Glenfiddich 15

It’s been a cold fall since I last posted my friends, and I come with a heavy heart to say it may be an even longer and colder winter until I post again, lest I begin my long dreaded run of reviews along the bottom of the liquor store shelves, with the likes of Black Velvet among others. I shudder at the thought of taking a peet from the bottle to which I pledged my drunken youth, but perhaps some dreary days are good to be revisited, for a reminder if only to cherish the small drams of great whiskey we are treated to today.

Glenfidditch Solera 15 Single Malt
Dufftown Banfshire, Scotland
$59.99
40%  /  80 Proof

Nose - Off the top immediately as I bring the glass to my face I get wafting fruity notes: banana, apple crisp, maraschino cherries with light notes of cinnamon sticks and freshly baked pastries. A very dessert scented vesche indeed.

Palate - Vibrant and warm, the tastebuds lift of with a silky, thick honey flavor this is tickled with dried dates, buttered croissant, apple crumble and marzipan, developing into a bright sherry and oak.

Finish - The finish rests well, unobtrusively with a satisfying crisp sweetness like eating a tart pie after dinner, lingering long and well with a tingling sweet tooth sensation.

Thoughts - Truly, I could not have paired the photo worse than what I think is actually deserving of this bottle. While the tomahawk turned out fantastic, and the whiskey has been just as delightful, they weren’t quite in the ballpark of working well with each other. From my notes alone it should be realized that this is certainly a whiskey to be enjoyed after the fact, perhaps paired with a nice apple pie or vanilla custard. None the less, clearing the palate and tasting the whiskey on it’s own now (nearly 2 months later) has given me better insight into what I’d like to have served with the fine Solera 15. 

7/10 - A prestigious bottle and age that makes for a great conversational piece over dessert.

Sugar House New Make Whiskey

This is a young spirit, a new make, fresh off the press from my dear friends at Sugar House Distillery. There’s not much to bounce around here, so let’s jump right into it!

Sugar House New Make Whiskey
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
~$29.99 - Only available at the Distillery shop
43% / 86 Proof

Nose - The nose for me comes in suprisingly pleasant, I must admit. It’s a bright and sweet medly of creamed corn, malted barely, and the classic “Sugar House Powder” taste I describe in most of their spirits, this lovely bright white sugar note that makes me think of sticking my nose in a sugar cube tray, all of which peters down with a hint of rye bread on the end.

Palette - As expected with a new make, ethanol comes off strong at the front of the New Make, but there are colorful nuances of sweet corn, marbled rye, and rain or river water. Further tasting brings in the subtle clinking and clanking of distillery piping and notes of metallic copper.

Finish - The finish is similar to a vodka finish, warm all the way down with nothing particularly remarkable coming in with the aftertaste, which should actually add a point to the experience of the new make, as it seems to deliberately cover it’s tracks as it settles.

Thoughts - When I spoke with James Fowler - the owner who, just through walk in I was able have a one on one tasting with - he warned me about the new make, likely due to me looking like a bit of a whiskey novice having a slight buzz on my way out, telling me that I might not enjoy it as much as their bottled whiskeys. And of course, he has good reason to say this; Whiskey gets about 90% of it’s flavor from the interaction the recipe has with the sugars and char of the barrel it rests in. But I think they New Make has something to say about the creativity and artistic mastery the boys at Sugar House have to offer, coming straight off the still and presenting a taste that is appreciable at the very least. It’s not bad; Sure, it’s an unfinished product, but it’s a fun little treat for whiskey connoisseurs to have a shot at, and maybe make a mixed drink out of if one has a high enough disdain for rum and vodka. Even more unique, I was able to get a bottle from the first batch of the stuff, which I think is super bad ass.

8/10 (for a new make)
It stands above the rest of the new make / light whiskey families as a bottle that shows the promise of Sugar House Distillery’s dedication to quality.

Highland Park 12: Viking Honour

Hello again, friends and family. It’s been a really long time - you wouldn’t believe how hard it is to actually write a cohesive review about whiskey during a pandemic. And while I have found my self in the midst of madness and ever-changing normality like everyone else, it occurs to me that I still have a responsibility to you, my dear reader, to write and review these wonderful flavors and fragrances for your consideration. This time around, I want to give a special shoutout to a rambunctious group of misfit heroes, the copious curators of all things coinable, captors of corrupt and correspondents of the courageous, Thank you, The Collectors, for the verifiably badass Norlan glasses (one in the picture). I love you most sincerely.

