WS#13: All About the Benjamins

 

Having spent only a fraction of the dollars we had pooled for two tastings on the first, cheap and cheerful one (All About the Tubmans), it was time to splash the remaining cash on a premium session. Ellen and Reid provided us tastes of some of the finest (and certainly dearest) spirits we'd ever tried.

1. Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye
132 proof. No age statement (5+ years in American White Oak). Calgary, Canada. 100% rye. $70+. Named “World Whisky of the Year” by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2021.

2. Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered Straight Bourbon Whiskey
113.20 proof. No age statement. From Nevada H&C Distilling, Las Vegas, Nevada. Mash bill: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley. $99 local price. Based on the proof, our bottle is likely to be from Batch 15 - September 2, 2020.

3. Barrell Bourbon Cask Strength Batch 024
113.9 proof. Blended from high-rye bourbons ranging in age from 9 to 15 years old. Distilled in Tennessee, Indiana and Kentucky, and bottled in Kentucky. Mash bill: 51%+ corn. $80.

4. Widow Jane the Vaults Straight Bourbon Whiskey
99 proof. A blend of 14 year old and older straight bourbon whiskeys. Finished in American Oak casks coopered with 8 year old air seasoned wood (instead of standard 1-2 years). Widow Jane is based in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York. $250 ($200 MSRP).

WS#12: All About the Tubmans

What if we pooled our funds for two tastings but spent only a tiny amount on the first one, saving the bulk of our bucks for a premium part-two?

WS#12 was the first, (very) cheap tasting, named 'All About the Tubmans' because, some day soon, abolitionist Harriet Tubman will finally grace the $20 bill, and $20 is more than enough to procure you one of these bottles. Thanks to Ellen and Reid for the cunning plan.

Check out WS#13: All About the Benjamins RIGHT HERE.

1. J. J. Renfield & Sons Canadian Premium Reserve Whisky
80 proof. 8 years. Canada. 100% Rye. $20. Appears to be a buyers own brand (whisky is sourced from unknown distilleries) as there is no evidence of a distillery with this name.

2. Kilbrin Irish Whiskey
80 proof. No age statement. Ireland. Triple distilled 100% malted and unmalted barley. $17. Appears to be a buyers own brand.

3. Quarter Horse Kentucky Rye Whiskey
90 proof. No age statement. North Charleston, South Carolina. $25. Appears to be a buyers own brand.

4. Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Black Label)
86 proof. No age statement (at least two years' old). Kentucky. $12. Mash bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% barley.
https://evanwilliams.com/ew-blacklabel

5. McAfee's Benchmark Old No. 8 Brand Kentucky Straight Bourbon
80 proof. 3+ years. Made by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. $8.49. Mash bill: 51%+ corn, low rye.
www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/benchmark.html

WS#11: Whiskey Squade Goes Hollywood

 

Whiskey Squade went to Hollywood, tasting tipples that have appeared on the silver (or small) screen, whether through happy accident or pricey product placement. Our host Jon managed to find and play us clips of these celebrity whisky cameos as they appeared in various shows and movies. By Zoom standards it was a glamorous evening.

1. Suntory Whisky Toki (Lost in Translation)*
86 proof. No Age Statement. Japan. $40.
A malt and grain blend from Suntory's three distilleries (Hakushu, Chita, Yamazaki).
For relaxing times, make it Suntory time
https://whisky.suntory.com/en/na/products/toki

2. J&B Scotch Whisky (The Thing)
80 proof. No Age Statement. Scotland. $20
A combination of 42 Scotch single malts and grains, with a generous portion of Speyside whisky.
www.jbscotch.com

3. Dimple Pinch Blended Scotch (Breaking Bad)
80 proof. 15 years. Scotland. $35
A blended Scotch aged in used Kentucky bourbon casks.
www.haigwhisky.com/haig-pinch-scotch-whisky

4. Cutty Sark (Green Book)
86 proof. No Age Statement. Scotland. $20
A blend of Glenrothes Scotch and others, rested together for six months to allow flavors to meld. 
www.cutty-sark.com

5. Old Forester Statesman Bourbon (Kingsman: The Golden Circle)*
95 proof. No Age Statement. Kentucky. $55
Straight bourbon. 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley. 
www.oldforester.com/products/old-forester-statesman-bourbon

6. Johnnie Walker Black Label (Blade Runner)
80 proof. 12 years. Scotland. $35
A blend of Scotch whisky from Speyside, Highlands, Islay and Lowlands.
Website

*Popular picks

WS#10: Scotche Squade


Aly and her Scotch-loving dad hosted a virtual tour of some sensational spirits from the highlands and islands of Scotland. The tasting converted some Scotch-skeptics and gave everyone a chance to hone their Gaelic (work in progress).

1. Craigellachie
92 proof. 13 years. Speyside. $49.99
One of the few distilleries still using the worm tubs process.

2. Ardbeg
92 proof. 10 years. Islay. $57.99
The scotch-iest of our selections this evening.

3. Glenmorangie
86 proof. 12 years. Highlands. $59.99
Boasts the tallest stills in Scotland.

4. Chivas Regal
80 proof. 12 years. Speyside. $49.99
The Prince of whiskies, aka Keith. Blended.
www.chivas.com/en-US

5. Aberlour
80 proof. 12 years. Speyside. $63.99
Made of local spring water and locally sourced barley.
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