Chris | Page 29 | NYC Whiskey Review

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Knob Creek Straight Rye

January 28, 2021 America

Name: Knob Creek Straight Rye

Color: Copper

Nose: Corn, vanilla, white pepper/spice, citrus

Taste: Pepper spice, vanilla, oak, strong alcohol

Review:

Knob Creek Straight Rye is 100 proof Kentucky Bourbon that comes from Clermont, Kentucky. It is non aged stated but used to be labeled as 9 years of aging as a standard. The removal of the age on the bottle is due to high volume demand and production. I find all Knob Creeks worth the money per bottle with respect to alcohol content. You get the most “bang for the buck” with Knob Creek. As for taste, that is another matter and one of personal opinion.

The term “straight” is used in many whiskeys produced in American. The term “Straight” is defined as, “distilled from a fermented cereal grain mash to concentrations not exceeding 80% abv and aged in new charred oak barrels for two years at a concentration not exceeding 62.5% at the start of the aging process.”

Knob Creek is produced by the Jim Beam Distillery and is part of their higher end expressions. Other expressions in the line are Booker’s, Bakers, and Basil Hayden which are all good. One thing I like for shelf appeal is the square bottle design with the green label and wax top. It gives the whiskey a bit of old school classy feeling and stands out on a bar.

Knob Creek Rye tastes good in cocktail due to the high proof and does not get watered down when drinking. Drinking it straight is a bit rough.

Price around $45 and worth the money for a cocktail mixer or a gift.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Kavalan Classic Single Malt (NAS)

January 26, 2021 Taiwan

Name: Kavalan Classic Single Malt (NAS)

Color: Dark gold

Nose: Cherry, dark fruits, mango

Taste: Fruit sweetness, clean, spices, light oak

Review:

I was invited to the Astor Center in NYC to sample five (5) of Kavalan Sherry Finished whiskies at a tasting hosted by Ian Chang who is the master blender for Kavalan. If you are new to the whiskey world you might be surprised to learn that Taiwan is in the whiskey business. I was surprised when I first learned about various countries that produce whisky that are not historically known to bottle the spirit. E.g. South Africa, India, France, Germany, Sweden, Wales, Taiwan, and many more. These non-traditional whisky countries are making some great stuff. Check out my reviews per region for more information.

Originating from Taiwan, Kavalan whiskey is created in a hot and humid environment which leads to higher proof when finished and bottled. The whiskey spends a minimum of 4 years in the barrel(regular) and 6 years for sherry finished bottles. Owned by the conglomerate King Car Group, the owner always wanted to have a distillery and in 2005 they started production. As of today, just 13 years later, they have 27 whiskeys on the market of various flavors and price.

Kavalan also shocked the whiskey world in 2010 by beating three Scotches and one English whiskey in a blind tasting at a Burns night tasting in Scotland. Step back and think about that for a moment…A non-aged whiskey, from a hot and humid climate, in a part of the world not known to produce whiskey, at a Robbie Burns tasting in Scotland won against three scotches. That is something between amazing and bat shit crazy when you think about it. “And the winner is Kavalan….” I can imagine look on the Scotsman’s faces that night.

Kavalan is a very impressive whisky and reminded me for a moment of bourbon because of the higher proof, but they have created a style all their own and it is wonderful. I recommend you try Kavalan if you get a chance and you can be the judge. Prices range from $80 to $500 depending on the type of bottle.

Priced around $85 and is a great value and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Kozuba Starkus Rye (Vodka)

January 21, 2021 America

Name: Kozuba & Son’s Starkus

Color: Lemon citrus, flowers, almond

Nose: Rye, spice, light lemon

Taste: Rye, spice, light lemon

Review:

Kozuba is a not a whisky, it is a vodka made from 100% rye, aged in oak barrels for six months, and is bottled at 40% abv. It is made by a scientist from St. Petersburg, Florida and was established in 2005. The name “Starkus” means “stork” in Lithuanian.

You might be wondering why I am reviewing vodka. There is simple answer: I made a mistake. I thought I was drinking a rye whiskey. I am not a fan of vodka or clear spirits. I agree with Ron below.

I grabbed it off a friend’s shelf who suggest I try it. Before I realized what I was drinking I had a glass in hand and vodka in mouth. I figured it would write up a review just on how different this stuff is and how much it confused me for a few minutes.

The taste is strange and almost not even present.
There is no real taste or complexity.
It tastes like moonshine with a little flavoring.
In short, this stuff is weird.

Price around $60 and worth trying it to experience the flavor but not a great drink. I have not seen it on the shelf in the NYC area.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Mackmyra Traveler Whisky

January 19, 2021 Sweden

Name: Mackmyra Traveler Whisky

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Light wood, ocean, white fruits

Taste: Malt, wood, sea grass

Review:

Mackmyra Traveler Whisky is a Swedish non-aged stated single malt bottled at 46% abv and matured in bourbon casks. This my first experience with Swedish Whisky and I found this one to have a nice taste and different flavor profile compared to other countries.

