Chris | Page 32 | NYC Whiskey Review

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey

October 12, 2020 America

Nose: Rye spice, orange, vanilla, light oak

Taste: Spices, orange, vanilla, cloves, honey cream

Review:

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey is made by Heaven Hill, aged for 6 years and bottled at 110 proof. The mash bill is 51% rye, 39% corn, and 10% malted barley. It has that spicy thick flavor on the tongue due to the mash bill and alcohol level so you get a lot of “bang for your buck”.

This high proof on Pikesville Rye allows it to hold its own corner of the Rye Whiskey market. Rye might be one of the original grains to create whiskey, but it is not that popular as compared to corn and barley. I do not see a lot of Rye on the shelves, nor do I see many at 110 proof. Pikesville appears to have found a good area of the market.

Pikesville was first produced in Maryland in the 1890’s but its production came to an end in the early 1970’s. Today it is produced by Heaven Hill (Elijah Craig, Larceny, Evan Williams, etc.) and distilled by the Bernheim Distillery. In 2015 and 2016 it won some awards, but the more I learn about whiskey awards the less I trust them. I’ve come to believe it is all bought and paid for ahead of time.

Pikesville Rye is nice stuff and I was surprised by it in a good way. The burn on the tongue is not too bad at 110 proof. Naturally, the high proof requires a little water to soften the whiskey and let the flavors out. You could drink Pikesville neat or with a splash of water, but it would be far better in a cocktail.

Price around $50 and worth it if you like a rye whiskey cocktail.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Aultmore 12-Year-Old

October 1, 2020 Scotland

Name: Aultmore 12-Year-Old Single Malt

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Fresh vanilla, honey, green grass

Taste: Apple, vanilla, green grass, barley

Review:

Aultmore 12-year-old Single Malt is a scotch that I purchased without trying before, so I gambled. Astor Wines recently had their spring cleaning scotch sale of 15% off so I bought a few bottles blind to treat myself.

The whisky is 100% malted barley, aged in ex-bourbon barrels, bottled at 46% abv, and the distillery is located in Keith, Banffshire (Speyside region of Scotland). The name Aultmore is derived from the Gaelic word Ant-Allt Mor which means “big burn”. The “big burn” refers to the water source the Auchinderran Burn. A “burn” is a spring or source of water.

Upon my first sip I immediately wondered if this was a start up distillery that outsourced its whisky or if it was used in a blended scotch. The bottle label was a bit too fancy for a new distillery. Aultmore is one of Dewar’s “Last Great Malts” expressions and some of the single malts are used in Dewar’s blending. The Last Great Malts are: Aberfeldy, The Deveron, Royal Blackla, and Craigellachie, and Aultmore. I am familiar with these scotches but have not tried all them. “Last Great Malts” sounds like a great marketing name.

Aultmore flavor profile is very good but it reminds me of another whisky that I am having trouble putting my finger on. I cannot really compare it to anything else, but for some reason I am reminded of the Bruchladdich Laddie, but that is a real stretch. I think my mind is comparing it more to its standalone flavor profile rather than their similarity.

Price around $85 and very good but I feel Aultmore is pushing its luck when you compare taste vs price with respect to age.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Vicomte French Whiskey Single Malt

September 24, 2020 France

Name: Vicomte French Whiskey Single Malt

Color: Brown

Nose: Earthy, wood, cognac, dark fruit

Taste: Cognac earth, vanilla, oak

Review:

Vicomte French Whiskey comes from the Poitou-Charentes Region in France. It is twice distilled, 100% organic barely and is bottled at 40% abv.

Vicomte is aged in New French Limousin oak and ex-cognac barrels for a total of 8 years. Limousin wood comes from western France and is popular in cask construction with brandy/cognac makers because the wood has more tannic flavor because of the soils and lead to a better flavor profile. This is where the earthy tones can come from which I prefer more in brandy/cognac than I do in my whisky.

