christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

1792 Small Batch Bourbon

1792 Small Batch Bourbon

September 30, 2021

Name: 1792 Small Batch Bourbon

Color: Light brown

Nose: Sweet corn, honey, vanilla, black fruit, oak

Taste: Cherries, vanilla, spice, honey

Review:

1792 Small Batch Bourbon comes from the Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, KY which is owed by the Sazerac Company. The name “1792” is connected to the year Kentucky became a state. Of course, officially, Kentucky it is a Commonwealth. You can look up the difference, but to me, Kentucky is the Blue Grass State and the only home of bourbon.

Small Batch Bourbon is aged around 8 years in new American oak and is a high rye bourbon. Its mash is made up of corn, rye, and malted barley and is bottled at 93.7 proof.

On my first sip I was reminded of a sweet cherry medicine taste that came in old brown bottles when I was a kid. I also remember it being forced down my throat by my mother.

The overall taste to me is good but I feel it is more of a summer whiskey than a winter. I like the shape of the bottle and for the price range it will look good on your bar, as a gift, or in your office. 1792 Small Batch is probably going to end up in my office for the holiday season.

Price around $40 and is a little sweet for my taste but still very good.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Chris1792 Small Batch Bourbon
read more
Glengoyne –12 Year Old

Glengoyne –12 Year Old

September 23, 2021

Name: Glengoyne 12 Year Old

Color: Light gold

Nose: Toffee sweetness, citrus, and “other”

Taste: Sweet, lemon, vanilla, and slight coconut (aka “other”)

Review:

Glengoyne 12 year old is aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The scotch is light, fresh, and definitely more of a summer than a winter in body and taste. That lingering taste of lemon and coconut threw me a little. It is a nice taste, but as the cooler weather arrives in NYC I want to move into my peaty/smoky whisky’s. The Islay whiskies taste so good in the cooler weather. Glengoyne 12 is naturally colored which is a nice touch. If you are not aware, Scotch production laws allow adding caramel coloring to maintain consistency in appearance of the spirit.

I purchased Glengoyne 12 because I do not recall trying it before and the price was right. Personally, I like to try the 12-year-old whiskies from distilleries to get a baseline understanding of the flavor profile. If you go right to older whiskies from a distillery I feel you miss the growth and development of the whisky. You just get the best of the product line if you go right to the top. What are you going to learn? Some people prefer to jump into the older ones because they assume they are better. This is usually true, but sometimes it is the journey, not the destination.

The distillery is approximately 20 miles north of Glasgow, Scotland. Next time I am in Glasgow I will do a full review of the whisky’s and the distillery.

Price around $50 and a good value. The flavor and quality is nice, but light and sweet for my taste this season.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

 

 

ChrisGlengoyne –12 Year Old
read more
The Macallan Edition No. 3

The Macallan Edition No. 3

September 16, 2021

Name: The Macallan Edition No. 3

Color: Brown

Nose: Oak, vanilla, orange

Taste: Fruits, sweetness, vanilla

Review:

The Macallan Edition No. 3 is one of the three releases from Macallan’s Special Editions Collection. This scotch was created in partnership with professional perfumer Roja Dove who used his skills to match smells that work with each other.

No. 3 is wood focused with the nose being a big part of the profile. The nose being a significant part of the creative process is no surprise with a perfumer consulting on its creation. But how will it taste?

No. 3 is a blend of 6 casks which are the following;

    1. 1st Fill American Oak Hudosa Butts
    2. 2nd Fill American/European Oak Refill Butts
    3. 1st Fill European Oak Tevasa Butts
    4. 1st Fill American Oak Bourbon
    5. 1st Fill European Oak Tevasa Hogheads
    6. 1st Fill American Bourbon Barrels

Each cask has a different flavor profile. I will spare you the details but the vanilla taste is clearly nose forward on this whisky. As you may already know, that comes from the bourbon barrels. Vanilla is a big thing with perfumers so I am not surprised by this but there was not much else in the flavor profile.

Over the last few years there have been various partnerships between distilleries and other people. Distilleries are partnering with chefs, musicians, movies, actors, artists, etc. to create new whisky’s. I want to believe it is a good thing but sometimes I feel it is marketing bullshit. It is like the distillery ran out of ideas and someone said, “Ummm why don’t we bring in {fill in the blank} to help us? Then we can market the shit out of this whisky!”

Ya, ok….fuck off with that.

I get distinct feeling that some whisky producers, even the big ones, are getting a bit desperate with the potential, and eventual slowdown in whisky interest. It has been 10 years since Mad Men aired and whisky became cool again. Now, in 2018 distilleries need to create new products that do not have a historical romantic story so a partnership with someone cool helps them sell.

It should be noted that Macallan has two other “Editions”. No.1 is made from eight casks and not partnered with anyone cool. No. 2 is sherry styled and created with some famous Spanish Chefs. Sherry influenced whisky from Spain….no shit?

