken- Widely available

Talisker 30-Year-Old Scotch Whiskey

What: I have a fondness for Talisker whisky for a few reasons: it tastes great; it has a good balance of what scotch should be; it’s always a good value; and it’s one of the first premium scotch whiskies that I was introduced to. Talisker is one of those distilleries that day in and day out makes really good whisky but isn’t as recognized in the market place as a Highland Park or The Glenlivet, but in my opinion, makes whisky that is as good. I have said for years that the 18-year-old Talisker (review to come) is one of the best values out there.

Talisker is from the Isle of Skye and is the only single malt from the island. This is from an island, but it’s not considered an Islay malt which is synonymous with heavy peat (Islay is a different island). While it’s from a different island, that’s not to say it doesn’t come with its own significant arsenal of peat. It does; but in a more subtle way as opposed to Ardbeg or any of the other heavily peated malts from Islay (see Ardbeg Article). The 30-year-old is a very limited release; this review bottle is number 2778 of 2970 bottles released worldwide in ‘08. They don’t release the 30-year-old every year, so they are a bit hard to find. I wouldn’t normally write a review about a whisky that might not be available in the area, but I thought I would share this since it is a great whisky and a good value (that’s a relative term) for a 30-year-old.

This is a cask strength whisky that is a great balance of all that a good peated scotch should have with all the full rich flavors cask strength offers. The first thing you get on the nose with this whisky is a peat with a warm seashore aroma and a lingering soft, sweet edge. The flavors aren’t far from the nose. It is a bit warm to begin with, then a soft sweetness comes to the surface with a faint citrus note somewhere in the middle. The finish is warming, and the peat seems to have been tamed a bit after it hits the back of your tongue; and while it seems to go on forever, it reveals a bit of the ocean on the very end. This is not a smooth silky whisky; it is raw and carries an edge to it like cask strength should. I added a bit of water to it on the second glass, and it opened up a bit and softened the edges some. Since it is cask strength, you can add water and stretch the bottle a bit; but for me, I like it like it is. If you have read any of my other articles lately that review cask strength whiskies, you know I’m a fan of uncut spirits the more I try them.

At the end of the day, this is a no-nonsense classic Scotch whisky. It hasn’t been tampered with by cutting it with water or finishing it off in a sherry or some sort of wine cask that you find from a lot of distilleries today trying to make their scotch different. It’s Scotch through and through, and I like it for all the reasons that you should like something that speaks to the very roots of raw, unadulterated pure Scotch whisky — as it should be.

Cheers
Mark

Distillery: Talisker
From: Scotland
Age: 30 Years
Proof: 101
Cost: $300.00 +
Where to find: North Augusta wine & Spirits/Harvards in Aiken (You might not find it on the shelf but they can order it if it’s still available)

Laphroig ambassador Simon Brooking at the Single Malt Whisky Society of America’s Scotch Extravaganza

What: The Single Malt Whisky Society of America’s Scotch Extravaganza in Buckhead (Atlanta) was held on the 25th of March. The professor couldn’t make it this year, which is the first time in a long time that he couldn’t be there; the good news is that Chandler was available and willing to go. This is the first time that Chandler was able to attend, and I was anxious to see his response to this great event.

We got to Atlanta a bit early so we spent some time at Tower Liquors to recon what might make the ride home after the tasting. If you haven’t been to Tower Liquors in Atlanta (they have a dozen or more locations), the next time you are in the ATL area, make sure you stop by one. They have a great selection of everything you can imagine, and if one store doesn’t have what you’re looking for, there is probably one that does not too far away. After our recon of Tower, we made it back to the hotel to change for the evening. “Proper attire” (sport coat, no jeans) is required.

