Turning 40 and a Revisit

So last night, I went for a couple of drinks after practice to celebrate my impending 40th birthday. One of my friends, looking at the menu and hearing me say that I had had Crown Royal on my 21st birthday and not since, should revisit this particular offering. So I did. I will start by saying that I have not had Canadian whiskey since I was in my early 20's, not for any particular reason. So I ordered one.

Overall, I found Crown Royal to be not particularly exciting, but not bad either. It is, as I was told when I was 21, a good starter whiskey. Not harsh, a little silky in a subdued kind of way, not complex. It is what it is--a Chevy amongst whiskeys. I wouldn't go out of my way to order it, but if you're new to whiskey, it's not bad as training wheels go.

It's been a while

and while I haven't had much to add I will update. As I'm getting ready to move, I polished off that bottle of Knappogue Castle 1994 and Old Potrero 18th Century Style Whiskey. Both were fine bottles, but optimism for the future has not let me get too down about that. One of my roommates recently went to Ireland to retrace his roots and brought back a little bottle of Powers Irish Whiskey to sample from. Now the place down the street carries Powers, and I found that I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I like Jameson and I do like Bushmills, but I did find that I found Powers to be a solid whiskey in that class and at a cheaper price (it's $23 compared to the slightly higher Bushmills and the slightly higher than that Jameson). I tend to find Irish whiskey is a nice compromise for me since I tend to find myself not wanting to tie myself down to a scotch or a bourbon for my "regular" drink and enjoy Irish whiskey because it sort of sits in the middle for me. Also a dollar less than the Famous Grouse and definitely cheaper than the Makers Mark level bourbon, so I think I found a nice inexpensive whiskey so long as I continue to work where I do which is convenient to this liquor store (where I'm moving, the town doesn't allow hards sells).

Sazerac 18 Years Old Straight Rye

Finally, a new note. Sazerac 18 Years Old Straight Rye. Had a chance to try this big brother to the 6 year version we had earlier, and believe me, it flexed its muscles. A warm, caramel or burnt sugar nose followed by a smooth, spicy sensation over my tongue. Almost like air. This is definitely a whiskey worth it's price. A far cry from those who think of rye whiskey as cheap boozer fuel, this bottle is mature and sophisticated.

Glenlivet 15 Year French Oak Reserve

This one I liked. Not as much at the Glenfiddich 15 Year, but it's also a couple of bucks cheaper if I'm willing to look around. Woody and velvety, this one neat has a nice sweetness to it that I really like. I'm very please with this one and might consider it again if I can't get a good deal on the other one. I think this one is excellent buy.

Highland Park 12 Year

I'm not even sure why I was so hot to try this one, but I was. I'd spent a few months looking for a local establishment (because I got the feeling this wouldn't be in one of the local "bars") that carried the 12 year model. It had good reviews and the one restaurant I saw that had one in stock was $25 for an older model. While I don't mind that, I just don't have that kind of coin to drop on an ounce. So heeding the advice of the Good Reverend, I bought a bottle for $46. Now, I did this because my whisky supply is rapidly dwindling and I reckoned it would be an investment. And as the Good Reverend said, at worst I'd have a bottle that I wasn't in love with.

Well, I'm not in love with it. It's a good bottle, don't get me wrong, but I feel that the earthy, in-your-face, first sip gives way to a weaker experience when you get to the third sip. Now, it could just be me, but after tasting a bunch, I have to say the letdown was disappointing. Compared to other 12 years I've tried, HP 12 is right up there. But I think a few other 12's will give you a bit more consistency through your whole ounce (or ounce and a half) while saving you a few bucks. So, I'd say, very good, but not great.

Knappogue Castle 1994 Irish Single Malt

A birthday present and what a present. Thank you, John. I've taken it out for a spin a couple of times, inviting John for both and the Good Reverend for one.

This is the second Irish single malt I've tried and the one that introduced me truly to the idea of a vintage whiskey. This expression of the Knappogue Castle series uses Bushmills malt, from what I understand.

It has an almost distressingly pale color, almost lager-ish in tone. The flavor is light and sweet, almost like a white wine. Refreshing is probably a good word to describe it. It's flowery overtones reminds me of a peach-flavored Japanese candy I used to enjoy as a kid. It lingers long enough not to be annoying yet appreciable.

The wine shop on the corner where John purchased it only has the 1995 now, but I'm curious, so I'm hoping someone will spring and host a tasting.

Glen Garioch 15 Years Old

So I've been in search of a place in the Cambridge/Somerville/Boston area that might have Highland Park available. I've been curious, so if you know of someplace, let me know. But I digress.

In my search (and desire for shellfish) I walked into the Legal Seafoods near work. They didn't have Highland Park, but they did have Glen Garioch 15 year, which I hadn't tried before and since 15 year scotches have been my thing lately, I decided to have a go.

I have to say, that I was a bit disappointed. I found the taste jagged yet strangely flat. That is to say, it was harsher on my palate that what I would have expected, and the flavors tended to hide behind that. I decided that I didn't like it enough that I wouldn't give it a second drink, which is a habit of mine, just to make sure. Some of the flavors, the earthiness, the spice, seemed to fade a bit too quickly. Felt more perfume-like, like a big shy child not comfortable in the spotlight of our attentions.