March 2023 - Whiskey-Dreams.com

Cadillac Ranch

March 31, 2023March 31, 2023 TJ Provost

Our first stop of our trip was the Cadillac Ranch. We were walking along Fleet Street and decided their menu looked the best. The Public House and the Brass Tap menu’s looked too bar food heavy for us.

We had a full meal, and multiple drinks at Cadillac Ranch. Our favorite item was on the appetizer list as they had some amazing taco choices. We also had fried pickles and the tater tots with everything.

We originally thought we’d just get some appetizers and then order some entrees. Once the apps got there we realized there was more than enough food for all four of us.

As we ate and caught up, we tried a bunch of different drinks.

My first drink at Cadillac Ranch was the Blue Suede Shoes. It is a mixture made with Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon and black cherry purée:

I took a sip through the straw and my blood sugar spiked. It was almost too sweet. I could barely take another sip. My son (he’s an adult) sipped from the edge of the glass and said it wasn’t too sweet. At first I thought it was just his sugared up generation. Then I realized the drink wasn’t mixed yet. It was still sweet, but after I stirred it I was able to drink it. Just remember that I don’t really like Old Fashioned for the same reason. They are just too sweet and I can’t appreciate the whiskey when there is too much sugar.

My second drink was a Blood Orange Bourbon Sour made with Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon. If you want to make your own you will need this Blood Orange Sour mix. It was very sweet, and moderately sour. Yes, I drank it, but I wouldn’t order it again.

My son’s girlfriend (all adults) got a Black Cherry Rye Cola. She didn’t like it. The rest of us finished it off for her. For me, it was very much lick a Jack and Coke, and I honestly wouldn’t waste good whiskey in Pepsi.

I tried to order the Sazerac Soda with Redemption Rye Whiskey, but they were out of Absinthe. I choose the classic Craig Small Batch Bourbon Manhattan for my final drink of the night instead:

This Craig Small Batch Bourbon Manhattan was the perfect way to end the night. It is a classic bourbon in a drink that lets the bourbon really shine.

Overall we had a lot of fun at Cadillac Ranch. The staff were friendly, incredibly attentive even though it was crazy busy, and the food was really tasty.

Cadillac Ranch Scoring

Cadillac Ranch is coming in the Moderate Cost Per Person range. Its the National Harbor and everything is pretty expensive though, so keep that in mind. I’m giving them an overall 70/00, mostly driven by the fact that most of the bourbon drinks I tried were just a bit too sweet for me.

Place	Location	Score	Price Scale	Drink
Cinder Bar	Clarksboro, NJ	96	High Cost	Manhattan
Saltgrass Steakhouse	Orlando, FL	91	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
The Irish Whisper	National Harbor, MD	90	High Cost	Irish Whiskey
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks	National Harbor, MD	80	High Cost	Manhattan
The Dead Rabbit	New York, NY	75	High Cost	Multiple
Iron Hill Brewery	Wilmington, DE	71	High Cost	Kentucky Connection
Cadillac Ranch	National Harbor, MD	70	Moderate Cost	Multiple
Harry’s Savoy Grill	Wilmington, DE	67	High Cost	Manhattan Boulevardier
Ted’s Montana Grill	Newark, DE	66	Moderate Cost	Newly Fashioned
Creekside Inn	Woodstown, NJ	65	Low to Moderate	Manhattan
Alewife	Richmond, VA	63	High Cost	Manhattan
roanoke	Chicago, IL	55	High Cost	Black Manhattan
Blue Line Lounge & Bar	Chicago, IL	53	Low Cost	Manhattan
Da Andrea	New York, NY	50	High Cost	Manhattan Negroni
Iguana Cafe	Chicago, IL	45	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
The Greene Turtle	Newark, DE	40	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
Restaurante Montserrat Manor	Punta Cana, DR	35	High Cost	Manhattan
Dave & Buster's	Deptford, NJ	30	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
Cock'n Bull	Lahaska, PA	26	High Cost	Manhattan Old Fashioned
The Brass Tap	National Harbor, MD	25	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
Carrol's Creek Cafe	Annapolis, MD	21	High Cost	Manhattan
Big Fish Grill	Wilmington, DE	10	High Cost	Manhattan
The Legend	New Castle, DE	5	Low Cost	Manhattan
TGI Fridays	New Castle, DE	1	Moderate Cost	Manhattan

Cost Scale

Up to $30 per person – Low Cost

$31 to $50 per person – Moderate Cost

$51 and above per person – High Cost

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks

March 30, 2023March 30, 2023 TJ Provost

I’ve eaten in McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks in Philadelphia (PA), Atlanta(GA), and now in National Harbor(MD). I can honestly say I’ve never had a bad meal or drink at a McCormick & Schmick’s. Of course, you do pay for it.

