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christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Chichibu On the Way (Cask Strength)

September 26, 2024 Japan

Name: Chichibu On the Way (Cask Strength)

Color: Light Gold

Nose: Alcohol, pears, apples

Taste: Strong alcohol, pears, sweetness, light smoke

I tried this whisky at a tasting hosted by Dominic Roskrow in the Flatiron district in NYC. Dominic was in town promoting his new book on Japanese whisky and I highly recommend the book. It clearly explains Japanese whisky and has great insight to the country, distilleries, and various bottles. That night we sampled a variety of whiskies and I enjoyed almost all of them, but this one I had a little trouble enjoying. This bottle is cask strength and is so strong I could barely nose the whisky and the taste was just as difficult to determine. I was very surprise that a whisky from Japan was this strong. There was no real balance to the spirit, just a big bite.

My personal preference is not to drink cask strength whisky. I have had many good ones, but they can be too much on the senses and can quickly become too much on my head. The “On the Way” was too strong for me even after I cut it with water a few times. Even after I cut it, I was really stuck on the taste the alcohol. I am not a fan of playing chemist with my whisky. A drop of water or an ice cube is the most effort I want to put into my glass and when I cut whisky, expect the whisky to soften.

As I have mentioned in previous reviews, Japanese whisky is very popular right now and everyone is drinking it. There are many types, levels of strength, and a wide range of price so I will consider this the first one I did not enjoy and I am surprised I did not like it. The strength of the spirit was expected, but the real shock was the price.

A bottle will cost approximately $260. For that price, I would expect a lot more flavor that I could detect and enjoy as I sipped my dram. As I say, if you like it, drink it, but, for me this whisky is not something I could enjoy and I would not pay this price for a bottle this strong.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The Toki Cocktail Series # 1 – The Old Fashioned

September 25, 2024 NYC

Toki is produced by Suntory and is a blend of their Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita whiskey’s. It is a clean tasting whiskey, but does not have any real complexity or interesting flavor profile. I find it a little boring and too rough to drink neat or on the rocks. In my opinion, Suntory created this as a cocktail mixer so I thought I would put it to the test with a series of Toki Cocktails.

Toki Cocktail Series #1 – The Old Fashioned

2.0 oz Toki Whiskey
¼ part Honey Syrup
Grapefruit Bitters
Slice of Grapefruit

Well, this tasted like absolute fucking dog shit. I will admit, I did not have grapefruit bitters because I was not going to spend $20 bottle on bitters for one cocktail. I substituted half orange and half regular bitters, but that was not the main problem. The grapefruit did not help either due to the bitterness of grapefruit. Toki’s flavor profile does not work for me when I am used to high proof rye or bourbon Old Fashioneds. I do not recommend this Toki cocktail.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

2 Whisky Bars to visit in NYC

September 19, 2024 NYC

In New York City, there is no shortage of places to enjoy whisky, however, your mood or need may require a bar with a certain vibe. If you are looking for a good selection of whisky, but you may need the bar for different social reasons I have two recommendations. In addition, all three locations do whisky tasting and classes. Prices range from free to “Holy shit! How much?”

The Flatiron Room, Flatiron Neighborhood

www.theflatironroom.com

Style: Romantic

Location: 37 West 26^th Street (Broadway & 26^th)

A high ceiling space with wooden tables and chairs with an old school lounge type of vibe. The walls are cabinets full of whisky and a moveable ladder for the bartenders to retrieve purchased or stored customer bottles. There is a light food menu available but the focus is the whisky menu. There are around a 1,000 (+/-) bottles on the menu so there is something for everyone. Reservations are strongly recommend as the bar space is very small with limited seating and no television. Several nights a week, there is live music lounge/jazz music.

The Flatiron Room is the type of place you take a date to for drinks or after a nice dinner. A group of friends works fine too, but I find it more a table for two type of place.

The Brandy Library, Tribeca Neighborhood

www.brandylibrary.com

Style: Business

Location: 25 North Moore Street (North Moore St & Varick St)

Wall Street is the first thing I think of every time I walk in the door, but not in the douche bag coked up asshole type of way. A long wooden bar, soft lighting, leather cushioned seats, and cocktail tables set a comfortable business tone. The space is very clean and the staff is well dressed and professional. The walls are shelved and full of all the bottles on the thick leather bound menu. Small bites of food are available and there is not television at the bar. An added bonus is the small outside seating where you can smoke a cigar and enjoy your drink.

