Whiskey
January 4, 2012
How 1940s Whiskey Ads Predicted the Future
The time - the mid-1940s. The place - somewhere in Canada. The action - commercial prognostication. The folks over at Technologizer found a cool old set of Seagram's ads where they attempted to predict the future of technology, with some interesting results.
Among their predictions include some hits (cell phones, video conferencing and sports bars) and some misses (coin-operated fax machines, package delivery via bomber plane). Check out the full list at Technologizer and if you're anything like us, stop to think about what today's Madison Avenue Nostradamuses are saying about our future.
May 16, 2011
Whiskey Stone Shot Glasses
For those of you who haven't heard of whiskey stones, they're basically rocks you can keep in your freezer and toss into your drinks to chill them without watering them down. Might seem a bit weird, but we've seen people do a lot stranger stuff with booze.
If you don't like the idea of dropping the igneous in your drink, perhaps a stone shot glass will serve you better? Just toss it in the freezer for four hours before you plan to drink and voila...and as a point of interest these are made right here in Vermont, not too far from Liquor Snob headquarters.
Uncommon Goods [via Cool Material]
February 10, 2011
Charbay Hopped Whiskey Release 2 Review
Charbay Whiskey: Release 2
Aged Hopped Whiskey Distilled from Pilsner
110 Proof (55% ABV)
Price: Don't Ask
Charbay.com
They Say: "There is no other whiskey out that you can really taste the beer that it's made from. The spice from the hops and the barley flavors are very well balanced with just the right amount of oak."
We Say: It tastes so good when it touches our lips! This is like a "hop schnapps" all grown up into a full-blown whiskey, and our minds are reeling over the adventurousness of the flavor of whiskey and hops. Let's put it this way - if scotch was typically flavored with hops instead of peat, we'd move to Scotland.
The look of the bottle is classy all the way, with that gold-embossed black label, and the nose is excellent - did we mention whiskey and hops? It also smells like hops and whiskey. One of our interns called this the "mullet" of whiskeys - bourbon up front, hops in the rear - but that doesn't really capture the refined tastes you'll get of hops, berries, top-shelf bourbon, pepper and a touch of oak. This is excellent stuff, and if you mix it with cola we will come find you.
The Verdict: Punch your grandmother if that's what it takes to be able to taste this stuff. Seriously. If she loves you she'll be cool with it when you explain why.
February 10, 2011
Charbay Doubled & Twisted Light Whiskey Review
Charbay Doubled & Twisted Light Whiskey
White Dog Whiskey made from bottle-ready IPA
99 Proof (49.5% ABV)
Price: ~$60 per liter, if you can still get your hands on this limited run
Charbay.com
They Say: "The result of using a great IPA is all the hop flavors and two row malty flavors distilled over into the final spirit. The hops give the D&T a fruity, floral, very green spicy character, unlike any other whiskey out there."
We Say: When you're right, you're right, and these Charbay folks are right on, both with their description of Doubled & Twisted and the fact they even made it. What kind of geniuses decide they're going to take a bunch of bottle-ready IPA and distill the hell out of it? To us, it's a discovery so big it's like they invented the wheel, harnessed fire and discovered the lost city of gold, all at once.
The nose was all IPA and the black pepper rawness of an unaged whiskey, without burning our nose hairs. When we tasted it the hops in the IPA came through loud and clear, moreso than we would've expected even, and it has a nice, long hoppy finish we really enjoyed. On the recommendation of Rick from CocktailGoGo we mixed one of our 50ML sample bottles into a Manhattan, and we will never look at the drink the same way again. To paraphrase a certain beer drinking movie, we wished we could freeze it into ice blocks and skate on it, and melt it in the spring time and drink it.
The Verdict: As an unaged product made from high-end ingredients, Doubled & Twisted is the Tarzan of whiskeys - an excellent pedigree, but a bit lacking in table manners. As long as you know you're in for a moonshiney experience, we can see craft beer enthusiasts and whiskey lovers alike going gaga over D&T - assuming, of course, you can get your hands on it.
February 4, 2011
Charbay Whiskeys Arrive for Review
Well, we've finally dug out of the Northeast's Snowmageddon 2011, and lo and behold, what did we find but some bottles of whiskey from Charbay. That bodes well for our weekend, because one is a variety we've been salivating over for a couple weeks now, and the other is one we're newly in love with.
The first is their Doubled & Twisted, a white whiskey made from bottle-ready IPA that we waxed poetic about when we read DrinkHacker's review. There's not much of it left, and we will cherish our two 50ML bottles until the last drop, when we crack them open and lick the insides.
The second is their hop-flavored whiskey, which we haven't tasted yet while we wait for the interns gather, but which smells divine. Like the D&T is distilled from IPA, this stuff is distilled from Pilsner - 20,000 gallons of it to be exact.
We don't think you'll have to wait too long to get the review on this one, unless we decide we need more so badly we just get in the car and head for California. It's a possibility if we can find someone to drive.
