bendspiritclub.com

So I’m up for hosting February Bend Spirit Club. My first two tastings focused on my absolute favorite spirit, Scotch. It would have been an obvious choice for our upcoming Club meet, but I didn’t want to be ’safe’ this time around. The great thing about being a host is how it educates you and stretches your ability to understand and communicate a theme.

I’ve been tossing themes around left and right for a month.

It comes down to – what haven’t I explored yet? I still have an interest in exploring favorite cocktails, but for February I’m going to focus on a Spirit we haven’t featured yet: Irish Whiskey.

We have a selection of five mid-top shelf Irish Whiskeys and I have to say from a preliminary sampling – there’s not a dud in the bunch. This will be an excellent tasting! See you all February 4th!

- Lance

Melodie came through with a unique and very satisfying Bourbon tasting experience to close out Bend Spirit Club 2009. Highlights of the evening were the excellent Bourbon selections, the mulled Vin Chaud (a pre-tasting delight), extensive selection history, and the introduction of two new practices that added another dimension to the tasting experience. Ground coffee was passed around to “reset” the nose, and more interesting (Parker Beam’s suggestion of how to smell Bourbon) a few drops of each Bourbon was poured in the hands – rub together and smell. Fascinating. And sticky… “Washcloth? No thank you – if cats can do it…”

Let’s get to it!

What is Bourbon?

The name comes from Bourbon County, Kentucky, although to date there are no distilleries in the County.

51% Corn – it should have either wheat or rye and barley (flavoring agent).

It must be aged in New Charred Barrels.

Requires Limestone water that doesn’t have iron in it.

Cannot be called Bourbon if less than 3 years with no age statement, otherwise an age statement is not required.

Can be called Bourbon as long as its made in the US, not just in Kentucky. There is a distillery in Missouri that makes a Bourbon.

Old Forester Birthday

Wild Turkey Rare

Corner Creek Reserve

Elijah Craig 12 year

Declared “America’s Native Spirit” by a 1964 act of Congress, Bourbon has always been the heart and soul of Heaven Hill Distilleries. Heaven Hill was originally established as a Bourbon distiller in 1934, and today the world’s second largest holding of aging Kentucky Bourbon sleeps peacefully in our 42 open rick warehouses situated throughout Nelson County, the heart of “Bourbon Country.”

By law, Bourbon must be made up of at least 51% corn and be aged a minimum of two years in a new charred white oak barrel, standards that were pioneered by early Bourbon makers such as Evan Williams and Rev. Elijah Craig.

Bottling Name Elijah Craig
Bottled By Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. Bardstown,KY

Evan Williams Single Barrel 2000

This super-premium bottling of our flagship brand is the world’s only vintage-dated Single Barrel Bourbon and is one of the world’s most acclaimed whiskeys. The first American Whiskey ever to win The Spirit Journal ’s Whiskey of the Year award, Evan Williams Single Barrel

November’s lineup of tastings will focus on fine Blanco, Silver or Platinum Tequila’s.  All selected were 100% Agave with no aging (therefore the clear or silver color). We will also have the tastings paired with authentic Spanish/Mexican dishes!  Cannot wait to see everyone and to learn about these fine Tequila’s!

Tenampa Azul Tequila Silver

Clear with a nickel cast. Lush aromas of freshly tanned suede, saddle soap, olive skin, and dried cherries follow through on a supple, satiny entry to a dry medium-to-full body with layers of exotic peppercorns, dried herbs, and mineral oil. Finishes with a long, pepper and wet stone accented fade. A superb combination of gusto and complexity.  Price Point: $19.99

El Tesoro de Don Felipe Platinum Tequila

Clear with a platinum cast. Layered, complex aromas of olive, cheese rind, herbs, and roasted pepper follow through on a rich, silky entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with fantastic depth and balance. Finishes with a very long, delicately spice dried tropical fruit, cherry, and pepper fade. A wonderful blanco that shines on its own and will transform cocktails.  Price Point: $38.00

Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila

Clear with a faint nickel cast. Cheese pastry, salty olive, and baked pepper aromas. A soft, lightly tannic entry leads to a dryish medium body of dried pineapple, roasted pepper, honey, roasted coconut, marinated olive and green peppercorns flavors. Finishes with slightly angular dried honey, copper ore, and dust fade.  Price Point:  $45.00

Don Julio Blanco Tequila

Clear. Pure stewed prune and baked pineapple agave aromas. A smooth and supple entry leads to an oily dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body of dried tropical fruits, roasted yellow pepper, and white pepper flavors. Finishes with a nice blend of subtle powdered sugar dusted dried pineapples and wet minerals. Classy and pure.  Price Point: $45.00

Gran Centenario Plata Tequila

Clear with a faint silver amber cast. Oily suede, dried pineapple, and toasted nut aromas follow through on a buoyant, round entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with racy accents of fennel, baking spice, sandalwood, and tarragon, Finishes with a zippy, dried fruit and spice fade. A fun, invigorating blanco with a lot of flavor and style. Price Point: $50.00

I understand at least one person got a little tipsy during this Bend Spirit Club outing.

I’m sorry I missed it!

Our July tasting is just around the corner! Wednesday, July 8, 2009. though the weather has cooled down considerably and floating the river from the house has been shelved (until the heat comes back!), we’ll have a great time tasting some great SCOTCH at my house.

That’s right – it’s SCOTCH. I was considering a completely different direction anticipating a hot day, but when it came right down to it I was more than happy to jump back into my favorite Spirit family.

With help from Mark at East Bend Liquor, we have these five selections to taste. Each one met a criteria I wanted to satisfy:

• The ‘Everyday’ Scotch
• The ‘Random’ Pick
• The ‘Curious’ Spirit
• The Personal Favorite
• The ‘Big Gun’ Selection

The ‘Everyday’ Scotch:
DEANSTON 12 YEAR OLD

Nose: Dry. Light peat. Grass. Linseed, leather.
Palate: Lightly oily. Sweet. Lemon-zest. Lemon-grass. Lightly malty.
Finish: Sherbet. Lemon-zest again. Grass. Appetising nutty dryness.
Comment: More of a Lowland style. If Deanston were regarded as a Lowland distillery, it would score higher.
Price Point: $20

The ‘Random’ Pick:
Speyburn 10 Years Old

Nose: Fresh, clean and aromatic with a rich lemony fruitiness.
Palate: Medium-bodied with a delicate, fruity character and a dry, warm, peaty finish.
Finish: A bit too soft but later enhanced by a spicy note, releasing a slight bitterness. Chewed stalk.
Comment: Quite a pleasant pre-dinner dram, with light nibbles perhaps. A little shy though. Would yield more at a higher alcoholic strength or in a few years.
Price Point: $25-$40

The ‘Curious’ Spirit:
Yamazaki 12 Years Old

Nose: Flowery. Fresh herbs. Biscuity.
Palate: Lightly clean and sweet. Honeyed. Intense.
Finish: Burst of concentrated perfumy sweetness, balanced by cereal-grain notes and Japanese oak.
Comment: A pioneering malt in Japan, for which Suntory deserve great credit. In its early days, it was rounded and delicate, as though wary of offending anyone. Now it is more intense, confident and elegant.
Price Point: $46

The Personal Favorite:
Macallan 12 year old

Nose: Vanilla with hints of ginger, dried fruits, sherry sweetness and wood smoke
Palate: Deliciously smooth, with rich dried fruits and sherry, balanced with wood smoke and spice
Finish: Sweet toffee, dried fruits, lingering wood smoke and spice
Comment: From Lance: One of the strongest Scotch pairings with a good cigar
Price Point: $53

The ‘Big Gun’ Selection:
LAGAVULIN 16 Year Old

Nose: Intense peat smoke with iodine and seaweed and a rich, deep sweetness.
Palate: palate develops, oily, grassy, and, in particular, salty notes emerge in a long, sustained, aggressive, attack.
Finish: A huge, powerful, bear-hug of peat.
Comment: The driest of Islay malts, and an established classic.
Price Point: $88

Much thanks to the many sites and Scotch afficionados who give us a spring board for our own comparison and review.