Chris | Page 34 | NYC Whiskey Review

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Kavalan Concert Master Single Malt

June 25, 2020 Taiwan

Name: Kavalan Concert Master Single Malt

Color: Ruby

Nose: Vanilla, clove, red grape port

Taste: Port, dark fruit, vanilla

Review:

This is not a multiple whisky-drinking bottle to enjoy with friends out at a bar in Midtown. I could not even see myself this summer by the beach drinking this whisky, this is an after dinner drink whisky. It is a very nice, decent balance, strong, and very sweet. It is a “one and done” dram, I could not imagine having two glasses in a row of this whisky. The sweetness of Concert Master Port Finish Single Malt is in the name with “Port Finish”. Port barrels used in the whisky are three different types and there is one American oak barrel used to mature the spirit in the warehouse. The use of Ruby, Tawney and Vintage ports gives the dark ruby color and strong port flavor which leads to the sweetness.

A quick 101 about Port:

Port: Fortified wine that comes from the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal.

Ruby: Aka the cheap port.

Tawney: Red grapes, sweetness to medium dry style port. Considered mainly for dessert wine.

Vintage: Port from grapes declared vintage year by the port house. Accounts for 2% of total production.

I really enjoy the whisky’s Kavalan is producing, but this particular whisky has been specifically designed to be a dessert wine-esq whiskey. If you are a whisky person and like port, this would make a better dessert than the chocolate cake.

Price around $100 it is a fair value if you like the taste of port in your whisky.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

WoodFord Reserve Bourbon

June 23, 2020 America

Name: Woodford Reserve Bourbon

Color: Brown

Nose: Sweet corn and vanilla

Taste: Carmel, vanilla with light cinnamon and light oak

Review:

Woodford Reserve was the whisky that got me off Gin & Tonic’s and into the world of brown spirits around 8 years ago. I had a business trip to Kentucky and part of the trip was a Bourbon Distillery tour and a cocktail party at the facility. I switched that night to whisky and never looked back. I remember Mad Men was starting up on television and it was all the buzz, but what I remember more was the massive shift towards whisky in bars as the second season aired.

This Bourbon is tripled distilled, smooth, well balanced and a bit more on the sweet side in flavor. It makes for a great drink anyway you like it and great gift in Duty Free if you are visiting someone overseas. Also, the flat bottle is excellent to hid at work in your book case, file cabinet or false panels of modern cubicle furniture (speaking from experience). Priced around $35-$45 it is a great value and will not disappoint.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Highland Park 12 Year Old

June 18, 2020 Scotland

Name: Highland Park 12 Year Old

Color: Brown

Nose: Citrus, sherry, peat, and wood

Taste: Silky oil, caramel, malt, smoke and peat

Review:

It is interesting how the seasons can affect your mood when it comes to food and drink in NYC. In the summer time, you do not want a beef stroganoff, apple cider, pumpkin latte, or a peaty whisky. The cooler weather is coming soon so your tastes for whisky should be changing to something that warms you up when you come inside from the cold city.

Highland Park 12 is aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks. The exact amount of aging has not been released from the distillery. If I had to guess due to cost of purchasing the casks and the flavor profile, it would be 10 years in bourbon and 2 years in sherry casks. An interesting geographical fact about the distillery is that it is the most Northern distillery in Scotland. Located in the Orkney Islands it is so far north that the peat has a different composition than the southern regions. The north has more trees and seaweeds in peat compared to the south which has more flowers and brush. This difference in detritus gives a different taste to the peat and the flavor profile of the whisky. Highland Park advertises that it is a “Highland whisky with Viking soul”. This is an accurate statement since the Scots are descendants of the Vikings and Norway used to rule the Orkney Islands until the 14^th century.

I like this scotch for the flavor and the price. I also like it because it would be a good entry-level whisky if you are interested in trying stronger full bodied scotches (E.g. Bowmore, Laphroaig, Lagavulin). I have learned that if you like medium-bodied whisky’s it can be hard to jump into something too strong, woody, or peaty. You will need a transition whisky to show you the way and Highland Park 12 can do just that.

Price around $65 and well worth the money for a 12-year-old Scotch with this flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Scotch Malt Whisky Society (of America) – Paul John Whisky Release

June 11, 2020 India

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a SMWSA event at Junoon Restaurant to preview their new partnership with Paul John Whisky (PJ) from Goa, India. Mr. Paul John was in attendance to promote the launch along with members and non-members. If you are not familiar with SMWS please click here for my previous review. I enjoy Paul John Whisky very much and I highly recommend it if you have not tried it. At the event light appetizers where served along with 4 drams of the new expressions.