Chandler and Mark at the Single Malt Whisky Society of America's Tasting In March

We arrived at the event, and we were able to make the pre-event Q&A symposium of whiskey ambassadors from a few of the distilleries. This is the first year that they have had the symposium prior to the event, and it was worth sitting in on. Once the Symposium was over, we were escorted into the event (ahead of the other attendees), we were given our complimentary cigars and tasting glass, and it was off to the races. Once inside, it’s a bit overwhelming with all that’s available — you have to imagine a room that is probably 40 yards across in either direction with stations lined around the outer perimeter with different whiskies. There are somewhere between 95-100 distilleries in Scotland, and not all of them were represented, but I couldn’t in my mind tell you which ones weren’t. The real reason to go to this tasting is to try new expressions and taste whiskies that have been around a while, but maybe you’ve never had a chance to try them.

The Glenrothes had a few expressions, and I was impressed. This is a good example of a popular whiskey that I have never had an opportunity to try before. All of what they had to offer was above average and worth owning. I will have a review of one of these in the not-so-distant future.

We were thoroughly impressed with the Laphroig ambassador’s knowledge and insight and thoroughly enjoyed all his offerings. These are very peaty scotches that are as good as an Islay malt gets (even Ardbeg). They had a cask strength, a quarter cask, and a basic 10-year old. We tried them all, and the cask strength and the quarter cask were noteworthy and made our list of “must haves.”

The Dalmore had their new King Alexander III expression which was matured in 6 different types of casks. That was most excellent, and as soon as I can find a bottle, I will provide a review.

Highland Park was the one distillery that brought out their big guns: they had a 25- and a 30-year old to taste, and both were as good as whiskey gets in our opinion. These certainly aren’t new expressions, but it’s rare to get to drink 30-year old scotch without limitations and without footing a serious tab ($550.00 a bottle).

The Japanese (yes, they make whiskey) offering was on the fence for me. The 12-year old Suntory was good and would be a nice addition to a collection, but only if it was bought at a really good deal. The 18-year old was borderline bad whiskey in my opinion.

The Glenlivet was well-represented and had a nice bottle that I actually have, but haven’t had in a while, the Nadurra 16-year old cask strength. An excellent bottle and being cask strength makes it even better.

There were more offerings than I can possibly write about. Needless to say, it was a great night of tasting and enjoying fine Scotch Whiskey. Chandler was like a kid in a candy or toy store with unlimited funds and vowed to make it back next year. We never made it back to Tower liquors to bring something home, but we certainly made a list of what we needed to add to our collections. If you enjoy scotch and ever have a chance to attend one of these events, you won’t be disappointed.

Gold labeling on Old Forrester Birthday Bourbon

Old Forrester Birthday Bourbon, 2007 Release

What: Whenever I find myself in mixed company at social events, I always bring up spirits or wine as an ice breaker only because most other small talk and subjects at parties bore me to death (the whiskey wench will confirm I’m no social butterfly); and since most folks are drinking something at these functions, spirits are a safe subject — unlike politics, religion, gun control, or health care reform. Once the ice has been broken and people figure out I am a whiskey nut, folks often ask me, “what’s your favorite whiskey?” or “do you like Bourbon or Scotch better?” I used to respond that I was a Scotch drinker and whatever my last purchase was, that would be my answer to what my favorite was. If you ask me if I prefer Scotch or Bourbon now, the answer is a little different. I still love Scotch and think the Scots make fine whiskey, and I will always drink, collect, and enjoy it. My answer to the same question now is American Bourbon. I can’t tell you how many times in the last few years that I have opened a new bottle of Bourbon and found it as good or better than any fine scotch in the same price and age range. I love being able to tell folks about American Bourbon and what is it today, as opposed to what it was 15 years ago. I like the fact that Bourbon — like jazz, blues, rock and roll, BBQ, and grits — is uniquely American and should be embraced as such. So now I proudly wave the American Bourbon flag every chance I get.

