Maker's Mark

As I ventured to explore whisky tasting, I set my mind to Scotch, having known I liked Scotch whisky over Bourbon or Tennessee whisky. However, a work colleague recommended I try some whiskys from the Kentucky Bourbon trail. I caved and began the Kentucky Bourbon tasting with a bottle of Makers Mark.

Distinct Red Wax Seal

Like many things, limited should be better, and Maker's Mark is a small-batch bourbon whisky with a uniqueness. Each bottle is handle labeled and has a distinct wax dripped seal, making it the finger print of each bottle. It is aged on average for 6 years, between 5 ¾ and 6 ½ .

What makes a Bourbon is the popularity of rye. When Scotland and Ireland was distilling whiskys, barley was hard to come by in America, so rye or sometimes wheat was used to make American whisky. Bourbon whisky is known for mashing 51% of corn, and the other 49% blends of rye, malted barley or wheat. Maker's Mark is not made from a rye mash, but uses a red wheat, giving it a beautiful touch of red in the amber looking drink.

Tulip glass and a dram of Maker's Mark

I poured a dram in my new whisky tulip glass and at first glance, great color and thick consistency. You can see the thick liquid drain back down in the glass ever so slow thinking this will be smooth. As always, I served it neat, and I put my nose to the glass. Maker's Mark has a lot of spicy nodes and fragrant cinnamon and vanilla characteristics. There is sweetness aroma in the background, not as overpowering as the spice, but some syrup like quality.

At first mouth-full, there was a bitter feel, not what I expected, and not something I enjoyed. I allowed the drink to sit and air a while longer and I took a taste. As expected, a bit spicy, but I had a love hate relationship with it going down. Every flavor mixed in my inner mouth, sweet syrup, spicy cinnamon, vanilla and a touch of wood. Now comes the truth, do I give this a “Bottom's Up” or not? It's Bourbon whisky, you should have a Bourbon in your house simply when friends or family come over and Bourbon is their poison, then yes, you should have Maker's Mark. Do I recommend you run out and buy one immediately? It can wait.

Glenfiddich 18 yo

I forgot to take a picture of the bottle unopened like the others. But is was just gone after opening. So this empty bottle is all you get :p.

Also ignore the empty bottle of Guinness. It is not being reviewed lol.

Nose: the vanilla is more pronounced in this year but the vanilla is not a sweet vanilla, it's more of an essence of the flavor. Figs come out and other dried fruits.

Taste: a little more dry than the others but not to the point of bitterness just less sweet then the other years. A really tasty smokey peat comes out right away and some hints of sweet citrus(like oranges or something.) The vanilla comes through and signals the start of the development. Figs and dried fruits come out as well as a kind of a sweet grass taste. Mellows out with the smokey peat again with a sherry cask oaky flavor and lingers on your tongue.

I didn't get a chance to add water to it because I was enjoying it too much as it. If you use this to mix with anything, I will find you and slap you!! Then take you bottle and drink it right. I'll leave you a shitty low shelf bourbon whisky for you to mix all you want. If you can't enjoy this for what it is, you don't deserve it.

Would recommend I friends and family! If you love your dad, show it to him by getting him this.
Bottoms up!

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Last week, I celebrated my birthday and decided to order a pour of Irish Whiskey. Now, before we go any further, I'm no expert, but I do know this: Irish Whiskey wanted to differentiate itself from Scotch by distilling their whiskey three times, rather than two like most Scottish whiskies. Furthermore, to distinct themselves from Scotch, they added an "E" to the word "Whiskey". Lastly of course, Irish Whiskey is produced in Ireland distilleries. One of the oldest of the whiskey distilleries in Ireland was Bow Street Distillery  owned by Scottish businessman, John Jameson.

Jameson makes a very popular malt and I so happened to taste the Jameson Original. First off, I was hoping to be served in a tulip glass, seeing that it was my birthday and it should be the way whiskey should be poured. I was served in this glass. Nonetheless, I proceeded to smell the aroma.

Jameson has a hint of vanilla, citrus and soft nodes of flowers, as if there was a garden of flowers growing with the fresh Irish "green" barely were fresh. I was very pleased with the consistency in the drink, it was a thick liquid and could already imagine that consistency was going to go smooth. When I took the mouth-feel  it was as I expected, thick consistency and could taste the smokey woods, sweet fruit and no bitterness. This whiskey had a smooth, buttery consistency finish.

I've only been blogging about the whiskey I taste for a short while, but I've had several whiskies I've tasted that I had not written about. I tell you this much, Jameson is my first "Bottoms Up" and I do recommend taking a bottle home and enjoy it with family or friends.

Whisky joke

A man asked his bartender for an 18 year old dram of whiskey. The bartender turns around and pours a dram of an 8yo whisky. 

