The Big Red Dram

So after a 13 week Hiatus, thanks Yellowstone binge watching and Baseball, I am back to give a brief recap of my Barrel picking trip to Kentucky in APRIL!  Then I discuss one of the picks for the WWC and Malloy's, the Wilderness Trail High Rye Bourbon.  So good!

Cheers

I was able to get my hands on a collaborative vatting done by the Whisk(e)y Soaked Souls and I have to say I had my doubts that there would be a noticeable difference from the standard Machir Bay.  I really should know better. It is just enough that it makes the Machir Bay more approachable, dare I say softer?  The additional Sherry just brings the right amount of fruit up into the peat that now it feels balanced.  It literally made my mouth water, and I am not sure I have ever said that about an Islay Whisky before.  A wonderful dram!

Cheers!

These two picks from Malloy's finest are a shining example of up and coming Starlight Distillery.  They are going to be doing great things in the future I can tell.  While the Straight Bourbon is good, the Port Finish knocks it out of the park.  Delicious whiskies, on their own, these would also do really well in an Old Fashioned cocktail.  

Cheers!

These two expressions from Kentucky Peerless distillery are truly some fine examples of what this craft distillery is capable of.  The Double Oak was hard to find when it hit shelves, and for good reason.  It is delicious bourbon, hitting all the right notes, especially after warming up the palate a bit.  The Distillery exclusive Rye single barrel The Highlander, was also a treat when I bought it at the distillery last fall, a light, floral and highly approachable Rye, this one is an easy sipper!  Cheers!

This absolutely delicious PX finished whisky is the stuff dreams are made of.  From the delightful sherried nose to its impeccably balanced palate, the warm finish just wraps this one up perfectly.  Kilchoman has earned its place among the greats on Islay, and they are all great.  I am astonished that my single bottle of Machir Bay has 8 brothers and sisters next to it now.  That didn't take too long.  

I had been looking for one of these for over a Year and happily landed one late this past year and it is something.  A blend of Straight Rye Whiskies finished in French Oak Port Barrels, this one definitely has an influence of Port.  A delicious dram that warms you up on a midwinter nights eve.  

Cheers!

Well well well.  Look who came crawling back!  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of you!  It has been 10 weeks or so since my last and apparently season ending episode and I am sorry for that.  It has been a wild 2 and a half months of sports, Holidays, trips and illnesses, but I'm Baaaaack and excited about 2022.  Excited about the whiskey end of it anyway. 

So I was fortunate enough to be a part of selecting this delightful bottle of Sagamore that is anything but a typical rye whiskey.  This one is special and I am excited to talk about it tonight. Just a delicious blend of traditional whiskey notes with some Coca Cola Slushy goodness mixed in!

Cheers!

***FIXED AUDIO***  

Running through two opposite ends of the spectrum, the Charleston Vesey's Bourbon and the Very Olde St. Nick Summer Rye.  Two delicious craft whiskies that hold their own within their price points.  The Charleston reminds me a bit of a classic Kentucky style bourbon with a hint of oak.  The VOSN rye is a delectable rye full of explosive flavors that subdue into a dark cherry cobbler that is smooth and approachable.  

I was fortunate enough to get my hands on one of these unique picks and I was grateful for Nirav keeping one for me. This bottle had a wonderful nose, but was an intense blend of OF BiB and 1910 I think.  It had a lot going on and gave way to an oaky slightly tannic sour note way in the back that perplexed me a bit.  Great long finish.  These are new, and this one tasted as such. It didn't have the refined quality the previous 90 proof versions had, but I think that is part of the growing pains.  This one isn't for the faint of heart and at it's core, was every bit Old Forester.  A good pick to say the least. Well done. 

Peat, check. Smoke, see Peat, but check. Iodine and brine, yeah. Seaweedy saltiness with a dark chocolate undertone.  Sure!  Ardbeg Scorch is from some heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels and delivers on an intense smoke that doesn't overpower, but lets you know its there.  I enjoy Ardbeg a LOT.  This is no exception, but I wonder what the committee release offers at the higher proof.  Either way, this is a delicious dram that noses for days!

At Last!  

With a little help from my friend a frustrating week turned out to be one of those patience pays off types.  I was surprised with an EH Taylor Barrel Proof today and it has been worth the wait.  My relationship with EH Taylor has always been one of patience.  It started with small batch and each bottle since had that initial, well I'm not sure, to yes this is a gem, progression.  I have a feeling the BP will as well.  First pass was; why are people paying 500 plus for these, to, I still don't get it. LOL!  Seriously, these are good.  Stagg is good, if not great.  Some EHBP are great but not at the 500+ price. But here we are.  I am thrilled to have one, thank you Steve Malloy, at retail and I will cherish this bottle and enjoy the hell out of it.  EH Taylor is a collection worth pursuing, don't get me wrong, they are all splendid whiskies.  I love the "Core 4": Small Batch, Single Barrel, Barrel Proof and Straight Rye.  The Rye especially is one of my favorites, but to find and try them all would be, for me, nearly impossible.  But these are great at retail, worthy of the hunt and meant to be enjoyed with friends and family.  

