Chris | Page 24 | NYC Whiskey Review

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Caol Ila 12

February 24, 2022 Scotland

Name: Caol Ila 12

Color: Light yellow

Nose: Peat, smoke, iodine, sea salt, lemon

Taste: Oak, peat/smoke, citrus, flowers, pepper

Caol Ila 12 is produced by the Caol Ila Distillery in Port Askaig on the Isle of Islay. The distillery was founded in 1846 and has changed ownership over the years and is now owned by Diageo (this will be important in a minute). Pronounced “Cull Eela” which means “Sound of Islay” this single malt is bottled at 43% abv and is lighter than Laphroaig 10 and less complex than Lagavulin 16.

The peat and wood taste are a bit different than other Islay scotches, but it is in the same ballpark and there was something familiar about this scotch. Every once and while when I am sampling a whisky and it seems familiar, but I cannot put my finger on it. After some research on this scotch I discovered that what Caol Ila scotch that is not used for their bottles ends up being put into Johnnie Walker….surprise! And no surprise, it is owned by Diageo. I sampled JW Black and Caol Ila 12 side by side. There is a very strong similarity on the nose and taste, but the peat overpowers so you have to search for it.

Caol Ila is what it “is” and that is overpriced Johnnie Walker Black plus 35 ppm peat. I found it to be ok. I assume it was produced to grab some of the Islay market. For the money I spend on this bottle and a few dollars more I could have gotten Lagavulin.

Priced around $70 it is overpriced for what you get in the bottle.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Port Askaig 8-Year-Old

February 23, 2022 Scotland

Name: Port Askaig 8-Year-Old

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, peat, citrus, light wood

Taste: Malt, wood, peat, lemon

Port Askaig is whisky is produced by Elixir Distillers. They own Specialty Drinks, which in turn owns The Whiskey Exchange which is… ah fuck it. You get the point.

The whisky is aged for 8 years in ex-bourbon barrels, non-chilled filtered, has no color added, and is bottled at 45.8% abv. The whisky is sourced from Caol Ila and some comes from Laphroaig. Anyone see where this is going?

Islay whisky’s have a very specific flavor profile (peat/smoke) and have a limited market as most people do not prefer the Islay flavor. Port Askaig appears to be created to grab a bit of the market away from the other distilleries by selling something of similar taste but less quality. Like Caol Ila, it is creation to make money, not to produce something of value.

Priced around $60 and overpriced and tastes like shit.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Opinions Vary: What is Best Bang for the Buck?

February 22, 2022 America

Opinions Vary: What is Best Bang for the Buck?

When you think of the question “What’s the best bang for the Buck?” it quickly becomes a very subjective question. For me it depends on what I like to drink and what my wallet can handle. It (and most things) come down to money, quality, and proof (abv). So basically it is Price & Proof if you want a good bang.

The best whiskey for the value has to be connected to the proof for the bang. If you read my reviews you know I am not a fan of cask strength whiskey, but when it comes to maximizing price, I recommend you get the strongest whiskey at the best price. For me I have come to the following conclusions:

Bourbon Best Bang for the Buck:

Knob Creek 9 Year (100 proof) for $35 or Sagamore Rye Cask Strength (112.2 proof) for $60.

Scotch Best Bang for the Buck:

Any 12-Year-Old Single Malt for around $50. If I had to pick two it would be Tomatin 12 or The Singleton 12 at $40 (summer drinker) or Talisker 10 or Laphroig 10 (winter drinker) at $65. Most will be around 80 proof.

Special Occasions Best Bang for the Buck:

18-Year-old Single Malts, Johnnie Walker Blue or other high-quality whiskey give great bang for the buck for you and 1-2 friends drinking with you. If you open a $125-$250 bottle with a recognizable label in a larger group it will evaporate quickly. So buyer and drinker beware, chose your whiskey and friends wisely.

If you are stretching your dollars or spending a fair amount to serve to multiple thirsty people you will want to manage your expectations and wallet. Usually, if you buy a few bottles for a party I know it is going to be drank in mixers, cocktails or on the rocks. So I will go with Knob Creek every time.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Journeyman Last Feather Rye

February 17, 2022 America

Name: Journeyman Last Feather Rye

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Rye, white pepper, dried fruit

Taste: Rye, vanilla, cream, pepper/spice

Journeyman Spirits originates from Three Oaks, Michigan and is stated to be a hand-crafted artisan spirit. The distillery notes that all the ingredients are locally sourced organic grains and a local aquifer supplies the water. The factory that distillery operates out of has some interesting history of producing various old timey items for adults. You can look it up.

