Wakey Whiskey: Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Irish Whiskey

By Eric Ducote

Good morning Tiger fans!  If I was a superstitious fan I'd be going straight back to some JPS 21-Year Rye after LSU laid the smack down on #2 UGA last week, but I'm not superstitious and I don't really believe that my whiskey choices have any impact on a football game.  That said, it's always been a fun tradition that started in my tailgating days to start off a big day with a wakey whiskey.  That tradition has evolved past tailgating into all game days, and even birthdays, holidays, weddings, and other special events.  If it's a cause for celebration, it's a cause for some wakey whiskey!

With that noted, I'm of course going to feature a new whiskey today, as you're here to read about the beverage and it would be boring to write about the same one every time LSU wins, right? There's only so much I could have said about the Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye whiskey that I started off the season with, and you would have had 5 weeks of that one!  So this week, an Irish Whiskey with a twist, the Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition.  This one starts out as a standard batch of Jameson Irish Whiskey, and then is aged further in barrels that were used to age an Irish craft-brewed stout.  

Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Irish Whiskey

The color is basically the same as regular Jameson, golden with hints of orange.   The nose is smooth, with hints of honeysuckle, mineral water, and a hint of fruit.  There's a minimal 'burn' on this whiskey, as it's triple distilled in the Irish tradition and bottled at 80 proof.  The result is an extremely smooth sipping whiskey, with a hint of chocolate malt notes on the taste combined with the fruit and honey flavors of the base whiskey.  It finishes easy with another little hint of chocolate.

Overall, I really enjoy this whiskey, although I don't know that I really get much 'stout' out of it.  I think it would have been even better with more time in those beer barrels, but I also feel like it's a lot harder to impart the beer flavors into a whiskey than it is to pull whiskey flavors into a beer.  I admire the creativity to mix up the process, and at a reasonable price around $30, it's not a bad buy.  I'm going to have to try the IPA edition next, as I feel like hop flavors might work even better.  Until then, cheers, and GEAUX TIGERS! 

Jay D's Bites: Irish Stew

The newest product to hit Jay’s online store, the Coffee Chile Rub, has everything you crave - from the deep flavors of locally roasted coffee to the kick of spicy peppers, this rub is a go-to for anything from braised stews to seared steaks. This Irish Beef Stew is a perfect weeknight favorite for the whole family, especially around St. Patrick's Day!

Irish Stew

Serves 4-6

Photo: Jordan Hefler Photography

3 lbs beef stew meat
2 cups onions, small diced
2 cups celery, small diced
1 cup carrots, small diced
12 oz stout beer
2 Tbsp flour
1 quart beef stock
1 Tbsp garlic, minced
3 oz tomato paste
2 Tbsp Jay D’s Coffee Chile Rub
4 cups small fingerling or small red potatoes, quartered
3 cups carrots and parsnips, ½” circles
Parsley, finely chopped

Toss beef with salt and black pepper. Sear beef until golden brown. Add onions, celery and carrots; saute for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle 2 tbsp of flour and slightly toast the flour by continually stirring. Add beer, stock, Jay D’s Coffee Chile Rub, garlic and tomato paste. Simmer for 1-2 hours. Add root vegetables (carrot and parsnip slices) and simmer for 30 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Wakey Whiskey: St. Paddy's Irish Whiskey Battle - Jameson vs Tullamore DEW

by Eric Ducote

Good morning everyone, and happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!  Or it could be St. Paddy's Day, but never Patty... never. Seriously, never.

Now, I'm not really going to #wakeywhiskey on a Friday morning (always #wakeywhiskey responsibly) before work, but here's a sneak preview of what tomorrow morning has in store for me. Tomorrow of course will be the 32nd annual Baton Rouge St. Patrick's Day parade, Wearin' of the Green, a great event for all of the city to enjoy.  In that honor, it's time for a good old-fashioned Irish whiskey showdown, Jameson vs. Tullamore DEW.

Jameson and Tullamore DEW tastings

These are a couple of standard-bearers in the Irish Whiskey world, both triple distilled and bottled at 80 proof. Jameson has been in production since 1810 in a distillery that was established in Dublin 30 years earlier in 1780. Tullamore DEW originated in 1829, and after shifting production around a few other distilleries in the mid-to-late 1900s is now back in Tullamore, Ireland.

