Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

It’s the season of holiday parties and social gatherings and not too long ago I attended high tea with a group of co-workers for a special occasion. The tea I got was enjoyable but on the spicy side. As I drank it I smiled and in my head thought I said, this tea is spicy just like me. The problem was that I didn’t say that in my head but rather out loud and in front of my co-workers. I still shake my head every time I think about this event, there are just something’s co-workers don’t need to hear. It is also one those things that every time I think about it, I re-live the embarrassment.

If you are wondering why I am sharing this story it’s because I thought about it when I first tasted Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. You see, the word spicy was the first word that came to mind when I took that initial sip. It was spicy, in a very good non embarrassing way.

I’ll go on by saying that there are a few people in my life that swear by how great this Bourbon is. It’s also one of their favorites. I’ll be honest it’s not my absolute favorite; however this is some darn good bourbon.

My friend Brian has recently started trying Bourbon. Since he travels a lot to through Kentucky and Tennessee, he’s always looking for recommendations so I am going to tell him what I am about to tell you, Basil Hayden’s bourbon is a bourbon you should try.

To all my non whisky, whiskey or bourbon drinkers, if you still don’t know the difference between these drinks, look at my post written on July 25th of this year:

http://wp.me/p3Zt2k-h

Now before I get to the tasting I’d like to say that the Basil Hayden's bottle is a nice looking bottle. The bottle is dressed in an extremely creative way that definitely draws attention to the eye. It has a look at me feel. You can’t help but notice it and if you are walking down the bourbon aisle, it will make you want to pick it up. It sort of has a bib, with a little bit of its history written on it and what I am going to call a belt wrapped around it. It’s a very well dressed bottle to say the least.

On taste, as I had mentioned before, one of the tasting notes Basil Hayden’s has, is spice. You can pick this up right away as you smell it; there is a spicy smell on the nose. On the palate the taste notes I get are pepper and spicy. It does have a burn to it; however it is still very smooth bourbon.

Any bourbon distillery that has been distilling bourbon for over 200 year must certainly have a very good product in its hands. This 80 proof bourbon will cost you around $36 or so, depending on where you buy. So, if you are looking for a new bourbon to try and have not tried this one, then I recommend you do.

Finally, if I share a glass of Basil Hayden’s bourbon with friends I can certainly tell them it is as spicy as me without ever feeling embarrassed. And if you are ever feeling the need for a little spice, give this one a world.

Cheers!

The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 year old Cask Strength

Note: I am slowly transitioning to WordPress so please also note my new address: http://whiskeywench.wordpress.com/

Back to the daily grind I go feeling a few pounds heavier and somewhat broke after the sales this weekend. I will fight all temptations and will try to refrain from participating in Cyber Monday. If you however can’t, I wanted to give you another whisky to consider if you are looking into the gift of whisky for someone.

Back in July I wrote about The Glenlivet 15-year-old French Oak Reserve. To summarize, I was not a fan of the 15 year French Oak and place it in my dislike column.

http://whiskeywench.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-glenlivet-15-year-old-french-oak.html

When coming upon The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 year old Cask Strength, I certainly had reservations about trying it, but it was a friend who provided it so why not give it a chance. According to The Glenlivet website, Nadurra is Gaelic for natural.

Before jumping into the whisky I wanted to make sure that anyone who isn’t very knowledgeable with whisky knew exactly what Cask Strength means. Most distillers after maturing whisky will dilute the whisky with water after removing it from the casks. This basically balances the alcohol and makes it more consistent. It also slightly reduces that alcohol strength. When a whisky is Cask Strength it means that the whisky is bottle exactly how it was aged in the casks without it being diluted. This does mean that the whisky will be stronger and at times more expensive.

The Nadurra 16 cask was definitely stronger than the 15 year French Oak, however I liked it a whole lot better than I did the 15 year French Oak.

On the nose the Nadurra 16 cask smelled sweet and fruity. Upon tasting it you do get a slight burn, which I always appreciate. The tasting notes were oak and vanilla. I also found it to be dry. It was certainly a different experience from when I first had my first Glenlivet product. It was well balanced and the bourbon casks do help with that sweet taste.

If you were like me and didn’t like the 15 year French Oak then I think you might like this one. The Nadurra 16 cask would range at a $65 price.

If you have a love one that loves whisky, a bottle of whisky certainly makes for a good gift. If you don’t know what to get them consider looking throughout the blog to check out the other ranges and bottles I have written about. Most of the other whiskies range in prices and tastes. I am certain there is information there for everyone’s palate. If not the blog you can always ask your local liquor store vendors to suggest something in your price range.

Good luck with your shopping!

Cheers!

Bruichladdich 19 year-old Cask Strength

Note: I am slowly transitioning to WordPress so please also note my new address: http://whiskeywench.wordpress.com/

It was not too long ago that I wrote about Bruichladdich Rocks; actually it was this very month on Nov-04. I wouldn’t have written so quickly about it again, however I feel it’s a must. Now that the pumpkin, sweet potato, and apple pies are done I can concentrate on this weeks post, Bruichladdich 19, right before Thanksgiving.

Last weekend my boyfriend and I spent an evening at The Last Hurrah in Boston, our whisky go to bar. Our main reason for going there isn’t only the whisky but also Frank their bar manager. Frank is amazing and extremely whisky knowledgeable. He is pictured below with me. Bruichladdich 19 is one of their newest additions to their menu. Now if you want to try this one you better hurry. There were only 296 bottles distilled bottles of this 19 year-old and Frank was good enough to acquire one of them. So if you are so inclined to try this one, hurry to The Last Hurrah before it is all gone.

Although they bare the same name Bruichladdich 19 is not like the Bruichladdich Rocks. Bruichladdich Rocks is a product of what the Bruichladdich distillery is now. The Bruichladdich distillery was first built in 1881. Since then it has come to close to closing down, in 1907 and again in 1993. It was due to that last close call that Ducan Taylor acquired a surplus of this whisky from Bruichladdich, which was first distilled in 1992. They acquired it before maturing in casks and then bottled it in 2012.

Knowing that there isn’t that many bottles of these out there made tasting this single malt a lot better.

My Experience:
Smell: Sweet and fruity

Taste: It is extremely creamy and light. I get hints of salt and pepper.

