Tasting Series #6
   The White Whiskey
     Saturday, August 25th   7pm
      $35 Clubroom Members
      $50 Non-Members

 

School is back in session and so are our Tasting Series! Join us as we sample some of our favorite White Whiskeys held in house. From white dog to white lightening and everything in between, we'll learn what makes this style of whiskey so popular as of late and each so special and unique. Limited tix available. For Tickets

Yehmon! Not Your Typical Rum

 Since 1968 Silvano Samaroi has used his fine honed palate to hand select and bottle some of the world's finest whiskies. For some time, he was the only non-British or non-Scottish person doing this type of work and doing it very well. Then came a trip to the Caribbean, when and where he fell in love with Rum. All of Samaroli's rums are hand picked barrels from small distilleries all along the Equator from Cuba to Fiji; they are then shipped back to his facility in Scotland for bottling and aging- preferring the aging seasons in Scotland to produce a finer quality rum.


His passion is our gain, and it is quite an honor to have on hand Rums that are so select that we most likely won't find their equals again!

Samaroli selections in house:


Caribbean 2003- Casks #6 and #8, Cuba
(As you can guess, can't be labeled Cuban in the US).
Bottle #89 of 648, aged 7 years a the time of bottling. 90 Proof

Flavor profile: Young, crisp, very clean with a fast finish. Has notes of vanilla, turbinado sugar, nutmeg and toasted nuts.

Fiji 2001- Cask #1, Fiji Islands
Bottle #235 of 350. Distilled in the Fiji Islands 2001. 90 Proof

Flavor profile: Grassy and medicinal nose. On the tongue smooth and buttery with balanced ripe banana, coconut and hint of hibiscus flower.

Guadeloupe 1998 Rhum Agricole- Casks #39 and #50
Bottle #161 of 330. Distilled in Guatemala. 90 Proof

Flavor profile: Spicy and smokey, slightly Scotch like in style, subtle vanilla. Finished in a used whiskey barrel and has a pressed cane flavor true to Agricole rhums.


Yehmon Evolution 2011- Multi-Cask, Caribbean Area
Bottle #238. Distilled in the Caribbean Area. 90 Proof
This 2011 blended rum features 12.5% each from the following single barrel selections:
1988 Demerara Dark Rum, 1990 Demerara Dark Rum, 1998 Demerara Dark Rum, 1996 Barbados, 2001 Barbados, 1992 Jamaica, 2000 Jamaica, and 2001 Fiji

Flavor profile: Complex and interesting. Vibrant with toasted nuts and vanilla, sassafras root during the finish.

Cheers!

A Dram and a Stick

Calling all Triangle-area Cigar Aficionados! Tonight in the Clubroom we have a membership drive for the Bull City Smokers Cigar Club, which meets here monthly on the last Wednesdays at 8p.  


For tonight's special meeting we'll have a Glenmorangie tasting courtesy of the folks at Whiskey and Southern Wine & Spirits. Come early at 7:30 for a seat!

Hot Summer Nights...

Just because it's wicked hot out, not to mention humidity as all, doesn't mean one has to remain locked up in front of the A/C at home. We've got live music, A/C, and best of all, cool cocktails or better yet- a dram of the brown stuff, on a rock or two if you need it. Here's a few events to sway you to brave those sweltering nights:
Live Music:
EVERY THURSDAY 10(ish) Brian Horton Trio
SAT 7/14 9p Ironing Board Sam
SAT 7/21 9p Ryan Hanseler & guests

Events:
LAST WEDNESDAYS 8p Bull City Cigar Club mtg

We'll be here

We're Ramping Things Up....

You may have noticed a few changes here and there at Whiskey and the Club Room. Not only have we keep true to offering a Tasting Series event in the Club Room every month, starting the long awaited Cigar Club (last Wed of every month 8p in the Club Room), you will see in the coming months an updated website (visible on mobile devices), as well as a revival of Whiskey's blog- The Snifter and the Shaker.