Highland Park 12: Viking Honour
Islands, Scotland
$54.99
43% / 96 Proof

Nose - The nose is a lovely nasal conflagration of musty, briney earth and grass, with delicate notes of honey and charcoal smoke, leading to squeaky beeswax tinged with citrus.

Pallete - Sweet honey syrup and honeysuckle liquid, fresh from the flower itself that melts into a medley of creamy malt and fluttering notes of tropical candy chews.

Finish - Enjoyable and smooth, the finish coats your soul in a warm but delicate embrace, like merino wool base layers on a crisp fall evening - not enough to keep the cold out entirely, but more than enough to feel warm, especially if you’ve got a warm drink by your side.

Thoughts - Viking Honour has been a favorite of mine for quite some time and is a truly classic scotch that is approachable by whiskey nerds and newbs alike. It comes to the forefront with an intriguing mixture of flavors and aromas; painting a gradient of bold, briney seas juxtaposed to light, buzzy dandelions and lilies along the coast. It’s a high-end profile and a mid-range price and absolutely worth the cash you pump out for it. The HP12 is going to impress everyone you know, from friends who are just looking to try something unique and persuasive to your whiskey-nosing buddy who will undoubtedly give you props for having a bottle of the shelf. You truly can’t go wrong with the HP12, and that’s part of the reason I keep it stocked with the likes of Ardbeg 10, Wild Turkey 101, Angel’s Envy, and High West’s ‘Campfire’.

10/10, would buy again.

Fun fact: The image at the top of this article is the first Whiskey Wednesday photo I did an actual Photoshop edit on - that is, altered some pixels outside of CameraRAW. Can you spot the change? It has nothing to do with the different image below, by the way. I just couldn’t make up my mind on where I liked the Norlan Glass more.

Bird Dog 'Small Batch' Kentucky Bourbon

Hey hey hey friends and viewers and everyone else in between. It’s been quite a while since my last upload - two months as a matter of fact! I had a few plans to upload for Christmas, but I really embraced the relaxed extended vacation lifestyle instead, going on hikes and getting some good family time instead. But all breaks must end, as there is work left to do - when it comes to whiskey thoughts, that work is never done. And so I present to you all, the first Whiskey Wednesday of the Decade!

Bird Dog Small Batch Kentucky Whiskey
Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA
~21.99
43% / 86 Proof

Nose - Banana bread and charred oak, with notes of mixed maple & cane sugar, vanilla and toffee, subtle hints of orange citrus.

Palette - Punchy and sharp up front that mellows quickly to a spiced blend of golden raisins, pears, brown sugar and cinnamon on the fade.

Finish - A sticky warmth that tickles and bites, lingers surprisingly long. Warm to the core and deeper still, with cinnamon and gingerbread.

Thoughts - The Bird Dog was something I’ve slapped with a “For Sale” sign for quite a long time at the liquor store, and I finally decided to pull the trigger on the bottle the month of its discontinuation in Utah. It seems to have been replaced by Angels Envy (something I’m quite happy with, to be honest) but I’d hate for that to come as something that’s required. For the very modest price I paid for the Bird Dog Small Batch, I think it’s quite fair, especially for a distillery that seems to be most well known for producing what I consider the trashiest of whiskeys: those of the “flavored” variety.

Now I know, I’m coming off a bit condescending with my whiskey snob nose high up in the air with a statement like that, but I just want you to know that if YOU like your flavored whiskeys, more power to ya. I probably would partake more often if they weren't strictly forbidden for my dietary requirements! But let’s get back to the bottle in the spotlight here. The Small Batch, affectionately called the Coonhound based on the ol’ pupper on the label, delivers a modest flavor profile for a very modest price. If I were to be honest, I could see the distribution charging around $35 for a bottle like this, which wouldn’t be quite worth it in my opinion, but where it is now, I think you get quite the bang for your buck. It’s not going to shatter any expectations or change your mind on anything, but it is a cheeky drink that’s enjoyable and sweet. I would say, if you can find a bottle for $20-30, go ahead and pick it up if you’re just looking to expand your whiskey collection, adding a unique bottle to your collection instead of yet another bottle of Turkey 101.
(That’s a joke on my cabinet, folks)