The Mackmyra Distillery started in 1998 with a group of friends discussing whisky on a ski trip who then decided to make their own spirits locally. Mackmyra gets its name from the village where the distillery was established and the majority of the ingredients are sourced locally. The Traveler Whisky was design for SAS Airlines travel series, hence the clever name. I have not seen this bottle around the NYC area so I am assuming it is primarily sold in Duty Free.

Other expressions by Mackmyra are the following: Midvinter, Midnattssol, Moment, Reserve, 10 Year, Preludium, Privus, Special, Vit Hund (raw whisky), and Bee (honey liqueur).

The Traveler Whisky has fresh lemon notes, light wood, malt, and sea flavors which are refreshing and yet light on the finish. It is a good whisky overall and different compared to other drams with similar flavor profiles. I do not have enough experience with spirits from Northern Europe so I will make a point to try more expressions in the future.

Priced around $50 and worth it to try a Swedish Whisky.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

TX Blended Whiskey

January 14, 2021 America

Name: TX Blended Whiskey

Color: Brown

Nose: Sweet corn, vanilla, orange citrus

Taste: Vanilla, honey, citrus

Review:

TX Blended Whiskey comes from Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. in Fort Worth, Texas. It is a straight bourbon made from yellow corn, red winter wheat, 6 row distilleries malt, and a yeast strain from a pecan. I am not sure what all that means, but it sounds impressive.

The website description is much longer and romantic (as they do for new products), but to summarize, it says, “All our shit is from Texas. Don’t mess with Texas”. I find the “mess” warning valid as people from Texas consider themselves Texans before anything else. Meaning, if you ask them “Are you from America?” they will respond, “I’m from Texas.” For any NYC or overseas readers, this is real thing.

TX Blended whiskey has a good balance and profile but is a bit too sweet for my taste. It has a light body but is syrupy in the glass and mouth. If you like it on the sweet side and want to drink it in the hot sun by an ocean, lake or pool this would be a whiskey for you.

I received this bottle as a gift from “Disco Stu” of Dallas, Texas for my wedding. I am very much appreciative of the gift. I needed a few drinks of this whiskey while we were planning the big day.

Priced around $45 and good for a sweeter American styled bourbon whiskey.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

HM – The King Scotch

January 7, 2021 Scotland

Name: HM – The King Scotch

Color: Yellow

Nose: Malt, flowers, fruit, vanilla

Taste: Vanilla, fruit, light honey

Review:

HM – The King Scotch is a blended scotch whisky that is bottled at 40% abv and appears to be of natural color. If the title sounds familiar it is probably from movies that describe British Naval Ships as the “HM (fill in the blank)”. In the United Kingdom the ships are HM for “His/Her Majesty” in the United States they are the “USS (fill in the blank)”. In this case is it is “His Majesty” as the scotch is titled “King.”
On the producer’s web page is states, “exquisite blend of Highland single malts……worked with most storied houses including Dalmore, Jura, and The Highland Queen”. Sounds nice, but there is not much else I could find, which makes me wonder what is really in the scotch. Remember, just because it is written in marketing material, does not make it true.

I sampled this scotch at my sisters’ home in Florida as she had an extra one from her liquor sales days. HM -The King Scotch is a good example of how a blend can have a good flavor profile and not be overpriced. The ongoing debate in the whisky world whether blended scotch whisky or a single malt is better continues to hurt my ears. If you want an 18-year-old single malt go and pay for one, if your you budget does not allow for $100+ bottle, buy a blend and see if you like it.

HM – The King Scotch is light, fresh, and easy to drink. It has a nice balance but is nothing amazing, however, I do not think it is trying to be amazing.

Priced around $30 and its good for a try or grabbing a bottle for a party. I have not seen it on the shelf here in the NYC area.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Paul John – Edited Single Malt (NAS)

January 5, 2021 India

Name: Paul John Edited Edition

Color: Amber gold

Nose: Peat, exotic fruit, barley, charred oak

Taste: Barley peat, caramel, chocolate, and light charred wood

Review:

The moment I put the glass to my nose I was immediately reminded me of scotch, and the first sip reminded me of Japanese whisky. After my second sip, I realized that Edited Single Malt has its own style and that style is impressive and of India.

The Edited expression is single malt, non-aged statement (NAS), and has a Highland style (Islay) taste with fruit. The peat, smoke, wood, and fruit flavors are balanced very well. The whisky is distinct, rich tasting, and I found it very refreshing.

Paul John Single Malts are distilled in Goa, India and were introduced to America in the summer of 2016. Goa is located in the Southwestern coast of India and has a tropical climate year round. Similar to Taiwan, the hot and humid climates mature the whisky much faster than cold climates. The flavor profiles from hot to cold climates are very different, but are a matter of opinion for you the drinker. I would not say climate creates a better flavor, but in my experience, maturation in warmer climates leads to richer flavors.