Finish: Although cask strength, the finish is very smooth, however one of these made me extremely happy and I was certainly done drinking afterwards.

In most places I looked, this bottle was sold out. The price in those places was $200+. You will not find this whisky in your local liquor store or whisky vendor. If you are in the Boston area definitely visit The Last Hurrah to try. I highly recommend it if you come upon.

For all my non-whisky drinkers, you may not feel it at first because of the smoothness but this whisky is strong. If you are trying this for the first time, take it easy, drink slowly and enjoy. It is a single malt that can help all that turkey dinner go down. If you’ve tried it before drop me a note in the comments section and let me know your thoughts.

Finally, if you are in the US, may you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Safe travels and cheers!

Glenmorangie: The Original and Quinta Ruban

With so many options out there for whisky it’s always hard to know which ones you are actually going to like and not like if you’ve never tried them before. If I am out for dinner or out in the city, I always look at the list of whisky, whiskey and bourbons, if there is something I haven’t had before I will give it a try. However that’s not how I always try new whisky, one thing I love to get are recommendations. A recommendation from two lovely ladies is exactly what I got for today’s post. Thank you Fiona and Whitney!

Glenmorangie is a Highland single malt whisky. One of the things that stuck out to me the most when I was sharing a dram of The Original with Fiona, was that she noted that she didn’t like strong whiskies but love this one because it was on the sweeter side and wasn’t too harsh. I tend to agree with her, this whisky is definitely on the sweeter side. For any ladies out there or guys looking to try a sweeter whisky then this one might definitely be a good try for you.

The Original:

Smell: Citrus and fruity
Taste: It’s a whisky lighter than most others I’ve tried. It was sweet, fruity with hints of vanilla

Now the Quinta Ruban is slightly stronger but it is just as sweet as The Original. Both the Original and the Ruban are matured in American Oak casks; however the Quinta Ruban is then transferred to port pipes from Portugal to mature even longer. This process certainly separates the two. You can also tell the difference in the colors they have. The Original is a pale golden color while the Ruban is a deeper golden hue. The final differences are in the taste and smell.

The Quinta Ruban:

Smell: Sweet, spicy and woodsy
Taste: Smooth with a slight burn. I could make out hints of port steaming from the port pipes. To me it had also notes of spice.

If you were to ask me which one I’d prefer, I’d go with the Ruban just because it is slightly more complex and has a lot more notes to make out, although both are very good whiskies.

If you are looking to buy, the average cost for The Original is about $40-$50, while the Ruban is slightly higher at about $45-$55. For whisky, these are actually fairly priced. Now another way you can get these two is in a miniature gift set that include about four of their whiskies to try. It's a good way to give a gift, or keep to try yourself. 

So, if you are looking for something sweet to try this holiday season I’d recommend you give this one a try. It’s a great whisky to have in hand while cooking a delicious turkey meal.

Now if any of you out there have any other recommendations for me, please drop me a line on the comments sections and I will certainly do my best to try it.

Cheers!

Maker's Mark

Amazing how time flies, in just about two weeks Thanksgiving will be upon us. As we get closer to the day, I am sure we all stop to think about all the things that we are thankful for. For me, aside from being thankful for my family, friends, career and roof over my head, I am also thankful to have this blog to write about whisky, whiskey, and bourbon which is something I am passionate about.

I first started drinking bourbon because I wanted to fit in. That bourbon was Maker’s Mark. Having attended a military college, where females were the minority at the time, I drank it to be one of the guys.

When I first started drinking it, it took me a long time to like it. I’ve said this in a post before, the first time you try bourbon or whisky, chances are that you will not like it that 1st time… the 2nd, 3rd or maybe even the 4th time; in my opinion it really is an acquired taste, and something you eventually build a great appreciation for.

Maker’s Mark is actually a great way for anyone to start their bourbon tasting if they have been looking to start. It is a Kentucky Bourbon that is very smooth and is extremely affordable. If you like bourbon/whisky/whiskey and you have not tried this one yet, then I do believe you are missing out. To me it is one of the best Kentucky Bourbons out there.

My experience

Smell: Amazing is the first thing that came to mind. The minute I opened the bottle it brought back great memories. I can just close my eyes and smell the great aroma for a good while. It also smells very woodsy, like oak. I also get hints of sweetness.

Taste: Oak, vanilla, smooth. I added a hint of water and through brought out the sweetness in the bourbon.

To me the finish just leaves me wanting more. It is very tasty and it’s enjoyable bourbon. It’s bourbon making at its best. Also, how can you not enjoy the detailing of the wax top. A nice feature that certainly makes for a great looking bottle.

If you want to try it out without having to break the bank, all you have to do to enjoy this iconic bourbon is to purchase their 50 mL bottle. It’s a great way to try it out and know whether you like it or not without spending the money on a full bottle. The 50 mL will give you a fingers worth. You can’t beat that when trying out a good quality product.

In my opinion, I wish all bourbon and whisky distilleries offered more of these small bottles. It would make it easier to try something and know whether you like it or not before spending the big bucks. So if you haven’t tried this wonderful bourbon before, then I’d recommend you do, it’s definitely well worth the try.

Cheers!

Ardbog (From Ardbeg)

NOTE: First and foremost, thank you to all those soldiers and sailors (past and present) in the armed forces who dedicate their lives to protecting their countries. Cheers and Happy Veterans Day!

A little over a week ago my boyfriend and I went out to The Last Hurrah here in Boston.  It’s a spot we like to frequent because of their whisky selection. When I was about to order from the bartender what I thought was going to be smoky whisky, the bar manager Frank overhears me and interjects. I was confusing my Peat and Smoke. The whisky I was ordering was not smoky but rather peaty, Frank clarified. People generally do confuse the two and it’s a topic I certainly plan to explore in another blog post. Franks recommendation was to try the Ardbog.

Ardbeg I’ve had, but this one I had never heard of before, even though it is from the folks at Ardbeg. Ardbeg released Ardbog during the 2013 Islay Festival of Music and Malt. Usually the distilleries at the festival release a special whisky during the festival; however these special whiskies are only available there in the Island. Ardbeg changed that by releasing a limited amount of Ardbog outside of the festival and the island.