The first observance is that served neat the Jameson is a little darker than the Tulllamore DEW, which indicates to me that it's been aged slightly longer, but it's not a significant difference.  The Jameson, on first sip, is just so smooth, even smoother than I remember, with hints of honey and a floral sweetness. I'm really amazed as the finish as well, just as easy as the front end, which could make a dangerous Saturday morning if I'm not careful.  Overall, even better than I remember, and a worthy choice for any St. Patrick's Day... but... how about that Tullamore DEW?

The color of the Tullamore DEW is slightly lighter, and the aroma is a little more floral and less sweet than the Jameson, with a hint of minerals likely from the water used in the process.  The taste is more of the same, with a little more bite than the Jameson, but still less than most whiskeys out there, putting it on the smooth side of the spectrum. Now, mind you this is on my personal spectrum, so a novice whiskey drinker is probably going to get a good bite out of both of these Irish selections.

Overall, this is going to come down to personal preference... if you want velvety smooth, go for the Jameson, but if you like a little bite to your sip, opt for the Tullamore DEW.  Either way, as a St. Paddy's #wakeywhiskey both are sure to get you in the Irish spirit.

Sláinte!

Irish Whiskey Flight: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Lock & Key

by Blair "B-Rex" Loup

Irish Whiskey Flight featuring Green Spot, Redbreast 12 Year, and Jameson Black Barrel at Lock & Key $18

One of my favorite things about Lock & Key Whiskey Bar is how approachable they make things. If you're not a whiskey aficionado, chances are you're lost in a place like Lock & Key. With over 200 different whiskeys, it's easy to feel intimidated. Fret not, under the wings of their knowledgable and helpful staff, you can easily find your next whiskey obsession. If I'm not getting one of their delicious whiskey cocktails, I go for one of their incredibly affordable flights. Each flight has different levels of complexity; you'll get to try some stuff you're used to and try some stuff you've never had before.

This month, Lock & Key is featuring an Irish Whiskey flight for $18 you really won't want to miss. Featuring Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel, Redbreast 12 Year, and the hard-to-find Green Spot, this Irish Whiskey Flight is available throughout March.

The Jameson Black Barrel and Redbreast 12 year are always available, but the Green Spot is what makes this flight a deal, so you'll definitely want to stop by and give it a whirl.

I got the chance to sit down and taste these three whiskeys with co-owner and whiskey-pedia, Arthur Lauck. What I love most about drinking whiskey with Arthur is he lets your draw your own conclusions and feel your way around before he lays down his infinite whiskey knowledge.

He suggested I try the Jameson Black Barrel first. Heavy vanilla on the nose, it was initially super balanced and smooth. After adding a few drops of water, the flavor expands into taller vanilla and toasted oak notes and moves the taste to the back of the palate. It kind of coats your mouth and lingers for a while, but none of the flavors are overpowering. It's also only a few dollars more than a regular Jameson and is far better tasting.

Moving along the tasting board, next up is the Redbreast 12 year. Being a single pot still distilled three times is what sets the Redbreast and Green Spot apart from the Jameson Black barrel. While the Black Barrel is from one distillery, it's still made up from different mashes. The Redbreast is slightly sweet, creamy, and full bodied. It instantly makes you feel warmer and has similar tasting notes to the Jameson Black Barrel, but is about 6 levels above that. You can really see where the single pot still makes a difference.

Green Spot is very hard to come by and has limited allocation, luckily Arthur was able to snag some. Instantly, I'm in love. It's super drinkable. It has an extremely clean finish, a little creamy, fresh and dried fruit notes, and strong on the peppermint. It's soft and delicate, but has a really great flavor. I loved it so much, I ran to Ben Q Liquor on my way back to the office to snag a bottle.

This is a really fun way to pre-celebrate the St. Paddy's festivities with three delicious whiskeys. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram @biteandbooze, and "like" us on Facebook and let us know which Irish whiskey in the flight was your favorite!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday tasting at Lock & Key while recording the Bite and Booze Radio Show presented by Calandro's Supermarket

LA1 at Lock & Key

A few weeks ago we recorded an episode of the Bite and Booze Radio Show while tasting whiskey and whisky for Whisk(e)y Wednesday segments on the blog. Talk about multi-tasking!

