Chris | Page 12 | NYC Whiskey Review

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Antica Formula Vermouth

January 25, 2024 America

Name: Antica Formula Vermouth

Color: Brown-Green

Nose: Earth, wood, dirt, sugar notes

Taste: Herbs, vanilla, bitters, citrus peels, barrel wood

Antica Formula is a premium vermouth that dates back to a 1786 recipe created by Antonio Benedetto Carpano in Turin, Italy. Carpono was said to be the original creator of this fortified wine which is made from herbs and botanicals. It is created from Wormwood is officially known as Artemisia absinthium which is an ornamental plant used in absinthe and vermouth. Artemisia is named after the Greek goddess for the hunt and protector of the forest and children. The name vermouth comes from the German word “wermuth” which means wormwood. Still following?

I first saw Antica Formula Vermouth on high end cocktail menus when living in Florida and have since learned it is preferred for cocktails over the competition. It should be as it has a superior taste and is more complex. Antica Forumula has an earthy nose, sweet woods, with taste that can only be described as twigs and grass.The only thing I could say it compares to is Fernet Branca which is also a bitter drink but not used in cocktails.

Final thoughts:

Tastes great in a Big Ass Anthony Bourdain styled Negroni.
It will spoil if you open it and keep it in the fridge too long. It is a fortified wine, not a spirit. So buy the smaller bottle and use it up in less than 30 days.
Antica Formula and New Riff Single Barrel Rye will be used for my January 2023 “Opinions Vary: Old Fashioned v. Manhattan”.

Priced around $18 from a 375ml bottle and worth it for cocktails but not for drinking straight. I shudder at the hangover this stuff could give you.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Grand Marnier Liqueur

January 24, 2024 France

Name: Grand Marnier Liqueur

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Orange, citrus zest, sugar, earthy cognac

Taste: Orange, sugar cream, cognac finish

Grand Marnier is a French orange flavored liqueur which is a blend of cognac, orange, sugar, and is bottled at 40%abv. It was created in the 1880’s and is enjoyed as a after dinner drink, in cocktails, and used in certain foods. I had not sampled Grand Marnier in years, but I needed it to make special flavored cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, so I thought it was worth a review.

In the late 1990’s I worked in the restaurant business in Cape Cod and afterwork we would go out for drinks. A coworker always ordered a Sam Adams Lager & Grand Marnier. One might I decided to order the same combo and for many years after that I drank Grand Marnier as an after-dinner drink. In the early 2000’s occasionally my friend and I would play darts and drink Guinness in a British dive bar in Ft Lauderdale. The loser had to buy the winner a Grand Marnier Centennial. I recall that being a $25 drink at the time.

Grand Marnier is a good after dinner drink, but my preference has changed as I have gotten older. It is now too sweet for me to really enjoy neat. I made an Old Fashioned and it was still too sweet for me and became harder to drink as the ice melted.

Cocktails: Cosmopolitan, Margarita, Sangria, Sidecar, B-52, and Old Fashioned.

Cooking: Flambé dishes (crêpes Suzette), Grand Marnier soufflé, and crème brûlée.

Other expressions: Cordon Rouge, Cordon Jaune, Cuvée du Centenaire (“Centennial Edition”), Cuvée Spéciale Cent Cinquantenaire, and Cuvée Louis-Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle.

Priced around $35+ and worth the money as a after dinner drink, mixer, or cooking liqueur if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Bowman Brothers – Small Batch

January 18, 2024 America

Name: Bowman Brothers – Small Batch

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, oak, dark fruit, white pepper

Taste: Corn/malt blend, oak, honey, vanilla

Bowman Brothers whiskey comes from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and the name dates back to a family from the time of the American Revolution. The Bowmans carved out a living for themselves in the new frontier as farmers and distillers. Today it is owned by Sazerac, who owns Buffalo Trace (more on that later) and they also produce vodka, gin, rum, and brandy.

Bowman Brothers Small Batch is non-age stated and bottled at 45% abv. The nose is a little young and rough and a little is a bit spicy and sharp on the tongue. However, the overall flavor profile is surprisingly good.

From my research the whiskey is sourced from Buffalo Trace and is then re-distilled on In Fredericksburg. Buffalo Trace supplies four types of mash to the market: #1, #2, Wheated, and Rye. Bowman uses “Mash Bill #2” is considered a “high rye” with 10-15% rye. This is also the same mash used in the highly overrated and priced Blanton’s Bourbon. I would be curious to see if Bowman’s will eventually switch over to creating their own product in the next few years. It appears to me that the distiller cares about what they are making, but I would prefer a little more honesty upfront on the sourcing.

Priced around $35-$45 a good value to drink neat, rocks, or cocktail.

Many thanks to my friend Sam for giving this bottle to me for gift at Christmas 2022!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Bowman Brothers – Single Barrel

January 17, 2024 America

Name: Bowman Brothers – Single Barrel

Color: Dark Brown

Nose: Corn, wood, vanilla, caramel cream

Taste: Corn, rye, vanilla, orange zest

Bowman Brothers whiskey hails from Fredericksburg, Virginia. The distillery is named after an American Revolution family who carved a living out in the new frontier as farmers and distillers. Today it is owned by Sazerac, who owns Buffalo Trace (this matters later in the review).

