Whiskey is Good » 40%

Whipper Snapper

Whiskey is Good — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:13:39 +0000

So far, the furthest west we’ve made it is Colorado (Stranahan’s). Now we’re heading all the way to the West Coast. Ransom’s new “hi-falutin’” whiskey comes in and doesn’t really follow any rules. First off, they start with malted barley, like Scotch, but then go off the chart by mixing in some Kentucky White Dog. Then comes the aging. Some in new American whiskey barrels, some in used barrels, and some, get this, in used pinot noir barrels, aged for about a year and then mixed together to make the best blend.

All this no rules following means one of two things. If you’re a traditionalist, please avoid. However, if you’re up for something new, it’ll give you something to get excited about. The nose is very Scotch heavy. Once it hits the pallet, it transitions quickly from Scotch to amazingly smooth White Dog to a light, slightly bitter, crisp clean finish. I like it.

Glenlivet 12 Year

Whiskey is Good — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:21:13 +0000

The Glenlivet is somewhat of a legend in the world of scotch for both its history and for where the distillery is located, the region of Moray. (If you decide to look up Glenlivet’s history, you should also look up Andrew de Moray, the lesser known partner to William Wallace.) Glenlivet is a single malt, meaning that they soak the barley for several days, allowing the starches in the barley to convert to the sugars needed for fermentation. This particular Glenlivet is aged for 12 years in oak barrels that were previously used to age other spirits or wines – usually bourbon (a plus) but sometimes sherry or port.

The result is quite pleasing. You get a great mix of the flavors of the oak and malted barley with the flavors of what was previously in the casks. The outcome here is a sweet, almost fruity smell with a pretty hefty sting of alcohol. The taste is very smooth and the bite of the alcohol takes longer to come on than a standard bourbon or whiskey would.

Benromach Traditional Speyside Single Malt

Whiskey is Good — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:30:21 +0000

Re-opened by Prince Charles in 1998, this distillery produces a variety of bottlings, of which the Traditional is the probably the youngest. And you can taste it. The absence of barrel taste makes me wonder if this qualifies as scotch, and the variety of other flavors (cream, smoke, citrus, flower) is a bit egregious for my taste. That said, the blend could be interesting for some, individual flavors aren’t too poignant, and the overall taste is mild. (Sorry for the low quality image. We’ll get a better one if we can find it.)

Johnnie Walker Red Label

Whiskey is Good — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:33:26 +0000

For the first ever Scotch review on Whiskey Is Good I felt it was fitting to pick something that could be an entry Scotch, a base point to build on a lifetime of scotch drinking enjoyment. So, naturally the best place to start would be the world’s most widely distributed brand of Scotch – Johnnie Walker Red Label – a blended Scotch Whisky, meaning they mix malt (made only from malted barley) and grain (unmalted barley and other grains like corn or wheat) whiskies in order to get the flavors they want.

So, what’s the verdict? Honestly, if you’re a seasoned Scotch drinker, Red Label may do little for you. The generous blending gives way to a milder set of flavors and a fairly faint finish. But, if you’re new to the game, this could be a good way of getting used to the different feel of the Scotch.

Baker’s 7 Year

Whiskey is Good — Fri, 21 May 2010 02:34:14 +0000

If you are looking to get away from the average bourbon for the weekend, then this is where you should go to vacation. Baker’s is crafted by the same fine distiller that brings us Jim Beam, and they hit the mark dead on with this one. It has a nice amber and brown color in the bottle on the shelf. The aroma is semi-sweet with vanilla, caramel, and maybe a little hint of fruitiness. The flavor impressed the hell right out of me. The bite is mild-moderate, and it steps away from the natural sweetness of bourbon towards a nice peppery flavor that has a smooth texture, and a medium-long finish.

Four Roses

Whiskey is Good — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:07:48 +0000

Generally, this bourbon smells very sweet, very syrupy at first, which I enjoyed thoroughly. Being aged 6 years, I was a little surprised at the bite that it had. I noticed a blend of spiciness and a pleasant oaky taste mixed with just a hint of honey, which is the second time I have noticed honey in bourbon. I would recommend this to people just starting out on bourbon and looking to get away from the status quo.

Jack Daniel’s

Whiskey is Good — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:30:46 +0000

What makes Jack Dan iel’s extremely popular? First, it isn’t made the same as bourbon, because it is not bourbon. Second, Jack Daniel’s mellows thier whiskey through “ten feet of sugar maple charcoal”. It comes in thier famous bottle and holds its own section in many liquor stores. As being as popular as it is, I had the opportunity to ask other people randomly why they liked it. Mostly I heard, “It is good for taking shots because it burns”, or something of that effect. Though it does have other notes, I can’t disagree; it’s not incredibly smooth. Unfortunately for me, it just didn’t satisfy my whiskey needs.

Hudson Baby Bourbon

Whiskey is Good — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:45:10 +0000

Traditionally, American whiskey has two homes, not far apart: Kentucky and Tennessee. Tuthilltown Spirits don’t seem to care. They have a product line of seven whiskies made in New York. So, how does the Empire State’s offerings stand up? If you’re a Kentucky traditionalist, there are going to be some flavors you’re not used to. First, Hudson Baby Bourbon is a 100% corn bourbon, as opposed the average 80% corn of most bourbons. That makes it a bit fruitful and a touch sweet. It also makes it very mellow, as opposed to other young bourbons. Added to the sweet tastes is a nice strong peppery spice; something that will divide drinkers. Overall, it certainly is a refreshing addition to the bourbon experience. I can easily see this as being an arguing point for many bourbon fans, but I think it is an amazing offering from an unlikely place.

Jim Beam – 80 Proof

Whiskey is Good — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:42:43 +0000

Jim Beam has gained quite a reputaion in the eye of the public. It is a staple for, I dare say, every “good” bar, and it is stocked in countless liquor cabinets around the globe. With now over 200 years of tradition, Jim Beam is as much of an American classic as baseball. It has a crisp clean feel, compared to many whiskies in the same price category, and sweet initial flavor that is not overwhelmingly ringing of hints of caramel. This is followed tactfully by a light smokey finish that hangs out around the middle of the tongue, but not for too long. You can find Jim Beam in almost any size you need from “single servers” to “handles” and that means the price range fluctuates.

Wild Turkey – 80 Proof

Whiskey is Good — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:18:01 +0000

I have had many of Wild Turkey’s products over the years, but it occurred to me recently that I have yet to try the 80 proof. Up until that point, I would have backed the Wild Turkey line in any debate as good, solid drinks. And they are, if you just exclude the 80 proof. The initial smell was rather harsh. A little bit of sweet and a little bit of spice, but a rather unexpected and overwhelming alcohol smell. Compared to the 101 proof, based just on the aroma, you knew this was going to be a bit harsh. The taste was not great. It hinted at the Wild Turkey flavor that rings through their other offerings, but was rather watered down and bland. Once you’ve swallowed, a bit of the oak and spice you should have been expecting from the start show up and make you wish it had been there all along. It’s a little harsh all the way through, and if you’re sipping, you can find much better for cheaper. I wouldn’t recommend Wild Turkey 80 Proof, but if you must, ask for a mixer. The 101 proof can often be found for the same price and is a much better choice.