Absinthe and whiskey..a match made in heaven.

Tonight, I made my way home through the misty mountains of Santa Cruz..weary. After a long and trying day all I could think was about my sofa, a fire and sleep. With another long day ahead of me tomorrow I didn't even think whiskey was on my agenda for the night.

I had forgotten that earlier that day my husband had informed me that he had researched how to make a Sazerac and he was picking up some absinthe at BevMo to make me one. So when I received a text of "eta?",  I assumed nothing. But when I entered my home, cheeks chilled from the cold..I made my way back to the warm kitchen where my husband was working away to ease me of the burden of my day.

A Sazaerac, if you are unfamiliar, is a whiskey drink. Surprised? It includes an icy chilled glass washed out with absinthe, with a combination of whiskey (rye), simple syrup, bitters and a twist of lemon.

It is downright DELICIOUS. You get a faint hint of the absinthe, peppery and sharp. The rye whiskey (Bulleit Rye) is smooth and soft in comparison, you get a hint of sweet and sour from the lemon and sugar. The finish is short and to the point. No need for a song and dance, this drink doesn't mess around. It is strong, it is bold..it will f*ck you up. And after my day it is just what I needed.


Drink with caution, but enjoy. Until next times my dears, Cheers!
Jenn

Rye I oughta!!

I have officially gone beyond bourbons. I didn't mean to, I swear. I heard so many rumblings about this "Rye whiskey"...I just had to try it. And I have to admit, I was a bit nervous. The syrupy sweetness of bourbon I find seductive and comforting, the stickiness reminding me of all the sensualities that life has to offer. I think thats what I really love about whiskey and why I wish more women enjoyed it. I drink whiskey and I feel more womanly. It is such a sexy drink. And the thought of that sweetness being gone made me believe that I would be left with something too harsh for a delicate flower such as myself to enjoy.

When I finally got the bottle of Bulleit Rye Whiskey in my hands I held it up to the light, looking for a difference in color or viscosity. A beautiful amber color, its smooth bottle reflected the light, making the edges seem golden like a trophy. I have to say, I was rather excited to have this "outsider" amongst my ever growing, ever proud true bourbon collection. I was dying to compare this against my tried and true love: bourbon.

Grass isn't always greener folks.

Rye Whiskey is LIGHT. The thing with bourbon is that the weight on the tongue is quite pronounced. This Rye Whiskey is like a light kiss in the golden sunshine of early summer...the wind light against your cheek, your thoughts wrapped up in the moment. You kind of forget where you are for a moment. I mean, I know I am drinking whiskey, but damn, it goes down EASY. Its a little uncomplicated for my taste, however this would be downright dangerous in a Manhattan or Whiskey Sour.

The upfront notes are mild and unobtrusive.  A slight honey and caramel scent. Very pleasurable. When you take your first sip it is soooooo smooth. Not the upfront fire of spice that I am used to with Bourbons. But then...wait for it...BAM! That spice hits and lasts for about 10 seconds..then dissipates as quickly as it made its introduction.  No long, hot finish. A very self contained whiskey, although I think I might prefer the deeper flavors of the bourbon.

Not to have my bourbon bar outdone, I also got my little hands on a bottle of Four Roses: Small batch.

Fucking YUM.

I've started to enjoy the intense upfront smell of a bourbon. Four roses' in the beginning is intense. Super strong oak, vanilla and cinnamon, I could see how this would be a turn off for some. But let it breathe for a few minutes and it relaxes. It flowers, evolving...Add a  few droplets of water and swirl it becomes downright gentle.  With the high alcohol content cut down (its a 90 proof) you can really taste the strong vanilla and light oak. This, THIS is what I like in a whiskey neat. I am finding that I really prefer this to a super smooth pour.  I want to feel alive, reminded of my body and my breath fiery with spice. After I have a bourbon such as Four Roses, even if its just a strong sip,  I am reminded that I am full of vigor and ready to kick some ass.

Until next time my friends..Cheers!
Jenn

Eagle Rare? More like Eagle Awesome!

Eagle Rare 10 year, you are a tricky little bitch.

Mondays are quickly turning into my " I'm going to BevMo to buy another bottle of whiskey" day. I walk into the store and with a focused intention and purpose and make my way to the whiskey aisle. Third on the right, in case you were wondering. In that aisle there are many choices, but today I was prepared. Eagle Rare 10 year is my prize today, and even with the knowledge of what I was going to purchase the other bottles filled with golden amber liquid so caused my eyes to wander. I'm sorry Eagle Rare, but at this point I have no loyalty to you sweetheart. Four Roses Small Batch, I have my eyes on you. But for now, Eagle Rare and I have some business to attend to.

What I am finding with these bourbons that I am often surprised by the taste because the smell leads me a bit astray.  Case in point, Eagle Rare 10 Year.

This bourbon, with its dark honey color is so mild when you take an inhalation. You smell very subtle things: toasted bread, other grains...a very faint dose of almond. What is so interesting is when you take a sip things shift. The flavor becomes more forceful, like a wind blowing open a door during a storm. As soon as the liquid hits your lips its a bit fiery, but at very specific areas of your mouth. You get this little bite-y kick, starting at the roof of your mouth and ending right in the back of your throat. Your lips are tingling and spicy. I lick my lips and it intensifies...and makes it linger longer. These physical sensations last a couple of minutes and add to the enjoyment.

The flavor is strong with fruit, like currents, raisins..slightly sugary but not at all overwhelmingly sweet and not too heavy on the tongue.  The finish is strong and straight to the point. 

