Infectious Charm. Devastating Wit. Below Average Looks.
It seems we don't write blog posts about industry happenings, trends, or even the dumb controversies we are supposed to care about. Could we? Sure. We pretty much only do reviews. To strike a balance, we throw in our opinions, if relevant, in the write ups. The NAS controversy is one of those topics making the rounds... Continue Reading →
In our humble yet devastatingly accurate opinion, the single best way to grow your whiskey palate is to challenge it. If you have a smoky Islay in front of you, pour a sherried Speyside next, then followed by a bourbon cask refill. In order to sharpen your sensory perception of the differences, you have to... Continue Reading →
We arrive to yet another stop on the Ardbeg trail. It should be stated without winking or crossed fingers that Ardbeg has immense street cred among connoisseurs and commands childlike wonderment from the casual observers. You may be able to safely stamp a cult like following on this celebrated brand. This basically ensures that whatever... Continue Reading →
There will never be a perfect whisky. Ever. Few are bad, most are decent, some are good, even less are considered great. Maybe a handful are considered legendary. Today’s selection is certainly not legendary, but it might as well be for lowly bottom feeders like us. I am not a rich dentist, I buy what... Continue Reading →
Allow us a mere moment to divert from our populist method of reviewing bottles you can actually find on the shelf and talk about something much more titillating: independent bottlings. The spirits industry across all styles maintains a lovely working relationship with independent companies that buy excess quantities of casks from distilleries for eventual resale. A... Continue Reading →
Like the other two bottlings in our recent look at Glenmorangie’s 12 year old finished whisky, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is the original 10 year old single malt, aged in first and second fill bourbon casks, and this time around is finished for a further two years in port wine “pipes.” A Port pipe is a... Continue Reading →
Newcomers to the whisky scene should consider themselves lucky these days. If you’re into a diverse selection and variety of whisky styles on the shelf, then my fine friend, it’s a good time to be a whisky fan. Purists will always have their standard Kentucky Straights or simple Scottish barley malts, but producers like to... Continue Reading →
Disclaimer: Rejoice, for this whisky review by the ever useful SWC will NOT mention the boring as hell factoid that Ardbeg Corryvrecken is named after the world’s third largest whirlpool. No one needs to drink from a tall, warm glass full of NoOneCares anyway. We’re helpful like that. Ardbeg Distillery, at the time of this... Continue Reading →
Warning: today’s write up is going to contain much whisky geekery, a bit of a departure from our normal, more approachable style. Just go with it. Revel in it. Ardbeg Distillery enjoys a strong and devoted following from the world of whisky enthusiasts. Their fans will buy anything they release at any price. But even the fans... Continue Reading →
The Peaty Paradox. That’s what they call it. The paradox is simply the strange mix of smoke and sweet mingled together in the glass as you smell and sip. The degree to which the producer is able to distill and develop the proper ratio of these contrary flavors determines the success of their peated malt. But... Continue Reading →
The market is a cruel, cold lady to any new startup. She’s especially unkind to the startup distillery. So you want to offer your two year old whisk(e)y that no one has heard of for $50.00 when they could grab another three times as aged for half as much? Lot’s of luck, ace. Here’s a stat... Continue Reading →
The Glass Case. You’re allowed to look, but never touch. You’ll never be able to afford those bottles, so why get yourself worked up? Just keep moving along to your bottle of Old Crow in the back next to Early Times and give the cashier your ten bucks and go home. The rich dentists laugh... Continue Reading →
There are some disturbingly silly whisky descriptors out there. For example, I have read in more than a few reviews the aroma/taste of “wet rock.” What’s even more silly is that I have tried since then to smell wet rocks when I find them. Sometimes I get something, most other times I don’t. But at... Continue Reading →
During the early 1960’s, blended Scotch was dominant. It is still dominant, but back then there was no single malt market to speak of. The Grant Family, owners of Glenfiddich, decided to hold back a portion of their stocks otherwise destined to feed the monster of blends. Single malt was thought of at the time as too... Continue Reading →
As a global brand since the early 50’s, Chivas Regal has secured a healthy market share envied by most brands, I imagine. Available in virtually ever bar, store and perhaps a few cabinets, it can be confidently expected that one develops an opinion early on concerning Chivas Regal 12. And it can be expected with... Continue Reading →
On the same night of our Shackleton whisky tasting, we sampled, not coincidentally, Glenmorangie Finealta, a new Private Edition from Dr. Bill Lumsden, Head of Distilling and Whisky Creation for the Glenmorangie Group. The reason for pairing Finealta with the famed Mackinlay’s was simply because it is recreation of an old whisky recipe found from 1903 (bottled... Continue Reading →
My fascination with Ernest Shackleton and the Heroic Age of Arctic Exploration began in an IMAX theater. A group of friends and I stumbled upon one of the few IMAX theaters at the time in the Mall of America. We all wanted to experience the famed 90 foot screen, but simply needed to pick a movie. One selection that stood out was a documentary on... Continue Reading →
You see folks, the world of Single Malt is a rather small one. The market’s insatiable appetite for blends devours roughly 90% of all whisky production for the numerous brands. The 10% remaining is bottled as the noble Single Malt. We don’t take a certain side one way or the other when it comes to Malt vs.... Continue Reading →
One of the many reasons why we love whisky is the care required to produce it. Not only are we impressed with the process but even more with how long it takes to make this stuff. From grain to barrel you are looking at most a week, depending on your process. Distillers would love to... Continue Reading →
Spokane Whiskey Club 