Infectious Charm. Devastating Wit. Below Average Looks.
We here at the Spokane Whiskey Club are starting to really love rye whiskey. The flavors are typically drier with spicy notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, pepper and even fruity aromas to name a few. It simply makes a spirit a little bit more interesting to us. However, we still enjoy the sweetly familiar side... 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 →
Dry Fly Distillery has been releasing their 100% Washington Wheat whiskey for about four years now. Among other things, it is known for its trademark evocative aroma of buttery wheat grain and underlying fruity sweetness. All in all, it’s a flavorful spirit but on the lighter side of the spectrum. But, we have always been... Continue Reading →
Today, we come to our close, mutual friend, Jack Daniels. Specifically, our focus is on their premium offering, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Tennessee Whiskey. Standard Old No.7 struck us as having some potential but really ended up just sooty, sugary and a bit bland to be honest. Everything about JD Single Barrel, however, promises... Continue Reading →
We come to Glendronach Original, 12yr old Single Malt. This distillery is known for their sherried whiskies, but not just for that. Glendronach Distillery is one of the few independently owned producers out there in a sea of distilleries owned by conglomerates. What does this mean? Not a whole lot unless it tastes good, in our... Continue Reading →
Our decision to showcase Templeton Rye Whiskey for our most recent guest night, I think, was a good one. The other option was to find a heavy rye based bourbon, but since whiskey is booming right now, and rye whiskey is also rising, let’s just go for it and give the newbies a bold rye.... Continue Reading →
The club occasionally hosts what we like to call “Guest Nights.” These little events are a way to get people who are not members in on the action of what we do. And since we are obviously kind of a big deal, we had quite a few guests at our most recent one in April.... 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 →
Whiskey has a long tradition with flavoring. Specifically, infusing wine flavoring by “finishing” whisky in a previously used wine barrel adds a few new layers of flavor. The Scots love to use Sherry and Port wine barrels to finish their single malts, and the results are often wonderful. But American whiskey? We’ve never really concerned... 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 →
Back in 2009, Dry Fly Distillery in Spokane, WA was ready to make a move. Up until that point, they were successfully releasing a vodka and a gin to great reception. While those two spirits were making a splash on the market, a whiskey of 100% Washington wheat was aging in their warehouse. Their first... Continue Reading →
So I found myself wandering throughout a local whisky shop in the bustling metropolis of Spokane. I found a curious bottle of Balvenie 14yr Caribbean Cask staring back at me. Four seconds later, it was purchased and in my possession. I was intrigued for simple reasons: it was a new Balvenie (strong, dependable bet) and... Continue Reading →
And now, we must get back to doing the good work society demands: drinking everything we see and telling the story, for you, dear readers. Today we go to Portland, Oregon and sample a few spirits from Rogue Brewery. These guys are first and foremost brewers of fine ales and other beers. They have made... Continue Reading →
We now move to Rogue’s Dead Guy Whiskey. This one is intriguing. It is made from the same grain recipe their Dead Guy Ale is made from (without the hops). Unlike the 3 month aging period their single malt enjoyed, Dead Guy Whiskey gets merely one month in the oak barrel. These aging periods would... Continue Reading →
Four Roses Distillery has the distinction of distilling ten different recipes it blends together for making its range of bourbons. There are five different strains of yeast applied to two mashbills: 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley; and 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley, for a total of 10 different recipes. Their “Single Barrel”... Continue Reading →
We now take a look at Noah’s Mill Bourbon Whiskey. Like Rowan’s Creek, Noah's Mill is also bottled by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. In years past this spirit was near 15 years old, but KBD moved in recently to include bourbons of two to twenty years old to eliminate the stronger oak tannins of a fifteen... Continue Reading →
As a general rule, we are really excited about the whole craft/small batch bourbon market. The quality and variety of bourbons out there bottled for our consumption and enjoyment can only be a positive for the consumer. In our opinion, this flood of new product is prompting the big producers to get innovative as well as encourgaing... Continue Reading →
Woodford Reserve has long been a well respected Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Woodford Reserve triple distills their whiskey in copper pot stills, rather than the more common double distillation used for flavoring reasons (why do you think vodka is distilled 47 times?) They also have their own cooperage to craft their own barrels, charring them to their... Continue Reading →
From Wild Turkey Distillery comes their signature barrel proof offering for the upper shelves of the world. For the hardcore bourbon lovers out there, any distillery worth a hill of beans needs to offer something serious. None of this micro barreled, 2 year old, 80 proof swill poured from a pretty looking bottle. Put your... Continue Reading →
Spokane Whiskey Club 