Sips not flips!  

This was my first foray into Compass Box and let me tell you, being someone that loves a peated whisky, this one is legit!  A delightful balance of fruits and smoke that tantalizes the senses and dances on your tastebuds.  I don't drink many blends, but I am a believer in what these fine folks are doing.  Bravo!

A recap of my latest trip to Bardstown and some of the iconic distillers in and around the area.  Such a fun trip with great friends. 

I discuss my bottle of the aged 11 years bottle of George Dickel and I have to tell you, I dig it.  I don't get the common notes I hear, "flinstone vitamins and minerals" I get something that is a nice easy segue into Tennessee whiskey if you are a die hard bourbon drinker.  It has it's fair share of similarities while still being uniquely Tennessee.  While I do like the 13 better, this 11 year old is quite delicious. I wrap up the night talking a bit about Charleston Distilling Co., Penelope Rose Finish and finally a straight Rye from Union Horse.  Woah!  

Sometimes when searching for a bottle, you have to be in the right place at the right time.  Now walking into Heaven Hill is always the right place, but when the gift shop happens to have some 18 left, it is the right time.  Being a huge fan of Elijah Craig anything at this point, the 18 was the final piece of the puzzle for me, and it did not disappoint.  Truly one of the great bourbon bottles I now possess.  There is a reason it is already half empty after 3 weeks. 

While I am sitting on the struggle bus trying to get back into my Podcast groove, this Old Fitzgerald 8yo BiB is arguably one of my favorite bottles.  It is deceptively smooth and delicious.  I have enjoyed every sip from this bottle and will be sad when she is gone.  Old Fitzgerald will only come out 1 more time this year, I wonder what age that one will be?  

So I try to catch up on some lost time with this one, discussing the Weller and then catching up on upcoming events.  The Weller Full proof is a delicious bottle, a solid pick by Nirav and A1, as usual, and a bottle I am very grateful to have gotten my hands on.  Cheers!

So tonight I discuss two distillers editions from Lux Row, the Ezra and the Rebel and then finish with the Double Barrel Distillers edition.  All 3 were delicious, without question.  But the surprise of the night was the rich vanilla smoothness of the Ezra Brooks!  It won the night.  Truly remarkable bourbon coming from this young distillery.  Cheers!

This bottle for the money is the best kept secret in bourbon.  Smooth and utterly approachable this whiskey is one of my favorite go to sippers.  Easy to drink, simple to nose and just tasty, it is a super value.  Now this new iteration compared to a sample of a 1980 release?  More refined than it's older sibling, but the 1980 does bring a bit more heat on the back end and a delightfully peppery finish that I didn't pick up on until after I was done recording.  That said, the current version is still the better choice, but this was a fun comparison, as they did compare overall.  Brown Forman got it right. Cheers!

Oh this peaty bottle of deliciousness.  50% Port, 47% Bourbon, 3% Sherry and 100% a product of Islay, this bottle exceeded expectations.  With the signature Kilchoman peat, this bottle checks all the boxes for something special.  I enjoy how Kilchoman has grown to be a force on an island full of power houses.  Kilchoman can stand tall and is quietly becoming, or better yet, is a major force to be reckoned with.  

How can a good bottle be great?  Sometimes you just have to pick the right barrel.  

Well well well.  We meet again Glenlivet.  So I hadn't had a Glenlivet in probably 15 years, and then I tried the Signatory 13 year Sherry.  More recently the 12. Now this.  Ok Ok.  I get it, you have changed, so have I, so it is nice to get reacquainted.  The legendary distillery is still making amazing things.  This one, aged in Limosin French Oak is wonderfully light and refreshing with just a hint of spice and white fruits, that I find tantalizing and utterly satisfying.  IF you see the gift set with the 12, 14 & 15, do yourself a favor and grab one.  You will be happy you did. 

I discuss my first single barrel pick for the Wheaton Whisky Club and the Chicagoland Whiskey Hunters.  With many thanks to A1 Liquors along the way this was such a wonderful experience, and hopefully the first of many more to come.  

A spectacular Warehouse 9 release from Bunnahabhain.  I love everything about this expression.  It is so full of all the Bunna goodness combined with delectable sherry notes.  It is scrumptious!  

