Doing my end of year lists and next up is spirits. Not just whiskies, but gins, vodkas, etc. Always a fun category. Some of these were tasted alone, others with friends including David Furer, David Morgan, Lia Niskanen, and Philip Kampe.
Roaming Man 10 Years Old released at 132.6 proof. The whiskey is made from 100% Tennessee grown rye, white corn, and malted barley. The whiskey, after being pot still distilled, is then aged a minimum of four years before the distillery considers releasing it. This is a rich whiskey, with notes of spice, caramel, green apple, vanilla, toast, finishing with a mix of toffee and white pepper. A classic, smooth, delicious whiskey. One of my absolute favorites. No matter which bottling you find - you will not be disappointed. A terrific tasting experience.
Weller Full Proof is a Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon bottled at \(114\) proof, the same strength it was when it entered the barrel. It is a non-chill filtered whiskey, which means it retains more of the natural oils and flavors, potentially causing it to appear cloudy at cold temperatures. The bourbon is produced by Buffalo Trace and features a smooth, rich profile with notes of vanilla, oak, caramel, and dark fruit. Rich and delicious. Outstanding.
Castle & Key Restoration Rye is a specific straight rye whiskey produced by the historic Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. It is known for having a unique mash bill - of 63% rye, 17% yellow corn, and 20% malted barley. The flavor profile balances spicy and sweet notes. Love it.
Morristown, NJ, is the home of Dismal Harmony Distilling. The distillery is founded and owned by Bob and Karen Novotny Dillon, with Robby Seibert filling the role of General Manager and Mixologist. The strongest part of Dismal Harmony's game is their liqueurs. Dismal Harmony Barista Coffee Liqueur uses imported Italian dark-roast coffee beans. Barista is concentrated cold brew coffee infused with distilled coffee beans for the deepest coffee flavor. This is one of the absolutely most intense coffee liqueurs you will ever have. I instantly fell in love with it. A crazy flavorbomb!
Baker's 7 bourbon is a single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey that is aged for a minimum of seven years and bottled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV). Part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection, it's known for its robust, nutty profile with notes of vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak. A rich, smooth whiskey full of flavor.
Tom Cat Gin is Caledonia Spirits' exploration into bolder expressions for American gin. Once distilled, they barrel age their gin in new American oak producing a rich color, deep flavor and an enticing oaked juniper aroma. A touch of raw honey is added for complexity. Tom Cat is a memorable delight for gin, whiskey and rum lovers alike. It seems Caledonia Spirits created a limited, small-batch line of barrel finished Tom Cat Gins. Bar Hill Tom Hill Gin Finished in Rum Casks was first completed as per their usual program, and then transferred to a another barrel for extra aging in a Rum Cask. This new finish was spectacular! The caramel and juniper of the Tom Cat now had a soft, luxurious note added it to it by the lovely smoothness of the aged rum barrel. Absolutely a new taste sensation.
This fall Harvest Spirits released released a Cornelius Applejack Caribbean Cask 10YO edition wherein the 5 YO Cornelius Applejack undergoes finishing in Appleton Rum barrels for another five years. That makes this a 10 YO Applejack. Cornelius Applejack Caribbean Cask 10YO is one of the best applejacks/American apple brandies I have yet tasted. The underlying spirit has tinges of rum and rock candy and the smoothness of caramel and vanilla. An exceptional apple brandy. Amazing!!!
Better Man Distilling is located in Patchogue, out on Long Island. It was founded by Anthony Gruppuso. The Better Man Grand Optimist Empire Rye Whiskey is a official Empire Rye, meaning 75% MUST be New York State-grown rye grain. This whiskey make up the rest with malted barley from Dennis and Jeanette Nesel at Hudson Valley Malt. An Empire Rye whiskey must be mashed, fermented, distilled, barreled and aged at a single New York State distillery. There was no corn or wheat in this whiskey. The whiskey starts of with a lovely nose - cut grass, lots of spice, notes of citrus and pine, and caramel. The mouth feel was excellent, rich and flavorful. Caramel, apple, big Christmas spices, and black pepper came through. A soothing dry butterscotch-vanilla finished the dram. An excellent whiskey. Truly well done!
