America | Page 4 | NYC Whiskey Review

New Riff Single Barrel Rye

December 2, 2023 America

Name: New Riff Single Barrel Rye

Color: Copper

Nose: Rye, wood, leather

Taste: Rye, dark fruits, caramel, light wood

The Christmas countdown has begun! Do you have all your bottles ready!?!

New Riff Bourbon Single Barrel Rye is produced by the New Riff Distillery which is located in Newport, KY on the Ohio River adjacent to Cincinnati. New Riff was founded by Ken Lewis who used to own The Party Source next door in the same plaza. Ever year I make my annual trip to Northern Kentucky and New Riff is my first stop. OKBB is second, Jeff Ruby’s third, and Graeter’s (if am still standing) is fourth. The next day I go to Skyline Chili with regrets on my previous day’s decisions. It’s been pretty much a standard operating procedure for over 10 years.

The Single Barrel Rye Barrel #10724 was distilled in May 2018 and bottled in August 2022 at 54.2% abv. This rye has a strong nose and hot taste on the lips, but surprisingly does not have a burn on the finish when drank neat. When water is added it opens up nicely, but I believe this rye is best used in a cocktail. I find high proof ryes too strong and spicy neat. Served on the rocks it still is too much for me. I like my rye in my cocktails.

Many thanks to St. Matthew, one of my oldest friends for bring me this bottle on his last trip up to NYC. Also, at the end of this month and I am doing “Opinions Vary: Old Fashioned v. Manhattan” and New Riff Single Barrel Rye will be the basis for the cocktails.

Priced around $65 and worth the money if you like a high proof Rye and so far, New Riff is yet to disappoint!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Fort Mosé 1738 Bourbon Whiskey

December 1, 2023 America

Name: Fort Mosé 1738 Bourbon Whiskey

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, vanilla, dry wood, dark fruits, pepper spice

Taste: Corn-rye blend, wood, vanilla, dark cherries, cinnamon

The Christmas countdown has begun! Do you have all your bottles ready!?!

Fort Mosé 1738 Bourbon Whiskey has been created by Victor G. Harvey, Sr. and produced by Palm Beach Distillery. It is the first produced whiskey by a black owner in Florida and honors the history of the underground railroad that helped slaves escape and the Spanish who helped them to secure their own free place to live. It is named after the first free town established in 1738 in St. Augustine, Florida.

My good friend from Kentucky was in Fort Lauderdale with his son and he struck up a conversation with Victor as they were both ordering Old Fashioned’s at the bar. He mentioned me and I was sent this bottle for review. I was surprised to hear Palm Beach County has a distillery as I lived there for many years and there was no breweries or distilleries during my times. I am happy to see that the locals are creating their own stuff.

Fort Mosé is blended whiskey, aged for 4 years in oak barrels, and is bottled at 42% abv. The whiskey is sourced from Indiana with a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. In my experience Indiana high rye mashes yield a much sharper taste on the tongue which leads to a snappy cocktail.

Thanks again for the bottle Victor! I will drop by the distillery in the Spring when I am back in South Florida. Fort Mosé currently only available in FL, OH, MI, GA, AZ, KY, VA, with DC, MD, IL, TX, CA coming February 2023.

Priced around $50 and makes a hell of an Old Fashioned that has a great punch to it!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

WL Weller Special Reserve

November 16, 2023 America

Name: WL Weller Special Reserve

Color: Light brown

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, light oak

Taste: Sweet, vanilla, caramel

I got the opportunity to try WL Weller Special Reserve a couple of weeks ago when I was visiting Kentucky. After a good day of losing money at Keeneland Race track on the pony’s, it was time to relax with a drink. My friend channeled his Tom Cruise from the movie Cocktail and made me a “Southern Gentleman” with Weller. Prior to my cocktail I set myself up outside on the deck with a big cigar and enjoyed a dram neat as he made the drink.

