Today is a special day. Why? There are three reasons why.
First, we are celebrating an anniversary. Yesterday marked one year since the first Whisk(e)y Apostle post. Matt and I conceived of Whisk(e)y Apostle long before then but it was January 24, 2009 when we finally got off our collective butts and did something.
Second, tonight is Burns Night. In case you’re stumped, it celebrates the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. Haggis will be eaten, whisky will be consumed, and a good time will be had by all.
And last but not least, we drew the winner of the bartending set give away. All our registered users as of 8:00 AM this morning were assigned a number and the winner was chosen at random. The winner and runner up were contacted today.
Big news on the Japanese whisky front. An article in the Wall Street Journal concerning whisky from the land of the rising sun had this little scoop for us…Nikka is coming to the U.S. in 2010! As our regular readers know, I’m completely infatuated with Japanese whisky and Matt’s taken quite a shine to it too. Current distribution includes Yamazaki 12, 18, and vintage 1984 along with the Hibiki 12 year old blend. All these come from Suntory. With Nikka coming in our fortunes continue to improve. No details yet on the timetable, lineup or pricing. Stay tuned for more!
Rittenhouse Famous Straight Rye Whisky 40% ABV/80 Proof $15 to $20 Widely Available What the Distillery Says:
Produced in the tradition of the classic Pennsylvania or Monongahela rye whiskies, Rittenhouse is a much acclaimed rye now enjoying a renaissance in the major metro markets of the country. Rittenhouse is a tribute to the classic rye whiskies that were once the preeminent American whiskey style, kept alive through the many lean years by Heaven Hill and two other Kentucky distilleries.
What Richard Says: Nose: Spicy and oily with hints of tobacco hide under the surface. Palate: Sweeter than expected at first and then the sweetness continues to dance around the edges of the palate. The middle palate is oak with mild spice. Finish: Smooth. Most likely from the low alcohol content rather than the character of the whiskey. The aftertaste is chewy with kind of a bitterness that isn’t unpleasant. It leaves you rubbing your tongue on the side of your mouth. Comments: This particular whiskey comes in two expressions, the standard reviewed here and the bottled in bond version. It is almost universally accepted that the BIB version is superior. I don’t disagree but don’t dismiss the standard bottling out right. It’s a solid rye that can go down straight but makes excellent cocktails. Rating: Average
What Matt Says: Nose: Cloves, orange zest and pipe tobacco (a rich, sweet blend). Palate: That pipe tobacco is right there, along with some oak, anise and clove. Finish: Smooth. The bitterness Richard alludes to reminds me of when pipe tobacco gets too moist and some of the juices back up into the stem (sharp and sweet). However, what I get most is a minty taste and a menthol-like numbness that I associate with menthol or clove cigarettes. Comments: Like Richard, I believe this one really shines at 100 proof. The 80 proof version represented here is quite tasty and a good introduction into the world of rye whiskey, but the extra water really cuts out some of the complexity. If you are looking for a gateway rye or a great mixer for old time cocktails, look no further. Rating: Average
Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 43% ABV/86 Proof $10 to $15 Widely Available
This is interesting because it’s the first time we’ve actually been asked by one of our registered user to review a whiskey. “cwilson” in Atlanta wanted our thoughts on Evan Williams. I know Matt doesn’t have a bottle of this handy so I’m taking a moment during my brief dictatorial reign while he’s on sabbatical to post about EW so here goes…
What the Distillery Says: Evan Williams, the second largest selling brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in the U.S., is named for Kentucky’s first distiller of 1783. As the flagship brand of Heaven Hill’s Bourbon portfolio, Evan Williams’ extra aging gives it a richer, smoother Bourbon taste than the competition.
What Richard Says: Nose: Charred oak, honey, citrus, and the slightest hints of tobacco. Palate: Very creamy on the mouth. The palate doesn’t stand up to the promise of the nose. There is a light sweetness and mellow oak without many other pronounced flavors except a hint of licorice. It’s easy to drink but there’s not much there to make you want another. Finish: The finish starts mildly peppery and then settles into a well worn oak. Not offensive but not stunning. Comments: First let me give props to Heaven Hill for continuing to bottle EW at 86 proof when so many others like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam have gone to 80 proof. Kudos boys! I was surprised how easy EW was to drink. It’s not all that flavorful but it goes down well. Rating: Average
As a reminder to all our readers, there are only 10 days left to register to win the cocktail/bartending set we’re we’re giving away! Register right over here.
Don’t worry, we don’t give you email addresses out or use them for un-whiskey-related nefarious purposes. Hurry up and register while there’s still time!
