Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey Special Reserve Aged 12 Years 40% ABV $35-$50 Website What the Distiller Says: Powers 12 Year Old Special Reserve was launched in 2000. It retains the classic Powers’ spicy, honeyed, full-bodied flavour, enhanced and enriched by years of extra aging in carefully selected American oak barrels. It is best enjoyed neat or with a little water.
Nose Spicy, honeyed, with a touch of perfumed oils, it is full-bodied and flavoursome.
Taste The familiar taste of Ireland’s favourite whiskey is enhanced by long ageing to reveal a spicy complexity and additional velvet smoothness.
Finish The velvet smoothness is finished with a distinguishing touch of gentle woodiness.
What Richard Says: Nose: The nose is light and floral but it has a hearty backbone that foretells the high pot still content. There is also a slight sherry back note as the nose opens up. This one is a little coy and evasive. Palate: The whiskey is creamy and approachable. It reminds me of a light vanilla custard or honey drizzled yogurt. As it coats the mouth a flavor of overripe pears comes out. Finish: This is very dry with surprising hit of burnt peppercorns and wood. Comments: The finish is a little surprising and off-putting on this one. It doesn’t seem to flow from the palate like the nose to palate transition. It is more of an abrupt about-face. This is still a very drinkable and enjoyable whiskey but the finish make syou want to keep drinking to avoid the finish. I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Rating: Stands Out
2 Gingers Irish Whiskey 40% ABV $19.99 Website What the Distiller Says: 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey – the fastest growing Irish whiskey in the U.S.* from the award-winning Kilbeggan Distilling Co.™ – has grown beyond its Minnesota roots and is now officially available across the United States. The brand has experienced exponential growth, expanding from limited Midwest markets one year ago to all 50 states this month.
2 GINGERS® Founder and CEO Kieran Folliard, former owner of one of the country’s top-selling Irish whiskey pubs, originally created the whiskey and its signature cocktail, the BIG GINGER®, with inspiration from his mother and aunt – the two fiery gingers (red-heads) featured on the bottle. Backed by Folliard’s passion and category expertise, 2 GINGERS® has quickly become the fastest growing Irish whiskey in the U.S.* since its launch in 2011. After experiencing remarkable popularity and success among women and men within limited regional markets in 2013, the premium blended whiskey – aged 4 years and double-distilled – has increased distribution once more, this time expanding nationwide.
“At its heart, 2 GINGERS® is about following up on a hunch and pursuing your dreams,” said Folliard, who is soon hitting the road in a custom 2 GINGERS® trailer that, like any Irish pub, will ring with stories (most of them true) in cities across the country. “We hope to encourage others to pursue their dreams, to demonstrate what we stand for and to pose the question: ‘Why not try something big?’”
Beam Inc. (NYSE:BEAM) acquired 2 GINGERS® in December 2012, and since that time has rapidly expanded distribution. To support the national launch, Folliard will use the customized 2 GINGERS® trailer to meet with bartenders, distributors and consumers looking to discover the BIG GINGER® cocktail in stops from coast to coast, including: Milwaukee, WI, Chicago, IL, Hoboken, NJ, New Orleans, LA, Dallas, TX, Austin, TX, San Diego, CA, Denver, CO, Minneapolis, MN, St. Louis, MO, Indianapolis, IN, and Columbus, OH.
2 GINGERS® is a smooth, malty and slightly sweet premium, blended Irish whiskey. Distilled with mixability in mind, the brand created and trademarked two balanced and simple cocktails, the BIG GINGER® and SKINNY GINGER®. Genderless and appropriate for all seasons, these cocktails combine the refreshing bite of ginger ale with the caramel, vanilla and citrus undertones of 2 GINGERS®, creating the perfect recipe for anyone who may not yet consider themselves whiskey drinkers.
What Richard Says: Nose: Out of the bottle there is a heavy malty/hoppy note reminiscent of cheaper American lager or IPA. As the nose mellow it’s lighter and more like honeysuckle with a vegetal herb mixture. Palate: Light with hints of honey and vanilla almond milk fading to a spicy and grassy taste. Finish: The finish is a little raw and the place where the whiskey shows it’s youth. Comments: Not a bad whiskey at all. This is clearly Cooley product. It think I could be a better “neat sipper” with some ago on it but they are pushing it as a mixer. With some ginger ale it is quite refreshing. Rating: Average
We would like to thank Rueben his team at DBC PR for the review sample provided.
Recommended Cocktails:
BIG GINGER® 2 parts 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey Ginger Ale Lemon Wedge Lime Wedge METHOD: Pour the 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey into a pint glass with ice. Top with ginger ale, followed by a wedge of a lemon and lime.
SKINNY GINGER® 2 parts 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey Diet Ginger Ale Lemon Wedge Lime Wedge METHOD: Pour the 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey into a pint glass with ice. Top with diet ginger ale, followed by a wedge of a lemon and lime.