My message to Ardbeg, THANK YOU! Most of my blog readers will know that I loved Ardbeg and it’s one of my favorites, Ardbog has now changed that. I love Ardbog more than Ardbeg! Yes off course this is only my opinion and others may not agree with me, but to me, this was one of those whiskies that left me speechless. I forgot about trying to make out the notes, I just sat back in my barstool and enjoyed. My next thoughts were I want a bottle of this.

If you are starting your whisky experience this might be too strong for you to start with. I don’t recommend you try this one if you are tasting whisky for the first time. I do recommend you try after you’ve become accustomed to whisky tasting. 

I found Ardbog to be more smoky than peaty, which is probably why I enjoyed it more. With Ardbeg I found that there was a perfect balance between peat and smoke, which is still great, but if I had to choose one note over the other, I’d say I prefer a smoke note.

My Experience

Smell: Smoke and Salt
Taste: Wood, salt, smoke and burn
Comments: AMAZING! Loved every single bit of my dram!

This is a bottle I can only hope to acquire and add to my collection. For those whisky enthusiasts if you haven’t tried it and come across it, then I recommend you try it. It may not be for everyone, but it’s certainly a unique tasting experience. I can only hope Ardbeg continues to produce it.

I very much enjoyed tasting this whisky so, thank you Frank! Not only for the recommendation, but for also letting me ask a few too many questions about whisky. If there is one thing I appreciate is, knowledge from someone far more experienced than me who didn’t mind giving me the time of day… If only there were more people out there like that, we would all be a little bit more knowledgeable in all kinds of things.

Cheers!

Bruichladdich Rocks

It’s the Monday morning after daylights saving time, so if you are like me, you are probably trying to adjust to the time change and are still trying to wake up from the weekend. The chilly crisp weather certainly doesn’t make it easier, but the thought of a new fresh day and week is pretty sweet sounding to me and helps me segue to a very sweet, crisp tasting and refreshing Bruichladdich Rocks.

To me it’s probably one of the hardest to pronounce. The pronunciation of this Islay whisky has evolved throughout the years. According to their website (see link below) the way it is pronounced today is ‘brook-laddie’.

http://www.bruichladdich.com/library/distillery/how-to-pronounce-bruichladdich

This whisky was given to me as a birthday gift from my good friend Fiona. Thank you Fiona! What she didn’t know was that I almost picked up a bottle the weekend before since it’s a whisky I enjoy.

For all my non-whisky drinkers, in my opinion this would be a very good whisky to get your start on, if you are looking to start somewhere. Although hard to pronounce the taste is pretty smooth and easy on the wallet (when it comes to whisky that is) as a bottle would cost about $45-$55. It’s light and un-peated.

My tasting experience:

When I opened up this bottle, on the NOSE I smelled sweetness, banana and vanilla.

On the PALATE, it was smooth, creamy, and sweet with a delightful burn. It is the kind of whisky that just made me smile.

This whisky has loads of flavor and left a refreshing taste. It’s a whisky that is light enough on the palate for those just starting their whisky experience. It’s also good enough for those experienced drinkers, as I enjoy it every time I have it. 

So if you are looking for something new to try, give this one a world, in my opinion it won’t disappoint.

Cheers!

Balvenie PortWood 21 year-old

Happy Halloween! Halloween is my absolutely favorite holiday, if it can be considered a holiday. As excited as I am to pass out candy with my boyfriend this evening, I am also sleepy, tired and feeling exhausted. For all those that don’t know, I live in Boston and I am a Boston Red Sox fan. I didn’t go out partying last night in celebration of their World Series win, but since I live in the city, the screams of people and the cars honking out in the streets from people celebrating, kept me up pretty late.

I can sit here and complain about that, but moments like last night don’t happen very often, so to be honest, I didn’t quite mind. Bring on the coffee and exhaustion, I can certainly take it!

Maybe it was partly due to exhaustion but when thinking about what whisky to write about today, I was at a loss. There are so many great whiskies out there; it’s always pretty hard to choose. With that in mind I thought that a World Series win doesn’t happen often, so I decided that today’s post would be Balvenie PortWood 21. Mainly because what also doesn’t happen very often, are moments where I get a chance to taste great expensive whisky.

Balvenie PortWood 21 is a great whisky but it is expensive. The price range of this bottle is $175-$240. As I’ve said before, if I were to purchase every bottle of whisky I tasted, I would be extremely poor. Having a dram of this 21 year-old was a courtesy of my friend Kevin who bought the bottle.

My experience:
This great whisky is finished in port casks, which in my opinion only enhances its unique flavor.

Smell: woodsy and fruity
Taste: Strong and creamy, with notes of honey and fruit.
Finish: A delightful burn

I very much enjoyed this whisky; I would not buy it only because it’s expensive, but I loved it and am grateful to have had the chance to try it. For all my non whisky drinkers out there if you ever get such an opportunity to try it, then I recommend you do.

Even if you don’t try this one in particular, if you are just starting to get into whisky, know that you don’t have to be an expert to try and appreciate whisky. Everyone has to start somewhere. Most of my whisky drinking memories are filled with stories from sharing them with friends and love ones.

What you do you need to keep in mind is that your palette will not match other people’s palette. If you enjoyed a dram or if you don’t, then don’t let anyone or a supposed “whisky expert” tell you otherwise because you aren’t wrong in what you tasted. Everyone will have a different opinion and taste when it comes to the same dram.

Cheers!

PS – Stay safe if you are headed out this evening taking kids trick-or-treating and even if you are not!

Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon

For quite some time now in the instances that I’ve been out at a restaurant, bar or liquor store, and have spotted the name Four Roses or seen the bottle on a shelf, I’ve always pointed it out to someone and have said, “I’ve heard it’s great, I should really try it sometime.” That “sometime” ended up being last night. If you are an American sports fan then you’ll know that October baseball becomes a wonderful thing when your home team is playing. I wanted to elevate my game watching experience last night by also enjoying great bourbon.

For all those bourbon lovers out there let me go on by saying, if you have not tried Four Roses single barrel bourbon yet, then you are missing out. I will admit that I was certainly missing out on those other occasions that I missed the opportunity to try it. Four Roses is a Kentucky Bourbon and the bottle we purchased rang up around $37. To me that is a bargain price for smooth tasting bourbon.

