Tag: scotch

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Book Nook: 101 Whiskies To Try Before You Die, by Ian Buxton

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Blurb: 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die is a whisky guide with a difference. It is not an awards list. It is not a list of the 101 ‘best’ whiskies in the world in the opinion of a self-appointed whisky guru. It is simply a guide to the 101 whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whisky education. Avoiding the deliberately obscure, the ridiculously limited and the absurdly expensive, whisky expert Ian Buxton recommends an eclectic selection of old favourites, stellar newcomers and mystifyingly unknown drams that simply have to be drunk. The book … Continue reading Book Nook: 101 Whiskies To Try Before You Die, by Ian Buxton

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Branch On Fire: Glenfiddich Fire & Cane

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Glenfiddich is one of the most established makers of Scotch out there. They have been doing single malts for a long, long time and are the biggest seller of single malts out there. They are known for the sweeter side of scotch, from the Speyside. Fire & Cane, however, is one of their new offerings, an experimental whiskey. Fire & Cane takes their rare peated single malt and combines the fruit-forward Speyside, making it “half-peated”. Peated Glenfiddich was previously hard to find, mostly in duty-free stores. Both are aged in ex bourbon barrels. The “Cane” comes from the cask finishing … Continue reading Branch On Fire: Glenfiddich Fire & Cane

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Branch On Fire: George Remus Single Barrel: A1 Store Pick

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George Remus and his role in bootlegging whiskey is not as well known at the likes of Al Capone, Arnold Rothstein, or Bugsy Siegel, but he probably should be. His story is worthy of a big budget movie the likes the previously mentioned have received. Even more surprising, it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that a bourbon was named after him. But that may have been fortuitous to juice giant MGP. If you are not familiar with MGP, you probably are but don’t know it. Located in Indiana, the produce much of the whiskey “juice” that gets sold … Continue reading Branch On Fire: George Remus Single Barrel: A1 Store Pick

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Branch On Fire: Oban–The Night’s Watch Oban Bay Reserve (Game of Thrones)

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Listen, we all know I’m a sucker for nerd culture. Just look at my Funko obsession. That predilection carries over to my alcohol consumption as well. You slap some nerd or pop culture theme on something and I’m more likely to buy it. Case in point: Oban’s The Night’s Watch Oban Bay Reserve, which is part of the Game of Thrones series of whiskeys they have done. It’s not the only one I have purchased from that series. More on that at a later day. HBO teamed up with liquor super giant Diageo to create eight scotches, each paired with … Continue reading Branch On Fire: Oban–The Night’s Watch Oban Bay Reserve (Game of Thrones)

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Branch on Fire: Flaviar Welcome Box

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The college football national championship game seems like a good time to hit my first sampler box from Flaviar, a whiskey club I signed up for for Christmas. I chose the Welcome Box for my first sampler. They have a variety of boxes to choose from, from whiskey, rye, scotch, rum, vodka, etc. This one has one each of bourbon, rye and scotch. Figured it would be a decent starting point. The three whiskeys included are Breckenridge bourbon, Few Rye and Wolfburn Aurora scotch. They include three sampler vials of 50ml each. I’m going to taste them without seeing which … Continue reading Branch on Fire: Flaviar Welcome Box

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Branch on Fire: High West Campfire

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I recently had half a bottle of this gifted to me by someone who likes bourbon but not scotch. Bonus for me, I’m equal opportunity with my whiskey. See, this one from High West is a blend of bourbon, rye and scotch. They don’t release the ratios, but the rye comes from High West, the bourbon from MGP and the scotch is an undisclosed source, due to contractual reasons they say. The whiskey was born when the High West distiller was visiting a B&B at Bruichladdich distillery and he tried a dessert that inspired him to mix the peaty scotch … Continue reading Branch on Fire: High West Campfire

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Branch On Fire: Buchanan’s Deluxe 12

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It’s time I start writing up some of the swill I’m pouring into my body, so consider this the first in a new series here at IAW. I have a shelf full of whiskey, about half scotch and half bourbon. This blended scotch was the newest addition to the shelf, a Christmas present this year. Most of my scotch is single malt, but I do drink blended on occasion, including one of the price point competitors for this one, Monkey Shoulder. Buchanan’s is an 80-proof blend that has been around for several years now. For bourbon drinkers who think scotch … Continue reading Branch On Fire: Buchanan’s Deluxe 12