Whiskey Goddess
  • Whiskey Notes
  • About the Goddess
  • Whiskey Cocktails
  • Cooking With Whiskey
  • Whiskey Quotes

Midwinter Night's Tasting: Rye, Bourbon, Happiness

1/17/2015

 
Picture
I had a feast of whiskies tonight, a lovely spread of riches in glasses that seemed to consume me as I consumed them.

The line-up started out with Stagg, Jr. and Midwinter Nights Dram, and was later joined by George T. Stagg. If you are counting, that’s a mighty high proof of an evening. It was as flavorful as a meal and, to be honest, much more satisfying.

Someday when the world is bitter and cold, and I am downtrodden by life’s troubles, I will remember an evening when I reveled in the delights of these whiskies. And I will smile with the impression of the taste still lingering on my memory’s tongue.

Picture
MidwinterNights Dram:

What I knew: Blend of straight rye whiskey finished in French Oak and Port Barrels, 98.6 proof, aged 6 years, High West Distillery

What I learned:

Don’t judge a whiskey by its bottle, but anyone who takes the time to craft a delightfully Shakespearean label and names its goods Midwinter Nights Dram is probably someone after my heart – and tongue. This is spice cake in a bottle. There’s lemon, there’s spice; it’s a little sweet, but not in a syrupy way. It's finished in port barrels and French oak barrels, which seems to lend a good balance for something so high rye.  And with a touch of water, some floral notes come through. I was drinking this with high proof bourbons and it still held its own on flavor. 

To liberally quote Puck, “Give us your hands if we be friends, and whiskey will restore amends.”

Stagg, Jr.

What I knew: Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Aged 8 years, 132 proof

What I learned:

132 proof can be damn good. It did not knock me out with alcohol or make me reach for the water. Instead, it dripped down the insides of my cheeks and down my throat with a nice richness that lingered. A touch of water brought out the caramel smell and the hint of coffee in the aftertaste. It reminded me of when my mom made homemade brittle at Christmas and pieces of the toffee sometimes burned a little in the pan, giving a charred, sweet smell. 

George T. Stagg

What I knew: Kentucky Straight Bourbon, aged 15 years, 138 proof

What I learned:

This is Jr’s dad. A little older. A little more complex. Apparently, quite hard to find. It comes out like once a year and doesn’t normally sit on shelves for long. For good reason. It was completely smooth. It just floated over my tongue like a whiskey cloud. When I was little and used to pray before bedtime, I would pray that I would dream about Care Bears because I thought it would be so cool to spend a night bouncing around on their clouds. You know what’s better? A whiskey cloud. George T Stagg is that whiskey cloud I wish I could dream about. I just wanted to crawl inside the glass, lick the sides, and then fall asleep happy at the bottom. But it disappeared before I could, leaving me with the just the echo of caramel, wood, and toffee. And a smile.



Comments are closed.
    Tweets by @WhiskeyGoddess

    Archives

    November 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Whiskey Notes
  • About the Goddess
  • Whiskey Cocktails
  • Cooking With Whiskey
  • Whiskey Quotes