Chris | Page 2 | NYC Whiskey Review

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Jameson Cold Brew

March 13, 2025 Ireland

Name: Jameson Cold Brew

Color: Dark Brown

Nose: Coffee, nuts, cocoa, chemical notes

Taste: Coffee, nuts, little chemical finish

Happy St. Patricks Month! Irish WhiskEy Reviews each week!!

This review is going to be short…..not a good sign for a whiskey here at NYC Whiskey Review.

Jameson Cold Brew has a very strong coffee noses with a lot of chemical taste. It is not for straight drinking. It is a mixer for a coffee. If you want Irish Whiskey for an Irish Coffee, buy something else. Maybe Jameson Crested.

Priced around $35 and tastes Holy Fuck Balls dipped in dog shit.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Jameson Caskmates – IPA Edition

March 12, 2025 Ireland

Name: Jameson Caskmates – IPA Edition

Color: Golden Brown

Nose: Jameson, beer barley, citrus, lemon grass

Taste: Beer flavor, Jameson, lemon finish

Happy St. Patricks Month! Irish WhiskEy Reviews each week!!

Jameson Caskmates – IPA Edition is a 40% abv, aged 3+ years, and finished in ex-bourbon and ex-IPA casks. The beer casks are provided by Eight Degrees Brewing from Cork Ireland. Eight Degrees bottles look familiar to me from my trips overseas to the United Kingdom, but I have not drank their brew. If you are not familiar with what “IPA” is let me help you out.

IPA beer is defined as: Hoppy beer styled pale ale and is an export style of pale ale. It was developed in England around 1840’s and became popular with East India Company traders because the brewery location was near their ships docks. Hence it became known as “India Pale Ale”.

At first sip the whiskey is nice and a has a smooth finish. It is medium bodied and surprising decent, but not amazing but good. As of this tasting this is the only Jameson I have actually enjoyed drinking. I am not a fan of Jameson Whiskey flavor profile. I prefer Scotch over Bourbon and Japanese Whiskey fights for second place with Kentucky mash. I have met many Irishman/women who do not like to drink scotch as it is too rough for them. To each their own.

Priced around $45 and decent stuff for Jameson at the price. These expressions are basically Jameson doing something to add more product to the market. I do not see them lasting forever in the market place.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Jameson Irish Whiskey

March 11, 2025 Ireland

Name: Jameson Irish Whiskey

Color: Light Gold

Nose: Grain, alcohol, citrus

Taste: Light, malt grain, light wood

Happy St. Patricks Month! Irish WhiskEy Reviews each week!!

Yes, its is that time of year again in NYC. It’s St. Patrick’s Day this month, so let’s all go out and get shit faced and not really understand what Patrick did to become a Saint.

I am not a big fan of Jameson Whiskey. This whiskey has no special nose, a rough finish, and tastes cheap. Jameson is a triple distilled blended whiskey and it is what it is, a baseline product to be used in other version the distillery produces.

Everyone in NYC knows Jameson because regular bars offer it at $4-5 a shot (a very small shot) which makes it one of the most drank whiskey in NYC based on recent statistics on Facebook. Let us assume Facebook news is accurate with this statement, and it probably is because a few years ago, Bloomberg News ran a story about Jameson was ramping up production to match Jack Daniels. Today it appears to be true as Jameson is on the shelf of almost every bar in America.

Jameson is very affordable but nothing that special. It goes good in Irish coffee, in mixers, or if you want to get drunk affordably. If you like Jameson I would recommend you increase your budget and purchase one of their aged stated whiskeys or their Red Breast 12 Year Old.

Priced around $35 and I am not a fan of this expression from Jameson.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Teeling Pot Still Whiskey

March 6, 2025 Ireland

Name: Teeling Pot Still Whiskey

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, white fruits, flowers

Taste: Malt, apples, white pepper

Happy St. Patricks Month! Irish WhiskEy Reviews each week!!

Teeling Pot Still Whiskey in one of several expressions from the Teeling Distillery which is located Dublin, Ireland. The distillery was started by Jack and Stephen Teeling in 2012 and was the first new distillery in the City of Dublin in 125 years. The founders are the sons of John Teeling who started the Cooley Distillery. Cooley produces Kibeggan, Connemara, The Tyrconnell, and 2 Gingers whiskey. I am not a fan of nepotism, but in starting a new distillery, in a major city, it works nicely.

Pot Still Whiskey has a nice malt flavor profile with little creamy finish. The whiskey has a 50/50 mix of malted and un-malted barley, non-chilled filtered, non-age stated, bottled at 46% abv, and aged in American Virgin Oak, bourbon, and sherry casks.

