Finding new bottles is hard in my little town, so when I found this bottle of Pure Kentucky I was genuinely excited, especially when I saw it had won a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Unfortunately the high proof and 12 years in the barrel turned this into something my palate just couldn’t enjoy. I’m scoring this as a 28/100 due to the sharpness this whiskey hits you with straight out of the barrel.
Pure Kentucky
The Nose
Other reviewers have commented on fruit and spice which are really forward on the nose. For me the alcohol was more forward, and while I could appreciate the spice, I could not appreciate any fruit.
The Palate
Pure Kentucky is a bit vicious and oily. Combine that with the higher proof and wood notes and this was just a bit too overpowering for me. I felt more slapped in the face than kissed on the lips by this one.
The Score
Pure Kentucky just wasn’t for me. I like to sip my Whiskey, not get slapped in the face by it. Pure Kentucky scored a 28/100, making it Just Bad. This is not a bottle I will be buying again.
Color
You’ve been punched in the kidneys, are poorly hydrated, and have just a touch of blood in your urine.
Proof
53.5% ABV
Pros
Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The Brass Tap Craft Beer Bar was the low point of our trip through the establishments in National Harbor. It’s not that large, was packed, and the music was so loud you had to scream to talk to the person next to you. Ordering food and drink? Don’t even try to talk to the server, you just have to point at stuff on the menu because no one is going to hear you.
The Brass Tap
You can hear the music outside, which is probably what helps them pull people in, but someone needs to tell the owner they can put a speaker outside (or hide it in their sign) and then turn down the inside volume.
Could amazing drinks have saved our impression of The Brass Tap? Sure, it could have, if the drinks were decent.
My son and his friend got tap beer. No surprises, its beer.
I ordered a Basil Hayden’s Manhattan. I’d had one at dinner so I had something to compare it too fresh in my memory. It is really hard to say they were remotely similar. What I got was anything but recognizable.
The Brass Tap Manhattan?
The color was really dark, and the flavor was anything but bourbon. It reminded me of when I’d fill bottles with water so my dad didn’t know we were into his booze. The Manhattan was watery and bland, and honestly I have no idea what bourbon they used, because it definitely was not Basil Hayden’s. Or, if it was, it was 9/10s water.
My wife ordered what should have been a safe choice. She went with a bottle of lite beer – which the bartender dropped while handing it over the bar to the server. The bottle hit the ground (I think there was a rubberized mat on the ground) but didn’t break. A minute later the same beer was served to my wife, with about 50% of it foam. Unfortunately none of us took a picture of it.
We each drank our one drink and left half our appetizers uneaten as it was time to go. It was just too loud inside and the quality of the cocktails was Just Bad.
The Brass Tap scored a 25/100, making it Just Bad. This is not a place I’ll be going back to.
Basil Haden’s is one of my go to Whiskeys. It is perfect for pretty much every occasion, whether that’s to introduce a new whisky drinker into the fold or just have dram with dinner. It has the combination of being relatively cheap (in the bourbon world) and easy drinking. I’ve heard people claim that because its only 40% ABV that it is whiskey-lite or that it doesn’t pack the punch of other whiskeys. I honestly think those people are crazy.
If you haven’t tried Basil Haden’s, I highly suggest getting a bottle, it is an excellent bourbon. If you don’t believe me, look at my night last night.
Basil Hayden’s Disappearing
I did not mean to drink that much, and yes I did pay for it the next day, but we were playing board games and having a ball.
The Nose
The nose on this Basil Haden’s is perfect for the new Whiskey Lover. It’s balanced with vanilla and oak that also has a bit of citrus that gives it just a little zing. It’s not layered or complex, which makes it perfect for new sippers trying to learn the ropes.
The Palate
The first thing that hits is a touch of tannin that quickly turns to vanilla and spice on the mid tongue that dances with those citrus notes. The finish is a wonderful blend of all those notes. There is subtle sweetness, vanilla, spice, and has a nice finish.
The Score
In terms of ranking, this is a solid 75/100. Don’t let that score fool you, it is absolutely Sip Worthy. Of all the Bourbon’s I drink, this is one of those bottles I always have on hand and absolutely keep a few bottles in my Whiskey Safe to carry me through in the event of a natural disaster.
Color
Dark Amber
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros
Smooth
A bargain when you can find it for between $30 and $40.
Wonderful cinnamon, pepper and other spices on the tongue.
Makes an amazing Manhattan.
Cons
Not always in stock.
It gives me a horrible hangover when I don’t realize I drank half the bottle at one go.
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey is a product of the Royal Oak Distillery in a joint venture with New Riff Distilling. If you are familiar with the Busker brand of Irish Whisky you’ve already drank a few drams that the Royal Oak Distillery created.
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Unlike American Bourbon, new Irish Whiskey offerings don’t come out every day, so when I saw this bottle of High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover I jumped on it, super excited to open the bottle and try it.
