Chris | Page 36 | NYC Whiskey Review

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The Pot Still

February 13, 2020 Scotland

Name: The Pot Still

Location: 154 Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland

Hours: Monday thru Sunday, 11:00am-12:00am

Style: Scottish Pub

Review:

The Pot Still in Glasgow, Scotland is a pub that is known for its selection of whisky’s and its true Scottish environment. Every time I visit Glasgow to see my family I make an effort to go to The Pot Still for a dram or two. On my last trip over in November I got the chance to meet the owner Mr. Murphy and try something very special whisky.

The Pot still was established in 1981 and has been owned and operated by the Murphy Family for the last six years. The bar is located four blocks from Glasgow Central Station which is in center of Glasgow. The Pot Still has a large selection of whisky’s, beer, and small food bites. In the city it is known for its whisky’s and to be true Scottish pub, full of character and characters. If you find yourself planning a visit, I recommend mid-afternoon so you can sit and enjoy your whisky. As with many places it gets busy with the rush hour crowd heading home.

On my last visit I wanted to sample the new release of Red Spot Irish Whiskey which I believe is still not available in America. Unfortunately, they did not have it in so I opted for Glenfiddich Fire and Cain (holy shit was it sweet!). The next day my uncle introduced me to the Mr. Murray at his local pub the The Old Smiddy in Cathcart. Mr. Murphy recommend I come back the following day to try The “Famous Grouse Glasgow 2014 Glenturret 1986 Cask Strength Limited”. It was a very good and my review is coming soon.

I visit Scotland almost every year and I always like to go The Pot Still for a quick dram. I will be back in May 2019 for a wedding and I will be making a stop at The Pot Still. If you have not been to Glasgow, I highly recommend a trip because “People Make Glasgow!” Cheers!

Prices ranges depending on what you eat and drink!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve

February 11, 2020 Scotland

Name: Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve

Color: Yellow gold

Nose: Smoke, malt, mint, citrus, vanilla, light peat

Taste: Citrus, leafy, spice, peat

Review:

I purchased the Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve after tasting it at the Robert Burns Tasting at the Astor Wines back in January.

This scotch threw me for a loop when it came to comparing nose to the taste. The nose versus taste does not match which I found strange but the taste good. From my research it makes more sense when you realize how they finished the scotch by marrying casks. It has a peaty smoke smell, but fresh and crisp taste. It is an interesting and semi-complex scotch.

This Peated Cask Reserved is from the Speyside Reserve Collection and is a non-age stated (NAS) single malt. It is stated to be 13-14 years old and has been created by marrying 1992 Vintage casks and Finished in casks that previously held peated Islay whisky. The aged sounds like it could be true based on the price point, but you never really know. The Peated Cask Reserve was released to USA markets in April 2016.

I have purchased a few other Glenrothes in the past and I have found them to be a good solid scotches. They are well balanced and worth the price. If you have not yet tried Glenrothes yet I recommend you give it a try.

Priced around $50 and well worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

J. Rieger Kansas City Whiskey

February 4, 2020 America

Name: J. Rieger Kansas City Whiskey

Color: Light brown

Nose: Sherry, caramel, spices

Taste: Light burn, caramel, sweetness

Review:

When I am up in the midtown area of NYC I like to visit Park Ave Liquor Store. Recently I visited the store and samples of Kansas City Whiskey by J. Rieger Distiller were being offered. I had heard of this distillery from the Whisky Cast Podcast and I was interested to sample it.

It is worth a quick mention; I never buy anything at this store. I just like to be absolutely shocked at the ridiculous prices. They do carry some high end stuff and display some impressive bottles in their street window, but their average bottles retail cost is far too high. As for the street window luxury displays, mark my words, there will be a smash and grab job one day.

Kansas City Whiskey is a blend of straight bourbon, light corn, straight rye, and a small amount of 15-year-old Oloroso Sherry. The whiskey is aged at least 4 years. I asked about the age of the whiskey versus the distillery and I was informed they were sourcing the raw product. Since the whiskey is young I asked about other spirits they produced. Similar to other small distilleries who need to keep the revenue coming in as the whiskey ages, they produce gin, vodka, Caffe Amaro (coffee liquor), and specialty releases.

This whiskey has a nice flavor and I would definitely enjoy it in my Old Fashions or Manhattans cocktails when I am out or at home. If you haven’t yet tried increasing the quality of your whiskey 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 whiskey is worth every penny.

Priced at approximately $45 it is good and I will be adding to my bar at home.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Deanston Virgin Oak

January 30, 2020 Scotland

Name: Deanston Virgin Oak

Color: Light brown

Nose: Honey, fresh flowers, light oak, vanilla, orange

Taste: Oak, honey, floral, vanilla

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”.