Around the table we had Arthur Lauck, co-owner of the Lock & Key Whiskey Bar, Charles Pierce, the producer and host of the Me and My Big Mouth Radio Show and Podcast, and Jeremy Spikes for the site formerly known as whisky bomb dot com.

We were treated with an excellent collection of booze capped with a cocktail. We began with the Knob Creek Rye, then moved on to the Green Spot Irish Whiskey followed with the Bruichladdich Rocks Scotch. To cap it all off we had a taste of the Whiskey Cane... and whiskey based Hurricane that is a must-try!

Take a listen to the show as we talk whiskey, drink whiskey, and enjoy whiskey at the Lock & Key Whiskey Bar!


Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by the Lock & Key Whiskey Bar. Lock & Key has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys available for on premise consumption. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote from Bite and Booze, Arthur Lauck from Lock & Key, Charlies Pierce, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y (though not undrinkable) while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 80 is rather extraordinary and anything above 90 is world class.

The Bite and Booze Radio Show presented by Calandro's Supermarket airs on Saturdays at 5 PM and replays Sundays at 8 PM on Talk 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge. The show is hosted by Jay Ducote and won a Taste Award in January 2014 as the best food or drink based radio broadcast in the country. The producer of the show is Chris Courtney at Guaranty Broadcasting and the field producer is Charles Pierce from the Me and My Big Mouth Show. It is also available on iTunes. The show's sponsors include Calandro's Supermarket, Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce, Visit Baton Rouge, Portico Restaurant and Bar, Lock & Key Whiskey Bar, Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning, Mason's Grill, Donner-Peltier Distillers (Rougaroux Rums and Oryza Vodka and Gin), Louisiana Cookin' Magazine, Juban's Restaurant, the Tin Roof Brewing Company, the Louisiana Culinary Institute and Triumph Kitchen.

Green Spot: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Lock & Key

Green Spot Irish Whiskey

Green Spot Irish Whiskey ($12 at Lock & Key) boasted one of the most wide ranging scores in quite some time. Scoring from the low 50s to the low 80s, the average score rounded out to just over 70 points on the Bite and Booze Whisk(e)y Wednesday metrics (more info on that below, if you're interested). The nose on the single pot still Irish whiskey presents a bouquet of faint Apple Jacks. There's perhaps an aroma of honey as well, but it is hard to get too much of any smell even from a deep inhale. The flavor is well nuanced with floral tones and fruit from the apple and pear family. It is smooth, delicate, warming, and approachable, just as a proper Irish whiskey should be. The whiskey remains soft, dancing on your tongue but never digging its heels in. It finishes low and slow with subtle hints of honey and spice. I definitely recommend Green Spot as an Irish Whiskey worth trying, and fortunately you can find it around Louisiana now at your best whiskey bars and stores. Slainte!

Green Spot Irish Whiskey
Average Score: 70.75

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by the Lock & Key Whiskey Bar. Lock & Key has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys available for on premise consumption. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote from Bite and Booze, Arthur Lauck from Lock & Key, Charlies Pierce, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y (though not undrinkable) while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 80 is rather extraordinary and anything above 90 is world class.

Jameson Shenanigans: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Bloody Jameson

As the luck o’ the Irish would have it, I was invited to enjoy a Jameson Irish Whiskey dinner at the Stadium in L’Auberge Baton Rouge a few days before St. Patrick’s Day. That seems like plenty of reason in itself to make this a Whisk(e)y Wednesday post, but they went a step further and incorporated whiskey into a lot of the food too. I'm generally not a huge fan of Jameson as I know there are better Irish whiskies out there without the expenses of massive marketing budgets. However, once you get into the Reserve and 12 Year Jameson, they have some pretty good stuff. If you have not yet had the chance to stop by the L’Auberge Casino, I recommend you make the time to check out the inspired facilities, the rooftop pool, and most importantly the food. Chef Jimmy at the Stadium set us up with a well thought out interpretation of some crowd pleasers and Irish classics. While each course was being brought out to us, we learned about the history of Jameson and the flavors that accompany this famous spirit from Arthur Lauck of the Lock & Key Whiskey Bar. A big thanks to Chef Jimmy for a scrumptious meal and to Julie Collins for the invite!