January 19, 2011
Whisky In A Can: Put It In Your Piehole
Yes, you read correctly - you can now buy whisky in a can. You can stuff your jet packs and flying cars - this is the brave new world we have been looking for. Now you can sit back and sip 12 ounces of the finest Panamanian whisky, sold as nature intended - in a can. Take that, doubters. Unless this is a joke - in that case we knew it the whole time.
Scottish Spirits [via Gizmodo]
January 17, 2011
Charbay Doubled & Twisted: Made from IPA
There's a trend in the liquor industry right now toward making white whiskey (known to some as moonshine) in controlled, not going to make you go blind conditions. We've tried a few and they're often delicious - like the unaged, rough around the edges younger siblings of our favorite whiskeys. It makes sense for the liquor companies (less aging time means quicker to market and less overhead) and it makes sense for bartenders and drinkers who are on the lookout for new flavors.
Charbay takes the concept of a white whiskey and goes a step further. In simple terms, whiskey is a beer that has been distilled to make it more potent, and they have upped the ante for other producers by using high-end IPA (India Pale Ale) as the base for their Doubled & Twisted. An IPA-inspired beer? Sign us right the hell up. But what does it taste like? Here's what DrinkHacker had to say:
As white whiskey goes, it's pretty good. The IPA's hops come across quite clearly, which tempers the funk that is wholly unavoidable with unaged whiskeys and lends the whiskey more herbal and grain character than you'd think. It's still edgy and rough -- you can't get away from it with white dog -- but I do like what Karakasevic has done here. Now what would happen if he put this stuff in barrel for a few years....
Learn more and try to get your hands on one of the 1200 bottles that were made at
Charbay.com.
December 10, 2010
Revel Stoke Spiced Canadian Whisky Review
Our local package delivery man (that sounds a bit dirty) was kind enough to drop off another gurgling box at the Liquor Snob offices today, and once we tore it open we saw it was a bottle of Revel Stoke spiced whisky. As you can tell by the missing "e" in whiskey, Revel Stoke is Canadian. As you can tell by the image above, it's spiced with ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom and coriander.
We've gotten into a bad habit lately of sitting on reviews, so we're doing an early New Year's resolution to review bottles as soon as they come in. So, with no further ado, our thoughts on Revel Stoke.
Continue reading: "Revel Stoke Spiced Canadian Whisky Review"
October 26, 2010
Revel Stoke Spiced Canadian Whisky
When we think of Phillips Distilling we usually think of the Phillips Union line of flavored whiskeys, and they're also the folks who bring Feckin' Irish Whiskey to us folks stateside. We were also just notified about another brand of theirs we hadn't previously heard of - Revel Stoke Spiced Canadian Whisky.
We hear it's been out since the turn of the century (that's 2000 for you youngsters) but we've never had an opportunity to try it since it was a smaller release. Turns out, that's all about to change:
Since 30 percent of all rum volume is "spiced," Phillips Distilling Company thought that the same could be applied to whisky. Revel Stoke is a spiced whisky at 90 proof. This is a higher proof than competitors Jack Daniels or Crown Royal, but is smoother, more palatable and easier to drink.
Revel Stoke was inspired by the age-old tradition of rugged Canadian outdoorsmen who customized their whisky with vanilla and unique spices. Revel Stoke is a remarkably smooth yet formidable spirit. Enjoy this Canadian Original straight, on the rocks, with cola (Stoke and Coke) or with ginger (Stoke and Ginger).
Don't worry - we'll do our best to get a bottle for review.
October 21, 2010
Wild Turkey Thanksgiving Survival Kit
Well, we know Halloween hasn't even come and gone yet, but it's never too early to start thinking about the next holiday. Especially when that holiday involves time off from work, gorging yourself mercilessly, seeing friends and family, and hopefully, drinking some delicious whiskey.
This might seem like a crazy stretch to you, but Wild Turkey has declared itself the "Official Bourbon of Thanksgiving." Wait for it...OK, you're seeing the connection now. As we told their representative, we already wrote our magnum opus connecting the two way back in 2005 - Make Thanksgiving Wild Turkey Day. Not to be outdone, they fired back with some thoughts of their own.
So, without further ado, advice from Wild Turkey on what to bring (and what to know) in order to survive Thanksgiving (with some slight tweaks from us):
- A bottle of Wild Turkey 101-- The night before Thanksgiving is a big night to see old friends, and there's no better way to show them you care than by responsibly sharing a bottle of good bourbon
.
- Earplugs -- Unless you want to be woken at 6am on Thanksgiving morning by the general hustle and bustle, you might want some of these.
- Antacid -- Thanksgiving is a great time to push the limits of human consumption. It's a bad time to feel like you're dealing with the Chest Burster from Alien.
- Pocket-sized head bandage -- Tell your crazy ex that, "ever since the accident I don't recall faces well."
- Breath mints -- In case of not-so-crazy or potential ex.
- Cab fare -- Because you're old enough to be responsible.
- Flowers and a necktie -- Because you still need to make it up to Mom for last year.
- Another bottle of Wild Turkey 101 for your host--This is the difference between sitting with your cool cousins and being forced to work the turkey carving station. Plus, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, they'll have to share.
