The Bourbon - and other spirits - Thread (was: @ Myronwemissyinz)

Yeah. Larger mold and better glass. My wife asked me to make "something Autumny."

I give you, the Bourbon, Maple, apple cider - drink? Seems wrong to call it an Old Fashioned when it's more like a cocktail.

2-3 oz bourbon. 1-3 oz Apple Cider. Half ounce to an oz maple syrup. (All amounts negotiable depending on your taste)

In a shaker, express an orange peel, add a slice of your apple of choice and 4 dashes of bitters. Muddle the peel and apple gently. Don't mash them up. Just press to release oils and juice. Add the bourbon, cider, a cinnamon stick, and maple syrup. Shake and strain into a lowball or Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon stick.

 

Finally got my hands on this one. I've wanted it since I saw a picture a year or 2 ago... for the name alone!



But a peat smoked Irish whiskey sounds good too.

How is it? It's a little over $30, around the same price or slightly higher as Jameson and Tullamore Dew. And it's about on par with them too overall. Mildly sweet, buttery, that typical Irish whiskey shortbread cookie flavor but with a very pleasant peat smoke aroma and flavor. Not peat that punches you in the face like Islay scotches. But more like it pats you on your head and smiles.

Points against? It's just a touch harsh - it could benefit with longer aging in the barrel. And the finish is just a tad drying - not a personal favorite type of finish for me, but not bad. For the price? It's worth buying to me.

(There's a town in Ireland named Muff. I recently learned that this company is owned by Jimmy Carr, Russell Crowe and Ed Sheeran. As Jimmy put it, he's spent more money on less fun things. But to my knowledge, they're not marketing it as a celebrity whiskey)

 

I know Bruichladdich makes a gin called The Botonist. I don't believe it's peat smoked though. That one runs around $50-60 when I see it.

I'm not a gin guy. But it occurs to me that my aversion to gin began in my 20s - similar to my early aversion to scotch. Perhaps I should try it again some day.