As always, we appreciate your continued patronage and enthusiasm for the brown spirits and traditional cocktails as we do!

Topic or tasting you'd like to see? Email us!

New In-House Selections to Ward Off the Autumn Chills

High West Silver OMG Pure Rye | Park City, UT

OMG here means - Old MononGahela rye. The Monongahela is a river in western Pennsylvania, the name means "falling banks" in reference to the geological instability of the river's banks, which are high, get washed out and therefore collapse. PA became the epicenter of American distilling when whiskey production boomed in the 1800's. Before Prohibition most of the known stills were in PA, primarily using rye where as Kentucky used corn. Old MononGahela rye was considered some of the best there was. However, the distilleries in Pennsylvania all went out of business and the industry there never recovered to the extent the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky did. High West painstakingly researched the recipe for their OMG Pure Rye, made from 80% rye and 20% malted rye and has brought back a true American product.

Tasting Notes:
Packs a unrefined sweet heat and spice, notes of deep red fruits at the start, then mellows to an alluring crisp citrus and smooth finish. A favorite for it’s unique complexity.



High West Bourye | Park City, UT

Bourye is a combination of “Bou” for bourbon and “rye” for rye whiskey. A 50/50 blend made with three whiskies: a 10-year-old bourbon with a mash bill of 75 percent corn, 20 percent rye and 5 percent barley malt; a 12-year-old straight rye whiskey that's 95 percent rye and five percent barley malt; and finally a 16-year-old straight rye with 53 percent rye, 37 percent corn and 10 percent malt.

Tasting Notes:
Balanced yet complex with notes of molasses, coconut and caramel, rye bite at the finish.



Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel | Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky
This is the second limited edition Bourbon in the Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon collection. Aged 11 years and 7 months years in Warehouse C, built by Col. Taylor in 1881 as well as bottled in bond.

Tasting Notes:
This is one for Scotch fans. Starts sweet and buttery, goes to a mild zesty citrus character and then an expected smokiness kicks in, reminiscent of a Scotch.


And now for a little love from overseas....

Bushmill’s 1608 Anniversary | Ireland

The bottled 1608 Anniversary is a homage to the last 400 years of perfecting the art form of distilling. The 1608 is a blend of Bushmills malt whiskies (a selection from those aged in either American oak or Spanish sherry casks), a small amount of Irish grain whiskey and the crystallized malt.

Tasting Notes:
Toffee-like smoothness with vanilla, honey and dried fruit notes. Mild and smooth all the way though. A bar favorite.

Upcoming October Events

VIP Wine Taste
& Buy Event

Thursday, October 27th 2011 7-9pm.

Featuring selections from the Authentique Vin portfolio

Please join us for an evening of fascinating fun and flavors from France as
we explore French winemakers and their far and fetched fares. Special orders
(with very special pricing!) will be taken during event for delivery the
following week.
$55 / Club Room Members $70 / Non-Members

Sound Fabulous? RSVP at whiskeydurham@gmail.com

PS: This event is limited to 35 attendees so respond quickly for a spot!


Cheers!!

Fear not the Golden Nectar from the Land of the Rising Sun!

The future of one of our favorite whisky regions has been a concerning topic of discussion as of late. After the devastating earthquake, tsunami and radiation exposure, it is wondered what will become of our beloved Japanese whiskies? After researching numerous resources, the outlook is surprisingly good. Most distilleries did not receive much structural damage other than a few bottles broken and disruption in transportation. Overall, the recorded levels of radiation in the areas of whisky distilleries is less than the radiation a R/T flight from NYC to LA causes.

More so, Japanese Distilleries elected to voluntarily submit samples to a Government-approved testing center in Japan starting at the beginning of April 2011 and tested over the following few days. The results conclusively show that these products have been unaffected by radio-nuclides.

So....drink up, we've got at least 20 yrs' worth before the concern of new materials, water, etc, comes into the picture!

And with that being said, we have a new lovely specimen on our shelf-

Suntory Hibiki 12Y. This offering has been aged in numerous oak barrels of varying size, shape and wood type, including the rare Mizunara oak. The 12 year is pure and clean, with a fruity palate and a soft, mellow and slightly sweet body.