On this occasion I stuck with a tried and true Basil Hayden’s Manhattan.

When it comes to something that pairs with everything from tuna steak to filet mignon, you can’t go wrong with a Basil Hayden’s Manhattan. It is a well rounded bourbon to begin with. When made into a Manhattan, it is just smooth and mellow. Which is one of the reasons it goes so well with food. It isn’t an in your face, take over your palate kind of bourbon. It is just smooth and an easy sipper.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks Scoring

Overall I’m giving McCormick & Schmick’s a 80/100. It is a good restaurant with a good selection of bourbon, beer and wine, but it can be a bit overpriced compared to there options.

As a Manhattan, I’m giving the Basil Hayden’s Manhattan a 88/100.

Place	Location	Score	Price Scale	Drink
Cinder Bar	Clarksboro, NJ	96	High Cost	Manhattan
Saltgrass Steakhouse	Orlando, FL	91	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
The Irish Whisper	National Harbor, MD	90	High Cost	Irish Whiskey
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks	National Harbor, MD	80	High Cost	Manhattan
The Dead Rabbit	New York, NY	75	High Cost	Multiple
Iron Hill Brewery	Wilmington, DE	71	High Cost	Kentucky Connection
Cadillac Ranch	National Harbor, MD	70	Moderate Cost	Multiple
Harry’s Savoy Grill	Wilmington, DE	67	High Cost	Manhattan Boulevardier
Ted’s Montana Grill	Newark, DE	66	Moderate Cost	Newly Fashioned
Creekside Inn	Woodstown, NJ	65	Low to Moderate	Manhattan
Alewife	Richmond, VA	63	High Cost	Manhattan
roanoke	Chicago, IL	55	High Cost	Black Manhattan
Blue Line Lounge & Bar	Chicago, IL	53	Low Cost	Manhattan
Da Andrea	New York, NY	50	High Cost	Manhattan Negroni
Iguana Cafe	Chicago, IL	45	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
The Greene Turtle	Newark, DE	40	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
Restaurante Montserrat Manor	Punta Cana, DR	35	High Cost	Manhattan
Dave & Buster's	Deptford, NJ	30	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
Cock'n Bull	Lahaska, PA	26	High Cost	Manhattan Old Fashioned
The Brass Tap	National Harbor, MD	25	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
Carrol's Creek Cafe	Annapolis, MD	21	High Cost	Manhattan
Big Fish Grill	Wilmington, DE	10	High Cost	Manhattan
The Legend	New Castle, DE	5	Low Cost	Manhattan
TGI Fridays	New Castle, DE	1	Moderate Cost	Manhattan

Cost Scale

Up to $30 per person – Low Cost

$31 to $50 per person – Moderate Cost

$51 and above per person – High Cost

See how all Whiskey Places Rank!

The Irish Whisper

March 27, 2023March 27, 2023 TJ Provost

The first night we were in National Harbor, MD we stopped by the front of The Irish Whisper and decided it looked a little dark inside and continued down the street. It was a huge mistake. We ended up in The Irish Whisper on our last night, and it was such a gem. It was dim inside, but each table had a light and the music was both good, and at a volume that was perfect to either chill out and listen to it, or have a normal conversation without having to scream at each other.

They had a massive menu of both Irish Whiskey and Scotch and the staff were amazing. It was really busy, and our server basically had the whole place except the actual bar, and she was always there when we wanted something.

I sampled the Irish Whiskey and enjoyed my first sip of Midleton, so now I have to buy a bottle!

My son (adult) likes Scotch, so he tried a flight that included Dalmore 15, Highland Park 12 and Oban 14. He also had a dram of Glenfiddich 12, which he really enjoyed. He just graduated with a 4.0 for his second Bachelor’s, so I got him a bottle of that after as a gift.

The Irish Whisper Scoring

Overall The Irish Whisper was a pure joy to sit and enjoy my family as well as good whiskey of every sort, earning it a 90/100. For me, this was a High Cost outing, but if your tastes (or self control) are better than mine, you can enjoy The Irish Whisper at any price point.