Now that the bottle is open, let’s dig into how it stands up to its peers.
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey
The Nose
The nose on this High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey is delicate but deep. There are those lovely butter cookie notes I love in Irish Whisky in general mixed with vanilla and molasses. The sweetness here is rich but some ends with a dry not that really accents the time spent in the Sherry Casks. For a Whiskey bottled at cask strength there is zero booziness.
The Palate
This whiskey is just so damn smooth. There is absolutely no hint that this was bottled at cask strength. The front of my tongue is awash in desert flavors. Sweetness and butter cookies. The mid tongue blends that sweetness and creamy maltiness with the dryness of the time spent in the sherry casks. The finish is a blend of those sweet flavors and the dryness of the sherry. It really is a masterful blend.
These are very rich flavors. Have you ever had a really fatty, creamy meal that was amazing, but also made you think you just couldn’t eat another bite? It is so so rich you can’t take it? That is exactly how this High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover made me feel.
The Score
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey scored a 97/100 making it Sip Worthy. This is an expensive whiskey, but if you have the dollars, it is well worth a try.
Color
Amber and dark honey.
Proof
58.7% ABV
Pros
This is a dangerous bottle. It is so smooth you don’t feel the Cask Strength bottling until your head is swimming a bit.
Sometimes I crave that dry sherry finish on my Irish Whiskey and this knocked it out of the park.
Cons
At $160 bucks this is a steep price for the bottle.
This is a limited release. if you love it you may not be able to find it again.
I’ve read several rave reviews of Stranahan’s Single Malt, and was looking forward to a wonderful experience drinking this American Bourbon.
Stranahan’s
This is different, it is essentially an American single malt scotch made in Colorado. The nose on this whiskey is sweet vanilla that floats on a layer of marshmallow. With its clean sweet nose this Whiskey begs to be sipped.
This is where things fell apart a little for me.
I’m not huge fan of Scotch. I don’t enjoy smoky, oily alcohol. I love bourbon and Irish Whiskey as long as they aren’t peated. I had to look up Stranahan’s Single Malt to make sure it wasn’t peated. It wasn’t. So I was surprised at how strong the burnt sugar and char notes are. Stranahan’s Single Malt has a blackened, burnt marshmallow flavor that is just a little oily, and which coats your palate. If you like Scotch, you might find this whiskey to be quite enjoyable. For me, the burnt flavor killed the experience.
Stranahan’s Single Malt is scoring a 27/100. I will finish the bottle in mixers, but I wouldn’t buy something this expensive to make Manhattan’s with.
Color
Rusty water with a touch of honey.
Proof
47.0% ABV
Pros
Who doesn’t want to try an American Single Malt?
If you like burnt marshmallow, you will love this whiskey.
Cons
The char on this whiskey is super strong. It brings up blacked, burnt marshmallows and the flavor is super clingy.
The char is hard to escape, it is really overpowering the sweet vanilla.
Redbreast is my favorite all time whiskey distiller. Needless to say that as soon as I saw a new edition coming out I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.
Redbreast
The nose on this Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition is a little bit boozy but I think its too be expected with a 101 Proof statement. Mixed in with that is the nose that I’ve come to love from Redbreast. There are butter cookies, vanilla, and just a hint of oak.
The mouth feel of Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition is crisp and clean. The tip of my tongue instantly fell in love. This is an old friend. That initial touch is just so sweet and full of all the things that makes Redbreast 12 the amazing bottle it is. It isn’t until the Whiskey hit my mid tongue that I really started to appreciate the time spent in the Oak Barrels. That Oak and Spice really hit on the mid tongue and become almost, but not quite, too much on the finish.
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition scored a 80/100, making it Sip Worthy. I enjoyed it, but not enough to buy a few bottles for my Whiskey Safe. I will definitely buy another bottle when the prices come down, but its not so good that I feel the desire to keep a few bottles on hand to be ready for a long winter or my retirement.
Color
Golden Amber.
Proof
50.5% ABV
Pros
If you are a Redbreast fan this is a must try, even if its only once.
A great addition to the Redbreast family because sometimes you just want something a little different.
Perfect for the bourbon lover.
Cons
I picked up my bottle for $125 and I am already seeing it go for $199. Hopefully the supply keeps up with demand and the price falls back to something reasonable.
The oak was nice, but it also overpowered a lot of what I love about Redbreast 12.
I few weeks ago we went to Big Fish Grill for lunch with my sons and their girlfriends. The seafood is always good, but it does get pricey.
For my drink I ordered a Manhattan and didn’t specify the Bourbon, so I ended up getting Jim Beam as their default whiskey – or at least on the day I was there.
Big Fish Grill Spirits Menu
How was it?
Honestly it was fairly tasteless and not that good, and when you are paying a premium for the meal, that kind of sucks. Still, the seafood is always good, I would just skip the pasta seafood dishes, your paying a lot for a dollar of pasta and a handful of seafood in the sauce.
