BARTENDER JOURNEY WITH BRIAN WEBER - Spirit Tastings

Maker’s Mark Private Select - Exclusive Oak Stave Selection By Bill Samuels Jr.

9/13/2017

-Brian Weber

Creator, producer, editor & host of the Bartender Journey Podcast. Also, professional Bartender.

ABV: 55.45 %

Tasting Notes:

Color:  Amber to Orange
Nose:  Strong alcohol right away. Chestnuts. Stone Fruit - Plums, Fresh Cut Wood, (smells like a beautiful brand new Bar!) Rugged Leather, Fresh Herb or Grass.
Taste:  Toast. Burnt Orange Peel. Peach Pie.
Mouthfeel:  Luscious. Silky. Refined.
Finish:  Strong alcohol. Carmel. Toasted Oak.

Impressions:  Wonderful and sophisticated Bourbon. Adding a little water makes this a delightful drink. Too bad the bottle will run out eventually!

This bottle is Bill Samuels Jr.'s Private Select and is hand signed by him.

Take a listen to my chat with Jane Bowie, Maturation Specialist at Maker's Mark as we discuss Maker's history, the Barrel Select program and Bourbon in General.

Listen with the audio player above, or click here to open in Apple Podcasts.

Johnnie Walker Benders' Batch

5/9/2017

Triple Grain American Oak Blended Scotch Whisky
Aged 10 years in American Oak Casks.
41.3% ABV
Suggested retail price: $29.99/750 ml

It is extremely rare to see the words "Grain Whiskies" on a bottle of Scotch. Also to see the word "Blended" displayed so prominently. Consumers (often blindly), flock to Single Malt Scotch, and automatically assume they are far better quality than Blended Whiskies. Johnnie Walker has, of course built their entire business on Blended Whiskies and produces excellent products. This is a good tasting Whisky at a very reasonably positioned price point. It is somehow interesting to see them embrace the Grain Whisky aspect, as they are not required to put that information on the bottle.

This is the first U.S. release in the new experimental Blenders' Batch series, with limited availability.

The label states "Blender's Notes: Three Grain whiskies using wheat, barley and corn - blended with select Malts.

Color: Amber
Nose: Strong alcohol right away. Slight hint of smoke. Roasted Pineapple. Fresh.
Taste: Sweet at first - candied apple, gives way to cantaloupe, a bit of oak-y mustiness.
Finish: Strong alcohol. Carmel popcorn. Maple syrup.

Impressions: A solid sipping whisky value...maybe with a little ice. Would be good in a fizzy highball on a warm summer day, or an Old Fashioned style cocktail on a cooler day.

Westland American Single Malt Whiskey

2/9/2017

This whiskey is made from 100% malted barley grown in the Pacific Northwest. Pot distilled and matured in a mix of new oak and ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and other barrels.

American Single Malt whiskeys are an interesting category. Produced in the tradition of Single Malt Scotch whiskeys, but with a style & character of its own.

Tasting Notes:
ABV: 46%
Color: Orange/Amber
Nose: Candied Orange Zest, Coco, Grassy Forest Floor, Vegital - Bell Peppers?
Taste: Bright, Alive, Toast, Linseed Oil, Tangerine
Finish: Long and Pleasant Light Charred Wood, Bitter Lemon, Fresh Bing Cherry
Summary: Delicious whiskey! Complex, yet easy to drink. Wonderful neat or with a few drops of cold water. No doubt would make a great Rob Roy

Catoctiin Creek Roundstone Rye

1/7/2017

Produced in Virginia in copper pot stills. Family owned. 100% Rye. Singel Barrel.

ABV: 40% by volume
Color: Amber/Orange
Nose: Toasted Bread, Earthy, Citrus Oil, Coffee, Eucalyptus
Taste: Bready, Oak & Cedar, Dark Cherry, Black Pepper, Cooked Aproicot
Finish: Long, pleasant burn, Aproicot again on the finish.

Delightful - neat, on the rocks or in a Manhattan.

Heritage Distilling Co's Elk Rider Crisp Gin

11/17/2016

Produced and Bottled in Gig Harbor, WA, based on a spirit recipe first distilled in Tennessee, but adapted and cut with local water in Washington State.
A Maryland style Rye Handmade and Bottled in by New England Distilling in Portland, Maine.