Harridan is a premium, female-owned vodka handcrafted in New York from 100% organic, locally grown corn. It is an 88-proof, overproof vodka known for its distinctive, complex flavor with notes of citrus, vanilla, and black pepper, designed to be sipped on the rocks or used in cocktails. The vodka is presented in unique, hand-blown recycled glass bottles sealed with black wax, reflecting the brand's focus on craftsmanship and sustainability. Harridan is a terrific vodka. stands up to ice wonderfully because of it's higher proof. And Its great for blending. Smooth and clean. A must try!
One of my new favorite American Single Malts. Master distiller Shane Fraser grew up just outside Aberdeen, Scotland and started his career at Royal Lochnagar in 1990. He has since worked at Oban (2004), Glenfarclas (2007) and most recently a startup distillery: Wolfburn (2012). Shane was Distillery Manager there and was able to develop the type of whisky he wanted to produce, in the way he wanted to produce it. Wolfburn has since won many awards – its first Gold medals in 2016, and continues to impress.
Loved the gin0 from Ten Mile Distilling as well. Bright, crisp, clean!!!
One of the biggest surprises of my visit yo Hen Spirits in New Hope, PA, was Hewn's Reclamation, American Single Malt Whiskey. This classic whiskey is made from 100% malted barley. The whiskey was "first aged in new American charred white oak barrels, followed by Hewn's used bourbon barrels and finished with hickory, chestnut, or oak that’s been reclaimed from timbers up to 300 years old." A very, very interesting experiment. The final whiskey was surprisingly delicious. Again, big notes of baked pear and apple, hint of orange blossom, with notes of nut, toast, vanilla, and shortbread biscuit. Soft and approachable, more like a Highlands- or Speyside-styled whiskey, without all the smoke, this was an incredibly lovely dram.
Treehouse Brewing and Distilling made two that really wowed me - The Big Pickle New England Gin and the Kola Coffee Liqueur. The gin was savory and aromatic. So different. Absolutely loved it. And the Kola was deep, dark, and rich. A terrific liqueur.
Bouvery CV Chocolate Liqueur is another favorite of the year. According to the website, "From its 1999 inception in Notting Hill, London, Danny Bouvery’s interest in blending fine chocolate and vodka (regular occupants in his fridge) led him to experiment and finally perfecting his secret recipe in New York." Bouvery CV is produced at Westford Hill Distillers, nestled in the rolling hills of Connecticut, located on 200 acres of property owned by the Chatey family since 1919. Westford Hill Distillers is a craft spirit distiller located in Ashford, CT. They were founded in 1998. Bouvery CV Chocolate Liqueur in made with a gluten-free vodka that is blended with organic cocoa and natural flavors. The smells and tasted like a rich dark chocolate. There's heavy notes of chocolate, and butter, and a whiff of vanilla, - almost like a dark, super-soft ganache or a creamy, creamy dark fudge. Like the innards of a chocolate lava cake.
Silver Brothers Distillery in Old Chatham, NY, is not yet ready for sale. But I absolutely am crazy for their frarm-to-glass whiskies - American Single Malt and Rye. Their rye whiskey is a combination of malted rye, un-malted rye, and malted barley. Super smooth and incredibly packed with layers of flavor.
Batson River Langsford Road Bourbon (44% ABV, 88 Proof) is named for one of Kennebunkport's oldest and most scenic roads, and has been in existence since 1620. It is a straight bourbon aged over two years in American oak barrels. Langsford Road is proofed with Tourmaline Spring Water from Summit Spring, a free-flowing gravity fed untreated spring. Pure water, filtered by nature and time. They blend select batches of wheated and rye bourbons to capture the full-bodied smooth finish. The sweetness of the corn,, the vanilla and toffee of wheat, and the spiciness of rye combine to make a delicious whiskey. Butterscotch, caramel, toffee, and vanilla notes with lovely Christmas spices, makes this a great sipping whiskey or perfect for cocktails. It's a damn solid dram of bourbon. It's got Southern Charm, but it's from Vermont! Try it!
