Other Whisk(e)ys

High West Campfire Whiskey
Batch No. 6, Bottle No. 2576
46% ABV
$65
Website

What the Blender Says:
How to Enjoy:
Neat, on ice or even great in cocktails.

The Name:
One morning at the Bruichladdich distillery B&B, my wife and I smelled peat in the air – the great ladies that made our meals were simmering a bottle of peated whiskey and sugar! Later that night, they brought out dessert of ripe honeydew drizzled with the peated syrup. That was the most unusual, delicious and memorable ending to a dinner I’ve ever had. The combination of melon and sweet smoke really worked – so (naturally…) I thought why not mix sweet bourbon and peat? The main flavor (or melody) is sweet honey from a ripe bourbon. The enhancing flavor (or harmony) is floral fruity spice from a mature rye whiskey. The accent (Satchmo’s gravelly voice!) is smoke from a peated scotch whisky. The proportions? Top secret.

Back Label Story:
I was going to write something cheesy about cowboys, campfires, and whiskey but I figured you might be more interested in how CAMPFIRE WHISKEY® came to be. One morning at the Bruichladdich distillery B&B, my wife and I smelled peat in the air – the great ladies that made our meals were simmering a bottle of peated whiskey and sugar! Later that night, they brought out dessert of ripe honeydew drizzled with the peated syrup. That was the most unusual, delicious and memorable ending to a dinner I’ve ever had. The combination of melon and sweet smoke really worked – so (naturally…) I thought why not mix sweet bourbon and peat? Worked for me! The main flavor (or melody) is sweet honey from a ripe bourbon. The enhancing flavor (or harmony) is floral fruity spice from a mature rye whiskey. The accent (Satchmo’s gravelly voice!) is the smoke from a peated scotch whisky. The proportions? Top secret. So…as the sun sinks low and the cold settles in, grab a bottle of CAMPFIRE WHISKEY and gather round a blazing fire to warm up, wind down your day, share stories, and deepen friendships. One taste of this sweet, spicy and, yes…smoky whiskey, you’ll know how it got its name. We like to enjoy CAMPFIRE WHISKEY® with s’mores…or good-looking strangers. If you find yourself in Old Town Park City, you ought to come visit the High West Distillery and Saloon and get a taste of our Western hospitality and our crowd-pleasing victuals.

David Perkins

Technical Details

Sweet: A straight bourbon whiskey from:
•75 percent corn
•21 percent rye
•4 percent barley malt (Source: from the old Seagrams plant, then called LDI now MGP)

Spicy and floral: A straight rye whiskey from:
•95 percent rye
•5 percent barley malt (Source: from the old Seagrams plant, then called LDI now MGP)

Smoky: A blended malt Scotch whiskey: made of 100-percent barley malt that has been peated (Source: We can’t say, but we can say it is not from Islay!)
•Age of the whiskies: all are 5 years or older
•Proportions of the component whiskies? Top secret!

Sensory Notes:

Nose: Floral, fruity, bright and spicy. Caramel and butterscotch. Light smoke and smoldering wood from a campfire the morning after. Jasmine, chai tea, sandalwood, leather, tobacco, pine resin and toasted bread.

Taste: vanilla, honey, toffee with some nice fruit, blueberries and black cherries. Chai spices – nutmeg, cinnamon and orange zest. Salty caramels. Tobacco. Gentle smoke!

Finish – Long, sweet, spicy, and smoky!

