Bourbony Obsession

It' been quite some time since I updated the blog.  Not to worry there has been plenty of whiskey tasting.  This past summer I found myself enjoying Maker's Mark and ginger ale....  everyday.  Of course the special treat was Knob Creek & ginger ale.

The spicy but refreshing mixture of the ginger and bourbon, definitely made for a summer long drink.  Now that it's getting cooler here in NYC, I'm definitely moving back to the warming Laphroaig 15 that PC was kind enough to give me for my birthday.  I've always preferred single malts neat with a splash of water for the winter.  I will indulge with the occasional bourbon and ginger ale.  Any other combinations (besides bourbon and cola) that will work great with bourbon?

Of course Jose writes a post on Jack Daniel's when his previous post describes what's left in the liquor cabinet. I picture him getting bored of playing mario kart against some 12-year old somewhere in the world and brushing the dust of the Jack. But Jack is worth looking into. I know for most people (including myself) Jack brings back memories of stuffy frat basements and beer pong. True, the Jack made its presence known in the grimey parties Jose and I used to frequent. But do not make the mistake of underestimating it.
Look, I'm not saying that a Jack on the rocks gives you the pleasure of a 15 year Laphroaig or anything remotely close, I'm just inviting you to revisit the Tennessee legend. Again, I'm not going to go into huge details regarding what you're going to catch on the nose (one, because I don't remember and two, because I can't tell myself), but what I can say is that some Jack on the rocks (unlike Scotch, I throw some ice in it) is a good bang for your hard-earned buck. I mean, you can get a liter and a half for something like 35 bucks! That's a LOT of sauce! And for something that doesn't taste half bad and leaves a good long finish, that's pretty good.

Know Jack Better

Recently, I have been getting into Jack Daniel's...straight. I usually enjoy a few Jack and Cokes on the weekend but PC has introduced me to the sour and harsh straight Jack. It gets to you. JD is different from single malts because it does this to your night...

Be a man and have a glass of straight Tennessee Whiskey, especially for a relaxed buzz.

Any Suggestions?

As I was explaining to my colleague PC, working in sales has been eating away from my whisky exploration. The only things on my cabinet at this point are a Jack Daniel's and an empty bottle of Gold Label. I know I know Jack doesn't count but it leaves a good college-y feel in my mouth. I'd like to add a Laphroaig 10 or anything that resembles that medicinal-like goodness to my empty cabinet. Any suggestions? PC, on the other hand, is always on the re-up with his collection...Oban, Talisker, and all those good ones.

Laphroaig 10-From black sheep to top shelf

First things first. This is pronounced La-Phroyg. And despite what Jose says, I don't hate this. To be honest, the first time I tried this I was a bit taken by surprise. Maybe its because I've never gone to Scotland and eaten a fistful of decaying vegetation while getting drunk. My first impression was that I am drinking earth. But you know, as I was getting to the bottom of the glass I was enjoying it much more. In fact, the closer I get to the bottom of the bottle the more I like it. Maybe the whisky got some room to air out or something like that. I don't know, nor do I really care. Point is, I stopped putting my usual splash of water and decided to enjoy it neat. I'm not the type of guy that will smell 24.2 different aromas in a glass of whisky, so I won't try to go too much in depth with this one. It's great though. I went to the liquor store down the street from me (New York is great, go down one street and you can get 2 dollar forties, go down the next street and you can find a fifty year old macallan in a lalique decanter for a mere $13,000...and no that's not a typo, you can buy whisky for the price of a car) and I bought a 12 year old macallan (previously reviewed) and the laphroaig 10. After those I got the oban 14, then the talisker 10 and finally the highland park 18. And the laphroaig at first seemed liked the fat kid of the bunch. But give it some time, it takes some patience to really enjoy it. Yeah, it kinda reminds me of a hospital smell, but in a good way. That probably doesn't sound like something you'd spend 50 bucks on, but its good. Hey, if you don't like it, you can always buy 25 forties from Pico's Booze & Nuts. But the Laphroaig is a keeper, and I can't wait to get a new bottle (its the first one I finished, probably thanks to Mr. Diaz over here).

Laphroaig 10 - Abhor It or Adore It

Laphroaig 10...what can I say?  It's so pungent and oh so intense.  This particular whisky tastes medicinal and to be quite honest it tastes like hospitals and bandages.  Granted I've never tasted hospital and bandages, it's the best way I can describe it.  I love it.  So far it's one of my favorites.  PC is not a big fan but for some reason Laphroaig and I are made for each other.  Apparently, according to PC, this particular whisky was not outlawed during Prohibition because of its medicinal purposes.  Medicinal purposes indeed.  I was sipping this over the weekend with a toothache in full effect, after a few sips it was pretty much numb.  Enjoy this with with a very cool splash of water...perhaps even a little more than a splash.  Beware of this one, chances of you liking it is 50/50.

The Macallan 12 - PC's Take

The Macallan 12 was one of the first single malts I ever had. I ordered it with no ice, and just a little splash of room temperature water. That's pretty much the way I drink whisky now. I find that ice tends to dilute the whisky too much, and masks some of the more complex flavors. Anyways, the Macallan 12 is definitely a keeper. The first thing I noticed was a very interesting cream scent. I remember specifically not tasting the whisky for a while because I just wanted to keep sniffing it. I could also smell hints of sherry, or berries. There's no crazy alcohol burn in your nostrils. Overall, it was almost like a bowl of berries with some sweet cream on top. The taste was just as satisfying; it's a great scotch to start a night with. I think this one is Jose's favorite so far. I've had the pleasure of trying the 18-year old just last week, and I can tell you that 6 years more in a sherry cask (from Jerez, Spain) makes all the difference in the world. Full review on that baby is in progress. Also in the works are reviews for the other bottles in my tiny but growing collection (Laphroaig 10, Oban 14, Talisker 10).

Gold Label-A MUST

Johnnie Walker Gold Label ($80-ish) provides a wonder chilled experience.  If put in the freezer, the Gold releases a wonderful aroma along with a smooth finish.  It's very sweet and I would recommend taking your time with this one.  Try to savor and appreciate the creamy flavor.  I'm not sure but I could taste some berries in this one.   Did I mention it's aged 18 years?  Try it and let me know your thoughts.  

Macallan 12- A Great Beginning

I began my whisky crusade over a year ago while still in college. I started with Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks. That's a blended whisky, meaning several single malt scotches are blended to create a distinct complex drink. Over time I realized that adding a splash of water, while neat really brought out the taste and aroma of the Johnnie Walker Black. Over the holidays my girlfriend's father bought me a Johnnie Walker Gold. This one is enjoyed best chilled. What a wonderful experience the Gold gives the taste buds. It's rather sweet while maintaining a smooth finish. My colleague P. Colakis introduced me to Macallan 12. This is a single malt scotch aged 12 years. It's my favorite so far. P. Colakis will be explaining this scotch in a later post. For now, I would suggest that if you are just starting to drink scotch then this is your option.

Whisky...

It's been understood to be a stiff drink for the older generation. We want to introduce the wonderful taste of this elegant drink to the young and classy. Please join us as we explore and learn to appreciate the complex body of whisky.