Chris | Page 25 | NYC Whiskey Review

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Pinhook Straight Bourbon

December 18, 2021 NYC

Name: Pinhook Straight Bourbon

Color: Dark Brown

Nose: Corn, caramel, spices

Taste: Carmel, corn, pepper, cinnamon

Review:

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

Pinhook Straight Bourbon is a whiskey created by Sean Josephs who has a extensive background in the food and beverage business. He is involved in several restaurants that are whiskey themed including Maysville in NYC.

Pinhooks bourbon is distilled, blended and bottled at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, KY. The distillery has a bunch of gin and few whiskeys listed on their website which means they are in the long term process of aging their own whiskey in house. I am guessing the distillery is buying product from Buffalo Trace and blending to make this expression. Lots of startup’s have to do this but they never really admit it up front.

This expression is part of the “Bourbon War” vertical series 5 year, which is the second release in the Bourbon War line, which follows barrels as they age from 4-12 years. The mash bill is 75% corn, 20.5% rye, and 4.5% malted barley. Started in 2015, they all have the same mash bill at 4 years and the distillery will age the barrels up to 12 years to get to 2027. The bottle I sampled was 113.9 proof, 56.95%, bottle number 072/214. So, there is a lot of stuff is going on with the label including a “selected by Shop Rite” and with the producers of this whiskey.

It is hard to nose due to the high proof. Upon the first taste the whiskey is very strong but you can tell it has some nice flavors hidden under the alcohol. Add a little water and then some ice you get a much smoother flavor profile and it is very nice stuff.

Priced around $50 and is worth a try, but the price versus all the marketing makes me wonder what I am really getting. I will give the other expressions a try in the future.

Thanks to Barry for letting me try it!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Jack Daniels – Sinatra Select

December 7, 2021 America

Name: Jack Daniels – Sinatra Select

Color: Dark Brown

Nose: Sweet mash mix, soft oak, apples, vanilla

Taste: Honey, vanilla, butter scotch/cream, dark fruits

Review:

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

In honor of Hoboken’s favorite son, Old Blue Eyes himself, I shelled out some money to sample Jack Daniels Sinatra Select in honor of The Chairman of the Board. This expression was created in honor of Frank Sinatra, and it was said he was buried with a flask of Jack Daniels.

This whiskey is very smooth with caramel cream and dried dark fruit notes. It is aged in “Sinatra barrels” which have deep groves in the staves and get extra toasted oak to allow the whiskey to absorb the flavor of the barrel. It is is non-age stated with a mash bill of 80% corn, 8% rye and 12% malted barley. It is bottled at 90 proof and expensive for being Jack Daniels, but it has an advantage that it is a 1 liter bottle, not the standard 750ml size.

Sinatra expression has almost no taste comparison to No.7 Jack Daniels. It is extremely smooth and very easy to drink. There is no charcoal, banana skin, or rough mash finish. If regular Jack Daniels was even half as good as this expression, I would drink it regularly drink Jack Daniels. But, it is not, so I do not drink Jack Daniels.

Priced around $165 and I would not spend the money on this for myself, but if you know someone who is Jack Daniels drinker and Sinatra fan it would make a wonderful gift.

As of June 2021, I am having a hard time finding a bottle in any stores in the NYC area.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Deanston 12

December 5, 2021 Scotland

Name: Deanston 12

Color: Dark Yellow

Nose: Malt, orange, flowers, light oak

Taste: Malt, orange, honey-vanilla, white fruits

Review:

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

The Deanston Distillery is located on the River Teith, about eight miles from Sterling, Scotland (near Edinburgh) and was founded in 1965. The Distell Group Limited owns Deanston and also owns Bunnahabhain, Isle of Islay, Tobermory, and Isle of Mull whisky. The name “Deanston” is named after the Dean of Dunblane. Dean was connected to the Gaelic term “toun” meaning farm/settlement to make the name “Deanston”.

The Deanston 12 is un-chilled filtered, natural colored, aged in ex-bourbon barrels, and bottled at 46.3%. It has a medium body but with lighter fresh fruit notes on the finish. This expression is better tasting and more balanced than stated Deanston Virgin Oak (nas), BUT, not as good as some the other expressions I have reviewed.

I have reviewed the following Deanston expressions: Virgin Oak, 15 year Organic, 15 Year Sauternes, 12 Year Palo Cortado Finish, and Decennary.