Bowman Brothers – Single Barrel is bottled at 50% abv and has a hot nose and is a little hot to start on tongue but softens after a few sips. Due to the higher proof, I was having trouble identifying the mash, but I guessed it would be Buffalo Trace based on my previous experience with Bowman. From my research it is believed that the mash is Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 which is a “low rye” at less than 10% rye. However, the exact bill is not released to the public. The whiskey is non-age stated (believed to be 9-10 years), triple distilled, and bottled at 50% abv (100 proof). Other Sazerac produced Mash Bill #1’s are: Eagle Rare, EH Taylor, Old Charter, George T. Stage, Buffalo Trace, and a few others.

This is my second sampling of Bowman, and it is starting to become clear to me they care about the whiskey they produce. This expression can work as a sipper or a mixer as it has a decent profile, smooth taste, and is well balanced. Bowman also produces vodka, gin, rum, and brandy. I would like to visit this distillery one day or try a flight of Bowman against some of the other Mash Bill #1’s that I have reviewed in the past.

Priced around $60+ and a good whiskey. I have not seen it on shelves in the NYC area.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The Balvenie – Double Wood 12 Year Old

January 11, 2024 Scotland

Name: The Balvenie Double Wood 12 Year Old

Color: Gold

Nose: Spice, vanilla, honey, nutty

Taste: Sweet, spices, orange/honey

Balvenie is one of those whiskies you should know about if you like Scotch. They produce a massive volume of whisky within a large span when it comes to age, flavor, and price per bottle.

The Balvenie Double Wood 12 Year old gets its name from the two casks the whisky is matured in over 12 years. The first cask is “whisky oak” and it is listed as “traditional whisky casks” which “impart vanilla spiciness”. Let me translate, ex-American oak Bourbon barrels or just American oak barrels. Isn’t marketing wonderful? The second cask is ex-European oak sherry cask and I am guessing they are from Spain. So basically this means one regular, one sweet with respect to the barrels. Also, Balvenie’s marketing description sounds very close to Macallen Double Cask if you ask me.

This scotch is another of the many sherry-finished whisky’s on the market. No surprise as the demand for slightly sweeter whisky grows as the popularity of whisky begins to peak. You might wonder why sweeter whisky’s are becoming more popular. I have a theory with no research to back it up. Most people who I know that do not like whisky find the taste awful. My father says it is like swallowing medicine. I am reminded of the 1960’s Mary Poppins song, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down….” Today, a wee bit of sweetness seems to be part of the marketing plan of many distilleries. In summary, the distillery sweetened the scotch so more people can drink it.

I think that the bottle and sleeve of any Balvenie Scotch has a very classy look. When you need a gift to impress, but do not know what to get I recommend Balvenie. Of course, opinions and budgets vary, but when in doubt, and for a few extra dollars buy Balvenie

Price around $65+ it is a good price if you like a sweeter taste.

If you like it, drink it!

The Balvenie America Oak

January 10, 2024 Scotland

Name: The Balvenie America Oak

Color: Light brown

Nose: Malt, honey, flowers, vanilla, citrus notes

Taste: Malt, vanilla, woof, light spices, lemon

The Balvenie Distillery was found in 1892 in Dufftown which is in the Speyside region of Scotland. It has been making whisky for 127 years and it is some of the best whisky you can find on the shelves in America for the variety of flavor profiles and a buyer’s budget.

The American Oak on my first taste was as expected, very good and well balanced, but it tasted very familiar. From my research this expression is The Balvenie 12, but it is finished in new (virgin) American Oak Barrels from Kentucky and are charred fresh. The 43% abv makes it an easy drinker and it immediately reminded me of the 12-year-old expression but the lighter version.

Overall, this is a very nice expression and easy to drink at proof level, but I find the other Balvenie expressions, including the 12-year-old are richer and more complex. The appeal of this expression would be the price.

Other expressions:

Core Expressions: 12, 17, Signature 12, Cuba Selection 14, Caribbean Cask 14, Single Barrel 12 & 15, Peat Week, Portwood 21, Single Barrel 34, 30, 40, 50, & 50-year-old Single Cask.

Triple Cask Expressions:12, 16, & 25.

Limited Edition (age varies): Golden Cask, Islay Cask, New Wood, New Oak, Sherry Oak, Rum Cask, Madeira Cask, Peated Cask, Craftsman Reserve No.1, Portwood (1989, 1991, 1993), & Tun (1401, 1858,1509).

Priced around $50+ and is a nice summer scotch and the most affordable (aka the cheapest) of the expressions.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Basil Hayden Bourbon

January 4, 2024 America

Name: Basil Hayden Bourbon

Color: Gold Brown

Nose: Apricot, citrus, light vanilla

Taste: Light test of vanilla, oak and a touch of caramel.

This is a very popular Bourbon with a blend of corn, rye and malt barely which gives it a interesting taste but a light one. This Bourbon is a good one to have and I enjoy it on the rocks over mixing it with something due to its lightness. This makes for a good summer Friday drink on the rocks, in a cocktail, by the water or a at a roof top bar.