The bourbon is good, but nothing mind blowing. Not sure how special this “Special Reserve” really is but it tastes good, however, it is not special. As usual, a little marketing on the bottle is needed by the distillery. Weller is affordable bourbon to keep on your bar if you need one for sipping or cocktails.

The receipt for the “Southern Gentleman” by Saint Matthew Barker (The Patron Saint of West Palm Beach, circa 1994-98):

Rocks glass & one large ice cube/ball
3-4 oz Weller
Splash of fresh Ice Tea
Splash of Pure Maple Syrup
Stir and serve over ice

The cocktail was very refreshing and helped with the 80F weather, which was a surprise for October in Kentucky. One other note, the deer in the background surprised me as I was taking the bottle picture. It just stared at me for a few minutes with the look of “what the fuck are you looking at?” and then ran off. I could have had venison for dinner.

Weller Special Reserve is a good example of a whiskey that does not have to be expensive to be good and drinkable. As I say, if you like it, drink it. You do not have to always spend big money on your whisky.

Price in NYC is around $50+ and in Kentucky is $19.99. (Note this review was posted in 2020, prices have increased)

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

10th Mountain Bourbon Whiskey

October 5, 2023 America

Name: 10th Mountain Bourbon Whiskey

Color: Copper

Nose: Corn, vanilla, oak, pepper

Taste: Corn, vanilla, oak, pepper, spices

10th Mountain Whiskey “store” is located in Vail, Colorado and is promoted as a “boutique distillery…. with a cozy tasting room and a shop offering a range of house-label spirits and logo gear“. It is named after the 10th Mountain Division of the US Army which specializes in mountain fighting. This fighting includes: skiing, climbing, and the tactics of mountain side battle.

On a trip to Colorado in Spring of 2022 my friends took us to Vail for a day to walk around and have lunch. While we were walking around we came upon the store and I saw a sign that caused me some dread. When you see “…our whiskey is inspired by (fill in the blank)….” do not get your hopes up for a quality. My friends wanted to go in and I warned them of impending disappointment. I got the “how do you know unless your try?”. Five minutes later I got the, “This stuff isn’t that good. How did you know?” Well, I don’t like to brag, but I am a fucking genius.

10th Mountain is a young, rough, and cheap. Regardless of the origin story, I bet it was created to fill a void in a fancy ski village. I am sure if you have been skiing all day and had a few beers this whiskey would be drinkable. I was not impressed and I doubt any other expressions would be that good. They appeared to have more merchandise for sale than whiskey. Not a good sign, but a very smart business move for easy profit in an expensive area.

I did some online research and everyone who wrote up this whiskey pushed the 10th Mountain history and mentions the 92 point rating by Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible. I really struggle to believe that rating is real. I find Jim’s ratings a bit strange sometimes. I did some further research and I got bored reading the stories. It seems to me that all the newly created distilleries of low quality use the same bullshit talking points.

My final thoughts are that taste matters more than marketing. If your distillery is new and has no history, then make a good whiskey. I think 10th Mountain should take a trip to Denver for a lesson instead of the 6 day Moonshine Academy.

Priced around $60 a bottle and shit. If you are in Vail, try it and let me know what you think.

If you like it, drink it. – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Whiskey Mule Black Skimmer Bourbon Canned Cocktail

October 4, 2023 America

Name: Whiskey Mule Black Skimmer Bourbon Canned Cocktail

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Ginger, bitters, citrus

Taste: Ginger, bitters, citrus, spicy, wood, chemical

This can of yellow piss tastes like fizzy ginger shit finished with a chemical smell and taste. It is basically seltzer bubbles with no bourbon in it at 7% ALC.

It states on the can that it is made from natural flavors but does not taste like it. There is too much chemical smell and taste. It almost, and I am being generous here, tastes like a ginger beer probiotic drink.