A bit about the backdrop choice - Obviously fitting for a hunting dog’s bourbon, this actually my first ever set of camouflage, as I prepare to make 2020 my first year of hunting. It’s something I have been learning and training for almost 5 years now, starting with becoming more physically active and working up to learning about my local species, finally finishing my Hunters Education program, and making the big save to invest in proper equipment. I put in for limited entry Turkey tags - of course, not picking one up as it’s my first year of points - and even though I didn’t draw for the limited entry, I’m excited to get started in the general season. In the meantime, I’ll be looking to collect sheds, learn more, and go out on small game hunts. This whole journey is quite truly the beginning of a new chapter of my life, and it’s been extremely challenging since I have nobody in my family to mentor me into the lifestyle; But I am determined to find success in the field, and create a closer bond not just to nature, but to myself, my food, and my humanity.

I hope to be quite a successful hunter and photographer in 10 years, both of those things I would have cringed to hear just 10 years ago. Who knows what will pan out in that time frame, but I hope you all join me along the way, and to those who are very close to me, my best of friends and family, I’m eager to share my bounty as I return off the mountain. Cheers to the new decade, and truly, to a “new” Me.

Caol Ila 12

Ah, I’ve been waiting to write this one for quite a while. Nestled in the Scotch section of my cabinet, this bottle has laid in wait, and quite honestly it took a lot of self control to resist the temptation to pop the cork, from the locale it originates from alone. I’ve been writing about bourbons and American malts for quite some time now, and it’s been a damn nice treat to get 

back over to my favorite flavors from across the sea; Those of the Isle of Islay.

Caol Ila 12

Islay Single Malt Scotch

Port Askaig, Isle of Islay, Scotland 

$69.99

43% / 96 proof

Nose - Nose has some screaming pear and brine with a bit of pork on the end, with other more subtle notes of peat, tar, and fresh cut grass. The nose on this thing is a statement of what to expect; and Islay scotch that may be more expressive than even the great Lagavulin 16.

Palette - Full flavored and full bodied, the Caol Ila 12 brings a well rounded burst of that same pear from the nose with a burst of smoke and spice, with a very particular tannic quality that pops like pin needles on your tongue. Brine and toffee fills the flavor and everything quickly comes together in a blending symphony of intrigue and power. This is quite certainly the Beethoven of Islays.

Finish - The finish is extensive and well lit; What I mean by that is there is a fire alight in your chest and throat that lingers for quite some time, warming the face and leaving you with an astringent citrus and lemongrass flavor that warms the soul like a cider on a cold winter day.

Thoughts - I know I have a bit of a bias when it comes to Islay Scotch; Ever since my first sip of Ardbeg 12, I’ve been totally in love with the stuff and every time I can crack a bottle I feel great. In my opinion, Islays, and particularly Coal Ila 12, bring out a very specific and endearing feeling of warmth along the frontier, this feeling of growth and pride, very similar to what I felt when I built my dining table. There’s a lot of whiskey out there, and they all certainly have their stories and memories, but with Coal Ila I really can’t feel anything but happy and homely after every sip I take.A ~$70 price tag might scare most, but I think the Caol presents enough to not only be worth it, but what I am now going to call my most recommended expression of Islay whisky’s available. If you’re wanting to branch out into the bold with a bottle that will show you what’s to come, I think the Caol Ila 12 is the best place to start.

Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon

Hello again, it’s your humble reviewer here to bring a revered and very special edition of my not-so-weekly whiskey wednesday. It was very hard for me to find the right props, set, and expression to suit this whiskey, so I ended up taking another Dungeons and Dragons themed photo, since painting minis is what your old boy is up to tonight. This bottle is quite the doozy, coming in a relatively rare quantity; nearly impossible to find here in Utah.

Blanton’s Single Barrel

Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Frankfort, KY

$59.99 

46.2% / 93 Proof

Nose - Incredible. Truly classic bourbon with flourishes of cherry, honey, and brown sugar. More classic notes of vanilla and caramel available, but I think the cherry and dark fruit scents really make this bottle shine. 

