Infectious Charm. Devastating Wit. Below Average Looks.
I recant my former statement on the novelty of the Edition series from Macallan. Just when I admit the freshness of this curious set of bottles, along comes Edition No. 4. Here is a quick snippet from Macallan on No. 4….. The fourth release in this innovative annual Series, Edition No.4 embodies the craftsmanship and... Continue Reading →
Long ago in a land far away I heard on Whisky Cast that Irish Distillers was reviving the Spot line, an old brand of Irish whiskies sold in the shops of Mitchel & Son in Dublin, Ireland. I faintly remember a guest of Mark Gillespie, the host, explaining that barrels aging the single pot still... Continue Reading →
Because we are perhaps the oddest whiskey club currently running, it stands to reason that we display our oddness for you all to enjoy. Or hate, I don’t know. Pursuant to this character flaw, we will publish the results from an equally odd tasting theme from one of our recent meetings: beer cask finished whiskies.... Continue Reading →
At the time of this writing, the SWC is over 6 years old. I'd like to say that the basic beating heart of any given meeting has not changed from when we first started, and that beating heart is sitting around a table and evaluating a new whisky we have not tried before, together. We... Continue Reading →
Remember, just because you can blend weird whiskies together, even if you are David Perkins, it certainly doesn't mean you should. Just throwing that out there. Utah based High West Distillery is a mixed bag for me. I seem to like less of their blended expressions of god-like concoctions than others do in our uber... Continue Reading →
Highland Park Distillery’s true dark origins can be found in its creation in 1798, in the northernmost reaches of Scotland on Orkney Island. In 2017, Highland Park revamped their image, with new designs and expressions. Unfortunately, this means the end of the Dark Origins expression, to be replaced with the Valkyrie in their lineup. Dark... Continue Reading →
Wild Turkey's Russell's Reserve has a special place in SWC's heart, as both the Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye versions offer a decent pour for a decent price. Say no more. Well, I will say a bit more. I should really stop using that line. Today's selection is a new expression in Big Russ's signature... Continue Reading →
The old joke goes like this: "95% of the world’s bourbon is made in Kentucky and the rest just isn’t bourbon." It’s a cute line, sure, but it’s kind of dumb and not really funny anyway, except if you live in Kentucky or if your name is Jimmy Russell. I don’t know for sure if... Continue Reading →
Bastille 1789 Blended French Whisky is a first for us. I am aware of no other French whisky available where I live, and of course cognacs and brandies abound. I'd say it’s about time we started seeing something from the Frenchies as their country is the biggest per captia consumer of whisky in the world. Perhaps they should... Continue Reading →
I think we have fallen in the ever widening, deepening, sickening pit of “selective bias.” This happens when all reviews never go above 89 or below 82. You start reviewing what you know you will like and forget about the whiskies you truly wouldn’t drink even under threat of violent death. Today’s selection is by... Continue Reading →
We have up until this time completely ignored High West Distillery. Not because the Park City, Utah based outfit is overtly boutiquey, or that they may be annoyingly riding the bull crap wagon that the craft whiskey industry keeps insisting upon us when they market their “artisanal” ways, nor because they have yet to sell... Continue Reading →
There are three stages of whisky enjoyment: 1) Beginner 2) Snob 3) Connoisseur. The first stage is often the most fun. Everything is new. We are open to trying most anything and the mind is a sponge, soaking in knowledge and experience. The palate is constantly challenged, this being the most important aspect of moving... Continue Reading →
To a casual observer, Japanese whisky could be accused of being a simple copy of Scotch whisky. After all, an early pioneer of Japanese whisky, Masataka Takestsuru, studied chemistry and whisky making in Glasgow, apprenticed at two distilleries and brought his new skills back to Japan to co-found Suntory, one of the pillars of Japanese whisky still standing today.... Continue Reading →
Historically, whisky has been associated more as a western drink. However, the people of Japan have been working hard to change this perception when promoting their whisky. Over the past decade or so interest in Japanese whisky has soared. Why? This stuff is so damn interesting, that’s why. Being this is Spokane Whiskey Club's first Japanese... Continue Reading →
It has been said, somewhere, maybe at least once by no one in particular, “I’d rather have a bad scotch than a good gin.” We personally would rather just order a good scotch and a good gin, but some people I guess are just too particular. Perhaps with this customer in mind, Dry Fly Distilling... Continue Reading →
“To Friar John Cor, by order of the King, to make aquavitae, VIII bolls of malt.” This was the first recorded reference pertaining to the spirit known today as Scotch, from 1494. King James IV sent this correspondence to the most prolific makers of the spirit at the time, the monks and friars, who introduced... Continue Reading →
I couldn’t resist this one. What could possibly go wrong? A book for connoisseurs, surely. Whiskey and philosophy, something important men think about while gazing out windows with a tumbler of Johnnie Black at their side. Even more interesting is the fact that this is an edited volume of a variety of essays covering topics regarding... Continue Reading →
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