Drunken Crawfish with a Jameson Butter Sauce

Irish Charcuterie: Irish Banger, Smoked Salmon, and Dublin Sausages with a Whiskey Mustard and Whiskey Rhubarb Marmalade accompanied by Pickled Fennel and Beets

Sous Vide Corned Pork Belly atop Red Beet Puree with Potato and Cabbage Hash

Paddy's Beesting with Chocolate Sugar lined glass

Jameson and Beesting Honey Almond Cake, Strawberry Jelly Spheres and Chocolate Ganache

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y (though not undrinkable) while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 80 is rather extraordinary and anything above 90 is world class.

The Montserrat: Whiskey Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Montserrat

This upcoming Saturday marks one of the best days of the year in Baton Rouge. Our annual St. Patrick's Day celebration starts early with a parade and then the Perkins area from the Overpass all the way to Juban's doesn't stop rocking for the rest of the day. I'll be out and about somewhere. I hope you find me!

On the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat, they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in honor of the proud mutineers of Irish slaves who fought a failed rebellion against their colonial masters on March 17, 1768. Ever since, in true Irish spirit, St. Patrick’s Day has been a public holiday on Montserrat – the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. There are two countries in the world where St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday: Ireland and Montserrat. I've been to Ireland. Maybe it is time for another Caribbean vacation!

Here's the Montserrat cocktail, courtesy Tim Herlihy, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey’s National Brand Ambassador!

Ingredients:
2 parts Tullamore D.E.W. Original Irish Whiskey
1 part cloudy apple juice
1 brown sugar cube
Dash Angostura Bitters
Large orange ‘Horses Neck’ twist

Method:
Muddle brown sugar cube, bitters and small amount of Tullamore D.E.W. in bottom of rocks glass. Fill glass with cubed ice. Stir to dilute, adding Tullamore D.E.W. slowly. Add more ice as necessary. Afterwards, add apple juice and garnish with an orange twist.


Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y (though not undrinkable) while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 80 is rather extraordinary and anything above 90 is world class.

Locke's Single Malt: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Locke's Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Locke's eight year old single malt Irish Whiskey is like a cross between an Irish and a Scotch. Anybody looking for a transition into Scotch could certainly take the road that travels through Locke's. The barley whiskey has a hint of peat smoke on the nose with a touch of bourbon sweetness from the barrel. The whiskey is light and approachable on the lips while supplying a tinge of smoke and easy barley. It cautiously mixes the flavors of sweet, smoky, and oak but delivers an all around drinkable elixir. The finish is smooth and warming, leaving the spirit with a very easy to sip profile whether neat or on the rocks. It might not be fit for most Scotch drinkers, but as an Irish whiskey it is certainly a great stepping stone in the single malt Scotch direction.

Locke's Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Average Score 75.67

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y (though not undrinkable) while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 80 is rather extraordinary and anything above 90 is world class.

Kilbeggan 18 Irish Whiskey: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Kilbeggan 18 Irish Whiskey

Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey has been featured on Whisk(e)y Wednesday before with the early review of Kilbeggan Finest. This, however, is a review fit for a Christmas Day. The Kilbeggan 18 is a fine Irish Whiskey. It is also rare, so if you ever see it, drink it. It's score of 90.67 makes it only the 4th whiskey of all time to crack the 90 mark here. The nose has a subtle sweetness of honeysuckle, stone fruits, and melons matched with some oak. It is faint on the whiff like a quintessential Irish whiskey ought to be instead of bold like a bourbon. Upon hitting the tongue it drinks like juice with no unpleasant tastes. The fruitiness remains with a mouthful of whiskey bliss. There is warmth on the finish but no burn. It is a chug-able whiskey in every good way that could be imagined. The warmth wraps you up in a snugly blanket and beckons you to take another sip. The Kilbeggan is flawlessly smooth, but not quite as adventurous as I would need it to be in order to be perfect. Still, it comes highly recommended. It is worthy of any liquor cabinet on the planet.

