Today’s forecast was freezing rain, warming to rain. But for me, it was all sunshine and cozy thanks to my two new friends: Parker and Bowmore. I pitted a wheated bourbon against a peated Scotch. Sort of. I decided to taste them one at a time, so the smoke in the peat wouldn’t take over the tongue. That may not have been a valid concern. At barrel strength, the Parker had flavor to spare, and the Scotch was actually quite soft. Opposites attract, I guess, and these both attracted me.
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In 2007, Congress declared September as National Bourbon Heritage Month. I have adopted this as a personal annual resolution since my birthday is in September and because I like resolutions I can keep. I have been strongly devoted to my cause, tasting a few of my favorites this month, including Blanton’s, Basil Haydon’s, and Eagle Rare. I also stopped by Char No. 4 on a recent evening to sample some Larceny, a wheated bourbon produced by Heaven Hill. In contrast to their wheat whiskey – the delicious Bernheim – a wheated bourbon still follows the bourbon rules of 51 to 79 percent corn, but the rest is wheat instead of, say, rye. Not too sweet, not too much of a kick in the gut, it’s a nice balance. And makes a really good Manhattan. Nothing says true love like whiskey and Valentine cookies. The cookies are a special recipe from my grandma, but with an added twist of whiskey buttercream frosting that I'm sure Grandpa would have enjoyed. The frosting recipe comes from the delectable flour cookbook by Joanne Chang. And the secret is to whip the hell out of it. _ Some people like Friday or Saturday. I like Wednesday. Well, not every Wednesday – the Wednesday when I hear glasses clinking on the other side of the cubicle and smell popcorn wafting down the hallway at the end of the workday. This is usually preceded by the note we all wait for – Whiskey Wednesday. Usual spot. Sometimes a coworker has returned from a trip – most commonly Ireland – with a bottle of whiskey, or someone has a favorite bottle they want to share. Other times we pool our money and send someone to the liquor store. Then several of us from the office who enjoy whiskey gather in the usual spot, grab ice from the bucket if wanted, and pour a taste or two. We even have a set of whiskey glasses, thanks to our super-organized organizer, Rachel. |
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