When opening the bottle I was first hit with the smells of sweetness and fruit. At first taste I had no words for this bourbon; it was so smooth that I had to take a few more sips before I could try and make out the different tasting notes. I enjoyed it so much that I actually ended up sampling the bourbon in three different ways.

Straight-up

• Taste: Was smooth with a nice slow burn. I tasted notes of wood and honey.

Splash of Water

• Taste: Was still smooth but the water brought out hints of cinnamon notes.

With Hot Apple Cider

• It was a bit chilly last night and we wanted to see how Four Roses held up in spiked hot apple cider. The Four Roses in the hot apple cider was GREAT. It didn’t over power the hot apple cider and it actually just elevated the flavors. They blended very well together and made up for a great cocktail. Something I recommend trying if you like hot apple cider and bourbon.

Overall in all three instances the finish just left me wanting more. I’ve been accused of not trying out enough bourbon but if all bourbons are like this, then you better believe I will be trying out more of them.

Now that I have tried this one, I am very much looking forward to exploring more of the Four Roses range. If you are looking to try new bourbon and haven’t tried this one, give it a world it won’t disappoint.

Cheers!

Scotch is whisky!

One of my goals when I started to writing this blog was to help those who weren’t familiar with whisky or were starting their whisky experience. In my years of enjoying whisky and my time writing about it, I have realized that many people are not only confused by the spellings of whiskey and whisky but are also confused by the words scotch and whisky.

If you missed my whiskey and whisky post see 7-25-13 post. Link is below:  http://whiskeywench.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-difference-whisky-whiskey-spelling.html 

In past instances when talking to people about drinks of choice, I have brought up the fact that I enjoy drinking whisky. In more than one occasion to this some people respond with, “I don’t like whisky I prefer Scotch”. Getting this answer many times over is the reason why I am writing this small blog posting today. I want all non whisky or whisky drinkers that don’t know, to know that Scotch is whisky.

In terms of whisky, it is acceptable to use the terminology Scotch whisky, however the word Scotch alone in modern day is considered to be a bit offensive in Scotland.

So, if someone ever tells you that they like whisky now you’ll know that they are most likely also including Scotch whisky in that mix. And finally, if you are ever in Scotland and want to order a whisky, ask for a Scotch whisky or just ask for a plain whisky as that will do the trick!

Cheers!

PS - As a New Englander I wanted to send out a big Cheers for the 1st game of the World Series! The Boston Red Sox take on the St. Louis Cardinals. Two great teams will make for some great baseball watching. Go Sox!

Bushmills 16 year old

For a while now I’ve been asked the question “Have you tried Bushmills”? I would always reply “No, but it’s on my list to try”. Well, that certainly changed this past weekend, so YES, I have finally tried Bushmills! I had a finger (maybe 2) of this 16 year after a long Sunday which included an 8.5 mile walk through the Minuteman trails here in MA.

Before I go further I want to clarify what a finger is for those who aren’t whiskey drinkers or are just learning about whiskey. A finger of whiskey is not a formal measurement but roughly equals one fluid ounce. The amount usually comes out to be the width of one finger. So, if you have two fingers then it’s basically the width of two of your fingers. 

This 16 year old is an Irish blended whiskey. Out of their range, in my opinion, it has the nicest color with a beautiful reddish hue. A bottle would cost around $60-$70.

To create its blended flavors, one whiskey is matured in Oloroso sherry casks and the other in bourbon casks. They are then brought together and matured in port wine casks and then voilà, this whiskey is born. Although this whiskey does not top my list of favorites, it is still very enjoyable and a very good Irish blend.

The Experience: After pouring my finger, or two, I first smelled the fruitiness of the whiskey. That was then followed by the smell of sherry and sweetness. In the palate I was first hit with a burn. The taste was creamy, sweet and it very much tasted like honey. In the end I was left with a woodsy taste.

Overall, it was a very good blend that is definitely worth tasting. The burn of this whiskey would immediately warm anyone up on a very chilly/cold day. So, if you are looking for some warmth this winter give this one a world, you might just like it.

Cheers!

Macallan 18

If you all didn’t know, fall is my absolute favorite time of the year.  Not only do I love the nice chill in the air, Halloween and all things pumpkin, but I love the color changing in the leaves. It makes it for a beautiful time of the year here in New England. With that said, I find the word “change” the perfect transition into this week’s post, as I am once again writing about Macallan. This time around its Macallan 18.

For all those who continue to follow my posts, if you recall, I wrote about Macallan 12 on my August 8, 2013 post and my comments weren’t so favorable towards that tasting.

Here is the link: http://whiskeywench.blogspot.com/2013/08/macallan-12.html

No, my opinion on the 12 has not changed, but my opinion on the 18 year old is slightly different. The 18 year old like the 12 is also matured in Sherry Oak casks. The color goes into a nice mahogany color which does remind me of fall, actually.

For my non whisky drinkers, what you need to keep in mind is, if the 12 was affordable then the 18 isn’t as affordable. At an average cost of $170 to $200+ it’s a hefty price, specially comparing it to the average cost of the 12 which was $40-$60. No need for me to tell you that this is a pretty significant price difference.

My experience:

Smell: Fruity
Taste: Very light. It was smooth, fruity with just the right amount of spice.
Finish: Wood smoke

I did very much enjoy this whisky. I was actually very surprised at the smoothness of it. I found it to be extremely different than the 12 that at times, I kept forgetting I was drinking Macallan. The take away here for those just starting their whisky experiences is that if you don’t like one age of a particular brand don’t completely rule that brand out as you might like a different age on their whisky range.

Although I did enjoy the 18 year old, I’ll be honest and say that would not buy the bottle. It is an expensive bottle. I fortunately got the opportunity to try this single malt during an Alumni gathering up in Vermont at the start of the month. Our college friend Kevin (I believe it is one of his favorites) was kind enough to bring this bottle as well as a few great others to share with the group. Thank you Kevin!

So finally, if you've tried the 12 and not the 18 then I recommend you try the 18 because you will be able to note all the differences between the two.

Cheers!

PS – In another way change pertains to this blog; I am considering changing blog platforms so look for that to come in the future.

