Chris | Page 2 | NYC Whiskey Review

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Two Trees – Land of the Sky

January 7, 2026 America

Name: Two Trees – Land of the Sky

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, malt, wheat, vanilla, oak, light spices

Taste: Corn, wheat, dry oak, orange spice

Two Trees Distilling Company is located in Fletcher, North Carolina and was founded in 2018. The distillery states that is uses “Appalachian water and quality grains” to create their expressions. The Land of Sky is a limited release from their Uplifting Spirits expression line with the mash bill being of corn, wheat, and malted barley. The whiskey is aged for 3 years, finished in toasted white oak barrels, and is bottled at 46% abv.

On my first taste the whiskey came off a young and dry which did not surprise me due to the maturation time and the wheat I detected on the nose. On my second taste I noticed the heat from the higher proof and the wheat came off stronger. The dryness is quite pronounced, but the overall flavor profile is good. I am not a huge fan of wheat whiskeys (aka wheaters) as the dryness is too noticeable when I sample it neat. However, in cocktail I do enjoy them, so my third taste I opted for an Old Fashioned.

I prefer my Old Fashioned the following way: Two ounces of whiskey, 3 dashes of bitters, sugar, splash of soda water, stir, and serve on large ice cube with an orange peel. The nose was fresh and the taste was sharp. The higher proof gave it a nice kick, and the cocktail was very tasty. It hit the spot and I recommend Land of the Sky as a mixer.

Two Tree Expressions: Land of Skye, Batch 314, Wood Crafted Bourbon, Snarly Yow, Owl Head, Wampus Cat, Old Fyre Dragaman, Two Trees Vodka, and the “ready to drink” Old Fashioned & Manhattan.

Flavored Expressions: Sea Salted Caramel, Candy Apple, Carolina Peach, Michigan Cherry, Cinnamon Spice, Peanut Butter, Golden Honey, Crisp Apple, Pumpkin Spice, and Peppermint.

Priced around $50-$60 and well-priced if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Note: I contacted the distillery to purchase some samples and they sent me this bottle for gratis.

The Balvenie French Oak – 16-Year-Old

December 25, 2025 Scotland

Name: The Balvenie French Oak – 16-Year-Old

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, honey-caramel, green grass, white fruits

Taste: Malt, caramel, citrus, ginger, spices

Merry Christmas! This is #1 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes to all for 2026! – Chris

The Balvenie Distillery was founded in 1892 in Dufftown which is in the Speyside region of Scotland. It has been distilling whisky for 127 years and I have not yet had a bad experience with their whisky. This expression is a continuation of the fact that Balvenie stands taller than almost all other whiskies when it comes to creative new releases.

The French Oak 16 was released in 2022, is non-chilled filtered, and bottled at 47.6% abv. This expression is aged in casks that were used for wine from the region of Charentes, matured in American Oak, and finished Pineau casks. These casks create quite a unique and delicious flavor profile that only wine casks could impart in the whisky.

Charentes is in the southwestern region of France and its focus in wine production is Pineau and Cognac. Pineau is a fortified wine that is made from fresh grapes and cognac. It is consumed as an aperitif, and I have never seen it on a menu in America. Cognac is Cognac and I expect you have heard of it.

This combination of casks has made something very nice. The combination creates this flavor profile of malt and wine notes but is not too overpowering or earthy tasting. A few other distilleries have done this type of cask maturation, but this is the best I have ever experienced. Many thanks to my old childhood friend Nick fame for pouring me a dram. I should have had two!

Other expressions:

Core Expressions: 12, 17, Signature 12, Cuba Selection 14, Caribbean Cask 14, Single Barrel 12 & 15, Peat Week, French Oak 16, 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 $225 and worth the money if you like the flavor profile and it fits your budget.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Vale Fox “Curium”

December 24, 2025 NYC

Name: Vale Fox “Curium”

Color: Copper

Nose: Malt, caramel, oak, earth, honey-spice, green grasses

Taste: Malt, caramel, oak, earth, green grasses, cognac

2 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #2 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

Vale Fox Distillery is located in Poughkeepsie, New York and was founded in 2017 by Eral Gokgol-Kline. The company started with gin and now as released their first single malt “Curium”.

