Rye whiskey is back, and in a big way. The recently released 2010 edition of the Whisky Bible, the prominent whiskey book by Jim Murray, has named Kentucky’s 18-year-old Sazerac Rye as the finest whiskey on the market. It edged…
Read MoreRecently I mentioned the wine and spirits auction at Christie’s, which included the prized Bowmore Trilogy and other rare whiskies. The results are in, and the buyers of these fine spirits have racked up quite a bar tab. The Bowmore…
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The Auchentoshan Distillery was founded in 1800 and is located just north of Glascow, Scotland. It is one of only three active distilleries that remains in the Lowlands region, with Bladnoch and Glenkinchie being the others. Auchentoshan features a line…
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In October Japan’s Suntory Limited launched its Hibiki 12-year-old whisky in the United States. This is good news for U.S. drinkers. Hibiki 12 Year is a blend of more than 30 handcrafted malt whiskies from the Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries. …
Read MoreOn rare occasions Christie’s auction house does something that makes me pay attention, like hock pricey bottles of hooch. On November 14, Christie’s will auction off upwards of $2 million worth of wines and spirits, including select bottles of whiskey,…
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Last night I tried Crown Royal Cask No. 16 for the first time. Admittedly, I was a bit hesitant, as I’m no fan of Crown Royal. Sure it comes wrapped in purple velvet that feels great against my beard, but you…
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This month Japan’s Suntory Limited introduced its HIBIKI 12 Year Old Whisky to the United States market. HIBIKI Japanese Whisky was first seen by many Americans in the film Lost In Translation, in which actor Bill Murray touted the brand for…
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The Manhattan, a classic cocktail and a favorite among serious drinkers, is a great way to pass the time. Traditionally composed of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and Angostura bitters, the Manhattan is a perfect drink to enjoy on a cool…
Read MoreThe word “scofflaw” applies to one who flouts the law. During the dark days of Prohibition, this term was a popular one, thrown at those brave, thirsty souls forced into hidden speakeasies by their own government. With a disapproving nod…
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Created by Jim Beam descendant and late Beam master distiller Booker Noe, Booker’s is part elegant bourbon and part fire whiskey. Wanting to bring bourbon back to the way it was crafted around the turn of the century (that’s the…
Read MoreThe Blinker dates back to the 1930s and was traditionally composed of rye, grapefruit juice and grenadine. After hiding in obscurity for decades, the Blinker has seen a resurgence of late due to its inclusion in Ted Haigh’s Vintage Spirits…
Read MoreA classic but oft-forgotten cocktail, the Rusty Nail is a smooth, scotch-based drink that’s much tamer than its name suggests. By adding Drambuie—a honey- and herb-flavored scotch liqueur—to scotch, you are able to cut some of the biting peat flavor…
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The Vieux Carré was born sometime prior to 1937 in New Orleans at what would later become the Carousel Bar at the Monteleone Hotel. According to Ted Haigh’s Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, the cocktail was named for the old…
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The Seelbach is a pre-prohibition cocktail that originated at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, KY. Lost to drinkers for nearly 80 years, the recipe was rediscovered in 1995. The drink is simple to make but fairly complex in flavor, with…
Read MoreWith the Kentucky Bourbon Festival two days behind me, my blood alcohol level is finally fighting its way back to legal levels of sobriety. And while I may abstain from bourbon flights and bourbon pancakes for a few days, I…
Read MoreDay three of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival began with what’s become a common theme in these parts – bourbon for breakfast. After a great trip to Maker’s Mark yesterday, on Friday morning my group headed to the Jim Beam Distillery….
Read MoreDay two at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival started with a trip to the Maker’s Mark distillery in Loretto, KY. Maker’s Mark Master Distiller Kevin Smith, our tour guide for the day, took us around the distillery grounds while articulating the…
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It’s official. I love Kentucky. In the six hours since my plane landed in Louisville I’ve become a Kentucky convert. An ambassador of southern hospitality and easy living. After making my way to Bardstown, KY, my home base for the…
Read MoreI recently had the opportunity to taste four bottles of The Dalmore, a collection of single malt scotches distilled in Alness, Scotland since 1841. Somehow eluding me over the years, my first experience with The Dalmore was long overdue. The…
Read MoreA little slice of America, in a rocks glass. American Pie Cocktail 2 ounces whiskey 2 ounces apple liqueur 4 ounces cranberry juice Shake whiskey, apple liqueur and cranberry juice with ice. Pour mixture into a rock glass.
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