Nearly all holidays call for a drink. Take Christmas, July 4th and Arbor Day, for example. But while these drinking occasions may hide behind Jesus, national independence and trees, respectively, one holiday in particular mans up and makes drinking the…
Read MoreAccording to some new research commissioned by Chivas Brothers, nine out of 10 consumers believe that a whisky’s age statement serves as an indicator of quality. But oddly enough, most of these same consumers don’t understand what an age statement…
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Jura Prophecy is one of the newer scotch whisky offerings from the Isle of Jura Distillery and a recent addition to the U.S. market. Jura falls under the Glasgow-based distiller, Whyte and Mackay, which also produces the Dalmore lineup. This…
Read MoreAfter a call with Maker’s Mark President Bill Samuels in February, and receiving a sample in March, today I spoke with Master Distiller Kevin Smith about the new Maker’s Mark bourbon, called Maker’s 46, that will hit store shelves in…
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The Bowmore Distillery is one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, having stood on the shores of Islay since 1779. It is one of the few distilleries that continues to hand turn its own floor malted barley, rather than outsourcing the chore….
Read MoreRecently 30 booze experts tasted 1,024 premium spirits for the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Entries represented 58 countries and six continents. Some winners are noted below. Premium Awards Distillery of the Year – Glenmorangie Distillery Importer of the Year…
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I recently had the opportunity to try the new single malt offering from The Balvenie, one of Scotland’s famed Speyside distilleries. The limited edition 17-year-old Balvenie Madeira Cask was aged in traditional American oak whiskey casks before being transferred to…
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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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