Old Forrester Birthday Bourbon

This Bourbon, like its name suggests, comes out once a year, in the Spring. The Bourbon for this review is the ‘07 release. This whiskey is one of those “sleepers” as I like to call them. It’s widely available, hardly mentioned in trade rags or blogs, but a great find. If you do happen to read other blogs or reviews of this whiskey, it always gets high scores but seems to vary widely from year to year. I have had the ‘07 and ‘09 releases, and I can tell you the ‘07 is a better whiskey, but don’t think for a minute that the ‘09 is bad, it’s not. I don’t think you would go wrong with any release based on what I have read and tried.

This Bourbon is very rich on the nose with strong, creamy caramel notes, with little alcohol that comes across; it has a bit of spice on the end. The first taste of this whiskey seems to be the same flavors as what you took in on the nose, except backwards. The spiciness hits you first with a bit of warmth that wasn’t present on the nose. The creamy caramel that you took in at first comes in at the end. The finish is exactly what I like in Bourbon: long and lingering with a bit of warming dry spiciness on the end. This whiskey doesn’t seem to be as sweet as a lot of Bourbon, which is a nice change and a bit reminiscent of a rye. I like this Bourbon for a lot of reasons, but once again, it confirms that there are great American spirits out there for a reasonable price and readily available and that taste great.
I can easily recommend this whiskey for all the reasons that make sense. It tastes great; it’s reasonably priced for a small-batch Bourbon; and it’s widely available.
Age: Over 13 (they don’t give a specific age)
Proof: 94
Cost: $46.00 (a couple of years ago)
Purchased: Toast

Auchentoshan Three Wood

Auchentoshan 3 Wood

What: As long as I have been collecting and enjoying scotch whiskey, I still get a bit confused on the different regions (and sub regions) that Scotland is broken into that defines where a particular scotch comes from. While I agree that there are differences from region to region, I find the differences a bit more subtle than what the marketing folks and distillery ambassadors would like you to think.

There are two distilleries producing scotch in the Lowland region, Auchentoshan and Glen Kinchie. My experience with lowland scotch has been “not good” at best. The whisky that I have had from this region is typically light and fairly dry without much character. The Lowland region is mostly known for producing whiskey for other distilleries to use in blending, they do produce a number of expressions for public distribution. I have always thought a region that is known for producing whiskey that is light and lacks any real character doesn’t scream “go buy me.” So for years I have stayed away from these whiskies — until now.

The Professor and I were at the Single Malt Whiskey Society of America whiskey tasting in Atlanta last year, and we were making our rounds and came to the distributors that represented Auchentoshan. They asked if we would like to try their whiskey. I politely said, “no thank you” (you have to remember there are 100 whiskies to taste, and you have to carefully pick your tasting choices) and started to move on, when one of them asked if I had tried the Three Wood. I said no, and he told me it wasn’t like any other whiskey they had made and promised I would like it. Well, that wasn’t the first time I had heard that at a tasting (and certainly wouldn’t be the last). We gave it a shot and were glad we did; he certainly didn’t lie about it being different, and it certainly was not what you would expect from a Lowland whiskey. It was a complete surprise in a good way. We made a mental note and decided it would be a near-future purchase.

This whiskey is called Three Wood simply because it has been matured in three different types of casks: American Bourbon, Spanish Oloroso Sherry, and Pedro Ximenez, as well as being triple-distilled. As I have written before, I’m not into the light and space of whiskey making, but I think that these attributes are a good start in making an above-average whiskey. After searching high and wide in the CSRA, I finally found it and picked up a bottle for the Professor and me. It took me a week or so to open it and give it a fair shake, and it was as I remembered from the tasting.

The nose is a reflection of its name; the wood notes come across in a big way. The aroma of the sherry and bourbon are just the beginning of what you breathe in; spicy honey, with a bit of orange peel, comes across with the malt rearing its head at the end. The first taste of this hits you a bit thin. I thought I was being deceived by my nose. I let it sit for a while, and it opened up. Its true colors came through, with a spicy soft-mouth feel that gave up a lot of sherry notes, with intense stone fruit flavors, with the wood coming through to balance it out, it finished with a warm semi sweet note that wasn’t as long as I would like but still satisfying. I added a few drops of water (as I always do on a second taste), just to see if the water gives me more than what I got the first time around, it opened up a bit more and revealed a few more layers but seemed to thin out a bit. I prefer it without water, but I would recommend trying it both ways and make your own mind up. I didn’t have a cigar with this but it would certainly be a good whiskey to have one with, something mild and not to overbearing.