After about a Month of coordinating and locating through the help of some bourbon thieves and a WWC member, I was able to assemble 6 of the 9 1792 expressions currently out there in the wild.  The 1792 Small Batch, Single Barrel (store pick), Bottled in Bond (store pick), Sweet Wheat, Aged 12 Years, and Full Proof. The fun thing about doing something like this is that you begin to recognize the common notes that are prevalent amongst the range.  Then you get to enjoy the ebbs and flows of those flavors as they increase and decrease throughout.  1792 Barton is a great distillery nestled in Bardstown and their offerings are worth the hunt, at retail of course. 

Cheers!

On this episode I sit down with Charlie Rodman, the man behind Signatoryusa on Instagram and the Director of Strategy & Business Development for Total Beverage Solution.  We discuss his involvement with Signatory and learn quite a bit about independent bottlers, the reasons why they are doing great things, and why we as single malt consumers should be paying more attention to them.  So pour yourself a nice dram, grab a notepad and get comfy, there is a lot of great information here.  

Cheers!

Signatory is quietly becoming a source of some great Whisky and while I will speak with them next week in my first ever interview, tonight as a warmup I jumped into two 5 year Bunnahabhain Staoisha Signatory picks.  One, Cask #10756 direct from Signatory, in the beautiful Decanter bottle, and the other, Cask #10757 from Binny's in the standard 750 bottle.  I will tell you these tasted better then their age would suggest, and were also extremely difficult to decipher.  On the nose they both had light fruity, almost citrus noses with little peat.  Then their palates differed, with the edge going to Signatory.  Their finishes were warm and peaty with a slight edge going to Signatory again.  Fascinating. 

This is one of my favorites.  An offering by Talker that embodies the sea.  You can taste the influence of location in each sip of this delectable dram.  The Isle of Skye is a must on my travel list, and one day I hope to sample this 18 year at the distillery.  

Holy Moly is this one smooth Rye Ladies and Gentlemen.  Having put the word out that I was looking for a bottle on a whim, a fellow Whiskey enthusiast let me know they had one and an exchange was born.  Thank you Anthony!  This is one of my favorite rye's and it is just as good as I remember after having it at 302 Wheaton over the Summer.  These are traditionally hard to find and only come out every so often.  So if you should stumble on one, and are a fan of E.H. Taylor and haven't tried it yet, do so.  It is worth it (at retail of course). 

Cheers!

Well a second season has begun and I am not sure how but I wasn't quite prepared for it. LOL.  After discussing additions to the podcast I get into the delectable bottle of Laphroaig 16.  Now I am not sure as to exactly why, but I had three sips during this recording and had 3 different initial impressions.  Interesting.  This has quietly become one of my favorite Laphoraig's, that I own, and I am SO glad I have a back up.  The bottle has seen a surge in pricing locally, up to $100 now I believe, yet this is still a good price for a bottle that will only get better after you open it.  

Welcome to season 2 Ladies and Gentlemen.  Let's go!

For the final episode of the first season of the Big Red Dram, I deal with disappointment with a major audio brand, stumble through the Barrel Proof offerings, because I am tired, then finally get to the ECBP A120.  WOW what a bottle.  Then I discuss my Bourbon of the year and my Scotch of the year. 

Happy New Year and thank you all for listening!  I am looking forward to Season TWO!!!

May your 2021 be better in life, and better in Whisk(e)y, of course one dram at a time. 

This is a single barrel offering from the James E. Pepper Distillery and was selected by the Chicagoland Whiskey Hunters.  Aptly named Warm Apple pie, this pick is definitely that.  I will be honest, Rye's are fickle spirits.  They can hit wonderfully, and miss bitterly.  This one is somewhere in the OK realm for me, but it is too early to tell.  This one is a bit young I think, it got better the more it sat, but it is heavy on the rye spice and lacked some subtle sweetness its nose hinted at.  Never one to give into the first taste trap or neck pour.   I will revisit this bottling later putting it up against some regular rye's I have.  

This majestic offering from Ardbeg was named after the mythical horses from Scottish lore.  A 2017 committee release, then limited edition release is one of my absolute favorite bottles.  This expression will challenge your nose, palate and mind to discover all there is imbedded within this delicious dram.  Aged in Black Sea oak, I had to look it up, and ex bourbon barrels, the great Dr. Lumsden created something truly special. At 46% this dram will delight Ardbeg fans as well as Islay fans.  Stunning in every detail. 

Well, if you like cherries, this is your jam.   These bottles have a following for a reason.  There are 10 different combinations.  2 mash bills and FIVE yeast strains.  I capitalize FIVE because I said 4 in the episode for some stupid reason.  Remember, these episodes are NOT rehearsed. LOL.  Anyway, they have a big following because they are all very sought after and quite possibly the best the distillery has to offer in their range.  OBSV is typically a fruity and spicy combination and it is indeed that.  A cherry bomb with the right amount of spice.  Delicious.  Then I get the bright idea of mixing this and OF 1910 and create the best old fashioned I have had yet.  Wow.  