- Can of cranberry sauce -- Welcome to supply-side economics.
- Blacklist of conversation topics -- Do the legwork in advance to make sure you don't ask "Where's Ricky?" if the answer is "still in jail."
- Remember two things: Drink responsibly, and it's not Thanksgiving without the Turkey.
And, since it's our site, we'll give you the high points from our
original article:
- Take a few nips before you get to the table. You'd be surprised how many places you can find in your parents' house to sneak a drink. Hell, your mom's been doing it for years.
- Wild Turkey is a gentleman's drink. Don't forget to share with grandma. Alternately, you can share with any "available" friends your siblings may have brought home for the holiday (21 and older only, please). In a pinch, attractive cousins at least twice-removed are acceptable - they're called "kissing cousins" for a reason.
- Bring your bottle to the table. There's no reason to interrupt your Turkey consumption while people are stuffing themselves with bird. If your family doesn't approve, put it in a gravy boat and tell everyone it's vegetarian dipping sauce...it'll be all yours.
- Swish the bourbon in your mouth during and between bites. This is a way to try to rehydrate the dry, overcooked turkey, if necessary. It will most likely be necessary.
- Try to pass out right after dinner. This works well with the 101 proof variety. If you play your cards right, you'll be off in tryptophan and bourbon-induced slumber behind a potted plant well before your uncles start unbuttoning their pants to make room for seconds.
We figure between the two sets of advice, you'll end up in your family's good graces...or in jail. Happy Thanksgiving - it's only a month away!
October 15, 2010
101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die Released Early
Last month, we reported on a super-interesting book called "101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die" and at the time, it was slated for release in early December. It looks like Christmas has come early, because faithful reader Chuck ordered his and got a notification that it's already shipped out.
We've confirmed on Amazon that it's in stock and ready to ship - it's even Prime eligible if you're one of those folks who likes free shipping. We're getting out the old credit card right now and we'll give the book a read and give you our thoughts once we do.
101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die
September 15, 2010
101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die
We're pretty sure the title says it all here. If you like to drink whisky, this should be your bucket list, and not in a pretentious way. Check this out:
Avoiding the deliberately obscure, the ridiculously limited, and the absurdly expensive, whiskey expert Ian Buxton has scoured the shelves of the world's whiskey warehouses to recommend an eclectic selection of old favorites, stellar newcomers, and mystifyingly unknown drams that simply have to be drunk.
This witty, focused, and practical guide is not an awards list or a list of the 101 "Best" whiskies in the world in the opinion of some self-appointed whiskey guru. It's simply a guide to 101 whiskies that enthusiasts really must seek out and try--love them or hate them--to complete their whiskey education.
How can you go wrong? In other news, this little baddie comes out just before Christmas (hint hint).
101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die at Amazon
September 2, 2010
Gilpin Family Whisky: URINE for a Treat!
Talk about a new spin on an old product - a gentleman in the UK has started making what is colloquially known as "pissky" - whisky distilled from the sugary urine of elderly diabetics. Let us say that again, slowly - whisky...made from the urine...of old people. And before you ask, no they're not selling it, but the linked story has details on how you can try it if you want to hop on a plane to London.
Here are some more details from the story over at WIRED.co.uk:
The source material is acquired from elderly volunteers, including Gilpin's own grandmother, Patricia. The urine is purified in the same way as mains water is purified, with the sugar molecules removed and added to the mash stock to accelerate the whisky's fermentation process. Traditionally, that sugar would be made from the starches in the mash.
Once fermented into a clear alcohol spirit, whisky blends are added to give colour, taste and viscosity, and the product is bottled with the name and age of the contributor.
Thanks for the link,
Tool Snob - and would you mind peeing in this cup for us before you start that table saw?
March 17, 2010
Liquor Snob Pickle Back Challenge
Well, you can say what you want about us, but you can never say we backed down from a challenge. For those of you who have no freakin' clue what we're talking about, we here in the Liquor Snob offices made a vow when we first heard about the Pickle Back that if our readers wanted us to try them, we'd do it on St. Patrick's Day. For the record, we found the entire idea to be obscene, but the emails and Facebook messages we received convinced us we should think otherwise. Then, when we read the pickle juice in a Pickle Back can help avoid a hangover, we were all in.
Those of you who think were were just going to toss back a single shot of whiskey with whatever dill juice was lying around our fridge, however, are sorely mistaken. When we say we're going to do something, we do it, so we made an event out of it. We decided to find a Pickle Back winner among four different contenders - pickled egg brine, half sour brine, kosher dill brine, and the crap floating around in a pickled beet jar. Our findings are below, and while we aren't going to put this into our everyday drinking regimen, we have to admit people are on to something...if you find the right pickle juice.
Oh, and you might notice something odd about our pictured shot glasses - we decided to break out our Quaffers to cut down on the possibility of carpal tunnel from doing so many shot/chaser combos in a 10 minute period. And now, on to the show:
Continue reading: "Liquor Snob Pickle Back Challenge"
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