I have tried a few other French Whiskies such as Meyers and Rozelieures. There are a few more French ones out there but so far, each of the three I have now tried have a cognac styled flavor profile. I find French Whisky to be more of an after dinner drink than a regular drinker. Vicomte reminds me of Meyers. The map below shows the region where Vicomte is produced.

I had this one at my sister’s home as she used to sell high end wine and liquor. I have not seen it in the stores in NYC but I am sure it is out there somewhere in the area. Try the higher end stores near Park Ave.

Price around $75 and more of an after dinner whisky then a regular drinker.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Deanston Decennary

September 17, 2020 Scotland

Name: Deanston Decennary

Color: Copper

Nose: Vanilla, orange zest, red wine

Taste: Orange, spice, madeira sweet sugar

Review:

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”.

My cousins, who live in Sterling got me a sample pack of Deanston Scotch. Each bottle contains 3cl (1oz) samples from the distillery and Decennary was the fourth sample I tasted.

Decennary was created to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Deanston Distillery. The word “Decennary” is the old British word for decade (10-year time period). Not sure why they picked this one when they were celebrating their 50^th. From my research I have learned the whisky is finished in a multi-vintage vatting of four casks; 1977 ex-bourbon, 1982 American Oak, 1996 Port Pipe, and 2006 Pedro Ximanez. The flavor is very nice and well balance but a bit on the sweet side. It is worth trying, but for me, it is a one and done due to the sherry sweetness.

Price around $150 and is a limited run of 1400 bottles. If you like the flavor profile it is worth it, but $150 can get you a lot of other whiskies.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

Jim Bean Apple

September 16, 2020 America

Name: Jim Bean Apple

Color: Yellow brown

Nose: Tart chemical apple, candy sweet

Taste: Chemical sweet apple, candy sweet

Review:

Holy fucking shit this crap is awful. (And yes, I know it is not really whiskey)

Priced around $25 and tastes like shit. Good for a shitty cocktail at Chili’s or TGI Fridays bar.

The end.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

P.s. Do not drink this shit.

If you like it, drink it!

Highland Park – Magnus

September 3, 2020 Scotland

Name: Highland Park – Magnus

Color: Yellow

Nose: Sweet, heather, honey, light smoke

Taste: Vanilla, honey, light peat

Review:

Highland Park Magnus whisky is a single malt, non-aged stated scotch. It is named after the founder Magnus Eunson who built the distillery in 1798 in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. If you are not familiar with Highland Park you should know they are one of the major players in the whisky world.

The Magnus expression is lighter and less complex compared to the Highland Park Valkyrie expression I recently reviewed. Magnus does not have a heavy smoke/peat or complex flavor profile. It is a good scotch, but not amazing when it comes to the taste. Valkyrie is better tasting, but not double the price better tasting. I find Magnus too light for the winter months. It will be good for the summer months if you need some smoke and peat in the warm air.

A little bit of education for you when it comes to whisky botany; Highland Park uses Orcadian peat to smoke the barley for Magnus and for other expressions. Orcadian peat comes from decomposed Sphagnum moss (aka peat moss) and heather shrub (aka Calluna vulgaris). Some say they can smell and taste the difference. I have not done a comparison of peats and heather so I cannot tell the difference. I hope to in the future.

Sphagnum moss

Heather shrub

I am still not crazy about the black bottle design and labeling. I like to see the color of my scotch in the bottle. I am sure there is a good (marketing & advertising) reason for it.

Price around $40-50 depending on where you shop. It is decent, but nothing great. I’ll keep it on hand for the warmer weather.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Glen Garioch – Founder’s Reserve

September 1, 2020 Scotland

Name: Glen Garioch Founder’s Reserve

Color: Copper brown

Nose: Barley, green apples, honey sweetness

Taste: Barley malt, allspice, cream/oil, oak

Review:

Glen Garioch Founders Reserve is from the East Highlands of Scotland and was established in 1798. This scotch is a non-age stated, but I would guess from the taste profile it is approximately 6 to 8 years old. The Founders Reserve is 48% abv, non-chilled filtered, natural colored, and finished in ex-bourbon and sherry casks.