This whiskey is a good example of a distillery trying something new and it working. I would recommend this whiskey for a few reasons. It’s a bit unique with the three different wood casks; it’s very approachable and easy to drink; more importantly it tastes great!!!!!
Distillery: Auchentoshan
From: Lowland, Scotland
Age: None Given
Proof: 96
Cost: $63
Purchased: Purchased Park Avenue Liquors in Aiken
Comments: Most stores don’t have it but it can be ordered.

William Larue Weller

William Larue Weller

William Larue Weller is another of the 5 antique whiskies from Buffalo Trace. I haven’t had any of the “Big 5” (as I call them) in a while, so I thought I would get back in the saddle again with WLW. If you read the George Stagg article, you know I’m a fan of Buffalo Trace and almost all of their whiskies; WLW is no exception.

I was waiting for the right time to sample this whiskey for a review as I knew it was going to be a big, full-flavored bourbon. So last night after dinner, I spent some time on the deck by the fire trying to figure out this bourbon. This whiskey is BIG to say the least; it comes in at 125 proof, unfiltered and uncut. The more uncut (cask strength) whiskies I try, the more I’m starting to put them on my favorites list. I typically let big whiskies breathe for a while in the glass before drinking them, and this sat for about 5 minutes before trying it. The nose on this is big and full, with rich notes of honey and maple sugar with a bit of nutmeg and vanilla. When you first taste this whiskey, the flavors hit you in a big way. It coats your mouth with a maple-sugar, caramel-corn flavor, with a bit of vanilla on the back end; as soon as you think that’s all there is, it opens up and reveals a complexity that brings a warm, spicy, polished flavor that is rarely found in these types of bourbons. Most bourbon that is cask strength is typically straight-forward, with a single-dimension flavor — which is a good thing normally — but this one is certainly an exception to that rule. It goes down very smooth for a cask strength whiskey and has a long soft finish which lingers. I had a second glass with a few drops of water, and it made little difference, which surprised me because most big whiskies benefit from a few drops of water. This one doesn’t need a thing.

This whiskey for me is a “Top 10,” hands down. You don’t hear much about William Larue Weller because it’s hard to find and it’s a limited-production whiskey. This whiskey would be a compliment to any collection and certainly would become a favorite of anyone who loves great bourbon.

Distillery: Buffalo Trace
From: Frankfort, Kentucky
Proof: 125
Cost: $69
Purchased: Greene’s In Columbia is the only store in the area that has it.

A lot of people assume that if one whiskey is older than another that the older one is automatically going to be better. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a 20-year old whiskey that was far less interesting than some 12-year-olds I have had. Drinking whiskey that has been properly aged for a long time can be very rewarding. Older whiskeys have much more complex, full, rich flavors and a smoothness that comes only from sitting undisturbed in a barrel for a long time. If not done well, chances are you have spent a lot of money on a whiskey that you might not enjoy at all. If you’re going to take the plunge into super-premium spirits, I suggest reading more than a few reviews on that particular whiskey that’s going to be an “investment” before buying. Certainly everyone’s taste is different, but if two or three whiskey rags or independent reviews tell you that it’s really good or great, chances are it’s a safe bet to buy.

Parker’s Heritage 27 Year Old Bourbon.

