Nikka Coming Stateside

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Richard's Blog

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!

Drink wisely my friends,
Richard

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Rittenhouse Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

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

Overall Rating: Average

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Evan Williams

/ / Bourbon, Review /

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

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10 Days Left!

/ / Richard's Blog

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!

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Crown Royal Reserve

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

As Matt mentioned earlier, he’s taking a few weeks off to move and likely set up his lavish whiskey den. That means that you poor souls are stuck with just me for a while. I’ll be doing solo reviews (which Matt will pile onto when he get’s the chance) and posting my various whiskey related ramblings. First up on my solo sojourn is a review of Crown’s next tier of whisky (which I didn’t hate).

Crown Royal Reserve Blended Canadian Whisky
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40 – $45
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:
This special gift from our Master Blender is flush with sharp, nutty top-notes of rye and is anchored in the cornerstone of all Crown Royal blends, which have a rich, smooth batch base. Andrew MacKay personally selects each whisky in the blend to create this masterpiece.
Color: Rich, golden amber
Nose: Rich and complex, with a slight apple flavor and floral tones
Body: Full and perfectly balance
Palate: Velvety smooth and mellow, with defined oak tones and rich, spicy flavors of cinnamon and vanilla

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose is very similar to the standard expression of Crown Royal but with more fruit and less nuttiness. This is more brandied and caramelized than the typical fruit found on the nose of whiskeys.
Palate: This is a much more mellow palate than standard Crown Royal. It’s like Crown’s answer to Gentleman Jack. The palate has less flavor than the entry expression but that’s actually a good thing. It definitely smoothes out the rough edges.
Finish: Again much more mellow. The flavors all quickly fade to oak. It’s a very heavy oak. It’s kind of like licking cords of wood.
Comments: This kind of restored some of my faith in Crown Royal. I’m still probably not going to keep a bottle of this at home but I wouldn’t avoid it either. If you’re a fan of Canadian whisky then definitely give it a try.
Rating: Average

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