TNs: Two from USA

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Saina Nieminen

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Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon - 47% abv; c.55€ in Finland
This is a fun Kentucky Straight Bourbon with all the classical aromas expected: sour cherry, dried fruit mix, caramel sweetness. Vanilla and caramel flavours on the sweet palate. Very concentrated and sweet palate. Last year I mostly used Bourbons to make Boulevardier cocktails but this is too good for that. I'm just enjoying it on its own. I'm really warming up to US whiskies as a style all of their own: they are really fun desserts on cool nights.

Whistle Pig 10yo Straight Rye - Canada+US; 50% abv; c.100€ in Finland
So this is a bit of a weird one. It starts its life with rye grown in Canada. But then it heads to Vermont USA to be distilled, aged and bottled. As usual with American whiskeys, this is a sweet one. Lots of caramel and maple syrup scents but also cinnamon and spice as typical for rye. Some lifted scents like orange and mint. Sweet palate, very concentrated, huge cinnamon flavours, lovely spice. This is amazingly drinkable without added water and a little bit of water didn't really open up the aromas, it just toned down the alcohol a notch. I might be skeptical about these pop media entrepreneurs making drinks (owner Raj Bhakta was on the reality show The Apprentice) but I have to admit that this is more than just ok. The price is very silly. Why 100€ when even with Finland's prices half that gets you a great Scotch? This seems to be expensive everywhere else, too. But it is brilliant stuff so if someone else is paying, do try it! :D
 
Those really are lovely notes, Otto. Funnily enough, I was looking at the 10yo WhistlePig rye the other day (£60 here) and was wondering if it was worth the price given its journey starts in Canada as you say. It seems I would like to buy a bottle. Thanks for posting. I wonder if it would make a great Old Fashioned.
 
The Whistlepig is my absolute favourite and 60 quid here is more or less what it retails for in the states. There is a cheaper entry level one in the mid 40s and several super expensive ones which while nice are not essential. The basic 10yo is well worth that imho, Phil, and I'd urge you to try it if that kind of thing is your bag.
 
PhilWilkins said:
Those really are lovely notes, Otto. Funnily enough, I was looking at the 10yo WhistlePig rye the other day (£60 here) and was wondering if it was worth the price given its journey starts in Canada as you say. It seems I would like to buy a bottle. Thanks for posting. I wonder if it would make a great Old Fashioned.
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Thank you! Oh, I don't know how you could have missed it but I have a new name. Please forget the old one. But to more important stuff, Whistle Pig is fantastic stuff - despite its price I eventually bought myself a bottle. I've really enjoyed it whenever I want a sweet, cinnamon rye. There are some orange flavours in it that should go great in an OF but frankly I think these better American whiskies should be enjoyed like Scotch: as is, or with just a touch of water.

As for cocktails that require rye or Bourbon, have you tried Bulleit? Both their straight Bourbon and rye are fantastic and good enough that I love them as is but they're a step down from Whistle Pig in both quality and price so I don't mind using them in cocktails. When I tried Boulevardiers with Bulleit and more expensive Bourbon I just didn't find any difference in the drink. I think cocktails need quality ingredients but not necessarily geek level ingredients and Bulleit is quality stuff. Maybe that's just me being inexperienced with cocktails, though.
 
Apologies for my misunderstanding, Saina. I couldn't get the Bulleit locally but managed to find the Sazerac Rye at the discounted price of £25.20 from the local supermarket. I've since made an Old Fashioned and the Sazerac cocktail from it. I loved the Sazerac cocktail (made with Angostura bitters, the only one I have, and think I will need to upgrade to a brown sugar lump for the next experiment). The coating of the glass with green Absinthe Grand Absente Original lifts the Sazerac cocktail to another level which makes me wonder if Chartreuse Elixir Vegetal Liqueur would coat the glass given both at 69%vol. The WhistlePig 10 will be my next purchase. Keep up with the great notes in the Spirits Forum. Always a pleasure to read & digest.


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PhilWilkins said:
I couldn't get the Bulleit locally but managed to find the Sazerac Rye at the discounted price of £25.20 from the local supermarket.
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Did you try it neat, too? I'd love to hear how it is neat! It's considered a good to very good basic straight rye so I'll get around to it eventually. Buffalo Trace is another cheap(ish) basic KY straight Bourbon that I see recommended. Both are on my list of ones I'll eventually try.

When you get the Whistle Pig, I want to read you reaction! I still have quite a bit left of my bottle so I'll join you for a virtual dram! :D
 
Some Sazerac recipes will mix Sazerac Rye with Cognac. I think it originally was with Cognac as it was from the New Orleans French Quarter. Rinsing the glass with Absinthe first does make a difference.
 
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