I tried Deanston a few years ago but do not remember the taste profile. It was probably around the time when I first started getting into whisky. My cousin who lives in Sterling got me a sample pack. Each bottle contains 3cl (1oz) samples from the distillery and Virgin Oak was the first one tasted.

The Virgin Oak name comes from the new oak casks that are used to age the scotch. The barrels originate from Kentucky and the final bottling is at 46.3%. The flavor profile is ok and in line with the price per bottle. On the first taste I got a slight burn and a bit of cream. It opened up a little with some water but was nothing amazing.

Price around $35 and ok but nothing exciting. I look forward to tasting the other samples.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Three Fingers High Whiskey 12 Year Old

January 29, 2020 Canada

Name: Three Fingers High Whiskey 12 Year Old

Color: Yellow straw

Nose: Not much of a nose. Little spice, nutmeg, and cinnamon

Taste: Bull, rye, bitter, sherry finish

Review:

Three Fingers High Whiskey is a Canadian blended whiskey aged 12 years and finished in Amontillado and sherry casks. It is 100% rye, pot still distilled, and bottled at 80 proof.

There is not much online that I could find about the whiskey and there is probably a reason for it. Three Fingers is not a good whiskey. It may be sherry finished, but does not have any real taste or specific flavor profile.

It is boring, dull, no flavor and cheap tasting. Overall, it is shit.

Price around $45 and not worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Deanston 12-Year-Old Palo Cortado Finish

January 28, 2020 Scotland

Name: Deanston 12-Year-Old Palo Cortado Finish

Color: Light Gold

Nose: Sweet, dry sherry, spice, honey wood, flowers

Taste: Sweet dry Spanish sherry, some wood, honey

Review:

My cousin, who lives in Sterling got me a sample pack of Deanston Scotch. Each bottle contains 3cl (1oz) samples from the distillery and Palo Cortado was the second sample I tasted.

Deanston Palo Cortado is a 12 years old whisky and finished in Palo Cortado Sherry Casks. This type of sherry is somewhere between an Amontillado (darker sherry from Montilla Region of Spain) and Oloroso (darker than Amontillado and dry) sherry and is on the dry side. From my research, only 1-2% of grapes pressed for sherry naturally develop into Palo Cortado. Sherry casks are very popular to finish whisky, but is not everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to flavor. Usually the sherry cask creates a very sweet tasting whisky (aka a sherry bomb) which I do not like. In this expression the flavor profile is very dry.

Palo Cortado has a good balance and flavor, but I could see many Americans not liking this expression because of the dry sherry flavor. Sherry is not popular in United States and dry sherry is even less popular.

Priced around $135, and more of an after dinner or one and done whisky. Not sure where you can find it but worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Brenne Estate Cask Single Malt

January 21, 2020 France

Name: Brenne Estate Cask Single Malt

Color: Light brown

Nose: Fresh, earth, spice, burnt cotton candy

Taste: Light, fresh, caramel, cognac earth, sweet finish

Review:

Last week I attended a tasting for Brenne Whisky at Hudson Hotel Library Bar near Columbus Circle here in NYC. This tasting was in conjunction with Women Who Whisky of New York. I found the invite online and thought it would be a good tasting to attend. What I did not know, until I arrived, was I was the only male attending. Opps…. However, Allison Parc, founder of Brenne Whisky and Julia Ritz Toffoli, founder of Women Who Whiskey welcomed me with open arms and dragged me out of the corner I was sitting (hiding) in to join a another table.

Brenne is a single malt whisky produced in Cognac, France and was released in 2012. It has very distinct flavor profile that some might find too sweet, but it was excellent in the Manhattan cocktail served that night. Brenne is the kind of whisky I like in the warm summer weather by the pool, beach, or outdoors at night with a cigar. Some whisky lovers may not like a sweeter taste but I prefer a sweeter whisky in warm weather. I can not drink Islay peated whisky when it is warm out.

Brenne Estate is priced around $60 and it’s flavor profile stands on its own. It is worth the money and I will be putting it on my bar this summer.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Aberlour A’bundah Bin 54

January 16, 2020 Scotland

Name: Aberlour A’bunadh Bin 54

Color: Red brown

Nose: Cherry, sherry, dried fruit

Taste: Cherry, oak wood, chocolate, sherry bomb

Review:

The name “A’bunadh” (which I can barely pronounce and I’m half-Scottish) means “Original”. Aberlour has blended 5 to 25 year old whiskeys to create this non-aged stated (NAS) cask strength Scotch and finished them in Oloroso Sherry butts. Oloroso means “scented” in Spanish and is a darker, nutty sherry.