Many whiskies are now coming from countries that are not traditionally known for whisky production. Countries such as Germany, South Africa, Sweden, France, Taiwan, and Brooklyn (it is almost a country) are all in the business of making whisky. It is a great time for whisky right now and there is no shortage of places creating the spirits. I tell you this only to remind you to be open to trying everything. Do not be “Bourbon Only!” or “18 Year Old Single Malts are the only thing I will drink!” type of person. A closed-minded person is a boring person and even more so when it comes to whisky. They are also a dick.

Price around $65 is Paul John Edited very good whisky at a very good price. I highly recommend it you try it.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Penderyn Legend Single Malt

December 25, 2020 Wales

Name: Penderyn Legend Single Malt

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Fresh white fruit, raisins, pear/apple, cream

Taste: Fresh pears, apples, cream, madeira finish

Review:

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Best wishes to everyone after this long year in 2020. Let’s hope and plan for a great 2021!!!

Penderyn Legend is a expression that has been releases by the Penderyn Distillery in the last couple of years. Legend has finally made its way to our American shores. I saw this expression a couple of years ago in a liquor store in Glasgow Central Station and wondered about it as the red box and label stood out on the shelf. A the time, I had only tired the Madeira Finish which is one of the freshest tasting whisky’s I have ever sampled.

Penderyn comes from the Village of Penderyn near Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. Wales is the country to the left of England and connected the United Kingdom.

The Legend expression is bottled at 43% abv, non-colored, and non-chill filtered. It has madeira finish notes while still being light and fresh instead of heavy and creamy. It comes off as the lighter version of their Madeira Finish at a lesser price point. It is a great summer whiskey or a whiskey for non-whiskey drinkers who want to try a dram. Other expressions produced are the following: Penderyn Single Malt, Sherrywood, Celt, That Try, Myth, Royal Welsh, Port Wood, Peated, Independence, Bryn Terfel, and the Madeira Finish.

Penderyn makes some excellent whiskey. Everyone who I have ever offered a drink of Penderyn always smiles after sipping it and says “wow”! Next time I am in the London I am going to focus on sampling their whiskey or perhaps take a road trip to the distillery.

Priced around $55 and well worth the money if you like a fresh tasting whiskey.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011

December 23, 2020 Scotland

Name: Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malted barley, lemon, green apple, flowers, light smoke and oak

Taste: Barley, oak, peat, lemon citrus

Review: 3 Days until Christmas! Do you have your bottles bought and ready for the Holidays!

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011 was distilled in 2011, aged 6 years in oak casks and bottled in 2018. The expression is un-chilled filtered, non-peated, and 100 proof. From my research the flavor comes from the terroir and the casks it is aged in along with the quality of production.

The Terroir: This whisky expression has two types of barley that are grown at three different farms. The barley is Publican and Oxbridge and the farms are: Claggan, Cruach, and Island & Mulindry. In short; 3 farms + 2 barleys = 1 scotch. The differences between the barleys are too much to go into in a short review but the terroir assist the barley with the flavor

The Casks: 75% of the scotch was aged in first fill American whiskey casks.15% of the scotch was aged in second/third filled Sauternes and Austrian sweet wine casks.10% of the scotch was aged in first fill Rivesaltes (French sweet wine) casks. The scotch was then merged for 6 months before bottling. I think this might explain the excellent taste.

I am still yet to be disappointed with Bruichladdich. Each expression I have tried has been excellent. I do wonder if some of their higher priced expressions are worth the money. If you want to learn about Bruichladdich watch “Scotch: A Golden Dream” on Amazon Prime.

This scotch works well as a summer drink on the rocks on the back porch or a winter scotch neat by the fire.

Priced around $65 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old

December 22, 2020 Scotland

Name: Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old

Color: Light brown

Nose: Barley, lemon, light wood, ocean notes

Taste: Malt, honey, lemon grass, light oak, white pepper

Review: 4 Days until Christmas! Do you have your bottles bought and ready for the Holidays!

Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old Scotch is from the Islay Region of Scotland. The name is Scottish Gaelic for “foot of the river” and is also the name of the village on the Northeast Coast on the Isle of Islay. The distillery was established in 1881 and the 12-year-old was first released in 1979. The scotch is 46.3% abv, natural color, un-chilled filtered, and is double matured in ex-bourbon and sherry casks.

I had not yet tried Bunnahabhain, so I bought this bottle on a gamble to see how it tastes. I was pleasantly surprised once took a few wee sips. The scotch is well balanced and much lighter than expected for a whiskey originating from Islay. It has a medium body taste but is light enough to work as a summer scotch on the rocks or a winter dram neat next to the fire place.

I really enjoyed this scotch and I will be keeping a bottle on the bar and I look forward to trying other expressions from Bunnahabhain.

Priced around $50 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Knob Creek Straight Rye

Kavalan Classic Single Malt (NAS)

Kozuba Starkus Rye (Vodka)

Mackmyra Traveler Whisky

TX Blended Whiskey

HM – The King Scotch

Paul John – Edited Single Malt (NAS)

Penderyn Legend Single Malt

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011

Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old

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