tasting notes for the whiskey newbie

Irish whiskey has been increasing in popularity since the late 90’s. If you have never tried a good Irish whiskey there is probably no better time than the next couple of days. Over the weekend there will be several local bars offering ridiculous Irish whiskey specials. To get started we offer some tasting notes on a few of our favorite Irish whiskies.

Clontarf Classic Blend – This blended whiskey is a great place to start. It has a milder flavor up front with just enough bite and body at the end and is generally priced mildly as well.

Redbreast 12 Year Old Pure Pot Still Whiskey – Without a doubt my favorite Irish whiskey at its price point. Redbreast is known for its musky nose, smooth texture and light finish.

Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt Whiskey – A delicious flavor for a whiskey on the younger side, Bushmills single malt offers a contrast between bright acidity and sweet barley.  

Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve – Going from 10-year whiskey to 18-year whiskey causes a noticeable jump in price. But also offers a noticeable jump in flavor, incorporating sweet nutty notes with a velvety texture.

In Ireland, whiskies like these are commonly referred to as “moreish”, meaning that one leaves you wanting more. My research has confirmed this. I think that these Irish whiskies are quite a refined group of hooligans, sure to impress your drinking companions, but with just enough bite to keep you on your toes.  Cheers!

aprés ski toddy

Now that winter is finally showing us some snow, it's time to hit the slopes. After a day of play in the cold snow try this hot toddy recipe to warm you back up.

• 4 oz Tennessee Honey Whiskey (new from Jack Daniels) or Cinnamon Whiskey (Fireball)
• 2 cups Hot Tea (Good Earth Original has the best spice combination)
• Juice from 1/2 Lemon
• 2 Tbsp Honey

Brew and steep the tea and then combine with the rest of the ingredients in a saucepan until completely dissolved. Serve in 2 mugs and you have the sweetest & warmest drink of the ski season. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or dried clove if you like.

a pear you won't soon forget

We've introduced you to various flavor infusions via Vodka, Gin, Whiskey etc, however, infusing vodka is one of the easiest spirits to work with because it's very neutral—making it a wonderful base. Things like fruit, cinnamon sticks, herbs and citrus rind all make for wonderful infusing elements.

Today we're introducing you to our infused Vodka (or Gin) with Pear, Apple and Chai Tea. The Chai gives just that little extra zing making it great for Autumn cocktails that will impress your most discerning guests. Let’s just say you’ll be thanking us next week when you’ve killed the whole bottle.

Ingredients:

• 1 Litre Vodka or Gin
• 2 Jolie Rouge Pears
• 1 Green Apple
• 1-2 Chai Tea Bags

Place vodka in a jar with a tight fitting lid.

Soak the tea bags in the vodka for one hour, then remove and discard. In the meantime, slice up the pear and apple–add to the jar.

Let pears, apples and vodka sit for one week in a closed container.

Once your week is up, your liquor is done infusing. You can strain the pears and apple out of the vodka, and eat or trash, I know what I'd do.

Come back later for a fantastic cocktail recipe using this infusion.

Cheers!