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

Glen Breton Single Malt

Jeremy, one our Raise a Glass team and contributors to Whisk(e)y Wednesday scores, actually visited the Glen Breton distillery in Nova Scotia recently.  Makers of Canada's only single malt whisky (Scotch style), this Glen Breton had 10 years of aging but certainly could have used a few more.  The nose carried fragrances of sweet and tart apples.  Jeremy noted the breakfast cereal Apple Jacks with the toasted cereal grains and apple flavor.  On the taste the fruit turned into a slightly metallic tinge with traces of smoke.  With light wood, the narrow flavor profile faded quickly for me.  James described the Glen Breton Single Malt as a "palate tickler" while Eric noted the smooth and unique finish with a bit of a burn.  The whisky certainly has a lot going on though it could also use a few more years in the barrel.  Overall our group liked it a good bit, and will definitely be interested in trying more aged versions of the Glen Breton Single Malt Canadian Whisky.  

Glen Breton Single Malt

73.5 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.

Louisiana Feast of Fields 2012

There's an exciting dinner coming on November 9th that I'd like to pass along to you.  I won't be cooking this one, but you better believe the food will be excellent.  Plus, this is the kind of event that contributes to a food culture that we so desperately want more of in the Red Stick.  The Louisiana Feast of Fields 2012 is a dinner which will bring together local farmers and chefs to create an inspired meal at the Burden Center, part of the LSU Rural Life Museum off of Essen.  The LSU Ag Center property will play host to Chef Ryan Andre (from Le Creole) and his team from the Louisiana Culinary Institute and more.  They'll create a five course meal paired with wines from the Pontchartrain Vineyards.  Dr. Mike Strain, Louisiana's Agriculture Commissioner, will be there as well to say a few words.  The "Gastronomic Gala" is sure to be a palate-pleasing triumph of a feast that you won't want to miss!  Plus, all proceeds go towards the Burden Center and LCI's non-profit fund which will help train future culinarians and continue to increase the quality of our cuisine in the capital region.  You can also read a little more about the dinner from 225's Maggie Richardson. I look forward to seeing you there!

Brash Brewing/Clown Shoes Beer Dinner at Juban's

Ladies and Gentlemen, there's an exciting beer dinner coming up in Baton Rouge that you NEED to know about!  The great folks at Juban's, a Baton Rouge Original, are putting on a very unique beer dinner that is going to be PHENOMENAL!  Chef Jaime Hernandez and I tasted some beers from Brash Brewing and Clown Shoes Beer, which are some of the most inventive craft brewers out there.  The dinner will be on Thursday, November 1, 2012 with reception at 6:15 and dinner at 7:00.  Ben Fullelove, owner of Brash Brewing, will be in attendance to talk about his beers and the story of why he is based in Texas, contract brews in Massachusetts, and releases his beer in Louisiana.  And the beer is astonishingly delicious!  Check the menu below.  You won't want to miss it!

Resevations:  225-346-8422
$75 per person (Includes Tax and Gratuity)

Amuse

Brash Brewing Texas Exile, Imperial Brown Sugar Oatmeal Porter
The Bullocks Imperial India Pale Ale
House Made Charcuterie with Accoutrements
Oysters en Brochette, local honey glaze
Belle Ecorce Farms Chevre Tempura, banana jam, dark chocolate

Course 1

Clown Shoes Belgian India Pale Ale
Orecchiette Puttanesca
Fresh pacific sardines, marinated olives, fresh jarred tomato sauce

Course 2

Brash Item Nine Ale
Roasted Bone Marrow
Honey bourbon brine, market pepper chow chow, crostini

Course 3

Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero Mexican Chocolate Stout
Pork Tamale
Braised Iverstine farms pork shanks, pecan mole sauce, wrapped in fresh banana leaves

Course 4

Clown Shoes Clementine 1.5 Double White Ale
Fromage et Saucisson
Sharp white cheddar and pimento mousse, rabbit boudin blanc, satsuma marmalade

Course 5

Clown Shoes / Brash Brewing Double Brown Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Red Velvet Cake
Nanette Mayhall’s famous cake, cream cheese icing, toasted pecans

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

Penderyn Single Malt Whisky

Penderyn Single Malt Welsh Whisky made it to the final four of the Raise a Glass Whisk(e)ys of the World Tournament, but it didn't do nearly as well during our latest taste test.  The spirit from Wales rang in with a fairly average score, suggesting that perhaps it had an easier road in the bracketology.  The pale-colored whisky's nose comes across as slightly metalic with light aromas of honeysuckle.  On taste it is by all means good, but not great.  It is smooth with biscuity malts.  Penderyn brings a low heat and lingering warmth on the finish.  I likened it to a little kid on the good whisky playground.  James noted that Penderyn is too rough to be an Irish while while only being a shadow of a Scotch.  Despite being stuck between the two, Jeremy still proclaimed that Penderyn is solid and by all means the best Welsh whisky.  It certainly is approved to add to your collection.

Penderyn Single Malt

73.25 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.

A Couple Pints at The Barley Oak

Nola Irish Channel Stout

Parish Envie Pale Ale

If anybody out there reading this post doesn't know about The Barley Oak in Mandeville, you're sadly missing out on one of the best craft beer bars in Louisiana.  Sitting right on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain, this "Old World Draught Haus" offers a lovely view, and I'm not just talking about their tap handles.  While passing through recently, I decided that I ought to stop and have a few pints as well as a little lunch.  Fortunately for me, they had a couple local brews that are actually quite rare.  I began with the seasonal Irish Channel Stout from Nola.  The Barley Oak had it on a Nitro tap.  The dark, delicious stout poured out with a gorgeously cascading tan head.  The beer is absolutely my kind of brew.  It is rich and flavorful yet ridiculously drinkable and refreshing to me.  I challenge anybody who has a thing against "dark beer" to grab a pint of this stout if they ever see it out.  Upon finishing my pint of stout, I noticed a tap handle from the Parish Brewing Company that did not say Canebrake.  I asked Vanessa behind the bar, who immediately poured me a Parish Envie Pale Ale before I could even ask.  This beer, which really hasn't been released yet to the masses, was leftover (seemingly just for me) from a special tapping.  I've had this beer from Andrew Godley before, but never in a bar.  It is an American Pale Ale which certainly comes across as hoppy but not quite as out of balance towards bitter as a lot of IPAs do.  I found the Envie to be a great beer-drinker's-beer.  If you like craft beer, then it'll be for you.  And if you don't, then I'm surprised you're reading this blog!

A Reuben at The Barley Oak

For some bites to go with my booze, I opted for The Barley Oak's Reuben sandwich.  The corned beef with Swiss and sauerkraut on marble rye definitely did the trick.  I like sandwiches that combine textures and flavors in a simple yet harmonious way.  Sometimes a sandwich can be a little underrated, but never in my book if it is grub like this!  Thanks Barley Oak.  I'll be back for more bite and booze soon!