Place	Location	Score	Price Scale	Drink
Cinder Bar	Clarksboro, NJ	96	High Cost	Manhattan
Saltgrass Steakhouse	Orlando, FL	91	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
The Irish Whisper	National Harbor, MD	90	High Cost	Irish Whiskey
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks	National Harbor, MD	80	High Cost	Manhattan
The Dead Rabbit	New York, NY	75	High Cost	Multiple
Iron Hill Brewery	Wilmington, DE	71	High Cost	Kentucky Connection
Cadillac Ranch	National Harbor, MD	70	Moderate Cost	Multiple
Harry’s Savoy Grill	Wilmington, DE	67	High Cost	Manhattan Boulevardier
Ted’s Montana Grill	Newark, DE	66	Moderate Cost	Newly Fashioned
Creekside Inn	Woodstown, NJ	65	Low to Moderate	Manhattan
Alewife	Richmond, VA	63	High Cost	Manhattan
roanoke	Chicago, IL	55	High Cost	Black Manhattan
Blue Line Lounge & Bar	Chicago, IL	53	Low Cost	Manhattan
Da Andrea	New York, NY	50	High Cost	Manhattan Negroni
Iguana Cafe	Chicago, IL	45	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
The Greene Turtle	Newark, DE	40	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
Restaurante Montserrat Manor	Punta Cana, DR	35	High Cost	Manhattan
Dave & Buster's	Deptford, NJ	30	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
Cock'n Bull	Lahaska, PA	26	High Cost	Manhattan Old Fashioned
The Brass Tap	National Harbor, MD	25	Moderate Cost	Manhattan
Carrol's Creek Cafe	Annapolis, MD	21	High Cost	Manhattan
Big Fish Grill	Wilmington, DE	10	High Cost	Manhattan
The Legend	New Castle, DE	5	Low Cost	Manhattan
TGI Fridays	New Castle, DE	1	Moderate Cost	Manhattan

Cost Scale

Up to $30 per person – Low Cost

$31 to $50 per person – Moderate Cost

$51 and above per person – High Cost

Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year

March 24, 2023March 24, 2023 TJ Provost

One of my sons (who is an adult) gave me this wonderful bottle of Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year Old for fathers day. I drank half that night and saved the other half to enjoy in a more relaxed manner. This is my fourth Tullamore offering, all of which I’ve enjoyed. Plus, who is going to turn down a well aged Single Malt that has been aged in Sherry Casks, Bourbon Casks, Madeira Casks, and Port Casks?

I have to say this is one of those rare whiskies where I can actually appreciate all those finishes.

As you can see, I demolished this bottle in just two sittings…

The Nose

The nose on this Tullamore D.E.W 14 is a swirling complexity to delight your olfactory senses. The first thing that hit my nose was the wonderful maltiness of the Single Malt, a bit of alcohol, and then it quickly shifts as the multiple finishes vie for your attention. The time spent in the Port, Sherry and Madeira casks give the nose a wonderful fruitiness which is nicely balanced by the sharper vanilla from the bourbon casks.

I sat here with a snifter for a good ten minutes appreciating this Tullamore D.E.W 14’s nose. It is worth picking up a bottle just to sample all those well balanced finishes.

The Palate

The mouth feel is crisp and clean. The front of my tongue is hit by the malt that turns to a touch of vanilla as I start to swallow. The finish is all dry Sherry, Port, and Madeira which also gives this whiskey a nice fruity finish. It is well done, but this is the one area there might be just a bit of a clash of flavors as the different finishes vie for first place.

The Score – Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year

Overall, this is an excellent Irish Whiskey which scored an 81/100, making it Sip Worthy. Thank you Ty!!!!

Color

Deep amber and honey that captures the light perfectly.

Proof

46.0% ABV

Pros:

This was an amazing, awesome gift.
Masterfully blended finishes. This is a perfect masterclass for those who want something with a bit more complexity.
Easier to find than some other bottles at this quality and price point.

Cons:

Has some complexity that may not be for the beginner.
In my area, this is the same price as Redbreast 12, and for that money, unless I am thirsty for the complex finishes this Tullamore D.E.W 14 gives, I’d most likely end up buying the Redbreast 12.