I wouldn't say this is an overly complicated bourbon. But I really, REALLY liked it. It surprised me. When I first poured my glass and took a sniff I wasn't expecting much but what I got exceeded my expectations. And isn't that a great lesson? Sometimes, you really can not judge things, or people on first impressions. Sometimes, just sometimes,  your perceptions can be off and if you delve a little deeper your whole perspective  can be changed.

Yep folks, I am deriving life lessons from Whiskey. You have to take wisdom where you can. Either that or I'm drunk. You be the judge.

Cheers,

Jennifer

Sometimes you can't be a purist. Sometimes you just need a drink.

There are evenings where I sit in my dimly lit living room with three fingers of whiskey poured and I methodically and consciously seek out the subtle notes in the whiskey. I reflect and delight in the expression of the different flavors and let my reflective perspective wander into other areas of my life.

Tonight? I just need a fucking drink.

It has been a hellacious week. With the commencement of another semester that included over 11 hours of chemistry and biology my brain is absolutely fried. I don't want to reflect, I want to check out. And I don't know if you know this, but a stiff drink helps greatly with that endeavor. And when you want to check out Whiskey neat is not the way to go. At least not for me. I need something mixed. Something that goes down easy and tastes of candy. Something that takes the edge off. As. quickly. as. possible.

Let me introduce you to my new favorite way to consume Whiskey fast and  mixed: Whiskey with Ginger Beer. This combination is amazing, refreshing and goes down really, REALLY easy. Now, please don't confuse Ginger Beer with Ginger Ale. It is not even close to being the same. Ginger beer actually has ginger in it, not just a bunch of chemicals. It also has a bite to it, which complements a spicier whiskey very well. My absolute favorite is Reed's Extra Ginger Brew.

Tonight, Makers Mark is on the menu. Now, I know that many feel that Maker's Mark is a subpar bourbon. But Mark and I have a long and complicated history. Mark is fiery, with a good upfront punch to him..and while many don't like that,  I for one am a girl that likes it a little rough sometimes.

Its easy really. Small glass filled with ice. Fill the glass 2/3 with Whiskey and a large splash of Ginger Beer. Sit back and enjoy. Don't choose a whiskey that is super smooth, this drink is best with a strong and bold bourbon. Something that punches you right in the face if you try and drink it neat. You get the idea.

The oaky vanilla  flavor of Maker's is distinct swirled within the Ginger Brew. The ice in the glass coupled with the floater of ginger brew cuts through most of the strong alcohol fumes that fill the glass. However, the bite of the ginger brew highlights the spice notes of the Makers Mark and compliments it very well. I am a happy, whiskey loving girl right now.

Happy Thirsty Thursday everyone, may you find whatever quenches your thirst.

Cheers,
Jenn

My name is Jennifer, and I love Whiskey.

I love Whiskey.

There, I said it.

As a woman, that is something of a unique declaration as Whiskey is often seen as a mans drink. When ordering it I get blank stares from women and chuckles and looks of admiration from men. But love it I do. I have chosen this to be the year that I deepen my love and understanding of this beautiful creation. This is the year I drink it neat, flower it with a touch of water and refine my palate to taste all those subtleties that I read so much about.

Its amazing what this interest entails, and how it makes me feel. I swirl my whiskey around my glass and watch in awe as the oils cling to the glass, slowly making their way down to pool with the rest of the whiskey at the bottom of the glass. I stick my face in the glass and take a deep, slow inhalation. Fiery, but I can smell so many different notes. I take a sip and feel the hotness work its way down my throat and into my belly, the warmth dissipating after a minute of two. Drinking whiskey is a whole body experience I am finding, and I like it.

When I started researching all the different whiskies I was really overwhelmed. Tens of thousands of whiskies are made throughout the world, where on earth should I begin? Then I decided: I am an American girl, I will start with Bourbons.  Bourbon, in order to be called Bourbon, MUST be made in good ol' US of A. It was labeled by congress as "a distinctive product of the United States" and it seemed like the perfect place for me to begin my journey.

Tonight as I write, I am enjoying a glass of W.L. Weller 12 year aged Bourbon. And before I give you my thoughts on Weller, please understand that I am no expert of whiskey. At least not yet anyway. This blog is a window into my process of the understanding and appreciation of whiskey..

W.L. Weller Aged 12 Years: A Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey:

I am really enjoying this bourbon. After I pour two (or three) fingers in a glass I swirl and take a huge whiff. At first, the alcohol smell is somewhat intense but you get past that. Specific scents start to present themselves: vanilla, almond and a drippy sweetness that  is delightful. I get hints of a cognac flavor as well. This bourbon is also very, very smooth and heavy on the tongue. Not at all harsh. This is something to enjoy after a long day when you want to be alone with your thoughts, because for me, paying attention to all these details sets a mood of reflection.

When a single piece of ice is added to flavor profile doesn't radically change but that wall of vapor is dissipated making the whiskey so much more approachable. The flavors dilute a bit however I find that at the same time the ice, once melted, soften the edges of those intense flavors and I appreciate how the dynamic of the whiskey changes. It is incredible how it unfolds, changes and evolves. How beautiful is that?

This is a whiskey I would not mix with anything. Neat is the way to go. Now, I'm not against mixed bourbon drinks, I am a die hard whiskey sour girl. Its just that Weller 12 year has way too much to offer on its own to be masked by other flavors. And for $28 for 750ml its a really great bourbon for a fantastic price.



Cheers!
Jennifer