SMWS Cask No. 93.47 Campbeltown 59.7% ABV Distilled April 2002 $?? US Allocation: ?? Valentine’s 2014 Release
What the SMWS Says: The nose seemed unusual – salted almonds and rice crackers; seaweed, sushi, and Earl Grey tea; smoked sausage, tar, hospitals, garage workshops and farmyards. The unreduced palate was enormous – tar, smoke and ash – big time; also salty liquorice, menthol, Arbroath smokies and the seaweed found in Japanese rice crackers. Adding water brought the nuttiness and sweetness forward on the nose; we also identified flying saucers, soap and dried strawberries. The reduced palate was still interesting but more tamed – vanilla sweetness, tongue-tingling ginger and cured sausage with subtle caraway and mace flavourings. The distillery is owned by the Loch Lomond Distillery Company.
What Richard Says: Nose: Briny delight. Kind of reminds me of nori with light smokiness and a hint of heather. Palate: This drinks much easier than it’s proof would lead you to believe. There is a little more of that salty brine, very nutty, and a flavor that reminds me of overly strong black tea. Finish: This finish clings to the tongue forever. Tar like smoke and sea air. Comments: Exceptionally interesting. I might not make this a staple in my whisky cabinet but it makes for a very conversational dram. Rating: Stands Out
Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.
SMWS Cask No. 48.29 Speyside, Spey 61.0% ABV Distilled September 1999 $?? US Allocation: ?? Valentine’s 2014 Release
What the SMWS Says: Powerful sweetness hit the nose to start with. It became set honey, vanilla pods and toffee bonbons and then lavender freshness with herbal notes of thyme and cut grass. To taste it was hot and sweet. The herbal notes were there too along wit orange marmalade bitterness, tobacco and cooling menthol eucalyptus. A good length of finish too. With water the aroma becomes sweeter: baking (pastries, cakes & marzipan), sherbet, lemon icing sugar, rhum agricole, but also an earthy note that took us to summer gardens. Water calms down the taste and offers cake mixture dough, sweet tobacco and orange pith in the finish. From the distillery that is the closest to Grantown on Spey.
What Elizabeth Says: Nose: Vanilla covered cherry blossoms. Palate: Orange infused wooden casks wrapped around your tongue. Finish: Lemon tartness. Comments: Very refreshing! Rating: Stands Out
What Richard Says: Nose: Honey and Greek yogurt, vanilla, and herbal notes. Water brings out more of the herbal, grassy notes. Palate: Chewy and mildly sweet. Lovely flavor and mouth feel even at cask strength. Apricot and citrus fruit salad. Sweeter with more honey and mandarin oranges with water. Finish: Clean and very short. There is a quick hint that reminds me of Italian Proraso shaving cream. Comments: This is an absolutely lovely dram. The SMWS calls it “satisfyingly sweet” and it definitely is. This is the perfect balance of sweetness in a single malt. Rating: Must Try
Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.
Friday night I had some folks over to play cards. We usually play once a month or so. The group is made up of people I’ve known for many years. Whenever I have anyone over to my house that is inclined toward whiskey I try to impart on them some of my passion for all things whiskey. I share drinks with them and encourage them to sample things they haven’t tried before. During the many years I’ve drank whiskey I always had an open cabinet policy for guests. Most folks are timid but a few who know me and reciprocate hospitality are a little more comfortable. I don’t monitor my whiskey cabinet when guest are over. When I’m up I offer drinks and they come and go at the cabinet over the course of the evening. I think most whiskey inclined people who’ve drank at my house would consider me a generous host. I at least try to be. I’ve never had an issue with my open cabinet policy…….until Friday.
A friend of mine who I’ve known for almost ten years is the offender. During the game he would get up in between hands and head off to the liquor cabinet. Midway through the evening I got up to get another drink and I heard him snickering to someone else about “not letting Richard know we’re drinking the good stuff” as I came around to the cabinet. When he saw me he jumped and clearly reacted like someone “caught” doing something they shouldn’t. I looked and he was pouring from the most expensive bottle of whiskey I own. I’m not a man flush with cash but I have a few nice bottles. This one was a single malt my wife got me for my birthday a few years ago. It didn’t bother me that he was drinking some. It bothered me that it was nearly 3/4 full the last time I had some a few days ago and was now almost empty. My response was something along the lines of “holy crap man, leave me some of that.” No apologies or excuses were rendered, just a smartass comment about “not letting your friends near your liquor cabinet.” Well, if you can’t let your friends in your liquor cabinet then they probably shouldn’t be your friends I would think but I left it alone and the night continued.
Later in the evening he comes back and tosses me $40 saying “I guess I owe you a bottle of Glenlivet 12 year old or something.” I asked what he was referring to and he said he’s finished off that bottle he’d been hitting all night. I must have gone pale because all conversation at the table stopped. His wife asked him how much was the bottle he drank. “About $150” he said. I quickly corrected him that it was a $400+ bottle of scotch. His wife was appalled, my wife was looking at me waiting to see my head explode, and I was speechless after that. However, my friend was less than concerned and not apologetic in the least.
I tried to let it go and not ruin the night for the other guests but it was hard. This was a grown man in his forties, not an unrepentant teenager. I couldn’t and still can’t believe that 1) he so grossly abused my hospitality and 2) he showed no remorse. It was very clear that he purposely dug deep into the cabinet to find the most expensive stuff I had and killed most of a bottle of it. Unfortunately, this incident caused me to reassess my whiskey policy when people are over at my house. I’m sharing so you can help me feel better about my situation by sharing horror stories of your own. What is the worst abuse of your hospitality that you’ve suffered?