Bottle	Score	Price	Type
Redbreast Cask Strength	97	$100 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey	97	$160 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon	96	$65 / 750ml	Bourbon
Redbreast 12 Years	96	$70 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe	95	$70 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon	94	$45 / 750ml	Bourbon
Redbreast Lustau Edition	92	$65 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Redbreast 15	91	$115 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Dublin Liberties Copper Alley Irish Whiskey	90	$75 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
The Dubliner 10 Year	89	$70 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Tyrconnel Irish Whiskey 16 Year	88	$95 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Powers Three Swallow Irish Whiskey	87	$40 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Tyrconnel Single Malt	87	$50 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Knappognue Castle Irish Whiskey 12 Year	87	$50 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Smooth Ambler Contradiction Whiskey	86	$40 / 700ml	Bourbon
Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey	86	$30 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Jameson Triple Triple Travel Exclusive	85	$35 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Uncle Nearest 1856	84	$60 / 750ml	Whiskey
Smooth Ambler Old Scout American Whiskey	84	$55 / 700ml	Bourbon
Glenmorangie The Original 10 Year	82	$45 / 750ml	Scotch
Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon	81	$50 / 750ml	Bourbon
Willett Pot Still Reserve Whiskey	81	$65 / 700ml	Bourbon
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year	81	$65 / 700ml	Irish Whiskey
Old Forester 1870 Bourbon	80	$55 / 750ml	Bourbon
Jameson 18 Year Irish Whiskey	80	$140 / 700ml	Irish Whiskey
Dubliner Bourbon Cask Finished Irish Whiskey	80	$40 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Jameson IPA Edition	80	$30 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey	80	$125 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Don Julio 1942	80	$190 / 750ml	Tequila
Monkey Shoulder Scotch	79	$30 / 750ml	Scotch
West Cork Irish Whiskey	77	$30 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
ChestNut Farms Bourbon	77	$70 / 750ml	Bourbon
Basil Hayden’s	75	$35 / 750ml	Bourbon
Jameson Irish Whiskey	75	$25 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey	74	$45 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Slane Irish Whiskey	74	$25 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Tullamore D.E.W Irish Whiskey 12 Year	73	$55 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey	72	$25 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey	72	$30 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey	72	$50 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey	71	$35 / 750ml	Bourbon
Appleton Estate Reserve Blend Rum	70	$35 / 750ml	Rum
Mr. Whiskey	70	$20 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey	70	$40 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey	70	$20 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Tito’s Vodka	69	$30 / 750ml	Vodka
The Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey	69	$35 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Death’s Door	68	$40 / 750ml	Bourbon
Kavanagh 16 Year Irish Whiskey	66	$50 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
McConnell’s Irish Whisky	66	$25 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Kirkland Irish Whiskey	65	$18 / 1500ml	Irish Whiskey
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey	65	$28 / 1500ml	Irish Whiskey
Ha’Penny Irish Whiskey	64	$25 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Wild Turkey Bourbon	63	$30 / 750ml	Bourbon
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey	62	$65 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Stillhouse Black Bourbon	61	$20 / 750ml	Bourbon
Maker’s Mark Bourbon	60	$30 / 750ml	Bourbon
Fighting Cock Bourbon	58	$20 / 750ml	Bourbon
Jameson Orange	55	$30 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Buffalo Trace	55	$25 / 750ml	Bourbon
Fistful Of Bourbon	53	$40 / 750ml	Bourbon
Kilbrin 10 Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey	52	$55 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey	51	$30 / 750ml	Bourbon
Agitator Kentucky Bourbon	50	$35 / 750ml	Bourbon
Howler Head Whiskey	50	$25 / 700ml	Whiskey
Knob Creek Small Batch	49	$35 / 750ml	Bourbon
Blade And Bow	48	$50 / 750ml	Bourbon
Proclamation Irish Whiskey	44	$30 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey	40	$60 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Redemption Bourbon	40	$30 / 750ml	Bourbon
Natterjack Irish Whiskey	35	$35 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Hell-Cat Maggie Irish Whiskey	32	$25 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Grace O’Malley Believe in Grace Irish Whiskey	31	$40 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Baha Founders Reserve	30	$65 / 700ml	Irish Whiskey
Woodford Reserve	29	$35 / 750ml	Bourbon
Breaker	29	$65 / 750ml	Bourbon
Pure Kentucky	28	$35 / 750ml	Bourbon
Stranahan's	27	$60 / 750ml	Whiskey
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey	26	$45 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey	15	$30 / 750ml	Bourbon
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey	10	$20 / 750ml	Bourbon
Hill Billy Bourbon	9	$20 / 750ml	Bourbon
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey	5	$25 / 750ml	Whiskey
The Busker Irish Whiskey	4	$35 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey	3	$25 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask	1	$100 / 750ml	Scotch
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey	1	$25 / 750ml	Bourbon
Highland Park Magnus Single Malt Scotch	0	$40 / 750ml	Scotch
Pops McCann	0	$40 / 750ml	Whiskey
Silkie Irish Whiskey	0	$30 / 750ml	Irish Whiskey

See all Whiskeys and how they rank!

Breaker Manhattan

March 23, 2023March 23, 2023 TJ Provost

Breaker whiskey scored a 29/100 as a straight up sipper. That is not a great score and put it in the Just Bad category. What do I do with bottles that I don’t enjoy straight or over ice? I make Manhattan’s with it! My first problem with this bottle being used for mixed drinks is its price. At $55 this bourbon is punching way under its weight. Still, it has sitting lonely and untouched on a shelf until I was desperate and didn’t have a lot of other options. So into a Manhattan it goes.

So how was it?

Well, it did help the base whiskey, but the end is still really rough. I used my normal ratios of two parts bourbon to one part vermouth and shook vigorously before pouring into a Yeti Tumbler. I was hoping the sweet vermouth would help smooth out some of the rough edges on the bourbon but it only helped a little bit.

Scoring – Breaker Manhattan

Sadly, the vermouth didn’t help this Breaker much, and only added 6 points to its overall score, giving this Breaker Manhattan a total of 35/100 points, meaning it just barely helped this Whiskey get into the If I Had Limited Choices Category.

Bottle	Score	Price	Type
Basil Hayden’s Manhattan	95	$30 / 750ml	Manhattan
Balcones Lineage Manhattan	92	$40 / 750ml	Manhattan
Blade And Bow Manhattan	90	$50 / 750ml	Manhattan
On The Rocks Knob Creek Old Fashioned	83	$15 / 350ml	Old Fashioned
Fistful of Bourbon Manhattan	80	$40 / 750ml	Manhattan
Death’s Door Manhattan	74	$40 / 750ml	Manhattan
Wild Turkey Manhattan	73	$30 / 750ml	Manhattan
Knob Creek Small Batch Manhattan	69	$30 / 750ml	Manhattan
Maker’s Mark Manhattan	65	$30 / 750ml	Manhattan
Redemption Bourbon Manhattan	53	$30 / 750ml	Manhattan
Stillhouse Black Bourbon Manhattan	50	$20 / 750ml	Manhattan
Agitator Kentucky Bourbon Manhattan	49	$35 / 750ml	Manhattan
Breaker Manhattan	35	$55 / 750ml	Manhattan
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey Manhattan	35	$25 / 750ml	Manhattan

Redbreast 15

March 22, 2023March 22, 2023 TJ Provost

I found this bottle of Redbreast 15 after a year of trying to find a bottle that I didn’t have to drive three hours each way to try. You better believe I grabbed it when I saw it on the shelf at a nearby store!

The Nose

The nose on this Redbreast 15 is a beautiful thing. The base is all malt and rich dark fruits that ends with a bit of nuttiness. Compared to Redbreast 12, this is stronger, richer, but very similar.

The Palate

The mouth feel of this Redbreast is slightly different than Redbreast 12. It has a dryer mouth feel, which I think is caused by the extra time spent in the barrel? Those extra years in oak gave imparted a bit more astringency that leads to a dry, slightly acidic finish. It’s not overpowering, and it is balanced by malt, vanilla, and a touch of pepper. Underneath all that is the lovely butter cookies I love so much in Redbreast 12.

The Score – Redbreast 15

Redbreast 15 is a very enjoyable dram. It may seem strange that I’m giving this a lower score than Redbreast 12, but those extra years in the barrel change some of what I love about the original. Don’t get me wrong, a 91/100 still puts this Irish Whiskey well above almost every other bottle I’ve tried, but it doesn’t unseat my all time favorite Irish Whiskey, which is of course Redbreast 12. Will that change? I don’t know, but so far nothing has come close.