The man takes a drink and says "what the hell is this?! I asked for 18yo whisky. This is an 8yo whisky" 

Slightly impressed, the bartender turns around and poured a dram of 12yo whisky, thinking maybe he won't notice. Much like the last dram he takes a drink and says "Hey man, this is 12yo whisky. I wasn't born yesterday. I'm going to ask you one more time for a dram of 18yo whisky." Now very impressed he turns around and pours the man what he asked for, apologizes to him and advises him that it is on the house.

A homeless dude sees this entire exchange and says "Hey man! Teik a drink a thiz." And slings him a glass. The man takes a drink and spits is out violently. The homeless guy asks "Do you no what dat iz?" The man screams "THIS IS PISS!!!"

The homeless guy asks "Can you tell me how old I am?"

Glenfiddich 12yo Single Malt

So after doing some more research I have found that professional whisky drinkers recommend Glenfiddich as a first time whisky for anyone wanting to really start appreciating whisky. So it seems that I made a good decision in choosing Glenfiddich and it shows in the quality of the product and the taste. Now then, let's get on with it shall we?

Nose: Straight away I got the smell of sweet ripened pears. Followed by a very subtle hint of vanilla. Like the 15yo, the sherry notes were very pronounced.

Taste: There was a light intensity, but the arrival of the sweet pear and dried apple flavors rolled nicely on the tongue. Develops well. I get a beautiful brandy note coming through. Some spices and  dried fruits marched out hand and hand, followed by a light toffee flavor. At the end of the development, oak and smokey peat stays with you like a loyal friend. Mellows out to a smooth finish.

Added a little drop of water and let it sit for 5 minutes to open up. Super mellow, smokey, light, toffee, ripe pear and dry apples at the finish.

This is a very nice whisky. Would not mix with anything and would recommend to my friends and family.
Bottoms up!

That said; Not to take anything away from Glenfiddich 12yo...but if you have the extra $8, I would heavily recommend getting the 15yo Solera reserve. It is a smoother whisky by comparison and a richer pallet of flavors, in this bloggers completely unprofessional opinion.

Chivas Regal 12

I will have to be honest; my first experience with Scotch was with Chivas Regal. Not knowing any better at the time, I drank it like my father would… ice and club soda. This week, I reintroduced my taste buds to a treat, and drank the 12 year old whisky neat.

Chivas Regal was distilled at Strathisla Distillery, owned by the Chivas Brothers in Speyside, Scotland. Now owned by a French Company, it is still distilled in one of the oldest distilleries in the Highlands. I took out the 12 year old whisky, bottled in a nice round 1 liter flask and poured me a dram.

Chivas is a blend of other whiskies, including Strathisla Single Malt. At first sight, the light gold colored drink also had a light consistency. The aromas from my glass where bitter sweet, very little sweet and over powering bitter nodes. At first taste, I held the drink in my mouth and can taste as if there was charred wood, perhaps from the peat fire drying process, or reused cask. The over powering bitterness aroma was not as present in the taste, but a fair balance of bitterness and sweet fruit. The mouthfeel had a buttery consistency, but it wasn't as smooth at the finish.

I don't feel like I would buy another bottle of Chivas Regal, I was a little disappointed and would not recommend to family or friends. Don't let me hold you back, feel free to try it next time you're are a bar and taste for yourself. 

Glenfiddich 15yo Solera reserve

I've been wanting to sample this whisky since I read about it a few days ago, but didn't think I could afford the $50 price tag (with my car in the shop and all.) As luck would have it, my local spirits and wine store had a sample pack of all three years for $15.99!! Oh yeah, you bet your sweet ass I got it!!

This is Gini from the Barrel House in El Paso Texas. She kicks ass and I only get my booze from her. Here is what I thought of the Glenfiddich 15yo. 

Nose: I got a hint of raisins at first. Then the smell of sherry comes through. It also has a light, smokey smell.
Taste: It starts right away with the sherry flavor and was surprisingly smooth. It begins to develop with a classy swagger. I got that taste of raisins I smelled, as well as dried fruits, followed by a smokey and woodsy flavor. Nothing about this was bitter nor overly sweet. It lingers for a while and smooths out nicely.
Adding a drop of water made it develop too fast and I didn't get to enjoy the flavors. But it did mellow out the alcohol without too much sacrifice. Mixing this with a soft drink, or anything for that matter, would be a shame and a waste of your money. Use something cheap and low shelf like Jack Daniels old no7 for that.
I would not recommend drinking cold or with ice, room temp is best or you will kill the aromatic flavors. I let it sit for 5 minutes so that it got the chance to open up.

I would most definitely pay $50 for a bottle, time and time again. I would recommend to my friends and family.
Bottoms up!!