Deanston Single Malts are a great gift or a change of scenery if you only drink the “Glen’s” that come from Scotland and there are a few of them. I am hopeful that travel will to the United Kingdom will re-open in later 2021. I look forward to seeing my family in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Sterling, and a trip to Deanston Distillery.

Priced around $55 and Deanston is always worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Johnnie Walker 4 Pack Sampler

November 25, 2021 Scotland

Johnnie Walker produces a four pack of 200 ml bottles of Black, Gold, Platinum and Blue (375ml) Scotch for around $200. You might not find it as easy in a store but it is online at various distributors and I have seen it in Duty Free in Heathrow Airport.

I received this one as a Christmas gift and I am down to the Blue only. I am saving it for a special occasion.

If you want to do a tasting with friends and make up your own minds while saving some money I would definitely recommend this box set in lieu of full bottles. I would strongly suggest you treat it like a tasting with measured pours of whisky in different glasses, note taking, trying it with a splash of water etc. After that, you can decide on the value of the higher labels and see if it is your cup of tea (or whisky!)

Note: Specific Johnnie Walker Labels may vary in 4 pack box. Confirm with supplier prior to purchasing. I have seen red and black then two other higher labels as opposed to what I have described.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Penderyn Madeira Single Malt Welsh Whisky

November 18, 2021 Wales

Name: Penderyn Madeira Single Malt

Color: Light gold yellow

Nose: Clean fresh spring water with citrus and tarnish fruit.

Taste: Clean and creamy with a fresh taste and a finish of the Madeira

Review:

I could write a very long review with numerous stories about each person’s facial expression after I gave them a dram of this whisky but that would take too long. I can tell you this, everyone gave me the same look after they tasted Penderyn Madeira. They sip, look down, scrunch their face and then say “Damn that’s good!” This spirit is like spring water and whisky had a baby and this is the baby in the bottle. It is extremely good, refreshing and different. I enjoy this one if I am going to have one (or two) or after dinner. Normally the creamy taste of whisky’s is not my preferred taste but this one is an exception. I highly recommend it!

Price around $70 it is a great value.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

High West Bourye

November 17, 2021 America

Name: High West Bourye

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Rye spice, wood, cream vanilla, pepper notes

Taste: Rye, vanilla, cream, orange, spices, toffee

Review:

High West Bourye is from Park City, Utah. Established in 2006 was founded by a former biochemist. They started small and have steadily built up their business over the years.

The whiskey is a combo of bourbon and rye, which is a strange combo, hence the jackalope on the bottle. It is aged 10 years and the combo is a secret, aged in new, charred white American oak barrels. It is released once per year and the blend is said to be a secret but, on their website, it states the mash bill is from Indiana and is the following:

Straight Rye: 95% rye, 5% barley
Straight Bourbon: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley
Straight Bourbon: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% barley

The bottled I sampled was Batch 19L11 which stands for something which I did not research too much. The whisky is a blend of straight whiskeys, non-chilled filtered, no color added and bottled at 46% abv.

Overall, it is good stuff, not amazing. The flavor profile and abv would make for a good cocktail. The price is too high for my preference. I can get some very good single malts aged up to 16 or 17 years.

Priced around $85 and good for sipping or a cocktail but too expensive for me for what it is.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon

November 4, 2021 America

Name: New Riff Single Barrel

Color: Copper

Nose: Sweet corn, vanilla, honey, oak

Taste: Vanilla, caramel, honey, strong booze

Review:

New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon is a cask strength New Riff Bourbon aged 4 years in 53 gallon toasted charred new oak barrels and hails from Newport, Kentucky. It tastes very much like regular New Riff Bourbon but with a much bigger kick.

New Riff Bourbon Single Barrel Bourbon is produced by the New Riff Distillery which is located in Newport, KY on the Ohio River adjacent to Cincinnati. New Riff was founded by Ken Lewis who used to own The Party Source next door in the same plaza. It is my understanding that you cannot produce and distribute whiskey in Kentucky so he sold the store to start the distillery. You can see me here below at the distillery.

This bottle of Kentucky goodness is 110.0 proof, is from barrel #15.1616, and is related to 217 other bottles from the barrel. As I have written many times before I am not a fan of high proof whisky but with this one I can make an exception. If you pour it in a decent sized glass with a large ice cube the sweet corn flavor makes it more tolerable. I am sure making a few different cocktails you will still enjoy the flavor profile of New Riff.