The distillery, like many new distilleries produces other spirits to support the whiskey production. Journeyman Spirits also produces vodka, gin, rum, brandy, and liqueurs.

Last Feather Rye is bottled at 45% abv and is a mash of 60% rye and 40% wheat. This rye is their flagship product and has won some awards. (if you read my reviews you know what I think about awards). I sampled was Batch #49, Bottle #413 from the three 200ml bottle box set. I thought the box set was a good price and killed three bottles with one purchase. I found the Last Feather Rye a little on the sweet side and is not that impressive of a flavor profile. It is what it is, which is a young, rough, and locally made slugging whisky that has made its way onto the market. Journeyman Rye reminds me of Mark Twain’s quote: “There is no such thing as a bad whiskey, some are just made better than others”

Priced around $50 and it’s your call to buy a bottle but maybe just get the 3 pack and decide for yourself.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Sagamore Reserve Series

February 10, 2022 America

Name: Sagamore Reserve Series

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Light, flowers, spice, honey, grass

Taste: Rye, semi-sweet, white apple fruit

Sagamore Spirit Whiskey originates from Baltimore, Maryland and is owned by the owner Under Armor clothing. The marketing claims that Maryland produced rye whiskey before Bourbon was created in Kentucky. This makes sense when you look at how America’s colonies and states developed. Last month I reviewed Sagamore Double Oak.

Sagamore Reserve Series is aged 5 years, bottled at 101.32 proof, and finished in Calvados barrels for up to 2 years. Calvados is an apple (or pear) brandy from the Calvados region in Normandy, France. The Calvados barrel finish gives nice apples notes and the French Oak gives some nice tannins to the whiskey. The overall taste profile is more on the lighter side and I feel would make more of a summer rye cocktail than a winter drink.

Overall, I am impressed with Sagamore’s expressions so far and this one is no exception.

Priced around $75 and a little pricey for a mixer but worth a try to experience the flavor profile on a rye.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Bank Note Peated Reserve

February 5, 2022 Scotland

Name: Bank Note Peated Reserve

Color: Light brown

Nose: Malt grain, peat, heather

Taste: Peat, malt, caramel, red fruit

Review:

Bank Note Peated Reserve is a blended scotch whisky bottled at 43% and is the “peatier” cousin of Bank Note Scotch. It is aged approximately 5 years for each blend that is in the bottle and has a mash of 40% malt and 50% grain.

A.D. Rattray produces Bank Note and states that it is a mix of Speyside and Highland scotches. If you are not familiar with A.D. Rattray it is a family business in Scotland that started back in 1868 and blends cask of various whisky’s for bottling and selling. Basically, they are a middle man. Depending on the product your local liquor store stocks you will find these bottles of blends, single malts and various ages stated whisky that have unfamiliar labels to the developing eye. I have had A.D. Rattray before but I remember I paid a high price for it and decided to focus on main distilleries as I was just starting to make efforts to really learn about whisky.

Bank Note Peat Reserve is a nice tasting and well-balanced scotch that is a little lighter on the flavor profile. If you would like to start to get into peat flavored whisky’s I would recommend starting with this one.

Priced around $30 and an overall nice blended peat flavored scotch.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Angels Envy Bourbon

February 3, 2022 America

Name: Angels Envy Bourbon

Color: Light brown

Nose: Corn/malt, vanilla, orange, port wine sweet

Taste: Corn bourbon, light cream notes, port wine finish

Angels Envy is a Straight Kentucky Bourbon, aged 4 to 6 years, and bottled at 43.3% abv. The bourbon is matured in charred oak of barrels and is finished in Port wine barrels. Angels Envy is created by the Henderson Family and is produced by the Louisville Distillery in Kentucky which is owned by Bacardi.

The bottle I sampled was Batch No. 752 and Bottle No. 8840. It is different tasting than most bourbons I have sampled due to the port finish. The port wine finish is nice touch, but for traditional bourbon drinker this may not be to one’s liking. The bottle is a tall and flat shaped and imprinted wing that stand out through the bourbon and is unique looking. It is also a thin bottle that is easy to hide at your desk at work.

Other expressions produced by Angel Envy are:

Port Finish
Rum Finish
Cask Strength,
Sherry Cask 2019
Tawny Cask 2020

Good to drink straight or on rocks and maybe an after-dinner drink. I do not recommend it in cocktails, but the website has several receipts.