Kilbeggan 18 Irish Whiskey

Average Score 90.67

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y (though not undrinkable) while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 80 is rather extraordinary and anything above 90 is world class.

Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy Irish Whiskey: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy Irish Whiskey

We just about crowned a new king of the hill on the Whisk(e)y Wednesday leader board but instead we have the third whiskey to ever break 90 points and the first Irish whiskey to eclipse that total falling just .25 short of the current champion. On a recent trip to Ireland Jeremy returned with a bottle of Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy Irish Whiskey. This special edition of Midleton Irish Whiskey truly impressed. Named after the distillery's master distiller, the Barry Crockett Legacy whiskey is limited to only about 2,500 bottles a year and is aged in both bourbon and new American oak barrels. The nose is sweet like apple toffee with hints of spice and herbs like rosemary with a little honeysuckle. Upon hitting the tongue the whiskey explodes with flavor. A candy sweetness meets an oaky spice with flawless purity. It his smooth like a typical Irish with the depth of a fine bourbon. The whiskey finishes with a little cinnamon burn and a lot of warmth, leaving the drinker pleasantly subdued to take another sip. I'm jealous that Jeremy has this one in his collection instead of it sitting on my shelf, but that's okay. I know where to find him.

Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy Irish Whiskey

Average Score 91.0

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 90 is rather extraordinary.

A Look Back on the Whisk(e)ys of the World Tournament Part 2/3: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Our whisk(e)y tournament had gone from 68 spirits down to the Sweet 16 throughout November and December of 2011. For the full look at how we figured out the field of 68, check out last week's post. My #1 seed, Blanton's bourbon, got knocked out by 16 seed Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey... that's some good stuff! Eric and James each had their #1 seeds make it through the first two rounds so Power's and Highland Park stayed alive. Tullamore Dew, Jeremy's top seed, got eliminated by a different Irish whiskey, Knappogue Castle. We spent two weeks taking this field of 16 down to the Elite 8 then another week of tasting over the airwaves to get to our final four. The 16 whisk(e)y listed below are certainly all worth taking a look at. Some had much tastier roads to get to where they are. James and Chivas in the bottom right bracket eased their way into the Sweet 16 and that match-up really wasn't worthy of being held this far into the tournament. For the most part, the rest of them are all worth putting your liquor shelves. Quite a few of these have been reviewed on other Whisk(e)y Wednesday posts, but not all of them. That will come in time! Next week we'll look back on the Final Four!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 90 is rather extraordinary.

A Look Back on the Whisk(e)ys of the World Tournament Part 1/3: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

About two years ago we began the Whisk(e)ys of the World Tournament on one of my radio shows called Raise a Glass (now you can listen to the Me and Big Mouth Radio Show in that time slot). The concept was pretty simple: four of us would pick our #1 seeds then we would fill in the rest of the ballot by pulling whisk(e)ys out of a hat. We included all the whisk(e)y brands that the four of us had on hand as well as other major brands that we knew we could acquire easily. No bottle exceeded $100 retail, and really only a couple were even close. Most, as you can see looking at the list on the right, were pretty affordable. We actually had 80-90 in the hat, so nothing other than our four #1 seeds were guaranteed a spot. We also put in a play-in game for the 16 seed in each bracket, so in total 68 whisk(e)ys made the field. These included bourbon, American whiskey, Canadian whisky, both blended and single malt Scotch, Irish Whiskey, Japanese Whisky, and even a couple odd balls. For the most part, the #1 seeds were selected based on perceived value and taste. I picked a bourbon, Blanton's, to head my bracket. My brother Eric from the BR Beer Scene picked Highland Park 12, a Scotch, for his. James and Jeremy both selected Irish Whiskeys for their brackets going with the Powers Gold Label and Tullamore Dew, respectively. The #1 seeds were not meant to be our choice for the best whiskey of all time, but rather our pick for a whiskey that might get farther than others, that we had on hand, and that we wanted to guarantee a spot in the field.

So the field was set. We spent the following weeks tasting every whiskey in every bracket and announcing who would move forward and which spirit got sent home. We went from 64 to 32 in a matter of four weeks, then again from 32 to 16 over the following four weeks. Next week on Whisk(e)y Wednesday I'll reveal the sweet 16. Which whisk(e)ys would be your pick?