Laphroaig 10 and things non-whisky(ey) drinkers should know

After taking a bit of a hiatus, I am back and very excited to be. I spent this past weekend in Vermont with a good group of college friends that reminded me of why I love whisky so much and why I need to keep writing. From what I tasted this past weekend I wanted to highlight Laphroaig 10. Looks a bit hard to pronounce, but according the Laphroaig website the pronunciation is Laphroaig (La-froyg).

It has that signature Islay smokiness, so if you are not a fan of smoke then this will not be the whisky for you. For all my non whisky drinkers Laphroaig 10 is a great Scotch that is very affordable (price range $40-$55).

Smell: The minute you smell this whisky you are immediately hit with the lots of smoke, seaweed and spice. To me this is perfect as I always enjoy a good smoky Scotch.

Taste: The smoky smell then transcends into the taste as you get hit with that smoky taste. I got hints of saltiness with a slight burn. At times I got a peppery taste as well and you can make out the peaty notes.

In my opinion, it is a very enjoyable Scotch. It's also a good Scotch for that cold/chilly weather that will soon be coming during the fall/winter months. It was perfect this past weekend as there was a nice chill in the air up in Vermont.

It was on our way back to Boston from this trip that I was reminded why I started writing this blog. We stopped by the NH Liquor outlet and I might have spent about 30 minutes just staring at all the single malts, bourbons and Irish whiskey selections. While there one thing I noticed was that most of the people grabbing products weren’t entirely sure what they were buying. At one point I heard, “this bottle looks cool, I’ll just get this.” Trust me there is nothing wrong with picking up a bottle because it looks cool, however a cool looking bottle doesn’t always mean you will get a great tasting product. As the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its covers.

If you’ve never drank whisky, whiskey or bourbon before and you want to, here are a few things to know and remember:

1.    The first time you try it, chances are that you will not like it the 1st time… the 2nd, 3rd or 4th time, etc.; in my opinion it really is an acquired taste, and something you eventually build a great appreciation for.

2.    It is OK to have it in a cocktail, with water and even ice. I know I make a big deal about me being a neat (straight up with no ice or mixers) drinker, but that is not how I got my start. You better believe that my first Bourbon was packed with ice.

3.    Not all great tastings whiskies or bourbons are expensive. You can go out there and find a great tasting product at an affordable price, Laphroaig 10 is a good example. There are whiskies and bourbons for all price points.

4.    What you taste may not be what someone else tastes. Everyone’s palate is different. If you and I sat down to share the very same dram, chances are I will taste notes you don’t and vice versa. This means that there might be a product you hate but others might love and that is certainly ok.

Finally, start with something light that will eventually help you acquire a liking for it. 

Cheers!

Ardbeg 10 year old

Let me start by saying that Ardbeg is one of my very favorite Single malt Scotch whiskies. The first time I tried Ardbeg I was in San Diego about 2 years ago attending a friend’s wedding. While out at a whisky bar I wanted to try something smoky and different, so the bartender suggested Ardbeg. Since then this very Scotch has topped my list of favorites.

If you love smoke and peat then this is a must try for you, if you have not already tried it. For my non whisky drinkers, I would not recommend you try this one first if you are trying to get into whisky. This whisky is extremely strong and something you should try once you’ve experience lighter whisky notes. Basically, non whisky drinkers should develop a palate for whisky before reaching for this one as it is strong. I can guarantee you that it will be worth the wait once you do eventually try.

This great Scotch is from the Islay region of Scotland. For a little island, this place doesn’t hold back when it comes to the boldness of their whiskies. Ardbeg-10 is one of the peatiest and smokiest whiskies you will ever taste. But before we get to taste let’s take it one step at the time and start with the smell.

Smell: To be clear, you don’t really have to dig your nose too deep into the bottle to immediately get hit with that smoky smell. While drinking other whiskies I’ve had to literally smell the bottle a couple of times before really knowing what I smelled. The minute you open the Ardbeg bottle, you will get hit with a burst of smoke, peat, pepper and yes bacon (AMAZING).

Taste: If that smell left you salivating then wait till you taste it. When tasting you get extreme boldness, peat, smoke and pepper. As it goes down you get a wonderful tangy burn that will make you want to reach for another sip.

Finish: To be honest it’s the whisky that just keeps on giving. The finish is delightfully smoky. I will share with you that I’ve had a very busy and stressful work week. Last night after getting home from work and before dinner I poured myself a dram of Ardbeg and it was the drink that brought back a smile on my face. Yes it is that good in my opinion and yes I do recommend you try.

To me what’s also great about this whisky is the price; depending on where you buy you can pay around $45-$55 for a bottle. It is a great deal for this whisky and I believe worth it. I do own a bottle of Ardbeg and I will continue to keep purchasing. If you try it, I do hope you enjoy as well.

Cheers!

P.S. One last thing before I close this out, every time I close a blog out I always wonder if people really think that I hit the bottle a lot. Let me clarify that I do not! My father was an alcoholic and that has made me very aware of alcohol and how much I consume. My father is now 20+ years sober (hooray!). So, I drink responsibly and not to heavy handed, as everyone should.

Tullamore D.E.W., Original, Old Bonded and Heritage

Monday already! Could you believe that September is coming to a close soon? Well, neither can I. Time flies when you are having fun. And fun is exactly what I had when I got a chance to try three different whiskies from one whiskey family range. It is not often that I get to do that, so I enjoyed every minute of the experience.

My good friend from college Matt absolutely LOVES the Irish whiskey, Tullamore D.E.W. I got a chance to go through his collection during a recent visit I made to him and his wife Sarah down in Cape Cod. It was easy to get him to share the original and the Old Bonded with me (this triple distilled Old Bonded Warehouse reserve is only available for purchase in the distillery building. It was created for the reopening of the Tullamore D.E.W. visitor’s center in September 2012). However, it was not so easy to have him share the Heritage with me. You see they are saving that bit for a very special occasion and since they don’t make the Heritage anymore, giving some away is certainly very hard to do. In the end he shared enough for me to write about it. Thanks again Matt!


For my non whiskey drinkers who want a little history about this whiskey, here’s a little tidbit, Daniel E. Williams worked for the Tullamore Distillery. He worked hard and quickly raised up the ranks to eventually one day own the distillery. The whiskey went from just being Tullamore to Tullamore D.E.W. as Williams began adding his initials to every bottle. Their range now includes the original, 12 year old special reserve, 10 year old single malt and the Old Bonded Warehouse.