Priced around $55 and worth the money if the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Proletariat Bar NYC

February 2, 2022 NYC

Proletariat is a beer only bar in the East Village of NYC that I discovered a few years ago and is my favorite place in NYC to go for a beer. No whisky, wine, cocktails, or food. Good craft beer only.

Located at 102 St. Marks Place the entrance is simple and non-descript. The bar is a small dark railroad shaped space with about twenty seats and no tables. There is a one toilet bathroom that is dimly lit with a red light. There is no television and the walls are brick or plaster with framed tattoo artwork for decoration. The beers rotate and are written on a chalk board or with colored magnets in the center of the bar. There is no mixologist, there is a bartender that knows the beers they are serving.

The word “proletariat” means “the working class people” and the name suits this place. As NYC continues to become more of a non triggered safe-space corporate controlled environment small businesses continue to get lost to time, but more often to rising rent prices. I have only been here for seven years, but I notice the changes when I am in the city and it breaks my heart.

I had not been back over the two years due to the lockdown, so I made a point to go last week. I was happy to sit and enjoy my beer, but I learned they will be moving their location so I recommend you visit soon.

Hours:

M/T/W/R 5:00pm – 12:00am
Friday 4:00pm – 12:00am
Saturday 2:00pm – 12:00am
Sunday 2:00pm – 10:00pm

Beer Menu: Rotates/Pour sizes vary

Cost: Moderate

Proletariat is the kind of place that I wish there were more of in the city. I hope the new spot has the same vibe!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Bunnahabhain – Stiuireadair

January 13, 2022 Scotland

Name: Bunnahabhain – Stiuireadair

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, lemon, seaweed/iodine, flowers, cedar wood

Taste: Malt, lemon, sherry notes, white fruit

Stiuireadair (pronounced stew-rahdur) is an “other” expression from the Bunnahabhain Distillery which hails from Islay region of Scotland. There is no aged listed, it is 46.3% abv, natural colored, un-chill filtered, and matured in sherry casks. The name is Gaelic for “Helmsman” which is the guy who drives the boat. (“Hooper drives the boat Chief!” – name the movie!)

The expression is listed as a “tribute to the sea” so I will page Don Draper as I usually do when I read this type of bullshit marketing.

Bunnahabhain has core and “other” expressions. Many of these expressions I have not seen in stores or on menus, so I am curious to sample more.

Core Expressions: 12,18, Toiteach, 25

Other Expressions: Amontillado, Feis Ile, Palo Cortado, Port Pipe, French Brandy, Moine Brandy, Vintage Marsala, Moine Marsala, Moine Oloroso Toiteach A Dha, Culag, Moine Bordeaux Red Wine, Pedro Ximenez, 40 year old, Canasta 46 year old, Eirigh Na Greine, Cruach Mhona, An Cladach, Ceobanach

The profile is very good and works well as a winter whisky served neat or a summer scotch on the rocks.

Priced around $60 and worth it if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

December 23, 2021 Scotland

Name: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

Color: Clear

Nose: Juniper and fresh green earth notes

Taste: Similar to nose, no burn on the finish

Review:

3 Days until Christmas! Do you have all your gifts and bottles ready?!?

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin 22 is produced by the Bruichladdich Distillery in Islay, Scotland. Since it is the clear liquid cousin of a very good scotch producer it was worth a try and review. Before I was into whisky I was Gin & Tonic drinker but one trip to Kentucky changed all that in 2008. I do not know why Bruichladdich decided to make this gin, but I am glad they did.

The Botanist Gin is a London dry styled gin that is bottled at 46% abv, made from 22 hand-forged botanicals on Islay, and contains 9 core aromatics. You can look them up as there is a lot

Upon first nosing the gin I found aromas all over the place. I could not really determine any specific notes. The taste is sweet with earthy greens and it was very easy to drink neat which was a surprise. A martini straight up with a twist of lemon was then created for assurance of quality. It was excellent.

Priced around $45 and worth the money if you enjoy gin or want to add a bottle to your bar.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Caol Ila 12

Port Askaig 8-Year-Old

Opinions Vary: What is Best Bang for the Buck?

Journeyman Last Feather Rye

Sagamore Reserve Series

Bank Note Peated Reserve

Angels Envy Bourbon

Proletariat Bar NYC

Bunnahabhain – Stiuireadair

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

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