This would be considered a super-premium whiskey. Its production is very limited (I have read only 6,500 bottles), aged for 27 years, very hard to find, personally selected by the distiller, and is priced accordingly. I have had this bottle for a while now and have had a few glasses from it, and I figure it’s time to dole out an opinion. The nose on this is BIG and very complex — and it should be at this age — with some toffee notes and a sweetness that crosses over to candied fruit with very rich wood aromas. I was worried that 27 years in a barrel would give it more wood than the bourbon could stand up to, but it didn’t. In spite of its age, it is completely balanced with the wood and sweetness from the grain. It hits you with a pleasant warming mouth feel with rich toffee and dark fruit notes that leave a long lingering finish that is sweet and a bit spicy, that keeps your mind working on deciphering all the complex flavors that it has. I would say that this bourbon would challenge most whiskey lovers regardless of how long you have been enjoying The Brown. I had the first one neat and the second with a few drops of water which opened it up.

Parker’s Heritage 27 is a great whiskey and is highly recommended to anyone who is looking for a special-occasion whiskey that is above and beyond most bourbon available. I can think of only a couple that come close. If your budget can stand it, I think it’s a good investment (as far as whiskey goes) and certainly deserves a prominent spot on the Top Shelf of your whiskey cabinet. This bourbon confirms to me that American distilleries can offer big, complex, refined, and delicious whiskeys that are as good as any spirit on the market – and proof that getting old is not always a bad thing.

Available: Green’s in Columbia. I haven’t seen it in Augusta or Aiken.
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distilleries
From: Kentucky
Age: 27 Years
Proof: 96
Cost: $160- I have seen it as high as $250-$300 in bigger cities and online

The Macallan Cask Strength

What: There are some brand names that are synonymous with quality and luxury. Rolex and Mercedes are a couple that come to mind. Now I don’t own either, but I understand why folks do. I appreciate them for what they are – well-crafted products that consistently perform at a high level time and time again, that are quality, and not dollar, driven. I’m under no illusion that everyone who buys something like this is in search of craftsmanship and quality; I would guess more often than not a lot of the reason is they want to project a certain image. I have never subscribed to the notion of projecting an image by owning a luxury item even if I could afford it, but I am all about well-crafted things. This brings me to my point, The Macallan.
The Macallan is a name that is without question a statement in quality and consistency in the whiskey that they craft. That’s not to say there aren’t other distilleries that make great whiskey time and time again; there are. It just seems like The Macallan does it a little bit better than most. I have tasted The Macallans that ranged in price from $50-$600 per bottle, and while there is a significant difference in their individual taste and price tag, the quality and craftsmanship is the same. Now that might not make sense to some folks; the easiest way to describe it is to imagine the best cheeseburger you’ve ever had and then imagine the best steak you’ve ever had. While certainly one is much more expensive and tastes better than the other, both were perfectly crafted.

This is a cask-strength whiskey that is un-chilled filtered, which means it’s basically straight from the barrel, and the more of these types of whiskeys that I have the more I am drawn to them as favorites. I like the raw, full-flavored richness you get only from cask-strength whiskey, and this one is no different. The nose on this comes across as very rich with lots of fig notes and some underlying tobacco; after it opens up a bit, the malt comes to the surface and you know it’s a classic scotch whiskey. The first thing that hits you when you taste it is the warm malt that you took in on the nose, which is followed by the sweetness of the figs that was so dominant to begin with. There is a very faint hint of peat which is typical of a lot of Highland Scotches. The finish is long and pleasant with a sweet warming end with little to no burn. Like a lot of whiskeys that I haven’t had in a while, this one reminded me very quickly why it shouldn’t be neglected as long as it has been.

This whiskey should be enjoyed as it is offered (or with a few drops of water). If you haven’t explored cask-strength whiskeys, this is a good one to start with. This is a great whiskey – as it should be with a name like “The Macallan.”
Distillery: The Macallan
From: Scotland
Age: No Age Statement
Proof: 117
Cost: $60.00
Comments: Widely Available

What: The holidays not only bring parties, gifts, and cold weather, but they also bring family and friends from faraway places, which means that more than likely at some point, you’re going to have overnight guests. We are no exception. The Whiskey Wench’s brother, Chris, is in from San Francisco, and he was going to be staying here for a night. Chris passed the California Bar this past spring and was recently sworn in, so we now have a real lawyer in the family (don’t think that changes my general opinion of lawyers). Chris and I are fairly opposite types, but we get along; and for the most part find enough in common during our brief visits that we enjoy having to see each other.