Price is very good as it ranges from $35-40 and the whisky works well in various combinations depending on how your like to drink your bourbon.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Basil Hayden Toast

January 3, 2024 America

Name: Basil Hayden Toast

Color: Brown

Nose: Corn, vanilla, dry wood, orange, something else?

Taste: Corn, vanilla, honey, wood, sherry, sweet finish

Basil Hayden Toast is one of several “Hayden’s” in the Small Batch expressions produced by Jim Beam Distillery. The name comes from a rye farmer from Maryland that moved to Kentucky. It is not much of a story, so I won’t waste your time.

Toast is bottled at 40% abv, non-aged stated, and as expected it spends time maturing in toasted barrels. The mash bill is 63% corn, 27% brown rice, and 10% malted barley. The brown rice is the “something else?” I could not figure out during my tasting. I don’t recall every trying a whiskey with brown rice in the mash.

I recommend giving this whiskey a chance to breathe before you sample it. It has a nice taste, good balance and is a smooth drinker, but it tasted like shit in an Old Fashioned. At 80 proof it is too weak, and the flavor profile does not work with the sugar, bitters, and fruit.

Priced around $50 and good if you like this style of bourbon but I would try the regular Basil Hayden first.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Taconic Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey

December 22, 2023 NYC

Name: Taconic Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Color: Light Copper

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, honey, smoked wood, cherry

Taste: Oak, white pepper, orange

3 Days left before Christmas! Do you have all your bottles yet?!?

Taconic Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey is from the Hudson Valley area of New York and was sent to me a gift to review. I received this bottle from the distillery for a review along with their Bourbon Maple Syrup and a few other goodies. This is my first whiskey bottle sent to me to review, I guess I am moving up in the world!

Taconic Distillery is formally the “Millbrook Distillery” and was established in 2013. The expression is “Dutchess Private Reserve” (bottle 12/2082) and is bottled at 45% abv. The bourbon is non-aged stated, the mash bill is 70% corn / 25% rye / 5% barley and aged in new charred oak. The name of the expression (Dutchess) comes from the name of the New York County where the Taconic Distillery is located.

Taconic states that their whiskey is good for sipping and/or cocktails. I have found it better for cocktails than sipping when I tasted it. The whiskey is young, tight, and a bit sharp when drank neat. With a little water or ice, it softens out but I find the flavor profile works better in a cocktail.

The package I received included a label for a Taconic Whiskey Sour. The cocktail requires an egg white when mixing. I have had egg white in a gin cocktail before and did not enjoy it, but this time it worked very nicely with the bourbon. The frothy taste, fresh tang, syrup and bourbon worked very together. This cocktail is a summer time by the pool drink at a BBQ, not really a cold ass NYC night drink. Personally, I prefer an Old Fashioned over a Whiskey Sour, but each have their role to play in my diet. One item of note is the lower proof Dutchess gets a little washed down in the mixing, so carefully on how many of these you drink in the sun.

Taconic Whiskey Sour

3 oz Taconic Whiskey
1 egg white
3 oz fresh lemon juice
2 oz Taconic Maple Syrup
Place ingredients int a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously to emulsify egg white. Stain into two rock glasses. Garnish with a Luxardo maraschino cherry.

Priced around $50 is a good cocktail mixer and worth a try to support a local company.

Many thanks to Taconic Distillery and Bourbon Maple Syrup review coming soon!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Lagavulin 8

December 20, 2023 Scotland

Name: Lagavulin 8

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Peat, salt, malt, caramel

Taste: Peat, malt, sea grass, caramel, straw

5 Days left before Christmas! Do you have all your bottles yet?!?

Lagavulin is a winter favorite of mine and I have not had it in a while so on my last visit to the Potstill in Glasgow I decided it was time for reunion. I was leaning towards trying the 25-year-old, but I opted for the 8-year-old as it is more popular on the shelves in the USA.

The distillery originally released the 8-year-old for their 200^th anniversary but has now added it the permanent list of expressions. I found the 8 to have much more flavor than the 16 on my immediate tasting, but it was not nearly as smooth or refined from what I can remember. The 8 is bottle at 48% abv and the 16 is bottle at 43% with a price difference of $65 vs. $90+. I will give the 8 it’s due and proper, it is a good whiskey and very drinkable. However, the 16 is better, but I really need to sample them both side by side.

This expression would make a good gift to someone who has interest in peated whisky but you don’t like enough to spend almost a hundred dollars on.

Lagavulin Expressions produced are 8, 12 cask, 16, 21, 25, 30, 37, Offerman, and Distiller’s Edition.

Priced around $65 and worth it if you are on a budget, but the 16 is better.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Antica Formula Vermouth

Grand Marnier Liqueur

Bowman Brothers – Small Batch

Bowman Brothers – Single Barrel

The Balvenie – Double Wood 12 Year Old

The Balvenie America Oak

Basil Hayden Bourbon

Basil Hayden Toast

Taconic Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Lagavulin 8

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