Whisk’y “A Blend”

Eastern Time Zone archives produced these bottles. I should say something ornery here. “Tick Tock with your work!“ That’s better. Canada House, Canadian Whisky A BlendI’m guessing this was bottled 1970-1990 NOSE: milkweed latex yields to absurd gumdrop licorice and apple. An old cabinet that was used to store Halloween candy. Evocative, actually. There’s plenty

Arran Lochranza Reserve

No age statement. 43%. NCF/NC. Purchased at Super Fine on Haggerty in Canton, MI. On a 2-point scale–buy again or not–this is a perfect 2. I am finding something curious about it. On one extreme, with little or no water added, it resembles nippy English “chocolate.” Think malt balls, glazed and shelf stable. Or Smarties

USA Whiskey Circa 1950

Park & Tilford Reserve Whiskey A Blend SMELL Christmas pudding. Butter. Hazelnuts. Dried cherries. Dried apricots. Coffee. Black pepper. Peppermint. Light brown sugar. Very slight storage mustiness serves the experience. TASTE Cane syrup. Galvanized steel from a barn. Dark cornbread crust from the skillet. Modeling clay infused with marsh grasses. Bitter red cherries. Peppered butter.

Old Forester Rye

This is the most significant new American whisky I have tasted since pre-fire Henry McKenna.

Folle Blanche

I recently posted about a life-changing, up-cliff driving experience with Folle Blanche. This grape has unique attributes. It maintains tightly formed acidity even as it develops abundant, carbohydrate-rich, ripeness. Because of this, it can make very good sparkling wine, and very good brandy.

Vergano Bianco, Dry

Vergano Bianco Louis/Dressner, Veritas. $40ish Available at Western MKT Drink it straight, or stretch it out with something dry. I suggest proper gin, and melted ice. But you could use sparkling water, or Glera, or a fan turned on high.  

Cortical Olfactory Neurographics

The following figures represent brain activity during controlled tasting of specific alcoholic drinks.

High Summer

Seek deep, velvety, unctuous ruby port in high summer. Quinta do Infantado Ruby is unfiltered, medium-dry, and subject of a Summer Madness Sales Event in the state of Michigan. Licensees, see your Veritas representative. Western MKT sells it for $16. It’s an utterly ridiculous price for this quality. I think QdI is really shooting itself

Add Water

The question was raised. Are these good cuts? Is there an ester fault? What is an ester? How could I know? I still have no answers. But I decided to do a little exploratory taste testing. I poured these two ways: straight and dribbled with water. How much water? I tried various proportions before settling

Vin Quin

I’m so cool, I drink tonic salad out of a Brinery jar.

Tasting Lab

Paleo Nu-Malt

Set aside the woo of synesthesia. Good drinks have tactile aroma. Sticky, not sweet. Like pastry flour coming together with cold water. Only in this case the flour is full of personality: graham, cacao, epazote, wilted pine needles, brush cut for over winter, foggy breath, flannel that once stood next to a campfire, apple butter.

Italian Wines from Ryan White

This will be one of the greatest tastings ever hosted by Mudgie’s. TANDEM 1 Producer: Ornello Molon Region: Piave, Veneto Grape: Raboso Type: 2011 Frizzante Link: Molon Price: (Reg. $16) only $7 while supplies last Producer: Adriano Adami Region: Treviso, Veneto Grape: Prosecco Name: NV Garbel Link: Adam Price: $10, 375ml   TANDEM 2 Producer:

Bourbon

Bourbon. So it’s made out of corn. Barley can be included for its enzymatic activity, rye for spice and dimension. Most of this American whiskey is produced in Kentucky by only a handful of distillers. Why are there so many different brands? If Jim Beam offers a finer selection, for more money, doesn’t its absence just degrade the