I picked Chris up at the airport (The Wench was still putting the house in order for her baby brother) and on the ride home I brought up whiskey (which I often do) as a subject to see if Chris — who will be known as Esquire from here forward — was a candidate to enter the circle. I normally don’t let folks into my whiskey circle unless I know they have a true appreciation for The Brown. After a few questions, he started to open up about enjoying Rye whiskey but had little to choose from in his collection. Just mentioning that you like Rye or any other whiskey normally wouldn’t be a pass into the circle, but Esquire is a good guy; and being family and a lawyer (you never know when you need one), he was granted a temporary pass. I thought this would be a great opportunity to do a review on some of my Ryes and get a relative newcomer’s opinion on a variety of them. His circle status would be up for review at the end of the tasting.

I have heard some folks describe Rye as a brother or sister to Bourbon, and for those who really enjoy and know Rye, they know it is more of a distant cousin. The similarities between the two are only that they are made from a grain and sit in a barrel for a period of time (like a lot of spirits). The flavor profiles are completely different with Rye being very distinctive with its spicy dryness. Only in the last few years have I started to fully appreciate Rye whiskey and consider it among some of the finer whiskeys available. Rye hasn’t been popular for decades, but in the last 5 years has found a rebirth with the surge in fine spirit consumption across the country. The good news is that distilleries are working hard to get more and more good Ryes to the market place.

After having braised lamb shanks for dinner (which I made and were most excellent), Esquire and I retired to the deck by a roaring fire and gave the Whiskey Wench a list of 6 Rye whiskeys to pour for us to taste. They ranged in price from $14 to $78. As usual, the Wench brought them to us blind so we weren’t influenced by the price or brand while rating them. I will say that we both found something good about them all: three did rise to the surface as great whiskeys; two we considered as good; and the last is a great whiskey for cocktails, but fell short on a good neat whiskey.

The Lineup:

Rittenhouse Rye (a bit hard to find and I’m not sure why)
Age: No age statement
Proof: 80
Cost: $14.00
This was our least favorite of the bunch. I guess you do get what you pay for sometimes. The nose was fairly flat and not much in terms of body when it came to flavor. It did have a warm spiciness to it on the end that gave us little something to speak of. At the end of the day, I would not recommend this for a neat whiskey, but it does make a great Manhattan. See the Whiskey Wench Manhattan article.

Russell’s Reserve (available in most stores)
Age: 6 years old
Proof: 90
Age: $30.00
What: This is from the makers of Wild Turkey, and we both considered it a good whiskey. It has a citrus nose on it that comes across as spicy. Once it hits you, it is Rye whiskey through and through. It has a wonderful long, warm, peppery finish. In my opinion, this is a whiskey that is just a year or two more in the barrel from being great. It’s a recommended whiskey, and it’s hard to find a $30 whiskey nowadays that is this enjoyable neat.

(Ri) (available in bigger stores)
Age: No Age statement
Proof: 90
Cost: $51.00
What: This is relative newcomer to the market, and I bought it based on an article I read a couple of years ago. The nose was a bit thin, and the flavors were in-line with its nose. It does have the basic characteristic of a classic Rye, but the flavors weren’t as developed as I would like. This certainly isn’t a great whiskey, but it does fall in the “good” category and is worth owning if you want to have a diverse collection. I would consider this a light Rye.

Sazerac (hard to find)
Age: 18 years old
Proof: 90
Cost:$78.00
What:This might possibly be the best Rye on the market at any price. Jim Murray, the noted whiskey writer, has called it “whiskey of the year.” This is a full-flavored and very smooth whiskey that defines what a good Rye should be. It’s spicy, a bit dry, and leaves a very long oily finish that makes you want more of the same. Esquire, with his limited exposure to whiskey, noted this was the best of the group for him; and I certainly agree. Not only was this the best of the group, but also one of my personal top five whiskeys. This is a hard bottle to find — if you run across one, buy it!!!!

