The Town of Tullamore was damn near burned to the ground in 1785 when a hot air balloon crashed (slowly, I'm guessing) and set aflame more than 100 houses. There's no record as to who was piloting the pride of the Montgolfier brothers, but we can assume it was a terrible accident and not one caused … Continue reading Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey – Review
Whisky Reviews
The BenRiach Curiositas 10 Year Old Peated Malt – Review
"Rident stolidi verba Latina" - Ovid* Let us cast our minds back to the heady days of the Punic Wars. Love was in the air, The Romans were just figuring out how to make a truly spectacular pork sugo, and the Carthaginians, long dominant in sea battle and handball were getting their butts kicked for … Continue reading The BenRiach Curiositas 10 Year Old Peated Malt – Review
Bargain Bin Fridays #4, Sunnybrook Kentucky Blended Whiskey
I've heard stories of people walking into some out-of-the-way liquor store and finding a dust-covered Port Ellen for $90 or some 20-year-old Glen something-or-other for $39.99. Chances are, some distributor dumped a pricey bottle off ages ago on a store that wouldn't ever sell that kind of thing and the store has no idea what … Continue reading Bargain Bin Fridays #4, Sunnybrook Kentucky Blended Whiskey
Maker’s 46, Kentucky Bourbon Whisky – Review
I've never thought of myself as a traditionalist, the establishment can suck it as far as I'm concerned, yet here I sit contemplating Maker's Mark new offering, the Maker's 46, and I find myself wondering if what they're doing to make the stuff is fair, does it buck tradition too much? Maybe I need another … Continue reading Maker’s 46, Kentucky Bourbon Whisky – Review
Chieftain’s Tasting Review Notes, Round III
Round III of quick notes from the recent Chieftain's tasting hosted by K&L Wines at Martin's West in Redwood city... Chieftain's 1991 Linkwood 16 Year Old Yet another rarely-seen-in-distillery-bottlings...bottling, Linkwood has been around since the early 1800's, going through the usual myriad ownership changes before ultimately landing in Diageo's prodigious lap. Like Allt'A Bhainne and Glencadam, Linkwood spends … Continue reading Chieftain’s Tasting Review Notes, Round III
Chieftain’s Tasting Review Notes, Round I
Part of Ian Macleod's family, the Chieftain's line-up of independent bottlings has recently found its way to the whisky shelves of the U.S. David Driscoll of K&L Wines hosted a recent tasting at Martin's West in Redwood city to introduce the new line-up. The big draw of the night for me was another taste of … Continue reading Chieftain’s Tasting Review Notes, Round I
Signatory 1992 Ben Nevis 17 Year Old – Review
I have no idea what a Cloud Chamber is. I've read descriptions and explanations but after a sentence or two, I get glassy eyed and wonder what bike race is happening in Europe and what whisky I'm going to have a sip of next. According to Wikipedia, a cloud chamber is used to detect particles … Continue reading Signatory 1992 Ben Nevis 17 Year Old – Review
Bargain Bin Fridays #3, Ancient Age Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
Just to prove that I'm not just a mean-spirited, masochistic hack who's out to insult bad whisky makers and destroy my liver at the same time, for this installment of Bargain Bin Fridays, I thought I'd give an old school, mildly respected bourbon a try. After all, it is called "Bargain Bin Fridays" not "Wince … Continue reading Bargain Bin Fridays #3, Ancient Age Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
Pendleton Blended Canadian Whisky – Review
I haven't tried much Canadian whisky. In fact, I haven't spent that much time in Canada, our more civilian-minded neighbor to the North. Aside from the requisite visit to the Niagara Falls area, my Canadian experience is limited to the trip my dad and I made to Brandon where he mistakenly poured me a spoonful … Continue reading Pendleton Blended Canadian Whisky – Review
Signatory 1999 Auchentoshan 10 Year Old – Review
Back when I was rugged deckhand in the early 1800's, when I was hoisting a jib and batoning down the hatches to make ends meet instead of doing whatever it is I do now, we sang a lot of songs at work. That kind of thing probably wouldn't fly in today's hi-rise workplace, but back … Continue reading Signatory 1999 Auchentoshan 10 Year Old – Review
THE CASKS 