Palette -  Explosive the second it hits the tastebuds, it’s like a warm jolly rancher mixed with werthers caramel candy. Absolutely lovely to drink, well balanced and extremely friendly, no hasty flavors whatsoever. 

Finish - the finish is soft and subtle, with slight warmth and a recurring dark fruit flavor that stays in the mouth for quite some time, like little fireworks that didn’t go off during the crescendo. 

Thoughts - Blanton’s Single Barrel is a bottle that is highly sought after. It’s not the most expensive I own, not by a long shot, but it is absolutely one of the rarest I own, when considering supply and demand. Similar to some of the big names like Pappy Van Winkle - but priced much more reasonably - the bottle shape itself is something of an artform. The jewel-like presentation matches the profile of the flavorful bourbon, and the hand-written barrel and bottle info is a lovely touch that really adds to both the aesthetic and perceived value of the whiskey. The small metal rider on the large cork plug adds a hefty, durable weight to the experience. The rider statuette itself is semi-unique per bottle, changing pose to the different stages of a rider on a horse with corresponding B - L - A - N - T - O -N - S markers on each. Some true collectors search far and wide to complete their collection of bottle toppers! 

I think this whiskey has a reputation that is well earned. Sure there may be some more intricate, deeper bourbons out there that are much more readily available, but the rarity and flavor of this particular barrel has made me a huge fan, if not a hoarder of every possible drop; this won’t be one for sharing - sorry droogs. 

It was quite an interesting story on how I found the bottle as well. I was lucky enough to go to the opening day of a new liquor store not 5 minutes away from my current residence, something I’d been looking forward to for a very long time. When I walked in, I checked the cabinets, the glass counters, every section I could find… Nothing that I couldn’t find anywhere else, in greater numbers even. I was quite disappointed that this store has such a poor selection, and I conveyed this disappointment (respectfully) to one of the managers of the establishment, asking if they would ever offer any more unique whiskeys. The answer I got was somewhat cryptic, maybe even a teaser of what’s to come: “Oh, we’re just opening up, come back and check in a few weeks and we might have something you’d like.”

Wow, were they right. On a quick party stocking visit with my girlfriend, I instinctively check behind the lock and glass. There was a particular row that was empty from my vantage point, so I had to kneel to get a better view of anything below; My jaw dropped at what I saw; The subject of this review was sitting, shoved back against the very edge of the wall. I told the attendant immediately that I’d like to have it set behind the counter, and the fella actually seemed a bit jealous, maybe that was one he was trying to save for himself? I’ll never know, but I was sure to let the manager I had spoken with earlier that I was very humbled and excited to see they up’ed the quality of their selection. Ever since then, there has been a steady flow of great bottles I’ve been eyeing, unfortunately not able to catch them all, but very happy with what I was able to get my hands on.

Arcola Whiskey

I know, I know. It’s a Thursday. “Why post Whiskey Wednesday on a Thursday?!” you may find yourself asking. Well, there’s a great reason for it, and that’s because I was - in fact - celebrating the lovely middle of the week with a downright phenomenal bottle out in the woods. Nestled cozily in my hammock in the foggy banks and bends of American Fork Canyon, I was able to enjoy a few drams to myself before resting in the fog and cold, with a flirtatious full moon fading in and out of the fall-leaved forest. (wew)

Before going too far into the review, I wanted to thank my good friend Nate for picking this bottle up for me while he was out of state. I don’t often get help or donations to the collection, and I really appreciate this! An incredibly thoughtful gift that I hope I can do justice for. It’s one of the best bottles I’ve been gifted!

Arcola Whiskey
”Bourbon mash” whiskey
Carpenter, WY, USA
~$49.99
40% / 80 Proof

Nose - Very welcoming… Warm, frosted sugar and peach, with vanilla and caramel notes that tickle every part of your being, like pulling the lid from a cast iron dutch oven that has been baking a peach cobbler over a fire for the past few hours.

Palette - A bit more modest and mild than the nose, coming off with a very subtle aloe / menthol rye sensation, moving then into some familiar vanilla and caramel, then blending together and flattening out without ever overwhelming the senses, with a few points of very slight, smokey flavors… Is that peat? It couldn’t be…

Finish - Cinnamon and spice that lingers for a moderate duration with becoming to fearsome. A very subtle, warming sensation.

