Chris | Page 29 | NYC Whiskey Review

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Willet Straight Rye Whiskey

February 11, 2021 America

Name: Willet Straight Rye Whiskey

Color: Copper

Nose: Rye spice, wood, oak

Taste: Spice, oranges, vanilla

Review:

Willet Straight Rye Whiskey is a cask strength, hand bottled, small batch 109.8 proof rye whiskey from The Willet Distillery in Kentucky. The Willet brand is a smaller group but is well respected in world of bourbon. The distillery was founded in 1936 by Thomas Willet and has grown and expanded its operations and method of productions over the years.

Willet has their own expressions, but they also have a small batch boutique Bourbon Collection that consists of the following;

· Rowan’s Creek

· Noah’s Mill

· Kentucky Vintage

· Pure Kentucky

The rye is not too spicy and for a cask strength whiskey is has a nice profile and balance. I found it you cut it with a little water you can enjoy it even more. At the price point I would not want to put it in a cocktail, but I am not a fan of drinking rye’s straight or on the rocks. You will have to decide for yourself.

Priced around $75 and very good for a rye whiskey. Willet delivers every time!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Lot No. 40 Canadian Rye Whisky

February 9, 2021 Canada

Name: Lot No. 40 Canadian Rye Whisky

Color: Gold Brown

Nose: Sweet, candy vanilla

Taste: Sharp burn, sweet finish, caramel, rye spice

Review:

Sometimes I forget about Canada. I don’t do it deliberately; I just forget them, but after trying Lot No.40 I will not do that anymore. Lot No. 40 Canadian Rye Whisky is a 100% unmalted rye gained in virgin oak barrels. Lot No. 40 is a 7^th generation small batch pot still small batch receipt that is has no coloring.

Lot No. 40 is produced by Pernod- Ricard and is a revival of a discontinued whisky that saw its last production in the late 1990’s. It is named after a plot of land owned by a Joshua Booth who is one of the ancestors of Hiram Walker. Walker is an American who moved to Ontario, Canada and set up a massive distillery business in the 1800’s.

This whisky has a nice flavor and I would definitely enjoy it in my Old Fashions or Manhattans. If you haven’t yet tried increasing the quality of your whisky for cocktails I strongly recommend it. I realize people think, “What’s the point of spending the extra money?” I used to think the same way. The point is, it’s worth it for the taste! Enjoying a cocktail in the comfort of your own home with higher quality whisky is worth every penny.

Priced at around $50 and is good. I will be adding to my bar at home.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Meyer’s Alsatian Blended Whisky

February 2, 2021 France

Name: Meyer’s Alsatian Blended Whisky Color: Gold Brown Nose: medicine, green grass, wood, earth Taste: Earth, sweet, vanilla Review: Meyer’s Alsatian Blended Whisky is a French whisky from the Alsace region of France. Meyer’s is a family owned distillery located in the village of Hohwarth in Alsace. They have been making Brandy since 1958 and have now entered the whisky market. If you are not familiar with Alsace it is a region between France and Germany. It became French land after World War II and is mainly known for producing Riesling wines.

The whisky is 85% wheat, 15% barley, and is distilled in pot stills. The whisky spends 7 years in Sauterne (dessert wine) casks from Bordeaux. Meyer’s was a pleasant surprise that also confused me during my tasting. I knew it was a whisky and I knew it was French but it has a cognac-like profile. I got earthy cognac sitting in leather chair in a small home in the country side of France, not whisky. Meyers may not be to everyone’s taste when it comes to whisky, BUT after a big meal and you are lighting up a nice cigar, this would be an excellent choice for the price. Price around $35 and worth the money for the flavor. If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

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!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Willet Straight Rye Whiskey

Lot No. 40 Canadian Rye Whisky

Meyer’s Alsatian Blended Whisky

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)

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