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Hudson New York Corn Whiskey

This tastes like buttered, salted popcorn and I don’t know if I love it or if it’s too weird for me. I think I might love it.

Whipper Snapper Oregon Spirit Whiskey

Bit malty. Not as strongly so as the Chatoe Rogue or the Balcones but still quite a bit. Unfortunately, it has hints of an aftertaste that make it unsuitable for me in large amounts.

Oban Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 14-year

My grandboss loves this stuff. I liked it alright but it didn’t really grab me. There’s quite a bit going on in there. Smokey and briney but citrussy and oaky. A lot of (to me) dischordant flavors all clamoring for attention. Nowhere near the silky, drop-dead amazingness of the 18y. It mellowed out some with ice and I liked it but I don’t think it’s something I’ll ever own a bottle of. At least not on purpose.

Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch Whisky

How, HOW did I wait so long to try this. It’s rich and mellow and vanilla and smooth and can be had for a reasonable price at Trader Joes. A little looking and I learn that it’s a blend of Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie which tells me that, while I was probably bound to adore it with the Balvenie component, I need to get on the trying of some Glenfiddich and Kininvie scotches.

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Glenrothes 1995 Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Tasty, sweet, sherried (I think?), Has a little sour, sulfury after taste way, way back in the back but it’s not overwhelming and it only really comes out with ice. Great for me neat though.

MacPhail’s Collection Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 8-year

Sweet and smooth and so, so good. Even better with ice for me. It rounded it out. Incredibly smooth for something so (relatively) young. I’d drink that again. A lot.

Tobermory Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 10-year

Smells terrible but tastes amazing. Spicy, like gingerbread spice, not like pepper spice. There’s this odd flat finish where all of the elements just… STOP all at once. Took a bit to get used to.

Widow Jane Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Holy crap. This bourbon out of Brooklyn* is bright and full and lovely and OH. More on the citrus-sweet than the sugar sweet side. There’s really a lot going on in there but it all works well together. It’s so good. It’s also incredibly viscous in the glass without being syrupy in the sip. One of the more visually interesting whiskies I’ve ever had. I looked for a bottle before I left New York and I’m still looking.

Shown here with a Belhaven Wee Heavy (which is amazing and rich without being dense and an excellent bourbon accompaniment) and Sutton** by J.R. Moeringer.

*Currently it’s a Kentucky bourbon, cut to proof and bottled in Brooklyn but word has it they’re working on a way to grow their own corn.

**Historical fiction about a NYC-based bank robber. Between the book, the bar and the Museum of the American Gangster earlier that day, my day had a theme. An accidental theme but a theme.

Balblair 2001 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Incredibly light, crisp, and citrussy plus quite a punch of spice. Somehow, with ice the spice gets even more intense before mellowing out just a touch. Quite good.

Linkwood Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 15-year

Oh now that’s a kick in the tonsils. So spicy I could feel it in my ears but that’s not a criticism. It’s a little salty (it smells super salty, it only tastes a little salty) There’s some nutty praline at the end but only enough to be nutty and interesting, not enough to drive me away with its negative association.

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 12-year

This smells like freshly baked bread and has a nice, unassuming, warm finish to it. In between is sharp spice with a candy coating. I found myself drinking it slower and slower, not wanting it to end. This is one Hell of a ride.

Laphroig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Quarter Cask

I saved this for last the night that I had it since I didn’t want to blow out my palate too early and that was a wise move. By the end of this one it was properly demolished. But…

WOW. It was peaty (very), smokey (some, but not a house fire) but also nutty and oddly… sweet. From my tipsy notes from that evening, “Nose full of peat, mouth full of sweet.” The addition of ice made it smell like plastic but really brought the peat out in all its glory. And it. is. glorious. I surprised myself by relishing every single sip. It’s incredible.

And THIS? This is why I keep trying things that I’m sure I’ll hate. I went into this one done for the night and ready to write up something negative so I went for something I knew was peaty and smokey and completely contrary to everything I know I love and somehow I LOVED it. I can’t explain it but hooboy am I glad that I keep butting my head against that particular wall. If I didn’t I never would’ve found this.

 

Michael Collins Irish Whiskey

I am seriously going to have to reconsider what I think of when I think of Irish whiskey. This was bright and citrussy and the tiniest bit tart. No unpleasant aftertaste at all. More like Powers than Jameson. Very nice.

45/52 -- Needed

We need this rain so very badly. The last time it really poured was over two months ago. (I was out in it.) It’s been misting off and on—I haven’t used an umbrella yet—for the last week or so but it’s barely a teacup’s worth of relief in an ocean of drought.

As if to soothe them into thinking she's one of their own

I come into the living room and she’s surrounded by her Ikea bounty.

Shhhh, she says, I’m a lamp.