The Jim Beam Manhattan at Big Fish Grill is getting a 10/100, making it Just Bad. I will make sure I order the Bulliet or Makers next time. My advice is to go for the food but not if you are looking Whiskey Dreams.
When I was much younger I used to enjoy drinking Tequila. I had a friend from Mexico and when his family would come up to visit they would bring local tequila in milk jugs. The distillery (I wish I could remember which one) would let them fill a jug for just a few pesos if you brought your own container.
It was the best tequila I’ve ever had.
Don Julio 1942
Don Julio 1942 was very close to that.
This is a sipping Tequila. I almost had to slap my son because he wanted to shoot it. Once he sipped a little he understood why I was telling him to just take little sips and to enjoy it. Don Julio 1942 is smooth and finishes with hints of vanilla and agave.
Why did I have a bottle of Don Julio 1942? One of my son’s desperately needed a haircut, so he came over so I could cut his hair – which then turned into a board game night, which turned into us all getting drunk. It was one of those beautiful spur of the movement things that I’ll remember forever.
While there is some liquid left in this picture, it was gone shortly after. Now I just have to find another special occasion or the right moment to get another bottle of Don Julio 1942 and enjoy it with my family.
I’ve become a bourbon and Irish Whiskey aficionado, but this tequila was delightful and well worth a sip, especially if someone else is paying for it, which earned it 80 out of 100 points. That makes Don Julio 1942 a Sip Worthy bottle. Let me know if you agree in the comments.
Color
Very light copper.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros
Amazingly smooth and rich.
Vanilla and agave in perfect unison.
Very sip worthy tequila.
Cons
At $190, that is a very expensive bottle of tequila.
Da Andrea is located at 35 west 13th Street in Manhattan. They special in Italian Food and based on what one of my friends told me, the wine list is decent, but not huge. I’m not a wine drinker, so I’m trusting their opinion that the wine list was well constructed to match the price point of the food. The Whiskey Menu however, is not very big at all.
I had the Pappardelle (Pappardelle, sweet sausage ragout, truffle oil) and paired that with their Manhattan. The food was good, and for Manhattan I guess it was priced reasonably. What does that mean? For me a $26 dollar bowl of pasta better be amazing. It was good, but I think we were really paying for the fact that its a comfortable sit down restaurant in Manhattan.
How was the Manhattan?
Da Andrea Manhattan
The Cinzano 1757 is the star of this Manhattan. It takes the Bulleit Rye and just adds so much depth and a wonderful finish to each sip. When it comes to ingredients, Cinzano 1757 is at the top of my list of bottles I need to add to my shelf. Is this Manhattan worth $20 bucks? Only if you are drinking it with friends in Manhattan.
Next I moved on to the Negroni. Since there only two whiskey drinks on the menu, I had to try both right?
Da Andrea Negroni
I’m not in love with the Negroni (as a drink) like I am with a Manhattan. I enjoy them now and then, but I am one those people people that find Campari to taste a little medicinal. It was good, but I went back to the Manhattan after the Negroni. Yes, I had a headache when I woke up the next morning.
Da Andrea is scoring a 50/100. Putting it dead center in the “If I had Limited Choices” category. I enjoyed the food and Manhattan was good, but Da Andrea has a very limited Whiskey Menu.
If you are in New York and are after a larger Whiskey Menu, try The Dead Rabbit instead.
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey is aged exclusively in Pedro Ximénez casks. Pedro Ximénez sherry is well known for being a syrupy sweet, yet dry, and those flavor profiles are really prevalent in this whiskey. Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey carries no age statement, so it is likely bottled at the bare minimum of 3 years which is required to be called Irish Whiskey.
Egans Irish Whiskey
The nose on this Irish Whiskey is a gem. I could sniff this for desert, that’s how sweet and fruity it is.
Sadly, that sweet, fruity nose is overpowered by the dry sherry notes from the Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. I like the dryness the sherry adds on the front of my tongue, but the finish is almost sour for me.
My son saw me take the first sip of this and said my face scrunched up. I may have said it finishes like “cat pee”.
He asked me how I knew what cat pee tasted like. I changed the subject.
Something about Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey just doesn’t agree with me. I tried it over some ice to see if that would help but it just made it cold and distasteful for me.
Overall I’m more likely to pour a dram of this and just enjoy the nose. The flavors from the sherry really wash away what I enjoy in a single malt, so needless to say, Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey isn’t making it into my Whiskey Safe, and is scoring a Just Bad 26/100. Yes, it is at the higher end of Just Bad, but that is because the nose is just so nice.
Color
Light Amber
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros
Amazing nose.
If you like sherry and Irish Whiskey you will love Egan’s Fortitude.
Cons
The raisins, figs and dates from the sherry casks overpowers the flavors of the Single Malt.
The dryness of the sherry does something funky on my tongue. It almost turns the finish of this whiskey sour for me.
