Today’s whiskies seemed to have an escapism theme – Zeppelin Bend and Angel’s Envy rye. Battle of the bottles would be tough with these two: an artsy zeppelin flying around one bottle and a drawing of angel’s wings on the other. I think if I had to fly somewhere fast, a bar full of whiskey would probably be my destination, so the idea is not that far off. I added a new element of nerdiness to my tastings today. I brought a little bottle of vanilla and spice bottles full of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. The idea was to smell the pure smells against the whiskey and then try and recognize them when I drank it. Then I realized I already kind of spread out all over the bar with my two glasses and the two bottles and some water and a straw and my iPhone and my whiskey notebook and my other notebook. Adding a spice rack seemed a little over the top. So instead I pulled them one by one out of my bag and tried to smell them inconspicuously. I don’t know how well I pulled that off, but thankfully, a bar at 4 p.m. on a holiday Monday is not too crowded. When I was a kid, I used to love to sit on the counter and open up spice jars to smell them, picking out my favorites. I would like to say that led me to a heightened sense of smell recognition, but I don’t think that’s the case. I feel like my sense of taste is strongly affected by texture and memory, which tends to get in the way of pure smell. I’m counting on practice makes perfect, though. And if I must drink more whiskey to learn its ways, well, then, I must.
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I must say, I have been very diligent about my New Year’s challenge to drink 33 new whiskies in less than 30 days. I might need to extend this challenge (99 problems, but a dram ain’t one?). Today, I ventured into the international, tasting an Irish whiskey next to a bourbon. The Irish whiskey is distinctly different and lighter. It’s as if nothing is added, necessarily, but some of the harsher flavors of the newer world whiskies are taken out. Irish whiskey seems kindly familiar every time I have it. I wonder if it’s possible with one sip to be transported back to that college spring break I spent in Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day. I think of dark wood booths and reading, but not necessarily reading in dark wood booths. (In addition to that spring break, I also spent a week at an Irish literature summer school once-less kissing, more James Joyce). I was actually a little surprised. I think of myself as more a bourbon or Scotch gal, but I when I sat down and listened to these two whiskies, I liked what the Irish had to say. But that's what this is all about - meeting some new friends. I approach whiskey like I approach people. I generally expect to like everybody unless they prove me wrong. Today’s new friends: Angel’s Share Bourbon and Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey |
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