The new SMWSA & PJ were the following:

Cask 134.1 “Exotic rainforest fruits” Age: 6yrs, Refilled Ex-Bourbon barrels, Distilled February 2010, ABV: 57.9%, 36 allocated for USA. Price = $245.00

Cask 134.2 “Lip-smacking and cockle-warming” Age: 6yrs, Refilled Ex-Bourbon barrels, Distilled March 2010, ABV: 58.0%, 42 allocated for USA. Price = $245.00

Cask 134.3 “Hello flavour” Age: 6yrs, Refilled Ex-Bourbon barrels, Distilled March 2010, ABV: 56.9%, 42 allocated for USA. Price = $245.00

Cask 134.4 “Struts its stuff” Age: 6yrs, Refilled Ex-Bourbon barrels, Distilled November 2010, ABV: 57.0%, 48 allocated for USA. Price = $245.00

As you can see, all are 6 years old and cask strength. I enjoyed them all but none of them were mind blowing good.

In my previous review of SMWS I had some critiques, this time around I have complaints.

Complaint #1:

Price of $245.00. My thoughts when I saw this was and still are, “HOLY SHIT ARE YOU SERIOUS? If I bought one bottle, plus shipping and added the event ticket ($107.62) I would spend approximately $390.00. Since you as the reader did not go to the event, let me do the basic math for you.

In NYC Store Total = (PJ Edited) + (PJ Brilliance) + (PJ Classic) + (PJ Peated)

NYC = $60 + $60 + $100 + $100

NYC = $320.00 (3000ml)

SMWS PJ Total = (Bottle) + (Shipping)

SMWS PJ = $245 + $35 (approx.)

SMWS PJ = $275 (750ml)

As you can see from the math, you must really love this whisky or have money to spend to purchase a 6-year-old cask strength whisky at that price.

Complaint #2:

There is still NO VENUE BAR IN NYC at the time I am writing this review. I heard the representative pouring the samples telling a guest, “we hope to open one soon”. It is time to open a venue or partner bar in NYC. There is a bar on every corner in NYC, you can find a way and please don’t tell me about the liquor laws again.

There are many societies, clubs and tastings out there you can experience. SMWSA does offers something different, but I don’t see it has something that special or rare. Having a membership to buy expensive bottles is not special. Opening a venue bar in NYC and being a member is special.

As you can tell I find the price too high. As I have stated before, when they open a bar in NYC I will renew my membership.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old

June 2, 2020 Scotland

Nose: Citrus, oak, heather flower

Taste: Lemon citrus, light wood, white pepper

Review:

The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old Single Malt is one of the best sellers and most widely recognized names in the whisky world. Founded in 1824 in Moray, Scotland this Speyside Region scotch is 100% malted barley and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). The scotch is aged in European and ex-bourbon barrels and is a smooth and easy scotch.

The Speyside Region of Scotland is in the North Eastern region of the Highlands and is its own region with respect to scotch. It is own region because Speyside has almost half of the distilleries in the North stands alone. Other well-known Speyside Scotches are: Aberlour, Balvenie, Cardhu, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenfarcas, Glengassaugh, Glenfiddich, Speyburn, The Macallan, and Glenrothes.

Glenlivet 12 is a very nice, medium body scotch that I feel is more of a summer drink than a winter dram. I do not normally suggest pairing of food with whisky but this one would go well with a cheese tray if you are serving food. Personally, I do not like to match whisky and food as whisky does not enhance food in my opinion. Good whisky needs nothing but a glass to drink it from.

Priced around $45 and worth the money to keep on the bar at home.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

FEW Bourbon

May 26, 2020 America

Name: FEW Bourbon Color: Copper brown Nose: Cinnamon, spice, anise Taste: Caramel, corn, cloves, spice, peppery herbs Review: I first tried FEW Bourbon at Whiskey Live in NYC and at the time I had not heard of this brand but I know them now. I tasted all of their products, but when I sampled the bourbon I was very surprised by the flavor. When I see the word “Bourbon”, I get prepared for a sweeter tasting whiskey due to the corn mash, but not this whiskey. It has the sweetness of bourbon but with spiciness of rye that makes a great combination. I started thinking about how this would taste in a cocktail. A week later I was at the Brandy Library having a FEW Old Fashioned and as expected, it was excellent. By the way, when I say Old Fashion I mean no mashed cherries and easy on the sugar. Based out of Evanston, Illinois, FEW Bourbon is less than 4 years old and is a 3-mash bill of 70% corn, 20% rye, 10% two-row malt. At 4 years in the barrel I do not expect much from a whisky this young. You cannot have your cake and eat it too when you look at age, taste, and cost. Something has to be sacrificed in that combination to make a whisky in 4 years. Naturally, the whisky would taste better if it had more time to mature in the barrel, but products have to be released to make a profit. The name FEW comes from Frances Elizabeth Willard, founder of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union who were involved in establishing prohibition. Prohibition started in 1920 and ended in 1933 and was overall a failure of politics. The only good thing to come out of prohibition, besides the strength the Mafia gained, was cocktails designed to offset the taste of cheap homemade booze (aka bathtub gin). Priced around $50 it is a little high for a mixer but I feel it is worth it.

If you like it, drink it!

Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old

May 21, 2020 America

Name: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old

Color: Copper brown

Nose: Sharp, vanilla, corn, oak, dark fruit

Taste: Sweet corn, vanilla, oak, cream

Review:

Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a classic Kentucky bourbon whisky. Russell’s bourbon is made by the father & son combo Jimmy and Eddie Russell of the Wild Turkey Distillery. It is boasted that together, they have 90 years of experience distilling bourbon.Bottled at 90 proof it has a bit of a kick on the nose and tastes good, but not great. Add a little water and it softens, with ice it is a bit better. After a few sips I concluded that this would be better suited as a cocktail mixer. Bourbon’s like Russell’s Reserve 10 are fine and worth the money but they taste better in the summer, on a back porch in Kentucky with a cigar and friends. I did hope that those 90 years of experience might yield a better product. This one will end up in my decanter for bourbon on my bar and will be used in my Old Fashions.

Price around $45 and is ok/good, but I think the Makers 46 is smoother and would make a better cocktail mixer.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Four Roses – Single Barrel

May 19, 2020 America

Name: Four Roses Single Barrel

Color: Brown

Nose: Spice, vanilla, fruit

Taste: Dark fruits, spice, vanilla, little oak

Review:

I enjoyed Four Roses Single Barrel in Kentucky, outdoors under and oak tree with a fine cigar. At the time, I had to dispense life advice to my college roommates 15-year-old son. Note to self and anyone reading, do not drink bourbon and give a teenager advice. The truth about life can scare them!

This bourbon is “straight bourbon whisky” which by law, must be aged in new charred white oak barrels that can only be used once to obtain this title. It is a “single barrel bourbon” which means that that a series of bottles are filled from only one barrel, hence the number on the label. Some people think this is better, others do not. You can be the judge. I have not yet tried the same whisky side by side with different barrel number.

Four Roses was once known as a low grade crap whisky. Over the last few decades it has had a re-birth and is now producing quality bourbons. If you are in Kentucky, need a gift for a someone, or just want to add a bourbon to your bar this would be a good one to purchase.

Priced around $45 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it. – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Whiskey

May 14, 2020 America

Name: Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Whiskey

Color: Brown

Nose: Sweet, light smoke, spices

Taste: Banana peels, nuts, caramel

Review:

Jack Daniels a popular whiskey that you might have heard about in your life time. Jack Daniels, aka “JD” or “Jack” as it is sometimes known is not a bourbon. It is a Tennessee whiskey made up of 80% corn, 12% rye, and 8% malt. The whiskey is filtered through sugar, maple and charcoal which gives it unique taste profile. The label is iconic and is replicated for numerous type of products other than whiskey. It is said that no one knows what Old No.7 really means on the label. I say, who gives a shit. It is just romancing marketing.

Jack Daniels and Frank Sinatra are together in the photo because this week marks the anniversary of the passing of Frank Sinatra. I once heard, “Frank was never without Jack” or something along those lines. Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, NJ and started his career in NYC. Due to Sinatra’s great love of Jack Daniels the company makes a Jack Daniels Sinatra Edition Whiskey. I have not tried it but I have been told it is much smoother than the basic Jack Daniels, but it comes at a high price.

Jack Daniels is good for mixing or cooking but I find unpleasant to drink straight or on the rocks.

Priced around $30 and it’s not my cup of whiskey.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Tin Cup American Whiskey

May 12, 2020 America

Name: Tin Cup American Whiskey

Color: Brown

Nose: Spices, white fruits, citrus, honey

Taste: Spice, rye, apple fruit, caramel

Review:

Tin Cup American Whiskey originates from Denver, Colorado and is a nice whiskey that I got a small taste of recently while helping on a tasting panel and I just picked up a bottle at Shoprite in Hoboken.

Tin Cup is a sourced whiskey a blend of high rye bourbon from Indiana and Colorado single malt whiskey that is cut with Rocky Mountain water. The mash bill is corn, rye and malted barley and is aged 4 years in American white oak barrels with number 3 char. Rocky mountain water may seem special but take it from me (engineer), any type of water can be recreated now with modern technology. Hard water, software, mineral based, salted, etc. can be made by scientist/engineer in a warehouse with the right equipment. Coors Light is made from Rocky Mountain water and tastes like shit, so I do not buy into that sales pitch.

Tin Cup is made by Jess Graber who co-founded Stranahan’s and similar to Stranahan’s there is a jigger on the top. I think that is a nice touch to keep you from drinking straight from the bottle. I like to joke that the jigger on Stranahan’s bottles must be $30 of the price of the bottle because their whisky is not cheap. Due to the taste, I am taking an educated guess that the single malt whiskey that is used is Stranahan’s because this whiskey is nice stuff!

This whisky is surprisingly good for the price (and you can see I am enjoying it). It works neat or on the rocks and I am sure it works well in a cocktail. It has been a while since I have been impressed with a whiskey in this price range. (See Tomatin 12)

Price around $35 and well worth the price.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Kavalan Concert Master Single Malt

WoodFord Reserve Bourbon

Highland Park 12 Year Old

Scotch Malt Whisky Society (of America) – Paul John Whisky Release

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old

FEW Bourbon

Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old

Four Roses – Single Barrel

Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Whiskey

Tin Cup American Whiskey

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