Other expressions are: Small Batch, Single Grain, Single Malt, Spirit of Dublin, The Revival 13 Year, Vintage Reserve 24, and Vintage Reserve 33.

I am a fan of Teeling and I look forward to trying more expressions. If you know someone that likes Irish Whiskey, or you want to upgrade a gift bottle I would recommend Teeling.

Priced around $70 and is a little overpriced but has a very nice flavor profile. Thanks to Frankie for the free tasting!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Teeling Single Malt Whiskey

March 5, 2025 Ireland

Name: Teeling Single Malt Whiskey

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Pear, white fruits, green grass

Taste: Barley, almonds, pear, sweet wine

Happy St. Patricks Month! Irish WhiskEy Reviews each week!!

Teeling Single Malt whiskey is a 100% malt whiskey aged in five wine casks and gives the spirit a unique flavor profile. These casks include; Sherry, Port, Madeira, White Burgundy, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Single Malt is a non-aged stated, 46% abv, and no chill filtration whiskey. The Teeling Distillery states it contains whiskey up to 23 years old to make this expression, but I do not buy that statement. If it is true, then it is fractional amount of 23-year-old whisky. The more I sample of Teeling the more I become a fan. For my previous Teeling review click here.

As I tasted this expression from Teeling I kept getting a reminder of white burgundy wine. In my college days in the late 1990’s I worked a few summers as a sommelier and I sold (and drank) a lot of white burgundy. That was the best job I ever had…… Why did I become an engineer?

Anyhow, Teeling Single Malt is a great example of what a good whiskey can be an at a good price. It has a nice balance of flavor, body, and not being too Irish or creamy or sweet. It’s got enough body and taste while being light enough to drink in warm weather. It is a good summer scotch and I doubt it will last another 30 days on my bar.

I am glad I picked this one up on a chance instead of the Red Breast Lustau I was planning on purchasing.

Price around $60 and well worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Teeling Small Batch – Rum Cask Finish

March 4, 2025 Ireland

Name: Teeling Small Batch – Rum Cask Finish

Color: Yellow

Nose: Sweet Rum, apples, wheat

Taste: Oatmeal, apples, rum sweetness

Happy St. Patricks Month! Irish WhiskEy Reviews each week!!

I am not a huge fan of Irish whiskey, but I liked this release from Teeling. I joke about the Irish and their whisky because I am half Scottish but truth be told, the creamy finish on most Irish drams is not appealing to me. However, with Teeling Small Batch Rum Cask Finish I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the flavor profile.

Small Batch is non-chilled filtered with a blend of 35% malt and 65% grain and aged between 4 to 7 years. After the aging, it is finished in rum barrels for 4-6 months. The rum casks are supplied by Flor de Canan (“Sugar Flower”) Rum from Nicaragua. At the time of writing this review, Teeling states that it is the only distillery in Ireland that uses rum barrels to finish their whiskey. The black bottle made me think I was getting something heavier but I thought wrong. It is a lighter flavor and fresh tasting.

I recommend this whiskey for scotch and bourbon drinkers. I strongly recommend it for those who think Irish whiskey is $5 shots of Jameson here in NYC with a beer. I cringe every time I walk by a bar in Manhattan that as a black board with white chalk writing advertising Jameson shots. There is more to Irish Whiskey than Jameson.

Teeling Small Batch is a good Irish whiskey at a good price. Great stocking stuffer, good to bring to a party, or drink in the office.

Priced around $45 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Italian Cocktail – The Negroni

February 26, 2025 NYC

Name: Italian Cocktail – The Negroni

Color: Red

Nose: Gin, sweet syrup, medicinal spices

Taste: Gin, sweet syrup, medicinal spices, cirtus notes

The Negroni cocktail is said to originate in Italy in the 1940’s. Some records show it originating in France in the 1920’s, but I choose to believe the it came from Italy due to the use of Campari. Wherever or who ever created it, you have done a benefit to society, my thanks to you.

The Negroni is simple cocktail made with dry gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. It is served in a rocks glass over ice and with a twist. There are other versions of the Negroni, but I prefer the classic. This cocktail is not for everyone for three reasons. One, more people drink vodka than gin. Two, most people do not drink Campari. Three, sweet vermouth has never been as popular as dry vermouth. It is a sad truth, I never really see people ordering Negroni’s in the NYC area.

What I like best about a Negroni is it has some bite to it. It has a medium heavy, slightly syrupy, and has a sharp finish of Campari. It is an excellent substitute for a whisky on the rocks on a hot summer day.