Thoughts - I really, really enjoy this whiskey, especially the nose, which truly is the highlight through the entire profile. There’s something for everyone in this whiskey, except maybe Islay cultists, who could find the taste a bit underwhelming. I’m happy to see new craft distilleries starting up, and after reading the bottle, I was able to infer a bit more about why they don’t have a definitive classification on this “bourbon mash” whiskey; Arcola Distillery only started operations back in 2017, which would legally exclude them from any type of formal bourbon production. They likely have some barrels aging as we speak, with the intention of filling that very specific, legally binding bottle label: Bourbon. And until then, I’ll be following these guys closely, because that’s what I am really wanting to come out of the bottle and the only piece of negative critique I have: This whiskey is just too soft! It’s approachable, and the nose has a ton going for it, but the flavors come off a bit bland in the bottle, and I think a few years age in some moderately roasted white oak barrels would do the recipe a great deal of good.

*Edit and Update as of 10.18.2019
Wow! I was recently able to get in contact with the owner and head distiller of Arcola, an intriguing and kind-spirited man by the name of Mike Borg, who had some incredible details to share about the Arcola whiskey that isn’t readily available on the bottle. For a start, this distillery is very likely, if not assuredly, the smallest distillery in North America; which is both baffling and revealing in as to the whiskey’s well-mastered presentation. Mike was also able to tell me about something I had not noticed prior to our conversation; After a while, there will be a bit of a dark, dusty substance collect at the bottom of the bottle. This is actually remnants of the barrel char that made it through the filtration process. This process is different than the Chill Filtration system that most modern distilleries use, and makes for a more natural, full-bodied flavor, while also offering the that micron-level char impart further aged flavors in the whiskey, even after it has been bottled. It is rumored, Mike told me, that the whispy, near ethereal pattern that the char lies in, like a black swirl in the bottom, is why alcoholic beverages become known as spirits.

Another awesome tidbit of info about Arcola; It is a 100% natural and organic bottle. I was surprised and humbled to hear that Arcola sources it’s ingredients very close to home, with the bourbon coming from Mike’s cousin and the rest of the mash bill coming from less than 40 miles away in a given direction, all verified organic. The water that goes into the bottles is even sourced directly from his own homestead’s well, 80ft deep and as pure as crystal. Learning so much about this whiskey was an absolute treat, and he was able to tell me a few more secrets that you’ll all be able to learn about in the not-too-distant future. As stated above, this is a distillery to watch, and after this interaction, it is truly a product I can get behind. This is a really cool project backed with a lot of love and passion, and I think it shows in every aspect of Arcola’s offering.

About the photos - As I had mentioned early, I took this bottle out with me last night for a nice over-night hang out. It had been raining all day here and the temperatures had dropped substantially, giving us some snowy peaks not far from where I was to be posted. It was high time I went out to combine my passion for the outdoors with my admiration of good whiskey, and - for the most part - it was a great time. I picked up a brand spank'in new spinning reel for my pole that casts and retrieves like a dream (Pflueger President 30), and although I didn’t pull anything out of the water, I did snag one of the greatest fighters I’ve ever had on the other end of the line, on a 1/2oz golden Kastmaster.

After a few hours at the reservoir, the clouds started to roll in and transform into fog before my eyes. I was able to get about 2 miles further up a dirt road from there and set up camp, no neighbors in sight or scent. As the fog came in and out, rolling between the dying fall landscape, I couldn’t help but feel an absolutely magical sensation of child-like elation. The spirit of Halloween was certainly up there with me in those mountains, and a part of me had wished Jason Vorhees would show up to share a few pulls on the bottle with me. I’m very excited to see what the rest of fall brings and I hope I can get up in the mountains during this fairy-tale season. The only downside to taking a unique and delicate whiskey with you on a campout in the cold… The flavor profile almost entirely disappears as the bottle chills. I was only able to take a few drams worth myself before I deemed the process inappropriate for such a nice whiskey, and opted to take a few photos instead, before getting in bed for an early retirement. When I woke, the cool fog was apparently so dense that all of my gear was nearly soaking wet from condensation. I’ve ever had anything like that happen before, and had to dry my gear more intently than even some of the most fearsome thunderstorms I’ve been through. What an awesome night, and one I will cherish the memory of for quite some time.

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