Priced around “who gives a fuck?” & “don’t drink this shit”.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Opinions Vary: Pumpkin Spice Season

September 27, 2023 America

Opinions Vary: Pumpkin Spice Season

It is that time of year again. It comes every year to the North Eastern Region of the United States. The weather cools down, the sweaters come out, the leaves start to change, and every American Corporation that produces a product that can be eaten, smelled, or tasted has Pumpkin Spice in it. It is in coffee, creamers, beer, ice cream, pasta dished, dry food, candy, candles, lotions, oils, air freshers and so on. I get it, who doesn’t like gets chemicals added into their food. It is so American!

Pumpkin spice fucking sucks. Does anyone think of maybe, just maybe, getting a fresh pumpkin and cooking it yourself? Make our own pie? Make your own risotto?

Do you know what is used to create Pumpkin Flavoring? Me neither, but I know is chemicals and not pumpkin. So, I looked it up for you.

Cinnamaldehyde: Gives the cinnamon flavoring. It is also used in natural mosquito repellant and can cause skin and eye irritation.
Sabinene: Gives the nutmeg flavoring. It is also used in perfume and drugs because it smells nice.
Zingiberene: Gives the ginger flavoring. This one might actually be good for you.
Eugenol: Gives the clove or allspice flavoring. This one appears to occur in nature, and use perfumes.

Can you explain to me why it is called “Pumpkin Spice” when there is no pumpkin in it? Better yet, can you pronounce any of these items? I can not, but don’t worry, these are FDA approved. Everyone still trusts the FDA, right?

In my opinion everyone should stop consuming this shit. Drink whiskey outdoors by a fire pit and eat pumpkin pie.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Clyde May’s Straight Rye

September 21, 2023 America

Name: Clyde May’s Straight Rye

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Rye, spices, white pepper, orange, wood

Taste: Rye, baking spices, orange, wood

Clyde May is named after the man and historical moonshiner from Alabama has a long history of backwoods whiskey production. Clyde passed away in 1990 and his son took over the business and made it legal. The whiskey is sourced from Indiana or possibly Kentucky and bottled in Florida. As of January 2022 they broken ground in Troy, Alabama with construction to complete in 2023 and first released production in 2027. The history of the May Family is one of good old fashion American grit. Most new distilleries are just kids playing with daddy’s money.

The bottle is Receipt #003 and is 47% abv. It has a light rye nose and is “ok” compared to the Straight Bourbon and Alabama, however, the nose equals the taste which is never a good sign in my experience. Straight Rye is the best out of the three I sampled and could work in a cocktail, but the proof it too low to mix. This expression reminds me of Bulliet Rye, but not as good.

Other expressions: Straight Rye, Straight Bourbon, Alabama Style Whiskey, Clyde May’s Cask Strength, Alabama Style Whiskey, and Clyde May’s Special Reserve Alabama Style Whiskey.

Priced around $45 and I will not be trying any more of Clyde May’s expression. They are what they are, slugging whiskey in a flashy labeled bottle.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Johnny Drum Bourbon

September 13, 2023 America

Name: Johnny Drum Bourbon

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn mash vanilla, oak, white pepper

Taste: Corn mash vanilla, oak, white pepper, cream finish

Johnny Drum Bourbon is produced by Johnny Drum Distilling Company which is owned by the Willett Distillery so we are off to a good start. It is named after a drummer boy who served in the Civil War in 1861 and returned home to Kentucky….Oh fuck me, here we go again making a historical story to give some age to a new product. This whiskey is named after the Civil War song “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” by Patrick Gilmore in 1863, not some little boy from Kentucky.

The bourbon is bottled at 50.5% abv (101 proof) and is non-aged stated. It has a nice flavor, good balance, and has a sweeter cream finish. It is surprisingly not too hot for the proof and is smoother than I would have expected. It works well neat or on ice, but I do not think it would well in a cocktail due to cream notes. The source of bourbon is not public, but it tastes of quality.

