Chris | Page 17 | NYC Whiskey Review

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Glenfarclas 12

August 17, 2023 Scotland

Name: Glenfarclas 12

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, lemons, flowers, light wood

Taste: Malt, light smoke/oak, sherry, fresh citrus

Glenfarclas 12 is a Speyside Scotch from Ballindalloch, Scotland. The distillery was founded in the 1790’s and is now owned by the Grant Family. The name translates to “valley of the green grass”. There is a wide range of expressions and ages along with varying levels of reserves from the distillery. The older scotch that is released is known as “Family Casks” which is a collection of 43 single cask bottles from the 1950’s to early 2000’s. I have not seen that collection on the shelves but I bet that collection is not cheap. Next time I am in London I will see if Harrod’s sells the complete package.

Other expressions that you can find in the market for regular people: 8,10,12,15,17,18 (travel retail), 21, 25, 30, 40, 60, 105 (cask).

I have seen the 105 and the 15, 30 in a couple of stores, but not the rest of the years. I have sampled the 25-year-old, but it was about four years ago in Munich, Germany at 3am. So I do not really remember if it was good, but I think was good. I have learned since then not to drink good scotch late at night or that early in the morning.

The 12-year-old is a good baseline and worth the money. I do not see many people drinking, buying, or ordering Glenfarclas. I am not sure why that is, but it is worth trying to see if you like it.

Priced around $60 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Tomatin 12 Year Old – Bourbon & Sherry Casks

August 10, 2023 Scotland

Name: Tomatin 12 Year Old

Color: Golden brown

Nose: Vanilla, green fruit, light oak

Taste: Sweet wood flavor, caramel and vanilla.

Coming out of the Highlands of Scotland this Single Malt Scotch has been aged 12 years in combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Aging the whisky in these casks is nothing new in technique or in the market place, but it gives a good finish to this scotch as it does with most whiskies. Tomatin 12 is medium-bodied and its finish has a bit of a cream wood taste. I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted it and my notes put it between “ok to good”. I consider this scotch “good to very good” when you look at the price.

If you need a scotch that tastes good, is very well priced, and you know your friends will drink it like spring water, this would be the scotch to purchase. You can kill a bottle while at the same time not murder your wallet.

I would definitely keep this one on the bar at home or show up to a party with one or two bottles in hand. Priced around $35-40 it is a very good value.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Stratahan’s Sherry Cask

August 3, 2023 America

Name: Stratahan’s Sherry Cask

Color: Copper

Nose: Malt, dry sherry, dark fruits

Taste: Malt, dry sherry, caramel

Stranahan’s Whiskey was founded in 2004 and it is located at 200 S. Kalamath St. Denver, CO. The distillery/visitor center is in an industrial park and has a simple outdoor seating area with a nice view of the mountains. The inside bar has a modern rustic wood design with seating for around 75 people. The bar serves whiskey, flights, cocktails, and the retail store sells bottles and merchandise. The staff is very friendly with that easy going Colorado vibe.

The Sherry Cask is created from the four year old Rocky Mountain Single Malt and is then finished in Oloroso Sherry Barrels that come from the Andalusia region of Spain (aka the Palm Beach of Espana). It is a very nice tasting, smooth, semi sweet dry finish styled whiskey. It is well balanced and easy to drink. The Spanish Sherry styled finish is very nice on the plate. Normally, I do not go for sherry cask whiskeys but this expression is very good.

Other expressions produced: Original, Blue Peak, Mountain Angel 10 Year, Snowflake, Diamond Peak, Sherry Cask, Single Barrel, and other special releases. The whiskeys that really impressed me are the Snowflake, Sherry Cask, and Cask Strength.

Priced around $75 and the best of the four I sampled in 2022. I highly recommend this one and will pick up a bottle if I find in the NYC area.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

John Barr

July 26, 2023 Scotland

Name: John Barr

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, oak wood, lemon, honey, vanilla

Taste: Malt, honey, vanilla, rough finish

John Barr Whisky is a brand I had not heard of so I bought a nip. I will not waste your time with with a lot of words. Fuck me sideways, this shit if dreadful. It taste like shit.