What Richard Says:
Nose: The rye jumps out on the nose with a light handed smoky back note that wisps in.
Palate: Rich vanilla cream, toffee crisp, black tea, wintermints, cracked black pepper and cinnamon dolce lattes.
Finish: Black pepper and slightly medicinal. Fading notes of oiled leather and old tobacco.
Comments: When I first read about this frankenwhiskey I thought it would be some experimental thing that would really suck. Tasting it I find it very interesting, pleasant and highly drinkable. It’s definitely a mood kind of whiskey but tasty and well put together.
Rating: Stands Out

Canadian Club Chairman’s Select 100% Rye Canadian Whisky
40% ABV
$25 to $27
Website

What the Distillery Says:
This premium Canadian whisky is crafted 100% from single grain rye. Aged to perfection, it’s the purest expression of rye whisky, with more complexity, character and spiciness than other Canadian whiskies. It has the smooth taste you expect from Canadian Club® – making it the perfect choice for special occasions. Like Tuesdays.
Description: Complex, full and spicy
COLOR: Antique gold
AROMA: Balanced with toasted grains, gentle wood notes and a tantalizing hint of sweet vanilla
TASTE: Complex balance of rye spiciness, caramel and oak notes, warm and creamy
FINISH: Long clean finish with hints of clove, oak and vanilla

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet rye, malted caramel crème candy, tapioca pudding
Palate: Soft sweetness up front, with a subtle peppery note in the mid-palate; dried fruit throughout
Finish: Moderate, honeyed with a soft landing
Comments: This label was available in Canada, and unfortunately not distributed in the United States. Fans of American straight rye may find this softer by comparison; while I recognize the rye character, it isn’t as sharp or peppery as its southern cousins. For the money, an interesting whiskey – and one I’d recommend to fans of rye if only to expand their horizons.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: A softer, more floral rye with mint notes rounded out by honeysuckle and orange blossom honey. Let it open more and I get notes of clove and allspice.
Palate: This drinks much lighter than a “typical” (read American) rye. You get hints of herbal minty sweetness and a peppery back end but nothing like one of the ryes produced by bourbon distilleries. If it didn’t say 100% rye on the label I would swear it is a Canadian blend.
Finish: More pepper lingering on the edges of the tongue and then fading to a softer vanilla note.
Comments: If you haven’t heard me say it before I’ll whisper a secret to you: the Canadians keep the best of their whisky for themselves. This is just another example of a quality affordable rye that they don’t export. It’s not rye in the American sense in terms of profile but it is very easy to drink and thoroughly enjoyable all the same.
Rating: Stands Out

George Dickel Hand Selected Barrel – 9 yr (Dickel Distillery Bottling)
Barrel No. 03J30D20-4-19
51.5% ABV
$100
Website

What the Distillery Says:
George A. Dickel & Co. is very proud to offer you this special hand selected, handcrafted Tennessee whisky. We have carefully chosen a limited number of barrels to be sold one at a time to only our most discerning loyal customers. These barrels hold our most precious, mellow George Dickel whisky at peak periods of maturation. We invite you to enjoy & savor this truly one-of-a-kind whiskey.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Corn, oak, caramel crème
Palate: Sweet corn, creamy mouthfeel balanced nicely with oak and a bit of cinnamon spice
Finish: Moderate, drying a bit sharply
Comments: Of the three Dickel Tennessee whiskeys, this was hands-down my favorite. Still reminds me of corn whiskey more than bourbon, but the additional age gives it more depth and balance. While I like this the best, it doesn’t hit me for the price they ask – let alone the price some folks apparently pay at the distillery gift shop – not to name any names. However, if you are a fan of Dickel 8 or 12, you might find it is worth the price.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: After nine years it is starting to smell more bourbony with more vanilla and oak but the corn still dominates.
Palate: The proof helps the palate a lot. It’s a more viscous mouthfeel with a creamy sweetness like corn pudding. The oak and vanilla carry through from the nose nicely.
Finish: Dry wood with hints of black pepper and cinnamon.
Comments: This is a pretty good pour. I can’t recommend you buy it because from the distillery it’s $100 before tax and that’s just ridiculous. The hand selected barrels available at retailers are more in the realm of $45 and for that I would pick one up. The funny thing with these Dickels is that no matter how old they are they are still very corn forward. Much more so that other high corn mash whiskeys. I wonder if the filtration processes their whiskeys go through can’t strip out some of the “impurities” and oils from the corn as well as the rye, and barley.
Rating: Stands Out