This bottle of Curium is “Batch 0001 of 396 bottles” and is cask strength at 63.4% abv. It is a 100% malted barley, matured in American Oak cask & Cognac cask, and is listed as an American Malt. The whiskey is a little hot on the first taste and I was surprised they went with cask strength due to the complex flavor profile. The finish is a little dry and earthy, but I am not surprised as it is aged in Cognac casks. I recommend a touch of water, or a small ice cube to open the flavors. This is not slugging whiskey, it is sipping whisky.

Curium was a gift from my good friends who I affectionately call, “Z Germans….”. They were visiting Upstate NY and stayed in Rhinebeck. They went to the Rhine Wine & Liquor Store and asked for a recommendation of good whiskey. I am planning to get up to Rhinebeck again this Fall and I hope to find time to visit this distillery. I am now going to plan a trip to Germany to repay the kindness!

Priced around $140 and worth it if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Old Scout Straight Bourbon Whiskey

December 23, 2025 America

Name: Old Scout Bourbon Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Color: Copper

Nose: Corn/rye, barley, vanilla, orange

Taste: Corn, barley, vanilla, orange, sugar-spice

2 Days before Christmas arrives! Last chances to get your bottles!

Old Scout Bourbon is produced by Smooth Ambler, which is located in Maxwelton, West Virginia. I was not familiar with this distillery and this bottle was a gift from my good friend Sam Dean.

On my first taste I found the bourbon a little hot and lacking body structure, it just tasted very light. The overall taste is a little rough, but I think that is due to the rye. The finish was decent and I expected it would work better in a cocktail and I was correct. This bourbon is not really a sipper. It works fine on the rocks but better in an old fashioned as the high proof holds the flavor longer.

Old Scout Bourbon is bottled at 49.5% abv and is non-chilled filtered. The mash bill is 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley, however, the corn was more forward tasting, and the rye gave it a little spice, but not too much.

Priced around $40 and a decent bourbon for cocktails. I look forward to trying more of their expressions.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The GlenAllachie 15

December 22, 2025 Scotland

Name: The GlenAllachie 15

Color: Dark Brown

Nose: Malt, caramel, oak, honey, sherry, red wine

Taste: Malt, oak, sherry caramel, red wine oak

3 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #3 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

GlenAllachie 15 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 15 is bottled at 46% abv, natural colored, and is non-chilled filtered. It is aged in Virgin Oak, PX Sherry, Oloroso sherry, and red wine casks. It is very well balanced and is a big step above the 12 year old with the extra 3 years and red wine cask finish. I would have though the combination of the casks might yield and unbalanced whisky, but this one is very nice. I enjoyed it until the last drop.

GlenAllachie other expressions that fall under these categories: 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 $100+ and I recommend this whisky.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Oban 14

December 21, 2025 Scotland

Name: Oban 14

Color: Brown

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

Taste: Malt, dry wood, honey, flowers

4 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #4 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

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!

Tomatin 14

December 20, 2025 Scotland

Name: Tomatin 14

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, sherry, port, flowers, honey

Taste: Malt, port sugar, dark fruit, honey flowers

5 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #5 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

Tomatin distillery is located in the Village to Tomatin which is South of Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland. The distillery was founded in the 16^th century for local purchases of jugs for farmers and then was later fully established as Tomatin in 1897.

Tomatin 14 has a nice balance and soft taste on the first tasting. As I sipped more I grew to really enjoy this expression for the age and the price point . The whisky is 100% malted barley, natural color, non-chilled filtered, aged 14 years in ex-bourbon/ex-port barrels, and bottled at 46% abv. Tomatin 14 is more of summer styled scotch as it is a little sweet, but not too sweet. It is a far better expression than the 12 year old and much better on the wallet than the 18 year old.