If you want to hear a side story about drinking Tullamore D.E.W., Matt and I had a college friend in the military that got killed in Afghanistan. The night before his funeral services, a few of us gathered to tell stories about what a great man he was. That night, Matt and I nearly finished one entire bottle of Tullamore D.E.W.
Out of the three that I tasted, to include their Heritage bottle, the one I enjoyed the most was their Old Bonded Warehouse release. To me it was the smoothest of the lot, but each of these whiskeys had their own very unique tasting notes.

• Tullamore D.E.W. Original ($20-$30)

1. Smell: Sweetness and vanilla
2. Taste: This one was light and smooth with a slight burn. 
3. My thoughts: Although it was enjoyable it was also very forgettable.

• Tullamore D.E.W. Old Bonded Warehouse (only available for purchase in the Tullamore D.E.W. distillery building)

1. Smell: Oak
2. Taste: It was rich and I tasted oak. There was a slight burn to the whiskey and sweet tasting notes.
3. My thoughts: This was the one I liked best of the three. It was the most memorable and the one I enjoyed most. It certainly was a great tribute to the reopening of theirs visitor’s center.

• Tullamore D.E.W. Heritage Blend

1. Smell: Woodsie
2. Taste: I taste wood. There was a burn to this whiskey with hints of spice.
3. My thoughts: It was a strong whiskey and although nice, I enjoyed the Old Bonded more than I did this one. To me it wasn’t as smooth as I thought it would be. It is certainly more enjoyable than the original and I am extremely glad I got a chance to try it.  

Overall Tullamore D.E.W. is a great Irish whiskey, it’s not at the top of my favorites but it is certainly a whiskey that should be tried. In my opinion they have a clear winner with their Old Bonded Warehouse reserve. It’s very unfortunate that they only sell it in their distillery. Hopefully it is a whiskey they might eventually consider releasing to outside those doors.

Tullamore D.E.W. will forever remind me of great memories and spending time with great friends during difficult moments. I know that I will always enjoy sharing a dram or two with Matt and Sarah on my visits down to see them. So go out there and share a dram with your friends.

Cheers!

Blanton’s Original Single Barrel Bourbon

Since starting my blog I feel like I’ve neglected bourbon along the way, even though, that is how I got my whisky drinking start. Here I am to change that neglect. Before we headed to make dinner last night we stopped by the liquor store and as I walked up and down the bourbon aisle, I realized there are a ton of great bourbons I have yet to try and to tell you all about.

While roaming the aisles I came across the very bourbon I am writing about today and that is Blanton’s Original Single Barrel Bourbon from Kentucky. If you don’t know this already, a single barrel means that the bourbon is aged in one barrel. There are many distilleries that use different types of barrels to age their products. I definitely think we will see more and more single barrel products become available.

For my non whisky drinkers, just to refresh your memory from my previous post written on July 25th or if you had not read that post before, Bourbon has to have at least 51% or more corn in their mash to be considered bourbon. It has to be aged for at least two years, although most distilleries age theirs for four or more years.

While in school I can tell you that history was one of my favorite classes to take a bit of a snooze in, especially in college. If you were like me, please bear with me for the next few lines. It was after I tasted Blanton’s that I also realized the great history behind this Bourbon. There aren’t many product (four to be exact) that can claim this but Blanton’s was one of four (the only one in Kentucky) to be allowed to continue producing whiskey throughout the prohibition years.

Colonel Albert Blanton (Blanton’s was named in his honor) spent most of his life producing whiskey for the Ancient Age Distillery which you all now know as the Buffalo Trace Distillery.  The years of dedication and hard work he put into the whiskey show not only in the craftsmanship of the bourbon but also in the taste.

I'll cut right down to the chase, this is excellent bourbon!! It is definitely a must try. When I opened the bottle I got hit with sweet smelling notes. It has a nice deep amber color and the taste was really smooth. I tasted notes of vanilla and spice. The bourbon had a nice burn to it and a great finish. If you love bourbon then you will enjoy this bourbon. Col. Blanton knew exactly what he was doing.

To top things off (no pun intended), aside from the great tasting bourbon, another great feature is in the bottle topper. The bottle topper features a horse and jockey. As you already know bourbon and horses go hand in hand in Kentucky. This topper certainly enhances the look of the bottle and makes a great tasting product look even better.

I recommend giving this one a try. You will not be disappointed!

Cheers!

Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Although I’ve been drinking whisky for quite some time now, I can recall that even before I started drinking, I knew and had heard about Johnnie Walter. It wasn’t till later on in my whisky drinking years that I eventually came to learn about their blue label. For all my non whisky drinkers if you have not heard of it yet, I’d like to change that. This is a brand I feel you should definitely know about, if not only to impress someone with this knowledge, then to actually try a product that is as good as they say it is.

The first time I tried the Blue label I was at a friend’s party about a year ago. Her parents are big Scotch drinkers and although they had alcohol out for the party I learned that they also had Johnnie Walker blue, but that bottle was her mothers and not meant to be served to the party. My first thought was to sneak into the kitchen and quietly pour myself a glass without anyone ever knowing. In the end I took the honest route and just asked Mrs. Favata if she would share just a tad bit, which of course she did. To help me write this blog, I revisited the blue label and had a dram last night as my boyfriend owns a bottle. The glass I had last night was as good as it was when I first tried it a year ago.

In my opinion this is one of the smoothest blended whiskies I’ve ever tasted, so much so that I had to keep reminding myself that it was a blended Scotch. When I opened the bottle I first got hit with a sweet smell. In the palate to me it tasted woodsy (this whisky is aged in oak barrels), sweet, it has a slight burn and finishes with notes of spice.

I very much enjoyed this whisky! All the blended whiskies in the Blue Label come together to form the perfect balance. It truly is blending at its best.

Since having started my blog I’ve been asked by some for good whisky suggestions. So, for the ladies and my non whisky drinkers out there if you are looking for a good gift for a Scotch loving spouse, significant other, family member, or any other important person in your life, you can’t go wrong with giving them Johnnie Walker Blue.

The one important thing to note is that because this whisky is produced in limited batches it will be an expensive gift as I’ve seen the price range go from $180-$250 depending on where you buy. If you ever purchase you will note that each bottle is numbered and that is because of the limited amount of product produced.