Priced around $100 it is good, but I am not a huge fan for the flavor or the price. Let’s see how long it lasts on the store shelves.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

 

ChrisThe Macallan Edition No. 3
read more
Blanton’s Bourbon

Blanton’s Bourbon

September 15, 2021

Name: Blanton’s Bourbon

Color: Brown

Nose: Corn, vanilla, dark fruit, wood

Taste: Corn, white pepper, vanilla, oak, dark cherry

Review:

Blanton’s Bourbon is produced by Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, KY. It is named after Albert B. Blanton who started at the distillery in 1897 and held numerous jobs over his lifetime of employment. This bourbon was released in 1984 as single barrel, aged six years, and bottled at 46.5% abv. The trade mark stopper comes in eight styles and will spell B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S if you collect them all. Over the last few years, the price of this whiskey has skyrocketed, and it is very hard to find a bottle at a reasonable price.

Due the recent popularity I wanted to re-introduce myself and see if it was as good as I remembered. After visiting six stores in various locations in New York, New Jersey, and Florida I had no success in finding a bottle on the shelf. One store manager told me, “Ya, we got it in the back, but we save it for our preferred clients.” I responded in my head, “Ya, you should go fuck yourself”. I decided to leave and search the local bars. I found a it at $13 for 2 ounces in Hoboken. After my first sip, I realized that this bourbon is good, but not amazing. It is absolutely not worth the current market price.

Blanton’s is a little hotter tasting than I remembered, with a medium body, and some good Kentucky chew. A few drops of water opens it up nicely and it should not be used in cocktails. The biggest take away I had was, it is not as good as I remembered, nor does it deserve to be priced over $60-70 per bottle. If you have paid over $100 for this bourbon, you are a sucker.

For the trifecta of cost vs. taste vs. availability, I feel Blade & Bow or New Riff Single Barrel is much better for taste and cost per bottle. These two bourbons have a different flavor profile, but when comparing these three factors they are better. They also should not be put in cocktails.

I have seen prices as high as $120 a bottle, but it should be around $50-$65. If  are currently mad at your money, go overpay and drink up.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisBlanton’s Bourbon
read more
Talisker Skye Single Malt

Talisker Skye Single Malt

September 9, 2021

Name: Talisker Skye Single Malt

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malted Barley, honey, vanilla, heather

Taste: Oak, toasted, honey, white fruit

Review:

Talisker Skye Single Malt is an expression from the Talisker Distillery created in 2015. Talisker was founded in 1830 and is a well-known and classic scotch from the Isle of Skye in Scotland located in Carbost. Since the distillery is so close the ocean it is stated the whisky is “Made by the Sea”. I get the sea flavor in the scotch, but I also get it from Old Putney which is located even more North in Wick, Scotland. Marketing, fun play on words, got to love it!

Other expressions from Talisker are; 10, 18, 25, 30-year-old, Storm, Dark Storm, Distiller Edition, 75 North, Port Ruighe, and Neist Pint. I have had the 18-year old and I will be doing reviews on the 10-Year-old and Storm over the next few months.

I received a 3-pack sampler when I was in Scotland from my Aunt and I enjoyed each of them while I was spending a few days in a hotel in Edinburgh. Talisker Skye is a softer version of Talisker 10 and is good and a little cheaper.

Price around $55 and good but I prefer the 10-year-old.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

 

ChrisTalisker Skye Single Malt
read more
Noah Mill Bourbon Whiskey

Noah Mill Bourbon Whiskey

August 26, 2021

Name: Noah Mill Bourbon Whiskey

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, sweet vanilla, almonds

Taste: Oak, vanilla, orange, burn finish

Review: 

Noah Mill Bourbon is produced by the Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) in Bardstown, Kentucky. The distiller was originally named the Willet Distilling Company until it underwent a name change in the 1980’s. The Willet family has been in producing whiskey since the late 1800’s and KBD also produces other expressions such as Rowan’s Creek, Willet Rye, Willet Bourbon, and many more.

Noah Mill is 75.13% abs or 114.3 proof and has no age statement. From my research, it is a blend of maybe four bourbons aged around 15-20 years, however, at its retail cost I doubt this whiskey is blended with such aged spirits.

This expression from Willet is a side project and has low production. You might not easily find it in your area. I have seen it only a couple of times in the Tri-State area. It is not amazing, it is not bad, it just has a bit of an odd finish and is very “hot” due to the proof. You will need to cut it with water. I was surprised how smooth it tastes for such a high proof compared to other whiskeys in the same range.