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 90 is rather extraordinary.

Top 7 Recap: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

The Whisk(e)y Wednesday series is now 74 deep with, fortunately for the tasters, no end in sight. However, rather than do a new whisk(e)y review today, I thought it would be great to do a recap of the top 7 scoring whisk(e)ys so far! Why top seven? Mostly because I feel like it. Also, it is pretty much the elite 10% of whisk(e)y that has been reviewed so far. If you see these on the shelves, get them!  And fear not, I have some liquid coming up soon that might dethrone some of these.  We'll see what's still in the top 10 after I get past 100 reviews!

Click on the name of each whisk(e)y to take you to the full review.

7) Knappogue Castle 16 Year Twinwood Single Malt Irish Whiskey (81.75)

6) Laphroaig 15 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (82.25)

5) Jefferson's Presidential Select 21 Year Bourbon (82.75)

4) Powers Gold Label Special Reserve 12 Year Irish Whiskey (83.0)

3) Old Weller Antique Original 107 Brand Bourbon (83.75)

2) Talisker 10 Year Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky (84.75) 

1) Jefferson's Presidential Select 18 Year Bourbon (91.25)

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 90 is rather extraordinary.

Connemara Cask Strength: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Connemara Cask Strength Irish Whiskey

After serving as the Wildman of County Longford for a stint in 2006, my travels eventually brought me to Clifden, Ireland, near the lands of Connemara. On the west coast of the Emerald Isle I learned how to sail, met many other adventurers, and got some glimpses of the surrounding peat bogs. Connemara National Park lies just north of Clifden which all sits between Galway and Westport. The Connemara Cask Strength Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey is more akin to a Scotch than traditional Irish elixirs. With peat smoked barley, this cask strength version is a variation of the regular Connemara Irish Whiskey that has been reviewed before on Bite and Booze. The cask strength version actually didn't fare quite so well in our scoring. The smoke is evident on the nose as the fires of Clifden billow out of the bottle. The taste is like eating burnt chicken from the inside out so the first part is normal but perhaps a little dry but the tail end tastes of charred leather and dried tobacco. The smoke is aggressive and masks all other flavors. It'll warm you up, and certainly has a place by a campfire while smoking a cigar on a cold evening, but other than that the lack of balance will get to you.

Connemara Cask Strength Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Average Score 62.67

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 90 is rather extraordinary.

Tullamore Dew Single Malt 10 Year: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Tullamore Dew Single Malt 10 Yr

If I haven't said it enough on the Whisk(e)y Wednesday series, I love Irish Whiskey. Perhaps it is because I spent the majority of the summer of 2006 roaming around the Emerald Isle as the Wildman of County Longford, but still, I love the Irish uisge beatha, or transated from Gaelic for you, "water of life." This Tullamore Dew Single Malt 10 Year Irish Whiskey is a little different than most Irish. The whiskey comes from one batch of malt rather than a true blend of different distillates. On the nose I detected a candy apple sweetness and noticeable cask wood. I described it as "Tears of Angels," while Eric detected some mineral and floral notes and Jeremy said the aroma gave off a sweet softness. On the tongue the Tullamore Dew does a nice riverdance with smooth and easy flavors followed by a touch of buttered popcorn for the viewer. It finishes even easier. Maybe even too nice. The whiskey is kind of one note throughout with a tinge of sweetness but no spice or other complexities. While smooth and inoffensive with an excellent balance on the palate, it left me wanting a little more. Still the Tullamore Dew Single Malt 10 is most certainly a nice addition to any whiskey collection, especially for one who appreciates Irish whiskey as much as I do. With a score in the low 70s, it certainly passed our test!

Tullamore Dew Single Malt 10 Year Irish Whiskey

Average Score 71.33

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 90 is rather extraordinary.