This whisky is all about the sherry finish, also known as the “sherry bomb” because of the way it hits your palate. Sherry finished whiskies are very popular right now with distilleries. From my discussion with a few blenders, they have told me it is what the market is currently demanding. I theorize that the whisky popularity might be peaking so sweetening up the whiskeys will bring in new drinkers. Everyone seems to be doing it when you take a look at the distilleries products.

A’bunadh is not a candy whisky by any means. It has a medium body with a nice full finish, but still is a bit too sweet for my taste. On a previous post, I reviewed Yamazaki 18yr Sherry Cask and I wrote that A’bunadh was listed in a magazine article as a potential equal at a cheaper price. As I do not agree with this statement, I will say that you get good idea of the Yamazaki taste profile at much more affordable price if you buy A’bunadh.

Since this whisky is sherry sweet and high proof it makes a good, but dangerous combination if you are enjoying a few drinks. If you have not tried cask strength sherry based whisky I recommend you try a sample at a bar to get a feel for the sweet kick that comes with this style of spirit. I believe Copper & Oak on the Lower East Side will have a 1oz tasting pour at a fair price.

Priced around $120 it is a good value if you like this flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

*Note: I lost my 54 photo so a online photo of the 52 was used. Sorry!

Highland Park – Valkyrie

January 14, 2020 Scotland

Name: Highland Park Valkyrie

Color: Gold

Nose: Smoke, chocolate, spice

Taste: Smoke, wood, spice vanilla, white fruit

Review:

Highland Park Valkyrie is one of several “Viking themed” expressions released by Highland Park Distillery. It is a non-aged stated single malt that has 50% peat mix that is finished in ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Highland Park has partnered with Danish fashion designer and writer Jim Lyngvild to create this whisky and the bottle. He is said to have an old Viking blood line and is related to the ancient Earl from the Orkney Islands. The Valkyrie expression is an award winning scotch with many fans. I am not one of those fans.

A brief history;

Valkyrie(s) are from Norse legend and by translation of their name it means “chooser of the slain”. They are ones who decides who lives or dies in battle and escorts them to the afterlife in Valhalla. The Scottish (Scots), which I am half, are direct decedents of the Vikings. They share the same warrior blood line, but not so much the same historical or religious beliefs.

My thoughts;

So, Highland Park hired a guy who is in fashion and very popular from Northern Europe. They slapped his name on a black and gold bottle, added some Viking symbols, blended some smoked whisky, put it in a bottle and there you go! Wow, what a load of horse shit in advertising and marketing. The scotch is ok, it’s not amazing at its price point, however, with a little marketing it seems to be amazing.

Something “smells rotten in the State of Denmark” with respect to some of the high ratings this scotch receives. Valkyrie is not a bad scotch; it is just not worth the price. I get the strong feeling the price is connected to the marketing. I get an Emperors clothes like feeling when I step back at think

Priced around $90 and not worth it. I will stick to my regular aged Highland Park.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Aberlour 12

January 9, 2020 Scotland

Name: Aberlour 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

Color: Brown

Nose: Cinnamon, vanilla, oak

Taste: Sweet sugar, raisins, oak

Review:

Aberlour 12-Year-old Single Malt Scotch is a baseline expression for the Aberlour Distillery that makes wonderful expressions of Scotch Whisky. If you have not tried Aberlour yet, I highly recommend this scotch. I also recommend you start at the beginning and not the high end stuff. It is just easier on the wallet.

The Aberlour Distillery was built in 1879 by James Fleming and today is owed by the Chivas Brothers. Aberlour is Scottish Gaelic and translates to “Obar Lobhair” which in a roundabout way means “stream”. It is located in the Speyside region of Northern Scotland which is part of the Highlands. Other expressions from Aberlour include the 16 Year Old, 18 Year Old, and A’Bundah.

Aberlour 12 is good but a little too sugary sherry sweet for me this time of the year. I find this type of sherry flavored whisky to be more of a summer outdoor drink than a cold weather dram. The sweetness does not warm me up in the cold weather.

I like the bottle style of Aberlour Scotch. It is not too short, not too tall, has wooden cork with a wide mouth, and a glass lip. In your hand it feels like quality glass and fortunately it has quality scotch inside it.

Price around $50 and worth the price if you like it a bit sweeter.

If you like it, drink it! -Christopher

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

The Pot Still

Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve

J. Rieger Kansas City Whiskey

Deanston Virgin Oak

Three Fingers High Whiskey 12 Year Old

Deanston 12-Year-Old Palo Cortado Finish

Brenne Estate Cask Single Malt

Aberlour A’bundah Bin 54

Highland Park – Valkyrie

Aberlour 12

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