We also have on hand the 12Y and 18Y Yamazaki from Suntory. Both made with malted barley, special yeast strains and aged in American, Spanish and Japanese oak casks. The 12Y lends itself to the Bourbon fan with its medium-bodied sake smooth and creaminess with notes of nuts, apricots and oaky vanilla. The 18Y version is matured in sherry casks with a woody nose. Maintains a beautiful balance with soft tannins, with lots of spice, oranges, and apples. The finish is exceptional as it lingers away.

And you thought Utah was just for Mormons....

This week we shed light on a little ol' distillery highly rated, regarded and awarded, out West in the high country of Park City, Utah, right at the bottom of the Quittin' Time ski run. Relatively new on our shelves, this brand encompasses the creativity and pure passion for straight American Whiskies as Compass Box does for their single malt scotch blends.

So far there are 3 High West options in house to sink your taste buds into:

High West Double Rye: This rye combines 2 straight-ryes, one aged 2 yrs (95% rye/5% corn), the other 16 yrs (53% rye/37% corn) to produce a truly unique rye with gin-like juniper qualities and a pronounced spiced honey flavor and body to bring it all home. The addition of the elder rye helps to curb the bite of the youngn' and therefore create a match made in Cradle-robbin' heaven.

High West Silver Western Oat Whiskey (85% oats/15% barley malt)is an Un-aged (white-dog if you will) American oat whiskey of the finest sipping quality. Young yet delightfully complex, with hints of anise, apple and pear and a lightly delicate body. 2010 ADI Craft American Whiskey Competition Best Un-Aged Whiskey winner.

High West Rocky Mountain 21Y Rye (53% rye/37% corn/10% barley malt) This rye is of a very remarkable sort. By aging in used oak barrels, it's taste is less influenced by the wood resulting in a softer, smoother rye chock full of warm spice, candied corn, vanilla and caramel. This is one to pour your whole heart into!

We've Got the Goods...

There's lots of new spirits in house right now, both upstairs in the Club Room and downstairs, in fact too many to list! You should stop by soon and get you some, because, as you may already know- what's here today maybe gone tomorrow! Salut!

4/20 Jessy Carolina & the Hot Mess plays again!

9pm - 12pm: Jessy Carolina & the Hot Mess

If you missed this fabulously talented band from NYC the first time, here's your chance to redeem yourself. Jessy and her boys stop by next Wednesday April 20th at 9:00pm. Come out, dress up and cut a rug to this mess of a good time!!
http://jessycarolinahotmess.com/

LISTEN@ http://www.reverbnation.com/jessycarolinaandthehotmess

Now Open!

The awaited Club Room at Whiskey is now offically open and taking Membership applications. Wednesdays are 'Preview' nights as to get a taste of what being a Club Room Member is all about. Thursdays-Saturdays are members only. Fridays after work come check out Hors d'oeuvres starting at 5pm. And that's just the beginning... Cigar Lockers, Chair massages, special tastings
...See you soon.

Like a present we can't unwrap

-but we know how fantastic it is! That's how we feel about the Upstairs venue as we day by day, hour by hour, get closer to completion.

Heather Garrett of Heather Garrett Designs (313 W. Main St Durham, NC) has done it again as the designer for this project. If you think downstairs is dapper... just wait. The Upstairs is truly exceptional, a place to relax and enjoy yourselves- whether alone or with a group. Leather chairs, chianti red walls, and a bar this time from a bygone era of the Midwest, Heather worked wonders to meld our vintage finds with modern design pieces to create a perfect ambiance. We think Heather is absolutely amazing, check her out at www.heathergarrettdesigns.com and you will think so too!

New on the shelf-

New this week:Corner Creek Reserve Bourbon- Made in Bardstown, Kentucky. Aged 8 years. 88 Proof.
Don't let the wine bottle deceive you, it's all Bourbon in this brown bottle. On the palate it is light with lots of citrus, mild corn, wheat and rye tones, finishing crisp and clean. A great beginner's Bourbon at a good price too!