Greenore Single Grain: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Once again taking a look at Irish Whiskey here on Whisk(e)y Wednesday, today's feature is Greenore Single Grain.  This eight year old from the Cooley Distillery is made of corn, which isn't all that typical of Irish whiskey.  The nose is faint with a bit of honey and sweet maize.  The taste is just as mild with hardly any discernible flavors.  The whiskey is light and clean to a fault.  It is like a slice of white bread dissolving in my mouth and leaving no flavor behind, leaving me wanting some butter or fruit preserves to go with it.  The finish provides the same thing... nothing.  It just disappears.  It is easy drinking, slightly astringent, but has no complexity or even enough flavors to balance.  Even for an Irish, this whiskey is soft.  If you are buying whiskey for somebody who doesn't like the taste of whiskey, this could work.  Otherwise, there are plenty more Irish whiskeys to spend your money on.

Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey

Average Score 54.0

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 90 is rather extraordinary.

Michael Collins Irish Whiskey: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Following up on last week's Paddy Old Irish Whiskey, this week we take a look at Michael Collins Irish Whiskey.  Another whiskey that fits the Irish mold, this blended whiskey certainly offers more flavor and a little more overall complexity.  Michael Collins gives off syrupy sweet aroma with notes of honeysuckle and some nostril tingling booze.  On the tongue it retains its sweetness with caramel and vanilla matched by some oaky bitterness on the back end.  There's a little spice and some subtle floral tones.  It finishes smooth in typical Irish fashion.  By no means is Michael Collins complex compared to a good bourbon or Scotch, but the balance is nice and has some different flavors that it is working with.  It won't knock any socks off, but the whiskey is light and drinkable with a subtle sweetness that is nice.

Michael Collins Irish Whiskey

Average Score 65.0

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 90 is rather extraordinary.

Paddy Old Irish Whiskey: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Paddy Old Irish Whiskey

Sometimes an Irish Whiskey can be a little too stereotypically Irish.  Known for their smoothness and refined qualities, Irish Whiskey typically is far from harsh or offensive.  However, to be great, they still need some flavors from the barrels or grains.  Paddy Old Irish Whiskey fell short on the flavor.  The nose is very neutral with hints of grain and hay.  On the palate the whiskey is slightly buttery and perhaps just a tad floral, but ultimately bland and boring.  It is inoffensive to a fault.  There just isn't much there but some notes of grass and malt.  It finishes smoothly because there are no aggressive flavors or notes to interfere.  Perhaps it could be looked at as a good baseline Irish Whiskey because of how right down the middle it is.  There's nothing wrong with it, there's just not much right either.  It would work well for mixed drinks, cocktails, or Irish Coffee.  But more than anything, it is probably just worth having on the shelf for the label.

Paddy Old Irish Whiskey

Average Score 52.0

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. This WW feature was scored by Jay Ducote, Eric Ducote, and Jeremy Spikes. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own proprietary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 90 is rather extraordinary.

Bushmills Single Malt: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Calandro's Supermarket

Bushmills Single Malt Irish Whiskey

There is such thing as a single malt Irish Whiskey.  Bushmills is actually from Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, not the Republic of Ireland, but they still make Irish Whiskey.  The nose of this Distillery Reserve whiskey contains scents of wildflowers and honey.  The taste comes across as part fruit, and part the tree that bears the fruit.  Literally, to me the whiskey tastes like a tree.  Jeremy picked up hints of plum that were light and sweet, while Eric found the oaky woodiness from the barrel aging.  More oak was present on the finish, which did not impress all that much.  Still, the whiskey had mature and mellow qualities.  While it lacked in complexity (as many Irish whiskeys do), it did carry a lovely balance and delicate flavor.

Bushmills Single Malt Irish Whiskey

70.75 Average Score

Whisk(e)y Wednesday is a blog post series on Bite and Booze sponsored by Calandro's Supermarket. Calandro's has one of Baton Rouge's best selections of bourbon, Scotch, and other whisk(e)ys as well as wine and craft beer. WW is created and rated by the hosts of Raise a Glass. Scores are marked for Nose, Taste, Finish, and Balance and Complexity using our own propriatary scoring system. Marks are then added and averaged, leaving us with a final score out of a 100 point scale. Our scale should be looked at on the full range of 0-100 rather than an academic range where 70 is passing and anything less is failing. A 50 should be considered a very mediocre whisk(e)y while anything below 20 is absolute horse piss and anything above 90 is rather extraordinary.