Priced around “who gives a fuck?” and “do not buy this piss poison shit whisky.”

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Old Bardstown Bourbon

July 19, 2023 America

Name: Old Bardstown Bourbon

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn mash blend, wood/oak, vanilla

Taste: Corn mash, vanilla, sweet cream, spices

Bardstown Bourbon comes from the Willet Distillery, is a NAS and is aged around 4 years. It is a hard to nose at 50% abv with a hot finish. It is sweeter style bourbon and not really to my taste.

It is not a bad bourbon, but it lacks any complexity or depth in the flavor profile. It is overall a good bourbon and would work fine in cocktail or on the rocks. At the price point, I know half of the cost is taxes so it this to me is a very basic bourbon.

Willet is known to make some great bourbons, but this one just seems to be a mass market whiskey. It’s drinkable and will get the job done.

Prices around $50 and good, but nothing that impressive.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Kentucky Owl Rye

July 13, 2023 America

Name: Kentucky Owl Rye (Batch #3)

Color: Copper

Nose: Corn mash, barley/rye, vanilla, white oak

Taste: Corn, vanilla, orange finish

Kentucky Owl Rye Batch #3 whiskey is one of those with an odd history and a very high price tag. I stopped by the Bardstown Distillery with the hope to sample some of their more exotic expressions, but I was only able to get a flight of basic expressions and this rye for some reason. The bartender was really selling how great this rye was and that the gift store has bottles for sale. My Spidey-sense started tingling which is never a good sign.

When I tasted this rye, (away from the bartender at a table) it had a nice balance, soft profile, and was a little hot at 57% abv. A little water opened it up, and I liked it. But then I learned the cost and I started hating it.

I had to do some research about why this rye cost so much. I learned the Stoli Corporation purchased Kentucky Owl from a private owner who is the great-great-great grandson of someone who made bourbon a long time ago. They appear to be in the process of creating a premium luxury brand and added this stuff to their portfolio. The whiskey is sourced from multiple distilleries. It is not clear which ones but it is thought to be Jim Beam, Old Forester, Wild Turkey, and Barton/Sazerac. This does not justify the cost.

Priced around $250 and not worth the money. What dumb ass pays $250 for a 10-year-old rye?

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

PS: I read Batch No. 4 is not being released. No shit? I wonder why…

Boone Country Small Batch Bourbon

June 29, 2023 America

Name: Boone Country Small Batch Bourbon

Color: Copper

Nose: Corn (harsh), oak, vanilla, dark cherries, spice

Taste: Corn (harsh), oak, vanilla, dark fruit, rye spices

Boone County Small Batch Bourbon comes from someone with a distillery, somewhere, that was inspired by someone who lived 182 years ago, that did something.

That is pretty much how I am going to start summing up these fairly tale history sales pitches. I have learned when I read a things like “we are inspired by….following the same tradition……we take our direction from the brave ones before us….” there is an extremely high chance it will taste like shit.

This bourbon is a straight bourbon bottled at 45.45% abv with a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. On my first taste it is harsh, but a little water opens up the flavors slightly but does not impress or improve the taste. Boone has an a Old Forster type of taste and would probably be ok in a cocktail or with a mixer, but not for the price. I hate being right before I sample a whiskey.

Priced around $50 and not that impressive and I do not recommend it.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Opinions Vary – Which Cigar Cutter is the best?

June 28, 2023 Opinions Vary

There is sometimes a raging debate on what is the best method to cut your cigar among cigar smokers with no clear winner. Personally, I have learned it depends on the type of cigar and your preference on the type of draw you like.

Traditionally there are three types of cutters that are used which are, Straight Cut, V-Cut, or Punch. I like to use them as follows:

“Straight Cut” is for larger gauge, longer and tightly pack cigars that take 45+ minutes to smoke.

