Category: Whiskey

I’m sure when we think of whiskey regions, New York isn’t the first place that comes to mind. But when we were recently in Westchester, NY for our bar takeover, we had the opportunity to work with the folks at Good Shepherd Distillery (a family owned distillery in Mamaroneck) and taste their latest creation: a single malt whiskey that’s 100% New York. And if their product is any indication, we’ve been sleeping on the NY whiskeys.

I was walking through the liquor store attached to a Wal-Mart in Orlando, Florida looking for something to keep me occupied during a week long conference. As I was looking through the smaller bottles on the shelf one caught my eye that I hadn’t seen before, a small batch Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. I was intrigued and brought it back with me for some… additional research.

Probably best known as the favorite spirit of Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman, Lagavulin is one of those Scotch Whiskys that you either love or you hate. A departure from the traditional flavor profile of other local whisky their distinct flavor makes it an interesting specimen.

I thought that I had found the best Nikka had to offer in their Red Label blend. Oh boy, how I was wrong. I was sitting at a bar in Innsbruck, Austria and couldn’t find any of my usual preferences on their menu. So when I saw this Nikka Whisky From The Barrel on their shelf, I figured I would give it a try. One sip and it instantly jumped to the top of my favorites list.

I love Japanese whiskey and Nikka in particular, but I fully admit that I haven’t made my way through their product line. I intend to change that, and today I start with the Nikka Coffey Grain Whiskey.

I’m always looking for new spirits to try, and my local Total Wine has recently started pushing this new Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey. With nothing better to do this weekend I decided to give it a try and see what’s behind the history-rich label.

I’ve never heard of Redemption High Rye Bourbon Whiskey before, but they have been popping up all over the place recently. Even at the trendy bars in downtown Austin, Texas the spirit is on the shelves and ready to be served. So when I saw a bottle on the shelf I decided to give it a spin — I like high rye content whiskies, and this one has a higher rye content than anything else I’ve tried. Could it be the new go-to spirit?

While a scotch whisky snob may prefer Lagavulin or Glenmorangie on a cheaper night, the fact remains that Glenlivet is the #1 most popular scotch whisky in the United States. Almost universally available and consumed in prodigious quantities, but how good actually is it?

While the red label may be the best selling scotch whisky in the world, the black label is their “premium” version and actually bears an age statement unlike the red version. But is there enough of a difference that it makes up for the increased price tag?