Other expressions: Johnny Drum Private Stock, Johnny Drum Black Label, and Johnny Drum Green Label.

It is a drinkable bourbon but nothing that impressive. I believe it is just another product to put on a shelf to make money. It is not a bourbon made with a lot of heart, just dollar signs.

Priced around $45 and drinkable but not impressive. I have not seen in on shelves in the NYC area.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Cut Water Bourbon Old Fashioned

September 6, 2023 America

Name: Cut Water Bourbon Old Fashioned

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Bourbon, bitters, citrus, smells like an old fashion

Taste: Bourbon, vanilla, honey, light sugar

I saw this can on the shelf and I figured I should give it a try just to be fair. Everyone younger than me are drinking all these soda water cocktail cans by the pool these days. From what I experienced with tasting some of them they are terrible. Cutwater has numerous types of canned cocktails. I would list them all, but I don’t really want to waste my time and my readers.

I first saw canned cocktails about 15 years ago on train rides from London to Glasgow. I saw some people drinking them, usually businesspeople having a wee drink. The proper drinkers on a 4.5-hour train ride bring bottles of wine with corkscrews or bottles of whisky with plastic cups. I quickly learned how expensive drinks are in the bar cart and started bringing lunch and a couple of beers for the ride.

This cocktail can is20% abv, 40 proof in a 200 ml and tastes like a regular plain Old Fashioned made by a very average bartender. So, for it coming out of a can that is not that bad to be honest. It’s not good, it is just not bad

I was surprised that it was not too chemically tasting but it clearly has stabilizing chemicals in it as there is a slight chemical taste. I started neat and then added ice to it and it drinkable either way. Little too much sugar in it for my taste but if you added some more bourbon to it would kill the sugar.

These types of drinks are fine picnic, train trip, or pool party. The small can so be easy to hide if you need to but Old Fashions are a bad idea in hot weather. Don’t believe me, drink a few on a hot day.

Priced around $5 for a single can. I would drink one on a train ride if there was no other choice.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Blade and Bow

August 31, 2023 America

Name: Blade and Bow

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, cedar oak, spice rye

Taste: Corn, wood, vanilla, spices, sweet finish

Blade & Bow Bourbon is produced by Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, KY. The distillery was founded by Van Winkle, Farnsley, and Weller. These three have produced some well known bourbons in the last 100 years. Bottled at 45.5% abv and with one key attached neck which represents the five keys that were on the door of the distillery and five steps of production. The steps are; made in the USA, aged in new charred oak, 51% corn mash, cannot enter barrel higher than 125 proof, and nothing can be added except water.

Blade & Bow also uses the Solera Aging Method and is not cheap or time friendly in production. The barrels are filled from top down which creates a finished product that is a mix of aged whiskey in the various barrels. In the process the barrels are stacked and the barrels which the whiskey is bottled from bottom is never drained more than 50%. Since no container is ever drained, some of the earlier product remains in each container.

Blade & Bow is not a traditional “sweeter” bourbon like most in this price range. It has a bit of a rough edge and bite to it on the tongue with strong wood notes. If you add water or ice it will soften and the lighter cream and more of a expected taste profile will emerge. Personally, I find this profile more inline to my liking as I generally prefer Scotch over Bourbon, but I am half Scottish, so it is expected.

Blade & Bow reminded me a little of Blanton’s Bourbon in the sense of its different style. However, Blade is sweeter and a bit more complex than Blanton’s. It is also cheaper and easier to find on the market as of 2021.

Priced around $50 and worth the money if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

New Riff Single Barrel Rye

Fort Mosé 1738 Bourbon Whiskey

WL Weller Special Reserve

10th Mountain Bourbon Whiskey

Whiskey Mule Black Skimmer Bourbon Canned Cocktail

Opinions Vary: Pumpkin Spice Season

Clyde May’s Straight Rye

Johnny Drum Bourbon

Cut Water Bourbon Old Fashioned

Blade and Bow

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