ABV: 47% by volume
Color: Clear
Nose: Clean, Citrus/lime, Fragrant/perfume/lavender
Taste: Fruity/Tangerine, Bubble gum, Green pepper
Finish: Long gives way to green apple.
Very approachable for the non gin drinker. Not especially complex. Hot on the palate. Would make a tasty gin and tonic - seems to have the lime already built in.

Gunpowder Rye Whiskey

11/2/2016

Gunpowder Rye Whiskey - Batch 34
A Maryland style Rye Handmade and Bottled in by New England Distilling in Portland, Maine.

ABV: 43.5% by volume
Color: Beautiful Golden Amber
Nose: Rye, Carmel Apples, Lavender, Toast
Taste: Rye is apparent but not overwhelming. Green Apple. Brown Sugar. Vanilla.
Finish: Long and pleasant. Rye gives way to dried fruits - apricot and apple.
Very well balanced. Slight sweetness which balances wonderfully with the grain and fruit notes. Wonderful neat, or over one large ice cube. Great in an Old Pal cocktail. The care and craft that goes into this whiskey is apparent in the glass.

Heritage Distilling

4/25/2016

Elk Rider Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 46% by volume
Color: Light Amber/Carmel
Nose: Toasted Corn - Popcorn? Burnt Sugar. Dried Orange Peel. Walnut.
Taste: Grains - Corn, Rye. Kerosene. Pipe Tobacco. Carmel.
Sweet Corn quickly gives way to Carmel and Chocolate.
Solid Choice for an Old Fashioned.

Heritage Distilling

4/6/2016

Elk Rider Crisp Gin

ABV: 47% by volume
Color: Clear with slight green hue.
Nose: Grassy, Forest, Fresh, Pungent Alcohol
Taste: Citrus - lime & orange, Coriander, Saline, Fresh. Very pleasant.
Great fresh flavors. Citrus really comes through. I think this would a great way to introduce vodka drinkers to a quality gin. Would make a great Tom Collins or other tall & sparkling drink.

St. George Gins

3/17/2016

A craft distillery making spirits since 1982 in Alameda, California, St. George's philosophy is "We don’t release a spirit unless we have something new and valid to contribute to the conversation". These Gins are unique indeed. We can't think of another producer that produces three distinct styles of gin, (discounting barrel aged gins).

St. George Terroir Gin

ABV: 45% by volume
Color: Crystal Clear. Looks to have a lot of viscosity in the glass
Nose: Pine, Candied Orange Peel, Fresh, Herbaceous – Rosemary
Taste: Mossy Morning Forest, Rosemary
Fresh and delicious. Great for Gin & Tonic.

St. George Botanivore Gin

ABV: 45% by volume
Color: Clear. Light viscosity
Menthol, Dried Apricot, Floral – Honeysuckle, Citrus - Grapefruit
Taste: Slightly Sweet for a Gin which balances it nicely with the 45% ABV. Honey flavors, Floral – Tulip? Lavender?
Very pleasant Spring flavors. A good “sipping gin”! Would make an amazing Martini.

St. George Dry Rye Gin

ABV: 45% by volume
Color: Clear. Light viscosity
Nose: Rye! Medicinal. Orange oils. Anise. Caraway seed.
Taste: Rye. Candied Orange. Toast.
Reminiscent a White Whiskey. Would make a great Negroni.

Westward Single Barrel Oregon Straight Malt Whiskey

1/7/2016

This whiskey is made from 100% malted barley grown in the Pacific Northwest. Double pot distilled and matured in new, lightly charred American oak barrels.

American Single Malt whiskeys are an interesting category. Made in the tradition of Single Malt Scotch whiskeys, but with a style of its own.

Tasting Notes:

ABV: 45%
Color: Orange/Amber
Nose: Malty, citrus-grapefruit, wood-cigar box
Taste: Creamy-linseed, vanilla, tropical fruit, toasted marshmellow
Finish: Medium-long and pleasant Orange peel. Oak.
Summary: Awesome whiskey! A contender for the "desert island" whiskey list!