Priced around $75+ and worth money if you like summer styled flavor profile. I will be picking up a bottle this summer.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The Great Jones Distillery – NYC

December 19, 2025 NYC

6 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #6 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

The Great Jones Distillery is located at 686 Broadway, New York, NY (Broadway & Great Jones St). The distillery was opened in August 2021 and states it is the first legal operating distillery in NYC since the 1920 Prohibition.It is owned by Proximo Spirits (aka Jose Cuervo) and Black Dirt Distillery in upstate New York is a sister distillery.

The space is very impressive for its size and location in NYC. The layout, bars, restaurants, finishes work, gift shop, etc. all appears to be high quality. I can see a large amount of money was spent to build this venue. I would guess it was $75M all in, and it looks like it was money well spent. Great Jones is a nice place to drop in for a drink and the menu looks good but I did not sample any of the food.

Great Jones has a variety of things you can experience. They have tours, VIP tours, merchandise, Saturday Jazz Brunch, light lunch/apps menu, lounge areas, and a bar. It strikes me as they are covering all the NYC basis of what a venue can offer. Overall, it is a very nice place to visit, but here comes the “BUT”.

But the whiskies I sampled were ok at best. I did a very basic tasting and did not blow any wind up my skirt. I do not want to disparage Great Jones, but if you have never been to a distillery they can be a great experience, but also you can end up having an Emperor’s Clothes experience if you are not paying attention. I am going to go back soon at try their the higher end expressions in the near future and I will provide reviews for their bourbon and rye soon.

Great Jones Expressions (2025):

Peated Scotch Cask Bourbon ($150), 10-year Distillery Reserve Bourbon ($200), Wheated Straight ($50), Straight Bourbon ($45), Empire Rye ($45), and Wolffer Estate Cask Finished Bourbon ($60).

If you are in NYC and are looking to try stop for a whiskey, give them a try. I would love to know what you think.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

New Riff Malted Rye

December 18, 2025 America

Name: New Riff Malted Rye

Color: Copper

Nose: Rye, corn, vanilla, orange, spices, cedar

Taste: Rye, corn, cinnamon, spices, cedar

7 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #7 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

New Riff Malted Rye is produced by New Riff Distilling and is located in Newport, KY. The distillery was founded by Ken Lewis who used to own The Party Source Store in the same plaza. It is my understanding that you cannot produce and distribute in Kentucky, so he sold the store to start the distillery.

The rye expression is 100% malted rye, aged 6 years, non-chilled filtered, and bottled at 50% abv. It is noted to be the oldest aged whiskey currently offered by New Riff. It was also a gift from St. Matthew, so thanks very much buddy!

New Riff Malted Rye may be a 100% rye, but for some odd reason it tastes like a hybrid of New Riff Bourbon & Rye. I just can’t shake the feeling that there is some corn in this whiskey. I think I will have to pick up a bottle of their Single Barrel Bourbon and compare them side by side. I was curious how it would hold up in an Old Fashioned and I had some doubts. I was good but I prefer my 120 proof ryes as it watered down too fast.

Priced around $70 and a good rye.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Liga Privada No. 9 Flying Pig

December 17, 2025 Cigars

Name: Liga Privada No. 9 Flying Pig

Size: 3.9” x 60

Shape: Perfecto

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf, Oscuro

Binder: Brazil

Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan

8 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #8 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

Liga Privada No. 9 “Flying Pig” is made by Drew Estate and is considered one of their better expressions. This cigar is rich, oily, and has a chocolate coffee nut flavor to it. The draw is very smooth, but it hits hard with the strong Brazilian tobacco.

I like cigars like this when I want a “kick”, but I do not want to spend an hour smoking. It is very good smoke, but a little on the high side in price.

Priced around $25 per stick and worth it if you like the flavor and it fits your budget.

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

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Two Trees – Land of the Sky

The Balvenie French Oak – 16-Year-Old

Vale Fox “Curium”

Old Scout Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The GlenAllachie 15

Oban 14

Tomatin 14

The Great Jones Distillery – NYC

New Riff Malted Rye

Liga Privada No. 9 Flying Pig

Search:

Newsletter Subscription

Recent Posts

Categories