The Brandy Library is a good place for drinks with friends, happy hour, or date. Prices are fair but not cheap as you are in a trendy area. I have been recently with a few friends from out of town and they really enjoyed it.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Davidoff Aniversario Entreacto

September 18, 2024 Cigars

Name: Davidoff Aniversario Entreacto

Size/Gauge: 3.5” / 43

Wrapper: Ecuador & Nicaragua

Binder: Dominican Republic

Filler: Dominican Republic

Davidoff Aniversario Entreacto is the smallest of the cigars in the box set at 3-1/2” inches. It has sweeter notes and a light nutty flavor. It reminds me of the Signature 2000. Entreacto has a very light and clean draw, but the flavor profile is too light and the time length of smoke is too short. It would make for a quick after dinner cigar or smoke on the golf course. This cigar was the last one of the box set and even though I did not like all of the cigars in the set, I do highly recommend the box set to try the various cigars Davidoff has to offer.

Priced around $13 per cigar and not worth it for my preferred taste, but the box set is worth it at around $200.

If you like it, drink it (or smoke it)! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Dead Rabbit (Bar) Grocery & Grog (& Whiskey)

September 12, 2024 NYC

Name: The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog (& Whiskey)

Location: 30 Water Street, New York, NY

Hours: Monday thru Sunday, 11:00am-4:00am

Style: Pub/Cocktail

The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog in New York, NY has been voted the worlds best bar in 2015 and 2016. They also won Best Bar in North America in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Named after the gang from back in the day in NYC and the name of how an illegal bar (aka grocery) was advertised the Dead Rabbit now has its own whiskey.

As far as all the awards and titles go; I have been in bars that do not have awards that are fantastic and others that are top rated and are shit. It is the owner and the bartender that make the place not the title.

The Dead Rabbit has 3 bars on 2 levels and is a hybrid between a pub and cocktail bar. It is a good place to take a rest when touring downtown or after getting off the tour boats and ferries at the waterfront. Here is my quick review of Dead Rabbit Whiskey:

Name: The Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey

Color: Gold

Nose: Vanilla, orange, citrus cream

Taste: Cream, vanilla, white pepper

Review:

Basic blended Irish Whiskey supplied by major distillery. Reminds me of a softer Proper 12 but, a bit flat in flavor profile. Whiskey is priced around $45 a bottle or $13 per 2oz pour. Same price as the Famous Grouse so that should tell you something. It was served to me in mini snifter glass. That drives me absolutely bat-shit crazy when I get whiskey in cognac glass. It’s a personal thing. Whiskey goes in whiskey glass.

There was a fire a while back and the bar has undergone some rebuilding. The rebuilt area on the first floor is nice and cozy and still has that new wood smell. The upstairs area small with a few tables and a small bar. There are no televisions so do not go to watch a game. The Irish Whiskey selection is the largest selection on the menu but there is plenty of Bourbon, Scotch and International Whiskeys.

“If you like it, drink it!“ – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

McSorley’s Old Ale House

September 11, 2024 NYC

McSorley’s Old Ale House is located in the East Village in Manhattan, was established in 1854, and is said to be the oldest operating bar in NYC. To be a fly on the wall here to see 170 years of people coming and going would have been fascinating. From Presidents drinking, the start and end of Prohibition, to women not allowed to enter until 1970, this place has some history. I recommend you read up on it.

McSorley’s serves only one type of drink which is beer. You can have either a light ale beer or dark porter beer and bother are severed in two smaller mugs. The food menu is limited, and I have tried it but I do not go to McSorley’s to eat. There are no reservations, and it can get very busy, so I recommend you visit in midafternoon.

As the Autumn approaches and the bar hopping scene ramps up and we get more friends visiting in NYC, I always make a point to take people to McSorley’s. Everyone I have taken to this bar has enjoyed the experience, even St. Matthew pictured below!

Location: East Village, NYC: 15^th East 7^th Street (3^rd Ave & 7^th St)
Hours: Monday to Saturday 11am-1am & Sunday 12pm-1am
Children Allowed: No kids after 6:00pm
Payment: Cash Only
Reservations: None

McSorley’s is a historic landmark bar in NYC and worth a visit for a round of beers.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Bowmore 15-Year-Old “Darkest”

September 5, 2024 Scotland

Name: Bowmore 15 Year Old – Darkest

Color: Dark brown/orange

Nose: Dry fruit, vanilla, sweetness

Taste: Light smoke, sweetness, dark fruits

Bowmore 15-year-old “Darkest” is an expression that was released in 2007 so it has some time on the market. Bowmore is an Islay scotch, and if you follow my reviews, you know I call that region of Scotland the “big boy scotch” area. Islay is known to produce strong, peaty and smoky whisky’s that people either love or hate. I love them in the winter but skip them in the summer.

The name “Darkest” comes from the color which is a combo of the sherry casks and caramel coloring. Coloring scotch is legal in Scotland with respect to scotch laws. This expression has 12 years in ex-bourbon casks and three years in Oloroso sherry casks. As with a lot of these 15-year-old sherry cask whisky’s, it is basically the distilleries 12-year-old product with another 3 years in sherry casks. I have not been amazed by this method or business model.