Priced around $50 and good but I prefer other high proof bourbons for mixers.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

 

ChrisNoah Mill Bourbon Whiskey
read more
FEW Rye Whiskey

FEW Rye Whiskey

August 19, 2021

Name: FEW Rye Whiskey

Color: Gold brown

Nose: Vanilla, cinnamon, sugar

Taste: Rye grain, citrus, smooth vanilla, spice

Review:

I sampled this rye whiskey a few weeks ago at Whiskey Live NYC and I really enjoyed the spirits that Few Whiskey released on the market. Few produces a rye, bourbon, and single malt and they are all very good. When I saw this bottle on the store shelf I decided it would look good on my bar at home. Over the weekend, I broke the seal and decide to try it neat and then on the rocks. This whisky is well balanced, smooth, tastes great, and I even like the bottle style and label. I am not going to ramble on about Few Rye in this review, I will just close with Few Whiskeys are very good, and I recommend them if you have not tried them yet.

The only drawback I can see is the cost per bottle if you are going to use this rye as a mixer in cocktails. At approximately $60 per bottle it is a good price, but not for a mixer. I would recommend mixers not exceed $30 per bottle.

If you like it, drink it! Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

 

ChrisFEW Rye Whiskey
read more
Catskill Provisions “Honey” Rye Whiskey

Catskill Provisions “Honey” Rye Whiskey

August 12, 2021

Name: Catskill Provisions “Honey” Rye Whiskey

Color: Light brown

Nose: Sweet, honey, rye spice

Taste: Honey, spice, orange, toasted rye

Review:

Catskill Honey Rye Whiskey is a whiskey from Catskill Provisions which is an artesian food company in Rochester, NY. Catskill Provisions was founded in 2010 by Claire M. Marin and produces syrups, honeys, vinegars, mixes, and now whiskey.

Catskill Provisions decided to source rye (80%) and barley (20%) and make use of their bees and honey to make their own whiskey. I am unsure of the source of their whiskey but from what I can taste, it is decent stuff.

I tried a sample at a local liquor store and found it rye-spicy sweet, but not too sweet. I thought it would make a good Old Fashion cocktail in the hot weather. The drink was good, but it ended up being a bit too sweet for my taste. Any time you start putting honey, sugar, syrups in whiskey or a cocktail runs the risk of becoming a “sugar drink”. This is why I usually steer clear of mixologist cocktails at bars. I have found them be sugar drinks. In an Old Fashion cocktail, I would make a point not to add sugar unless whiskey is cheap. Having said all that, what is the point if you just drink the same whiskey all the time? I will still end up drinking it one way or another and Catskill Provisions suggests the following cocktails;

 

I also marinated some chicken in the whiskey with some light spices and grilled it. It came out nice, but I like whiskey for drinking not for cooking.

Priced around $35 and good if you like a sweeter whiskey need it for a cocktail mixer.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

 

ChrisCatskill Provisions “Honey” Rye Whiskey
read more
James E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon

James E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon

August 5, 2021

Name: James E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon

Color: Copper

Nose: Caramel, corn, vanilla, honey

Taste: Spices, rye, clove spice

Review: 

James E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon is named after Colonel James E. Pepper  who was a Bourbon Industrialist (not sure what that means) who died in 1906 and was a third generation distiller. The name dates back to his grandfather’s Revolutionary War era recipes.The bourbon is 100 proof and very strong. It is a non chilled filter and is 38% rye, also known as a “high rye”. The balance of flavors is a bit off and hard to detect. The corn ethanol is harsh and the high rye of the whiskey makes it a bit tough to drink.

This bourbon is not a straight or on the rocks drinker. It is more a mixer in a cocktail. When it comes to a mixer it is very subjective and personal with respect to the flavor, proof, and cost. I find if you are spending around $50 for a whiskey to make cocktails you better know what you like. I prefer FEW and Sagamore Rye Cask for my Old Fashions. For my Manhattans I like Maker’s 46.

Priced around $40 and not worth the money on flavor, only on high proof.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

 

ChrisJames E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon
read more
Rebellion Bourbon

Rebellion Bourbon

July 22, 2021

Name: Rebellion Bourbon

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, oak, dark fruit, ethanol

Taste: Corn, vanilla, rough finish

Review:

Rebellion Bourbon is a “in house” type bourbon created to commemorate Opici Wines history of business. Opici Wines is an importer and producer of wines and spirits founded in 1913 and is headquartered in Glen Rock, New Jersey. 

The whiskey is aged 6 years and the mash is 70% corn, 30% rye, and malted barley. It is distilled in copper pot stills and charred in American oak casks. It is bottled at 47% abv but is non-aged stated. The nose is strange, and the taste is awful. This stuff must be for those creative cocktail menus you see at regular bars.

You will probably not find this bourbon it in stores. Their sales force will be pushing it to buyers to make more money for the owner instead of selling another distilleries products.

Priced around $40 and tastes like shit.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

 

 

ChrisRebellion Bourbon
read more

Search:

Newsletter Subscription

    Recent Posts

    Categories