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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!

Weller Antique 107

December 18, 2023 America

Name: Weller Antique 107

Color: Copper

Nose: Wheat, vanilla, orange, wood

Taste: Wheat mash, vanilla, orange, oak, caramel cream

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

Weller Whiskeys are a high-end expression produced by the Buffalo Trace Distillery. The expression is named after William Larue Weller who in the 1840’s was a pioneer in distilling by using wheat in the mash instead of rye. So, he is either a genius innovator or had a shit ton wheat lying around.

Weller Antique 107 is aged 6-7 years in Virgin American White Oak and bottled at 53.5% abv. The mash is believed to be 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley. It is well balanced, easy to drink, with a nice cream finish.

If you live in the NYC area you may not be as familiar with Weller. I do not see it on many shelves or bars. You may recognize it as the preferred whiskey of the Dutton Family from the television show Yellowstone. In 2019 the price was around $40 for this bottle and now is upwards of $130. There is a secondary market issue going on which is a topic for an Opinions Vary review next year.

I want to put something into prospective for you. I bought a dram of Talisker 25-year-old in Glasgow for around $35 last year. A pour of various Weller’s can start at $35 and get up to $50+ in Kentucky depending on the expression and NYC bars would charge much more.

So, I cannot understand why people would spend this kind of money on such young Buffalo Trace product. I can go around the corner from my apartment any buy an 18-year-old single malt for $130 but for some reason people in America want to spend this kind of money on 6-year-old bourbon. Are people fucking stupid?

Current price online is around $130+ and it is good, but not amazing for the price. I got this pour at Casa Montecristo in Paramus, NJ for $10 for 2 ounces. Go drink them dry if you want to try it.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge – Paramus, NJ

December 17, 2023 Accessories

8 Days left before Christmas! Do you have all your bottles (or Cigars) yet?!?

Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge & Bar (Paramus) is located at 184 NJ-17 North, Paramus, NJ 07652. Montecristo has 23 locations across America and there are two in New Jersey and one in NYC.

If you are coming from NYC (driving) it would be a royal pain in the ass to get there. However, since there are less and less cigar lounges to smoke, drink, and watch tv in NYC these days it might be worth the trip if you have friends in NJ.

There is a front and back entrance to the building. The front door takes you directly into the lounge and bar area. The back door, where there is extra parking, takes you into the massive walk around humidor. The selection in the humidor is vast and the prices seem very fair to me. The staff is very nice, friendly, helpful, and not pushy.

The bar/lounge area in a good size and is clean and well maintained. There is full liquor and beer available, but no food from what I saw. The lounge is a little on the darker side which is good for the tv’s. The smoke eaters and ventilation work well and it is not too smokey when busy and there is no outdoor seating. There was signage for upcoming events such as whisky and cigar nights. I would image during football season this place gets busy on a cold and rainy day.

My only criticism is the majority of the seating is high-tops table with tall chairs. That is not comfortable sitting and smoking for a few hours. It appears from photos online they used to have leather chairs and coffee table but have revised the layout probably to maximize seating for customers.

Nice place to have a cigar and drink if it is convenient for you to get to. I recommend it.

If you like it, drink it (or smoke it)! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Balbair 12

December 16, 2023 Scotland

Name: Balbair 12

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, honey, lemons, flowers, light oak

Taste: Malt, honey, white fruits, cream/sweet finish

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

Balbair is a Highland whisky from Edderton, Ross-shire, Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1790 and has grown and changed ownership over the years. It is currently owned by Inver House Distillers who also owns Speyburn-Glenlivet, Knockdhu, Old Pulteney, and Balmenach.

The Balair 12 is aged in ex-bourbon and double fired American oak casks and is bottled at 46% abv. I picked this sample up in Edinburgh on my last visit as a random whisky to sample. I was not familiar with this whisky and I have not seen in previously it in the bars or stores in the NYC area. It has a light sweet nose and the taste almost matches the nose which is never a good sign from experience. I also found it too sweet and overall a bit flat tasting. It was not bad, it just was not that impressive.

Other expressions: 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 40, Equinox & Solstice, Elements, and Explorations. Various years have associated cask numbers or names depending on the year released.

Priced around $50+ and not my preferred flavor profile but I will try more expressions if I find them.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

GlenAllachie 12

December 15, 2023 Scotland

Name: GlenAllachie 12

Color: Dark Brown

Nose: Malt, caramel, oak, heather, sherry/honey

Taste: Malt, sweet caramel, oak, white fruit

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

GlenAllachie 12 is a Speyside whisky that was found in 1967 and has change ownership over the years. The distillery was closed for a few years until it was re-opened by a group of private investors.

GlenAllachie 12 is bottled at 46% abv and is non-chilled filtered. From my research it appears to be aged in Virgin Oak, PX Sherry casks, and Oloroso sherry casks.It has a nice taste and balance and reminded me of Edradour 10. It is easy to drink and not too hot for the proof level, but a little sweet on the finish for my taste.

I do not think I have every seen this whisky on the shelves in the NYC area. I get the feeling that is a sourced whisky as they may be building up their reserves. When I was in Edinburgh last Spring, I picked up several nips of whisky’s from Whisky’s of the World and this was one among them. I like to gamble on the smaller bottles when I am not sure and it worked out for most of this year’s reviews.

GlenAllachie other expressions are a surprising a long list. By category they have the following: Anniversary Series, Core Range, Single Casks, Virgin Oak Series, Wine Cask Series, Wood Finish Range, Macnair’s, and White Heather. Click here for the complete list – The GlenAllachie Distillery.

Priced around $65 and worth a try if you like the profile. I look forward to try more expressions if I can find them.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

The Balvenie – Double Wood 12 Year Old

The Balvenie America Oak

Basil Hayden Bourbon

Basil Hayden Toast

Taconic Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Lagavulin 8

Weller Antique 107

Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge – Paramus, NJ

Balbair 12

GlenAllachie 12

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