Brought to the mainstream for 2020 this offering used to be a distillery only find and usually in a 375ml bottle.  But Jim Beam decided they wanted to give it a go and said lets not filter this one much and send it out.  And out it went!  One of the most sought after bottles for under $25 this summer, it was a huge hit!!  I was happy I found one and truly enjoyed the whiskey inside.  Delicious. 

This one is solid.  That is all I really need to say.  It is an easy sip and very smooth, full of spice and sea salt and just the right amount of smoke.  A true Talisker.  I also talk a little about a tasting from Friday and some of the delightful bottles enjoyed.  Cheers!

So I wanted to do a comparison between the two different Willett Rye bottles that I had.  1 opened for 3 months at 54.1% the other newly opened at 54.7%.  I honestly didn't think there would be much, if any difference.  It would come down to being more about the openness of the 54.1 vs the 54.7 and how the 54.1 seemed a little more expressive, more detailed in its nose and palate than the 54.7.  The profiles between the two were very similar and one should expect them to be and I find them both to be delicious alone and even better when mixed with Noah's Mill in an Old Fashioned.  Good Stuff. 

This fun little bottle was available at the Heaven Hill distillery in Bardstown and I heard so much about it, I had to grab one.  It doesn't disappoint.  It is a delicious little bottle that packs a punch and delivers on some wonderful smells and tastes.  I tell you, the more I discover what comes from Heaven Hill the more bottles are winners.  This is a great distillery. 

Born in 2014 this wonderfully complex dram was released to help fund a new community center in Port Ellen.  Having a delightful nose this dram gives way to such a delightful palate and slow, warm finish.  I was happy Ardbeg still had some of these in the gift shop when we visited back in 2017.

A recap of our visit to this Mecca of Bourbon called Bardstown.  If you have never been, I encourage you to go visit and see some of the most picturesque distilleries in Kentucky.  You will not be disappointed.  

A double topic episode talking a little about upcoming events then moving into the Old Ezra 7 year old.  Lux Row has only been around since 2015 but it is bringing some delicious Whiskey to the masses.  The OE7 was a surprise less than Chicago retail find while in Effingham and this bottle has grown on me every time I come back to it.  When I visit Bardstown soon, I look forward to visiting Lux Row and learning more about their amazing spirits. 

Cheers!

This once iconic 16 year old seems to have lost a step in recent years.  Having been one of the more richly complex and smoky Whiskies from Islay, I feel as though this particular bottle has been watered down.  It takes a back seat to younger expressions from this once legendary distillery and it makes me sad.  That said, this isn't without merit, don't get me wrong, this is an easy sipping whisky if you are learning about Islay and want to dial into some peat, this one will do the trick, it just doesn't have the complexity that so many more Islay Whiskies now have.  The better question to raise might be this; Is the Lagavulin 16 falling behind, or are the rest of the distilleries on Islay, catching up?  

Just a few lessons learned from my one and likely only bottle trade.  

Another comparison episode, but I am a wee bit more prepared for this one.  The Octomore Masterclass 8.2 (167ppm @ 58.4) vs. the Octomore 10.1 (107ppm @ 59.8). The brain child of Jim McEwan and Mark Reynier, Octomore rounded out the triple threat from Bruichladdich.  Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore would give the distillery a wide reach in single malt expressions. Octomore being the HEAVILY peated offerings, would ignite a cult following of legendary status.  Don't let the PPM's scare you.  I was afraid and now I believe.  The 8.2 is a fruity dessert of complex flavors with a delightful twist of smoke within, likely a result of the wine casks used in the maturation. The 10.1 is a delightful blend of bourbon notes and classic Bruichladdich, sweet vanilla caramel with a smokey oak giving way to a delectable dark chocolate, toffee salty seaweed.  Both bottles are high proof, yet easy to drink. 

I am now a believer.  

So this episode is a little all over the place.  Normally I try to do just one take, it will generally be unorganized and not well thought out but I like that because it gives it a more casual feel.  This one took 5 takes, and I ended up with the middle one. These two bottles gave me fits!  HAHA.  The batch 10 has its complex yet smoky traits while the 11 is a little lighter on the front smoke and gave way to more vanilla and sweeter notes, then the door slammed shut and it became the similar smoky burnt oak seasalty seaweed that caught me off guard.  The joy of single malts over bourbon lies within a mystery like these two bottles.  There are such wild and unusual underlying notes that just come out of nowhere.  I don't know of too many bourbons that offer this much complexity (they are out there Micther's 10 comes to mind).  And this is only a 10 year!  Delightfully fun to drink side by side.  I guess I am getting the 12 this Christmas.  HA!