I have noticed over the last couple of years that sherry cask finishes are becoming very popular. I theorize (based on no research), that they are marketing to non-whisky drinkers by sweetening the scotch. Nothing wrong with sherry cask finishes, but sometimes I feel like I am drinking sugar scotch water.

Priced around $75 its good but a bit expensive for the sweet taste.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Bowmore 18

September 4, 2024 Scotland

Name: Bowmore 18

Color: Brown

Nose: Malt, oak, raisins, vanilla, caramel, light smoke

Taste: Malt, oak, dark/fruit, spices, caramel, light peat

The Bowmore Distillery is located on the Isle of Islay on the South Eastern shore of Lock Indaal. It was established in 1779 and is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, but like the majority of Scottish Distilleries it is under control of Suntory.

Bowmore 18 is aged in ex-bourbon and Oloroso casks, appears to be colored, and is bottled at 43% abv. Upon my first taste the whisky it was very tight and surprisingly robust. It was stronger and more robust than I was expecting for an 18-year-old. After a few minutes I took my second taste expecting the flavors to mellow. I was again surprised that it held the strong body and mouth feel and I noticed a little snap on the finish. The malt, fruits, and smoke worked very well together at the proof and age of this expression. From my research the Bowmore 18 was released in January 2007 to replace the 17-year-old. I have not sampled Bowmore in years and I need to really focus on their expressions in the future.

Other Expressions: Bowmore No. 1, 12, 15-Year-Old Darkest, 18, 25, 18 Year Manzanilla Cask, 19 Year French Oak Barrique, 26 Year French Oak Barrique, Bowmore 1964, Vault Edition Atlantic Sea Salt, Mizunara Cask, Bowmore 1957, The 50-Year-Old, Bowmore Arc-52, and 52 Years Old.

Travel Expressions: 10-Year-Old Dark & Intense,15-Year-Old Golden & Elegant, 18-Year-Old Deep & Complex, Bowmore 1984, and others depending upon releases.

Priced around $175+ and worth it if you like the flavor profile. I will be buying this bottle next time I see it in the store.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The Singleton Glendullan 12-Year-Old

August 29, 2024 Scotland

Name: The Singleton Glendullan 12-Year-Old

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, lemon, honey, heather, light oak

Taste: Malt, citrus, honey, toffee sugar

The Singleton Glendullan 12-Year-Old Whisky is produced by Diageo and comes from Dufftown, Scotland which is in the Speyside region. Glendullan is a distillery founded in 1897 and today is owned by Diageo for their production needs.

There are three brand names of The Singleton that were originally designed for three major markets. Glendullan for North America, Glen Ord for Asia, and Dufftown for Europe. However, today all are available in each market sector. I am sure the plan made sense in the conference room when it was pitched. They also having varying age expressions such as the 12, 15 and 18 year old.

The whisky is 40% abv, chilled filtered, color adjusted, and aged for 12 years in ex bourbon and sherry casks. I first saw this whisky promoted on Binging With Babish and thought it might be worth a try. The description appeared to be a sweeter summer whisky which matches the flavor profile. It is not too complex, but it is fresh tasting with a nice clean finish. It reminds me of Tomatin 12 for taste and price range.

Priced around $45 and worth the money if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

The Singleton Glendullan 18-Year-Old

August 28, 2024 Scotland

Name: The Singleton Glendullan 18-Year-Old

Color: Amber

Nose: Malt, light wood, vanilla, honey, flowers

Taste: Malt, cedar/oak, vanilla, honey-citrus

The Singleton 18-Year-Old Glendullan is a Speyside Scotch produced by Glen Ord, Glendullan, and Dufftown distilleries which are owned by Diageo. The Singleton production started in 2006, but the distilleries opened in 1838, 1897, and 1896. At least there is some history to the suppliers.

The Singleton 18 is a medium bodied whisky with a soft nose, medium-light taste, and is bottled at 40% abv. I compared it to the Singleton 12 and I was surprised at how much more richer and complex the 12-year tasted. The 18-year lacks complexity and its overall flavor profile falls somewhere between flat and boring. When I started learning about whisky ten years ago an expression like The Singleton 18 would have impressed me. Today, not so much. However, if you really like The Singleton 12 I believe you will like The Singleton 18.

Priced around $100+ and nice for a Singleton expression, but very average for a Speyside whisky.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Chichibu On the Way (Cask Strength)

The Toki Cocktail Series # 1 – The Old Fashioned

2 Whisky Bars to visit in NYC

Davidoff Aniversario Entreacto

Dead Rabbit (Bar) Grocery & Grog (& Whiskey)

McSorley’s Old Ale House

Bowmore 15-Year-Old “Darkest”

Bowmore 18

The Singleton Glendullan 12-Year-Old

The Singleton Glendullan 18-Year-Old

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