Price around $65 in NYC ($55 in KY) and is nice stuff but strong stuff.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Skrewball Whiskey

October 21, 2021 America

Name: Skrewball Whiskey

Color: Brown

Nose: Toffee and nuts

Taste: Coffee, toffee, peanut butter

Review:

Skrewball Whiskey is a flavored whiskey that has a peanut butter flavor and is bottled at 35% abv. Yes, I said peanut butter.

This whiskey hails from Ocean Beach, California and was created by a bartender. I wonder what the late Anthony Bourdain would have said about a Cali bartender making peanut butter whiskey and a New Yorker drinking it? I bet it would have been a good one! If you have read my reviews you would know that I am not a fan of heavily flavored whiskeys that are cocktail gimmicks and taste like shit.

However, Skrewball may have “potential” as a holiday cocktail, baking, or coffee mixer. It is not that bad and a bit on the sweet side, but I theorize it could work in certain drinks. I wonder how it would taste in egg nog or holiday cookies. I doubt it would work well in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned. I will give it another try around Thanksgiving or Christmas in a drink.

I can not drink it neat or on the rocks, but it is better than I expected. Let me know what you think!

Priced around $30 and if you like the flavor profile for a mixer.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Crown Royal & 007

October 14, 2021 Canada

Name: Crown Royal

Color: Amber

Nose: Light vanilla and grain bread

Taste: Vanilla and sweetness of honey with a balance that is airy and does not have any burn on the finish

Review:

Crown Royal is a great whiskey from Canada where the whiskeys are known to be lighter in taste and body. You may think “Crown and Coke” when you think of this whiskey but you should not damage good whiskey with flavored sugar water but drink it they way you like it. The shape of the bottle is iconic and looks good on your bar or when you pull it out at a party and the purple bag is a going to put a smile on faces when they see it. Crown Royal is also in the reboot of James Bond novels. The first book Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver has a young 007 drinking a newly created cocktail which is a variation of the Old Fashion. The Bond orders the following;

Double measure of Crown Royal
Half measure of Triple Sec
Two dashes of bitters
Serve on the rocks with twist of orange

Bond does not specify shaken or stirred but I prefer it stirred on a large block ice cube. I substitute Cointreau instead of Triple Sec as it adds a better and cleaner taste.

Crown Royal is well priced between $30 to $50 depending on where you shop in NYC.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Highland Park – 16 Year Twisted Tattoo

October 7, 2021 Scotland

Name: Highland Park – 16 Year Twisted Tattoo

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malted barley, citrus, flowers

Taste: Malted barley, orange, smoke/pepper, red wine

Review:

Highland Park 16 Year Twisted Tattoo is another expression in the Viking series by the Highland Park Distillery (aka the marketing team). I have previously reviewed the Valkyrie expression and I was not very impressed and there now seems to be a pattern developing in my reviews of this series.The scotch is a single malt bottled at 46.7% abv, naturally colored, and aged in Spanish Rioja wine casks and first fill bourbon casks. The Spanish Rioja is a nice twist, but I have it on good authority that Spaniards keep their good Rioja in house and ship the crap stuff to the rest of the world. I question the quality of the wine that imparted the flavor on this scotch. I found the nose and taste to be very similar which in my experience is not a good sign and the wine taste to be nothing special. Basically, this stuff is “ok” at best.

The art on the bottle is by a Danish Tattoo artists Colin Dale and it represents the Midgard Serpent. The seperant is the classic “snake eating its tail” which represents an unending circle. This circle is believed by some to represent the continuous circle of life. I believe, and this is just my opinion, Highland Park must have lost out to Johnnie Walker in obtaining the marketing rights to “Game of Thrones”. So instead they created this dual edged bullshit marketing campaign. You get little history of the Scottish with the Viking origins info and a little feel of the G.O.T. Have I mentioned before that I am half Scottish? We are descendants of Vikings but it is not brought up much because it would piss off the people from Iceland.

I can just hear it now……”Paging Mr. Draper to the Highland Park Distillery main conference room……you marketing presentation is about to begin…..”

Priced around $90 and it is ok but over priced for marketing reasons and the age. Maybe Odin’s adopted son Loki made this stuff? He is the God of Trickery. Thanks to Frankie for letting me try this one without paying!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Pinhook Straight Bourbon

Jack Daniels – Sinatra Select

Deanston 12

Johnnie Walker 4 Pack Sampler

Penderyn Madeira Single Malt Welsh Whisky

High West Bourye

New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon

Skrewball Whiskey

Crown Royal & 007

Highland Park – 16 Year Twisted Tattoo

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