Redemption Rye Whiskey- Distilled in Indiana, Bottled in KY. Aged 2 years. 92 Proof. Rye is making a come back! Once a popular spirit in the US, Rye Whiskey was a key ingredient famed classic cocktails such as The Manhattan, The Whiskey Sour, Sazerac, and The Old Fashioned. By the time Prohibition was repealed, Rye's popularity had suffered greatly.

Redemption Rye Whiskey vies to change that. With a bold 95% Rye in the mashbill (as opposed to the standard at the very least 51%), this Rye has a "feisty" flavor profile with prominent notes of cinnamon, clove, and dark chocolate, blended with hints of crisp evergreen with a spicy, vibrant finish.

Eagerly awaiting....

As those of you frequent patrons already know there's been some movin' and shakin' being done upstairs of Whiskey.

You also probably know that we are putting in a gorgeous retro bar from WI as well as other salvaged and meticulously restored goodies!

What you may not know however is how just to get upstairs once it opens up officially.........

Check your inboxes soon! If you are not a member of Whiskey yet become one!

Bond... Bottled in Bond

We at Whiskey often get asked this question- What the hell does Bonded mean? (Yes, in that manner too!)

Bonded in this case does not have to do with a mullet sportin' bondsman or a reference to the classic Bond series (that would be a Vesper). The term "Bottled in Bond" in the Whiskey arena means an American-made spirit that has been aged and bottled according legal regulations set by the US govt's Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.

To be labeled as "Bottled-in-Bond" or "Bonded," the spirit must be the product of 1 distillation season and 1 distiller at 1 distillery. It must have been aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least 4 years and bottled at 100 proof (50% alcohol by volume). The bottled product's label must identify the distillery, where it was distilled and, if different, where it was bottled.

While the regulations apply to all spirits, in practice, most bonded spirits are whiskeys.

Currently In-house:

• Evan Williams White Label Bonded
  
• Heaven Hill Bourbon
• Henry McKenna Single Barrel
• JTS Brown Bourbon
• Mellow Corn Whiskey
• Old Fitzgerald Bourbon
• Old Grandad Bourbon
• Rittenhouse 100 Rye Whiskey

WYSIWYG

(What You See is What You Get)

This blog basically serves as a forum for us here at Whiskey to pass along bits of knowledge, histories and general excitement we have for the Spirit of our namesake. We also love to talk Cocktails and Beer (esp. NC Beer!)

Most of the time the questions will come from honest-to-goodness customers asked at a most unfortunate ill-opportune time in which we couldn't give the answer due breath.

So ask a question here, you may get an answer.

Rye not?

Q of the Day: What is the difference between a rye and a bourbon?

A: An American rye whiskey is made from a mash of no less than 51% rye grain where as Bourbon is made up of no less than 51% corn in the mashbill. Corn tends to be sweet, rye has a bite- do the math and you find a spirit with a peppery and slightly bitter flavor very distinct onto its own. Rye not try it?


New In House...

Copper Fox Rye
From Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, VA. A unique Rye made with a mashbill of 2/3 Virginia rye grain and 1/3 Virginia Thoroughbred barley grain, hand-malted the old-fashioned way using a screen kiln over apple wood and cherry wood smoke. This rye is double pot-stilled to between 150 and 160 proof and aged with a series of new and used apple wood and oak chips inside used bourbon barrels.
www.copperfox.biz

Our notes...
Smoke onsets the nose with a hint of oak. Taste is of fruit, spice, smoke and a little fire.. finish is spicy, slightly sweet though relatively mild. -WD

As the Whiskey pours...

Welcome!
Wow what a year! We've finally taken a breather from stocking our shelves and serving you the best spirits in Durham to spend a little time online. Follow us on Twitter @whiskeydurham for happenings and musings. Check back here often for libation lore, tasting notes, new products in house and general whiskey wonderments! Cheers!