Need a reason to raise a dram? Well today is National Scotch Day. If that’s not enough reason to pull out the Peat Monster, Highland Park, or Chivas then I don’t know what is.
If you’re in the Atlanta area, Mac McGee’s Pub in Decatur is having scotch related pairing, specials, and activities this evening from 5PM on. Check it out!
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard
As you might guess, I frequent a lot of discussions about whiskey both online and in person. One thing that always struck me as old is people who “bunker” large numbers of the same bottle. What is bunkering you ask? It’s when you buy more than one bottle of a given whiskey and store it instead of drinking it. People do this for many reasons.
I can understand that if you REALLY like this year’s 2000 vintage Evan Williams single barrel that you might buy another bottle because the whiskey is different every year. What I don’t get are people who go into their local store as soon as the truck delivers the year’s Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and buying every bottle they can carry. Again, people do this for many reasons. However, I find none of them acceptable. Let’s look at them in turn:
1. “I bought all six bottles of George T. Stagg that were allocated to my local store because I love it and it’s my favorite.”
Fine, I get that you like it…alot. But what about all the other great whiskeys out there that you may be missing out on while you drink nothing but Stagg for the next year?
2. “I bought all six bottles of George T. Stagg that were allocated to my local store because they are collectible and will increase in value.”
I know some whiskey collectors. Personally, I’m not a fan of the practice because whiskey is intended to DRINK. It’s not intended to store away from the light of day hoping to cash in five to ten years down the road.
3. “I bought all six bottles of George T. Stagg that were allocated to my local store because I plan to trade them for other super spiffy whiskeys.”
Let’s say that in a perfect world such activities would be completely legal where you live (for the sake of argument) then why not save your cash and seek out those other bottles on your own? You could even put the money into some type of income earning vehicle and be better off when you got ready to make the purchase you really wanted.
4. “I bought all the bottles of the old bottling of Eagle Rare or Weller I could find because it isn’t made anymore.”
See my responses to 1, 2, and 3.
I’m sure there are a whole host of other reasons people bunker whiskey that I haven’t mentioned. However, what really steams my jeans about the whole process is that you’re keeping every bottle you can and you’re preventing others from discovering these great whiskeys. And you’re usually proud of it.
We here at Whisk(e)y Apostle are all about proselytizing the way of the malt. It says so at the top of the page. It’s kind of hard to tell somebody about a great whiskey they should try when you’ve bought all the damn bottles in the tri-county area. I think it’s selfish and kind of a dick move to be honest. Maybe I’m too handholdly-kumbaya about the whole thing. Yes, it’s a free market and you can buy whatever you want in whatever quantities you want but I just don’t think it’s right when it comes to whiskey. You don’t have to change your dastardly ways all at once. Go slow. Maybe this fall just buy five of those six bottles of Stagg and leave one for somebody else. You may not feel any different but the next guy who actually gets to try Stagg this year might have a really good week. Think about it.
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard
The Atlanta whiskey scene has been heating up a little lately. I’ve got another event notice for you. This one is for an introduction to whiskey at the Mac McGee Irish Pub in Decatur. They are a great new place that just opened in January of this year. This is the first of a series of tastings they are planning to do the third Tuesday of each month. Here are the details:
Where: Mac McGee Irish Pub, 111 Sycamore Street on Decatur Square, Decatur GA 30030
When: Tuesday, June 20th at 8 PM
Cost: $25
Pour: Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Bulliet Bourbon, Crown Royal Canadian Whisky, The Singleton 12 Year Old, Talisker 10 Year Old.
Contact: 404-377-8050
Check it out if you get the chance, and kudos to Mac McGee for helping to proselytize the way of the malt!
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard
I like Four Roses Bourbon. I think that Jim Rutledge does some really great things with bourbon. One thing that I find most interesting about Four Roses in the variety of recipes they use in making their bourbon. Four Roses makes 10 different bourbon recipes at their distillery. This gives them great flexibility in what they can releases. It’s very similiar to the way Japanese distillieries make many different recipes (more on that another time) and Four Roses is owned by Japanese drinks conglomerate Kirin Brewery Company Ltd. For comparison, the largest bourbon distiller, Jim Beam, only makes two recipes that all their current bourbon releases come from (however, they are continually experimenting).
If you’ve ever looked at a bottle of Four Roses (except Yellow Label, that’s a mix of all 10) you will notice a four letter code on the back. That code tells you what recipe was used for that bottle…if you know what the code means. I figure that if you’ve repeatedly found your way to Whisk(e)y Apostle then you have more than a passing interest in whiskey. So for those who are interested in such things, I’ve acquired a key to those mysterious four letter codes on the bottles of Four Roses and here it is…
1st Letter: O = This means that it was made at Four Roses in Lawrenceburg, KY, it’s on all the bottles.
2nd Letter: B or E = This identifies the mashbill
B is 60% Corn, 35% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley
E is 75% Corn, 20% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley
3rd Letter: S = This means that it is Straigth Whiskey by U.S. Regulatory definition
4th Letter: V, K, O, Q, F = This represents the five various yeast strains used.
V is a delicate fruity flavor
K is a slightly spicy character
O is a robust fruity flavor
Q is more floral
F is lightly herbal
So for example, the new 100th Anniversary bottle is OBSV. That means that is was distilled at Four Roses in Lawrenceburg using a 60% corn/35% rye/5% barley recipe in the Straight Whiskey style with a yeast strain that imparts a delicate fruity flavor.
That’s the code! Now you know. And as G.I. Joe used to say…knowing is…uh, never mind.
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard
New York Prime in Atlanta is at it again with their 10th Steak & Cigar Dinner. This time Appleton Estates Rum is providing the spirit pairings. It’s again $59.95 and will be from 7:00PM to 10:00PM Sunday July 25th. Here’s the menu:
Meet & Greet: Appleton V/X & La Flor Dominicana L 250
First Course: Hearts of Lettuce With Sliced Tomato with Brooklyn French Dressing & Appleton Reserve Manhattan
Second Course: 16oz. New York Strip accompanied by Steamed Spinach and Cheese Mashed Potatoes & Appleton 12 Year Old
Third Course: Cheesecake with Appleton Reserve Luxury Daiquiri
Close the night with your choice of: Appleton V/X, Reserve or 12yr and a Corando Cigar by La Flor
Call New York Prime at 404-846-0644 for reservations.
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard
