Quebec Cocktail

My most dedicated (only?) reader pointed out that I had not posted in awhile, so here goes. This is something I tried today, actually, at Seven Saints. Today being a Wednesday, they had their usual whiskey Wednesdays going on, and this week was Canadian Whiskey. I'd never actually heard of this cocktail before, but it was on the Canadian whiskey menu and looked good so I decided to give it a try. My first impression was BITTERS - the orange bitters stand out in this drink. Although I've never tried maraschino before, I tasted a hint of cherry-almond flavor, and I'm guessing that's what it was. The whiskey is there too, of course. A pretty solid cocktail, certainly not for the sweet-toothed among us, but not bold enough to deter the average drinker, in my opinion.

• 2 measures Canadian Whiskey (Crown Royal was in mine)
• 1/2 measure dry vermouth
• dash Orange Bitters
• dash Maraschino Liqueur

Stir all ingredients with ice and serve on the rocks in a short tumbler.

Blanton's (Bourbon)

Also tried this one at Seven Saints. They have "Whiskey Wednesdays" every week where different types of whiskeys are featured at half price. This week it was Bourbon and Rye. The tasting notes said this was a house favorite, so I gave it a try. I like my bourbon with just one or two ice cubes, so that's how I ordered it. The aroma was quite delicious, like vanilla-flavored caramel. The initial taste was surprising, like wet earth, or the way it smells in the woods after a rainstorm. I imagine this is due to the fact that Blanton's is aged in single new-oak barrels and bottled straightaway. At one point the finish brought up images in my mind of standing on a wooden bridge over a stream in the woods, or perhaps a pier out over a lake. Strange, but the flavor was really quite interesting. Also, after leaving the bar, the lingering finish had strong notes of clove, which was a nice, late surprise.

Glenmorangie Scotch Tasting

Last week I had the chance to attend a local tasting of 5 of Glenmorangie's Highland single malt scotch whiskeys at the Sun Singer, a fine wine and spirit shop in south Champaign. I don't remember every detail about each of the varieties they had to offer, but here's a general overview:

The Original - 10 Year

The entry-level offering from Glenmorangie was a decent scotch, and the most inexpensive in the lineup. It was reasonably smooth and had some subtle fruit flavors, but coming back to it after trying the following four was like comparing water to wine.

The Lasanta - 12 Year

This was probably my favorite of the 5. It was quite smooth, with a bold malt flavor and a finish that hinted of chocolate and toffee. Apparently this is due to its aging in casks that were once used for sherry.* Very interesting.

The Quinta Ruban - 12 Year

This one had a fascinating aroma. The representative indicated the presence of freshly baked pastries, similar to the smell of a kitchen at Christmas time, which in my opinion was pretty accurate. It was lightly buttery with flavors of spices, and quite a treat.

Nectar d'Or - 12 Year

I couldn't make up my mind if I liked this one or not. It had a very creamy finish to it, kind of like a dessert. The flavors were hard to pick out, but over all it was very-dessert like, and although it was by no means sweet, it kind of tricked me into thinking it was. Unique, to say the least.

The 18 Year Old

What can I say? This was my first 18 year old single malt. It was solid and complex, very tasty, and definitely lived up to expectations. I can't even remember individual flavors, but overall it was incredible, and probably the only chance for a very long time that I will get to try a scotch that expensive.

This was a very enjoyable event, and something I hope I can do again (for only $20 it was quite a steal, too). They offer tastings periodically at Sun Singer, so if you reside in the Champaign-Urbana area, check their website for details.

*Note: All scotch whisky is aged in previously-used barrels, as part of the official "rules" of making scotch. The type of spirit previously stored in the barrel can contribute significantly to the overall flavor of the whisky.

Laphroaig 10 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

When it comes to Scotch, I am a fan of peatiness. I've heard that people either love the campfire aroma in peaty scotches, or hate it. I'm one of the former. In the aroma, beneath the obvious smokiness, I also get caramel and spice, with fruit way in the back. The taste is intense - kind of like earthy wood - and reasonably smooth, with a very small bite. The finish is dry, and the smoke flavor lingers for a while. Try it with a cigar - the cigar flavor strips some of the smokiness out of the scotch so you get more of the flavors underneath.

Not the best peaty scotch I've had, but not too shabby for its low price.

Godfather

Another one of my favorites, and one of the few drinks that are easy enough to explain to bartenders on campus. Blended scotch whiskey works best for this, because it's a shame to add this much sweetness to a good single malt.

• Blended Scotch Whiskey (Johnny Walker, Dewar's, etc.)
• Amaretto

Pour equal parts scotch and amaretto over ice in a lowball glass. Stir a few times.