A few other facts to know for all my non-whisky drinkers or those looking to start, Johnnie Walker was a product created by Alexander Walker in Glasgow. It is a blended Scotch whisky. When he first began his whisky blending journey he named this whisky Old Highland Whisky but it would later be renamed Johnnie Walter in honor or Alexander’s father, John Walter. They have five labels which include Red Label, Black Label, Double Black, Platinum Label, and the Blue label of Course. They also have a whisky called Swing which uses up to 35 whiskies in its blend.

Overall, Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a great whisky to taste and possibly even have in your collection one day. It’s pricey but it is worth every penny and will truly not disappoint. It is a whisky I highly recommend to try.

Cheers!

Connemara Peated Single Malt Whiskey

If I could go back and change a few things about my two separate visits to Ireland, one would have to be, making sure I toured more of their whiskey distilleries, to include Connemara. What I did get a chance to do while I was there was learned how to pour a perfectly good Guinness at an actual pub in Dublin. Below I will share a picture of my pouring experience in Dublin. The good thing for you all is that you won’t need any lessons here; it is easy to just open a bottle of Connemara, pour and enjoy.

Before writing this post I got a chance to enjoy a dram of Connemara with my brother this very week as we celebrated his birthday. It was a great thing because I’ve wanted to write about this whiskey for quite some time now, so I’m glad I am finally writing about it. Also, I feel I enjoyed this past week’s dram more than I did the very first time I tasted it.

This heavily peated single malt whiskey is aged in American oak casks and it is double distilled in 2 small pot stills. It has an ABV of 40% and if you were to purchase it would cost you about $35-$50 depending on where you buy. Their range includes cask strength, a 12 year old, a single cask and a Turf Mór which according to the Connemara website is the Gaelic word for Big Peat.

My Experience

Color: Light gold
Smell: Peat and oak
Taste: I first got hit with a peaty and smoky taste but that was soon followed by a nice sweetness. This whiskey had nice legs on the dram glass and was extremely smooth.

My first experience with this whiskey was on the rocks. I’ll be honest; I didn’t enjoy it on the rocks but absolutely LOVED it neat. The combination of peat and sweet makes for a perfectly good balanced whiskey. If you are not a fan of peated whiskies, then this may not be the whiskey for you as it is heavily peated. It would also mean that you should probably stay away from the Turf Mór.

Out of all the Irish whiskies I've tasted, Connemara is unique in the fact that it is the smokiest one out there. It did remind me of a few smoky scotch whiskies I have come to love.  

If you’ve never tried whiskey and were looking to try this whiskey I will tell you, my brother is not a whiskey drinker at all. By the end of our night out he appeased me by giving whiskey a chance. I ordered him a neat Connemara and the first words out of his mouth after trying it was “smoky and smooth, I can get into this.”

My brother will not turn into a whiskey drinker over night but he did enjoy this Irish whiskey and I think you will also. So if you’ve tried it and enjoy or didn’t let me know what your thoughts. As you can see my Guinness pouring process below, with Connemara all you have to do is pour and enjoy that great smoky peated taste.

Cheers!

Bunnahabhain 18 year old

With so many whiskies and bourbons out there, it is always hard to decide what to write about next. I am still questioning it now as I write but with a chilly start to the day I finally decided to take you back to Islay. If you have not had it before I will introduce you to an 18 year old Bunnahabhain.  Yes another Scotch, but no worries, my Thursday post will feature an Irish whiskey and I will include bourbon in the weeks to come.

If you are like me, then you might botch the pronunciation of the name of this whisky. Looking at islayinfo.com the pronunciation break down is Boon-a-havn and the word is Gaelic meaning river mouth.

This 18 year old single malt has an ABV of 46.3% and if you were to purchase, the average cost would be around $90-$110. The distillery is located in the northern part of Islay below the Isle of Jura and right above the Port of Askaig.

For all those whisky lovers, getting the gift of whisky is probably pretty great, so I got a chance to taste this whisky as it was a birthday gift made to my boyfriend. I always say that it is because of all the people around me and the support they've offer me that I’ve been able to taste great whiskies.

My Experience

Color: dark gold
Smell: Sweet
Taste: Sweet, woodsy, hints of salt with a burn at the end

I found Bunnahabhain to be slightly different than any of the other Islay whiskies I’ve tasted. It’s probably the least smoky and I usually tend to associate smoke with most Islay’s. It is also not as peaty as the others. Although a very smooth whisky, I won’t say that I loved it, but I also didn’t hate it. To me it was just simply OK and to be honest, a bit forgettable.

I a strong believer that no matter the review someone should never over look a whisky because my palate may be different than theirs. I have found that I've enjoyed whiskies that others don't seem to like. Who knows maybe a few years from now I will taste it again and I will get different experience because we mature so does our palates.

Do note that my whisky experience may not be yours, so if you’d like, give it a try and let me know your thoughts.

Cheers!

Japan’s Hibiki 12 year old

Of course when you think of whisky there is a chance that most of us think about Scotch and Irish whiskies. Aside from those and the American whiskies/bourbon, I thought the very same way. Japanese whisky was not in my radar till very recently. After having read about it in a magazine, I was certainly curious about it.

I've subsequently learned that Japan has been producing whisky for many, many years and also happens to be a huge whisky producer. Since the start of their whisky production, it wasn’t till very recent years, that they’ve come to light to the rest of the world.

Within the last few years not only has Japanese whiskies made their presence known in the whisky world, but they have also taken a good number of whisky awards in the process.

Hibiki, this particular whisky, is produced by Suntory Whisky which first established its whisky distillery in 1923. Hibiki in Japanese means echo, Suntory uses its synonym word resonance to describe its meaning. Its range features this 12 as well as a 17, 21 and 30 year old whisky. This 12 year old blended whisky has an ABV of 43% and if you were to purchase its price range is about $60-$70 depending on where you buy.

My Experience:

Color: Amber
Smell: very sweet
Taste: woodsy and strong with hints of sweetness. It finished with a slight burn

I’ll be honest before, tasting this whisky I was a bit skeptical. I had heard from others that it wasn’t very good, so I was going into the tasting with the idea in mind I that I too would not like it. To my surprise I was proven wrong. At first I did find it to be strong, but the more I tasted the more I liked it. It was different but it was a very well blended and balanced whisky.