How make a Negroni:

1/3 Dry Gin
1/3 Sweet Vermouth
1/3 Campari Bitters
Stir and Strain in rocks with ice
Add twist of orange or lemon

Negroni Tip:

Make sure you use a quality dry gin. Fruity, earthy, or experimental gins will not blend well with the other mixers. Trust me I have tried it. For the “Anthony Bourdain “Big Ass Negroni” use an 8-ounce rocks glass, one big ice cube, and 3x the measures of booze.

I recommend you try one this summer. They do taste better in Italy for some strange reason.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Harry’s Bar – Venice, Italy

February 19, 2025 NYC

Name: Harry’s Bar

Location: Venice, Italy

Website: Cipriani | Harry’s Bar Venice | Venezia, Italy

Harry’s Bar is located around the corner from St. Mark’s Plaza in Venice, Italy and was founded in 1931 by Giuseppe Cipriani. If the name “Cipriani” sounds familiar, it’s because it is hotel/restaurant worldwide company that has many properties and few locations in NYC. The history of Harry’s Bar is very interesting and I recommend you look it up.

My first visit was about 15 years ago in October and my second visit was 2 years ago in July. I suggest you visit for an afternoon drink from 2:00-5:00pm. I recommend their Bellini, Martini, or a Negroni along with some small snacks. HOWEVER, buyer beware, this place is very expensive. Even the late Anthony Bourdain was quoted saying “Harry’s Bar costs a fuck lot”. He is not wrong.

If Harry’s Bar is out of your price range, you can opt to go to St. Mark’s Plaza and sit outside for a drink, but it’s really just a little cheaper. If St. Mark’s is not going to work for your budget, I recommend you walk 10-15 minutes away from St. Mark’s up the canal. You will find several outdoor cafes on the water that have great views and reasonably priced drink and food.

Tip for first time travelers to Venice:

Summer is ridiculously busy and can be brutally hot. The city is all stone so it holds and radiates the heat at the same time regardless of being on the water. Most places do not have ice cold air conditioning so you can feel exhausted walking around no matter how much water you drink. I recommend to everyone to see Venice in the early Fall. There are less people, cooler weather, and it is easier to get seat at Harry’s Bar.

Harry’s Bar is absolutely worth a visit if you are in Venice and it fits your budget.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Laphroaig Oak Select

February 12, 2025 Scotland

Name: Laphroaig Oak Select

Color: Gold

Nose: Oak, peat, iodine, white flowers and fruit

Taste: Oak, peat, iodine, white flowers and fruit

Laphroaig Oak Select is (and I am quoting from their site) the “most laid-back expression lets our signature flavors of medicinal peat smoke and seaweed shine, leaving plenty of room for notes of red fruit, lime and a floral finish”. I would call it the “Bud Light of Laphroaig” as it is just a light version of Laphroaig 10.

This expression is non aged stated, but is matured in Oloroso sherry butts, ex-Bourbon quarter casks and Pedro Ximenez sherry hogsheads and then finished in virgin American oak barrels. It is botted at 40% and has the appearance of the classic green bottle with a white label.

Laphroaig Oak Select is fine but it is a just a light version of the 10 year old. Less peat and bite on it. Whisky like Laphroaig is not for everyone, this expression would be a good way to easy someone into what I refer to as “Big Boy Scotch”. It works nicely in a hot toddy and I am going to try it in a cocktail.

Priced around $50 and worth it if you like Laphroaig.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Oban 14

February 5, 2025 Scotland

Name: Oban 14

Color: Brown

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

Taste: Malt, dry wood, honey, flowers

The Oban distillery is located in the West Coast of Scotland in the port of Oban. It was established in 1794 and is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland. I have not had Oban in years, and I received this bottle from my good friend Sam for the birth on my son. I will admit, I need a drink now and then during that first month of fatherhood.

Oban 14 flavor profile is very nice and well balanced, but it falls a little flat for me. I am not overly impressed with it for the age. At 14 years I was expected a little more richer tasting flavor profile for a single malt that is medium light in body. Oban is a smooth drinker but come as at a higher price point. This price is likely due to the small size of the distillery and the low volume production.

Oban Expressions: 14, 18, 32, Little Bay, Distiller’s Edition, and The Soul of Calypso.

Priced around $75 to $100 and priced a little on the high side for the flavor profile

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Jameson Cold Brew

Jameson Caskmates – IPA Edition

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Teeling Pot Still Whiskey

Teeling Single Malt Whiskey

Teeling Small Batch – Rum Cask Finish

Italian Cocktail – The Negroni

Harry’s Bar – Venice, Italy

Laphroaig Oak Select

Oban 14

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