This was my first experience with Glen Garioch and I was pleasantly surprised when I compared the taste to the cost. I was not familiar with this scotch so I decided to gamble on buying the bottle before I had an opportunity to sample a dram.

Every time you buy a bottle of anything that you have not tasted before it is a gamble. Sometimes it pays off, other times it does not. I like to think, “What is the worst case?” The worst case is you are going to get stuck with some whisky. It will get drank, one way or another.

Glen Garioch is very nice scotch for the price and I look forward to trying other expressions from their distillery in the near future.

Price around $50 and worth the money for a non-aged stated scotch.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Talisker 10

August 27, 2020 Scotland

Name: Talisker 10 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Color: Light brown

Nose: Malt barley, sea salt, pepper

Taste: Brine, peat, pepper, barley

Review:

Talisker 10 is a well-known and classic Scotch from the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It is a name brand when it comes to Scotch Whisky. So, if you do not know it, or have not tried it, I recommend you experience it. The Talisker Distillery was found in 1830 and is located in Carbost, Isle of Skye.

Being so close the ocean it states it is “Made by the Sea” and is a fun play on words. I get the sea taste in the scotch but I also get it from Old Putney which is located even more North in Wick, Scotland. The Talisker 10 is the baseline or benchmark of the expressions. Other expressions include; 18, 25, 30-year-old, Storm, Skye, Dark Storm, Distiller Edition, 75 North, Port Ruighe, and Neist Pint. I have sampled the 18-year old and I will be doing reviews on the Skye and the Storm soon.

I received a 3-pack sampler when I was in Scotland from cousin and I enjoyed each of them while I was spending a few days in a hotel in Edinburgh. Talisker 10 can be a little harsh for some, but the 10 years and a little water soften it out. Aged in American Oak, a single malt, and bottle at 45% it is a requirement of any good whisky bar or home bar. It also tastes much better when you drink it in Scotland for some strange reason.

Price around $60 and well worth the money if you like this flavor profile or need a nice gift.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Glenfiddich Single Malt 14 Year Old

August 25, 2020 Scotland

Name: Glenfiddich 14 Year Old

Color: Medium Brown

Nose: Honey with light smoke and some peat notes

Taste: Medium bodied, you taste the honey with a finish of sweetness and peat on the tongue.

Review: I discovered this Scotch at a Robbie Burns tasting at the Astor Center, NYC in during the blizzard last winter that dump three feet of snow and shut down NYC for a day. I discovered a little too much of this bottle that night when I was trapped in my studio apartment in midtown but it was worth it!

This scotch is a single malt, aged 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in new American charred oak barrels. It has be designed and created exclusively for the USA market and the finish with the bourbon and charred barrels gives the scotch a wonderfully tasty flavor with a medium smooth finish. This Scotch would be ideal for Glenfiddich drinkers who want to mix it up a bit and Bourbon drinkers who want to step into the Scotch world. Price range is $45 to $55 and well worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Jim Beam Red Stag Whiskey

August 19, 2020 America

Name: Jim Beam Red Stag

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Chemical cough syrup, cherry, almonds

Taste: Chemical cough syrup, cherry, almonds

Review:

Jim Beam Red Stag Whiskey is another one of these chemical flavor whiskeys/liqueurs that can not be drank straight. It is similar to Jim Beam Vanilla, as it is all chemicals and would only go with a coke mixer. I cannot think of another way you could tolerate the tast. I tried a White Claw Black Cherry recently and took one sip and was disgusted by it. Ironically, the Red Stag has a similar taste.

It’s basically a low-grade mixer and tastes like shit.

Priced around $25 and I would not drink it.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey

Aultmore 12-Year-Old

Vicomte French Whiskey Single Malt

Deanston Decennary

Jim Bean Apple

Highland Park – Magnus

Glen Garioch – Founder’s Reserve

Talisker 10

Glenfiddich Single Malt 14 Year Old

Jim Beam Red Stag Whiskey

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