Thomas Handy (hard to find)
Age: No age statement
Proof: 122
Cost: $69.00
What: This, you might say, is the big brother to Sazerac. It’s from the same distillery and is part of the antique whiskeys from Buffalo Trace, as is the Sazerac. It is a big whiskey with a lot of flavor and depth, but the alcohol comes through and masks the flavors a bit. Even with this minor flaw, we still consider this a great whiskey with all the classic character that you expect in a Rye. It’s a great after-dinner sit-by-the-fire-on-a-cold-night whiskey. A good cigar would be a treat with this Rye.

Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye
Age: 13 years old
Proof: 90
Cost: $48.00
What: If you read the “Family Reunion” article, you know how I feel about anything that has the Van Winkle name on it. This Rye is no exception; it’s a great Rye that makes you appreciate the folks that take the extra time to hand-craft whiskey. It’s a perfect balance of wood and spice which gives it character and makes it a great whiskey. This whiskey falls short of Sazerac and Thomas Handy on the nose but catches up to them with flavor. It certainly isn’t as bold as Sazerac and Thomas handy, but has a more refined quality that makes it a bit unique for Rye but a hallmark of what the Van Winkles do to whiskey. This is a great whiskey by anyone’s standard I would guess, and a great buy at less than $50.

After all is said and done, if you haven’t had a Rye, you might be pleasantly surprised on how good they are. If you do like Rye whiskey, maybe one of these will be your next purchase. I think Esquire has gained some knowledge and proved to be a good sport and tasting partner, and seemed to thoroughly appreciate all that was offered. While he might not have made full circle rights yet, his pass has been upgraded to permanent visitor…….

Cheers !!!!!

Mark

The Whiskey Wench (Cindy) and I ride the Harley down to St. Augustine every year, to spend a few days and celebrate New Year’s Eve. A few years ago we were walking about town and found ourselves at a trendy, kind of uppity martini bar overlooking the bay. You normally wouldn’t find me in a place like this, but New Year’s Eve is the exception. We met some locals and ended up having a great time. While we were getting to know one another, I tried a few of the basic martinis they had to offer and was less than impressed, until one of our new-found friends ordered a Manhattan Martini. She complained about it being very strong and tasting too much like whiskey. I immediately perked up (kind of like Scooby Doo does when food is mentioned) and thought I might have found the end of the rainbow. I politely asked if I could try it, and she obliged. I knew I had found “my drink” and ordered one immediately. It’s a perfect blend of sweet and spiciness that doesn’t lose the whiskey flavor. The one I had at the bar was good, but I knew it could be better.
We had a great time in St. Augustine as always( if you ever go make sure to visit the San Sebastian Winery). I couldn’t wait to get home and start working in the lab to create the perfect Manhattan. The Whiskey Wench and I eventually came up with a basic recipe, and I started enjoying what would become “my drink.” I was pleased with what we had concocted, but the Whiskey Wench continued to refine the recipe, and she has mastered the perfect cocktail for the whiskey lover (in my opinion). I will offer this to you only if you give credit to the Wench when someone asks you where you got the recipe………

The Whiskey Wench Manhattan
3 oz of Good Rye whiskey (Rittenhouse is good for mixing or Russell’s reserve) **
1.5 oz of Sweet Vermouth
¼ to ½ teaspoon Sugar or Splenda
8 drops of Angostura Bitters
Stirred (not shaken)
Serve on the rocks with 2 cherries

Cheers!!!!!!

** We have tried Bourbon and while it’s ok, Rye makes a much better cocktail. It’s a must that you use GOOD rye whiskey. I have used Jim Beam Rye (which is inexpensive and for a reason), and needless to say, I still have the bottle on my shelf.