“V-Cut” when I want to mix it up. If I don’t like the draw then I straight cut it over it.

“Punch” for smaller cigars like Nub. Also, it is easy carry with you on a key chain.

What is affect the most by the cutter is the draw you feel in the mouth of the smoke. A Straight Cut will give you full smoke. A V-Cut will give a slower arriving full mouth feeling. A Punch will give you a half the amount feeling. Some work better than others depending on how tightly packed your cigar is and how it burns so state one version is the best is not realistic.

If you are looking to get a cutter as a gift there are many types and price ranges. Spend what you think the person is worth but I would not go crazy. Cutters have a habit of falling out of you pockets and getting left in golf carts. As long as it is sharp, it will get the job done.

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

If you like it, drink it!

Whistle Pig 10 Small Batch Rye

June 8, 2023 America

Name: Whistle Pig 10 Small Batch Rye

Color: Brown

Nose: Rye malt, spices, caramel, light oak

Taste: Rye malt, spices, orange, vanilla oak notes

Whistle Pig Whiskey was founded in 2007 in Vermont and produce high end rye whiskey that is expensive. Their history is a mixed bag of startup distillery, reality show owner, board management drama, and sourced product from Canada. It is a bit of a mess so go look it up if you are interested.

The Whistle Pig 10 is 100% rye, aged 10 years, and is bottled at 50% abv. For a rye whiskey it is very smooth, well balanced, and easy to drink. It has a little spice on the finish, and it bit hot due to the proof. A few drops of water open it up nicely. At the price this should be enjoyed neat or on the rocks. I would not put this in a cocktail as it would probably not hold its flavor profile after mixing or shaking with ice.

Like my recent comments on Stranahan’s Origional in last week’s review, I can understand the relationship between the age of the distillery vs. the expressions but I struggle to understand the cost per bottle of Whistle Pig. For the price I will spend my money on scotch or Sagamore Rye Cask Strength for cocktails.

Other expression: Piggyback Rye, Farmstock Rye, 10 Year Small Batch, 12-Year-Old World Cask Finish, 15 Year Estate Oak Rye, 18 Year Double Malt Rye, and The Boss Hog (editions releases vary in name).

Priced around $75 and overall good but too expensive for a sourced rye.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

June 1, 2023 Scotland

Name: Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, light wood, flowers, citrus, white pepper

Taste: Malt, lemon, vanilla, honey, light oak

Chivas Regal was created by James & John Chivas in the early 1800’s in Scotland. The Strathisla Distillery in Speyside region is now the source of all production and the distillery has changed ownership over the years. Chivas is a popular and leading blended whiskey in European and Asia markets. It is somewhat popular in the US market but Johnnie Walker and Kentucky Bourbons are the front runner for blends. Chivas has a very long history so if you are interested in learning more I recommend you look it up. I can only write so much in one review.

Chivas 18 is a blended scotch whiskey, bottled at 40% abv. It has a medium body and has a nice balance. It is an easy drinker and smooth tasting. It is good for a summer scotch and can be enjoyed on the rocks or neat.

I have had Chivas a few times over the years in peoples home mainly in Europe but when visiting the “A Hero to you and me Both” Sam Dean and he had this bottle to knock back around his fire pit in the back yard.

Other expressions: 12, Extra, Extra 13, 18, Royal Salute 21, 25, Brothers’ Blend, Ultis, Mizunara, The Icon, and XV.

Priced around $65 and a good summer drinker.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Glenfarclas 12

Tomatin 12 Year Old – Bourbon & Sherry Casks

Stratahan’s Sherry Cask

John Barr

Old Bardstown Bourbon

Kentucky Owl Rye

Boone Country Small Batch Bourbon

Opinions Vary – Which Cigar Cutter is the best?

Whistle Pig 10 Small Batch Rye

Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

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