I first tasted this whiskey back in the mid-2010s, just after it won a world wide competition. I remember being floored. Balcones Texas Single Malt Whiskey (also known as Texas 1), founder and then head distiller Chip Tate, started with a traditional single malt approach but with "a more virgin oak-forward profile to bring a new perspective to what is now known as American Single Malt." The whiskey starts with Texas grown 100% Scottish Golden Promise malted barley. The the whisky was aged in new, customized 240L and 500L American Oak barrels. Current head distiller Jared Himstedt worked with Balcones founder Chip Tate in 2008 to help build the distillery. Himstedt is also a founding member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission and has been recognized with an "Icons of Whisky" award for his work. The whiskey starts with notes of dark marmalade, notes of toast, dark caramel, grilled peaches, and Mission figs. Candied orange peel starts off on the palate, then blackberries and dark raspberries, black walnut, figs and dates, and small notes of vanilla. Exquisite! This whiskey still excites today!
Taconic Distillery is "headquartered at Paul Coughlin’s farm on Bowen Road in Stanfordville, NY, in the Hudson Valley in Dutchess County. Distilled from a mash of 70% Corn, 25% Rye and 5% Barley. And aged a minimum of 5 years in new charred American Oak barrels, then bottled at 90 proof. This is an outstanding locally grown and made whiskey. I have been in love with this line for many years. There rye is also excellent. The barrel strength version is also highly appreciated.
Breuckelen Distilling Company is located in Brooklyn, NY. Mash bill is 90% rye and 10% corn, with grains sourced from New York farms. Breuckelen Distilling's "77 Local Rye & Corn Whiskey," a New York-made spirit with a mash bill of 90% rye and 10% corn is a special rye whiskey, with notes of spice, with flavors of banana nut bread, vanilla, and brown sugar, and a hints of black pepper and Christmas spice. Brueklelen is among my favorite producers. And puts out sophisticated bottlings. A great whiskey perfect for cocktails or able to stand up to ice.
Stoutridge Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond was an absolute pleasure to drink. Elegant, with lovely notes of buttered popcorn, caramel, but with a lovely whiff of pine, and a finish of Christmas spice and white pepper, this whiskey is as complex and well balanced as any rye out there. Amazing. This distillery is among the most innovative on the east coast. More to come.
Dennings Point Distillery located in Beacon, NY, in the Hudson Valley, is one of those small quiet distilleries that doesn't make a whole lot, but what they do make, says big things. Recently visited there. Terrific, focused line up. I really loved their Beacon Bourbon Cask Strength. Big flavor, rich and unctous, with caramel, toffee, and lots of spice. Terrific on ice. A perfect for cocktails.
Klocke Estate Apple Brandy is from the new distillery in Claverack, NY. A multi-million dollar temple to distilling and fine cuisine, is the first release from a distillery that will eventually feature fine aged brandies. This one is clean, crisp, and exudes some lovely apple notes, as well as a smooth easy finish. Delicious. Looking forward to their future releases.
Lost Lantern is the brain child of two exceptional whiskey talents: Nora Ganley-Roper, General Manager, who got her start in the wine and spirits industry as a Sales Manager at NYC's Astor Wine & Spirits; and Adam “Apolon” Polonski, Whiskey Cask Hunter, a former Senior Whisky Specialist at Whisky Advocate, the country’s largest and oldest whiskey magazine. Together, they have created an innovative new approach to independent bottling. The Lost Lantern Desert Dessert was among my favorite. Notes of cocoa, toasted oak, vanilla, caramel, and some Christmas spice. Terrific.
This Fort Hamilton Rye Whiskey Ice Cider Cask was a limited edition. But Fort Hamilton is doing more of this these dys. One of the most innovative rye whiskies I've had in a while. Love Fort Hamilton.