I would definitely recommend trying especially if you wanted to explore something new. If not this product I'd certainly recommend checking out Japanese whisky. Since making their whisky presence known they definitely look like it’s here to stay.

Cheers!

Bully Boy Distillers and their American Straight Whiskey

If you've never heard of Bully Boy, no worries, I just learned about them very recently. I believe I was more excited of the fact that they were right here in Boston. Being that they are a local distiller I wanted to learn more about them and their whiskey. I made that happened this weekend by taking a tour of their distillers and tasting the products to include their very own American Straight Whiskey.

Their distillery is located in a small warehouse in Roxbury, MA. Saturday’s appear to be their busiest tour days and we were lucky to snag a slot on their last tour of that day.  The distillery although rather small had character. One thing to note about Bully Boy is that although I am writing about their whiskey they also produce other spirits to include, Vodka (their best seller), Rum and White Whiskey (which is not aged).

Taking their tour was one of my highlights this past weekend. It was fun! Their tour guide was funny, informational and was very personable. In the tour we got a chance to see where they matured and distilled their spirits as well as we got a chance to sample a bit of their products. If you happen to live in the area or in the state, it is something I’d recommend for anyone to do.

Now onto their American Straight Whiskey, their whiskey is aged 3 years in new American oak barrels. Their mash consists of corn, rye and malted barley. It has an ABV of 42% and a bottle purchased at the distillery was priced at $38.

My Experience

Color: Golden brown
Smell: Sweet and woodsy
Taste: Slightly sweet with a mild burn.

I really wanted to love this whiskey and although it has potential, I still think there is room for improvement. It is a very simple whiskey that is not bad by any means, but lacks a bit of bite. It has a slight burn that is nice but leaves you wanting more at the end. To me it tasted more like bourbon than an actual whiskey, so if you are a bourbon drinker then you will really enjoy this product.

Another way you'll really enjoy this whiskey is by mixing it up with something else. On a lazy Sunday we mixed it up with Gosling's Ginger Beer and it was a great cocktail. The whiskey taste was present and not too over powering. It was a refreshing cocktail I'd recommend with their American Straight whiskey..

Overall I would not say that you should not purchase this product. It is nice to have a local product in your shelves. The whole overall experience from visiting the distillery to tasting their products was great. They are a very new distillery with lots of potential and I know that they will continue to expand and improve their products.

If you are looking for something fun to do on a weekend look them up and visit them, you won’t regret that tour.

Cheers!

30 year old The MacPhail’s Collection from Tamdhu Distillery

What’s sweeter than the Thursday before a long weekend (knowing that I will be working from home tomorrow) and bolder than the red denim jeans I am wearing right now, well talking about a 30 year old whisky is. There is no better way to kick off this holiday weekend than by talking about The MacPhail’s Collection from Tamdhu Distillery 30 year old.

I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by people who enjoy whisky as much as I do. It has given me the opportunity to taste whiskies I would normally not have a chance to. In this instance I got a chance to taste this whisky after raiding my boyfriend’s family whisky collection cabinet.

If you are a whisky drinker, you as well I can appreciate the amount of history these whiskies and distilleries have. It makes tasting their products more enjoyable. What’s great to know about Gordon & MacPhail is that their MacPhail’s collection has a wide range of whiskies that are distilled in different top notch whisky distilleries around Scotland. This collection pairing with Tamdhu is a great match and that shows in the end result of this whisky. After years of distilling with other distillers Gordon & MacPhail finally acquired a distillery of their own and now produce Benromach whisky.

Now this particular 30 year old Speyside whisky distilled at the Tamdhu distillery has an ABV of 43%. It also has a wider price range than any of the other whiskies I’ve written about. Depending on where you purchase this can cost $145-$190. It could also go upwards of $200 in other places I checked. 

My Neat Experience

Color: Golden Brown (Amberish)

Smell: Sweet and woodsy (To get a better smell of the whisky, I poured a few drops on the base of my palms and I rubbed them together. It was the sweet smell that was left lingering after this process)

Taste: This whisky had a very sweet start to it. It had a very well balanced taste. After the sweet I was hit with a bit of spice. This full bodied whisky has a slight burn at the end but the finish is smooth and lovely.

Although pricey due to it years of maturation this is a very good whisky. You can taste the years of  great craftsmanship. I would have no money if I ever bought every single bottle of whisky or whiskey I tasted, but it was certainly a treat for me to try it this one and I would recommend if you ever get the chance to as well. If you have tried it or do try it let me know your thoughts.

If you are headed out this weekend on a long weekend adventure, safe travels and may you have a dram or two. Look out for my Bully Boy Distillers write up on Monday as I take a tour of their facilities this Saturday right here in Boston.

Cheers!

Ledaig 10 year old

To start this last week of August (so hard to believe), I am taking you back to the Islands of Scotland with a Ledaig 10 from the Isle of Mull on the west coast side of the country. This whisky is produced at the Tobermory distillery and it is the only distillery in the island. This distillery not only produces Ledaig 10 but also produces it’s very own Tobermory single malt. That single malt product has a range of a 10 year old and a 15 year old.

Ledaig 10 has an ABV of 46.3% and if you were looking to purchase a bottle, depending on where you go, it will cost you about $45-$55. It is a very decently priced whisky. Something to point out, if you recall my Chill-Filtration blog post from August 22nd, then you'll remember that I noted that most chill filtered whiskies happen to have an ABV of 46% or less. This Ledaig 10 is definitely a non chill-filtered whisky and I still enjoyed very much. 

My Experience
 

Color: A nice light golden color

Smell: To me it smelled peaty and smoky

Taste: My palate was first hit with that peaty taste, followed by smoke and it ended with a bit of spicy. There is a nice burn in the end that makes this whisky most enjoyable.


This whisky for the price is well worth the money. It is far less than what you normally would pay average wise and the product is really great. As the days start getting cooler it’s a great whisky to warm you up with that nice wood smoke taste.

Would I ever add this to my collection? Yes, this is a whisky that I would certainly add to my collection. I did enjoy the taste and think that the price is even sweeter. If you are looking for a great product, at a very good looking price then try this, it won’t disappoint you or your wallet. 

Cheers!