Days of Whiskey

Recipe: Bourbon Balls

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Jennifer DeWitt

I thought I’d start including some recipes that make this blog meatier. (I’m so punny!)

There is an old thrift store in Sarasota that has been the go-to destination for finding cast-offs from days of yore. I’ve found some pretty incredible salt and pepper shakers there and always come away with a great cookbook. Recently, I scored one printed in 1958 entitled Thoughts for Buffets and begins, “Dear Hostesses.” Yes, it really does. The recipes are traditional and slightly crazy, but a delightful picture of our changing tastes after World War II.

Bourbon Balls

1/2 cup bourbon (I’d use Booker’s but that’s just my taste right now.)
1 1/2 Tbsp white corn syrup
1 cup vanilla wafers, finely rolled
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
2 Tbsp cocoa (Go for the gusto here and use some of the best or grab a can of that Hershey’s dependable.)
10x powdered sugar

Mix bourbon and syrup together. Add crumbs, nuts, and cocoa. Dust hands with powdered sugar. Roll balls the size of a walnut. Roll bourbon balls in powdered sugar. Store in refrigerator between layers of wax paper.

Makes about 24 balls.

(I’m also going to say that these are not treats for the kiddos.)

Basil Hayden Bourbon

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Jennifer DeWitt

Bourbon comes from Kentucky, and only Kentucky. There’s a reason for that. They’re the best at making bourbon, hands down. Centuries of practice have made Kentuckians masters of their craft.

Basil Hayden is a spicy citrus-y bourbon that reminds me a bit of Autumn in Florida; warm and mild. Made by the Beam Company and part of the Small Batch Collection, this amber-colored gem is definitely one to keep on the shelf. It’s perfect for a beginning connoisseur, along with Booker’s and Bulleit. Contained in an impressive bottle with a fancy label. If you don’t know by now, I’m a sucker for packaging, so this one got my attention. Thank you, Basil Hayden Sr.

I wouldn’t normally suggest cooking with a bourbon this fine, but after watching this chicken finger video from Economy Bites, I’ve changed my mind.

317 Days of Whisky. Cheers, y’all!

Lagavulin 16

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Jennifer DeWitt

The nose: I have dug up a long-dead Scotsman and I will be dining on the dirt from his grave. I smell leather and campfires. I suddenly know that if I drink this I WILL grow a beard, don a giant fisherman’s sweater and sit by the sea for the rest of my days. The deep dark amber with shiny caramel waves is calling to me.

The taste: Burnt logs, the clean salt air and smooth smoky fire just melts me from the inside out. I’m done. There’s no reason for me to try another whisky at all, ever.

I think I just fell in love with Lagavulin 16.

The review at Whisky.com tells you much more about Islay and its sea-salt air.

318 Days of Whisky. Slainte!

5 Comments

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whiskey. Bookmark the permalink.

The Glenlivet Nadurra 16

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Jennifer DeWitt

Oh my goodness, this is why I started this project. This light, brown, caramel, burnt-butter colored beauty.

Once you go cask, you never go back. – Andy Dixon, Gumshoe

This spicy little number is warm and strong with a clean finish and a sweetness that doesn’t linger. Adding water only made it rounder and seemed to make it a bit sweeter as well.

I especially like the history behind the process of this Scotch; using natural methods of the 1900s in the distilling process. In fact, Nadurra means natural in Gaelic. Watch this review of the Glenlivet – 16 Yr Old Nadurra from Ian Logan for a more professional take.

319 Days of Whiskey. T’chen chen!

2 Comments

Posted in Whiskey, Scotch Whisky. Bookmark the permalink.

Glenmorangie 10

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Jennifer DeWitt

First off, I have to say that the Glenmorangie website is really appealing. It’s so easy to navigate and full of interesting tidbits like Turning Water into Whisky. That being said, this was a delightful Scotch whisky. This is the Original Glenmorangie a 10 year old Scotch aged in American oak casks.

It smelled like Smarties crushed into a honeycomb. Light, floral, and fruity; almost like the champagne of Scotch whiskies. A general sweetness and super-light palate with a slight air of vanilla and certain spiciness I can’t quite place. I sort of think that this is the kind of Scotch that would go well with a meal.

After a short search, I came up with this fantastic recipe from Waitrose that even suggests a pairing with Glenmorangie 10.

320 Days of Whiskey. Na zdrave!

2 Comments

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisky. Bookmark the permalink.

Yamazaki

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Jennifer DeWitt

If you know me, then you know of my love affair with Japan. It is the country that holds my heart. I miss it daily and hope desperately to return again to its people and its culture where I feel so much at home.

So, I had the chance to try Suntory’s Yamazaki single malt whisky. What first caught my attention was the canary diamond hue of the liquid and the subtle candy-sweet nose. The first sip was like a warm oaky burn with a clean, dry finish. When I added a bit of water, the sweetness was released and I tasted a smoke and sugar finish. It’s a bit sweeter than I like but that is balanced out by the oak.

All in all, I wouldn’t buy a bottle, but I wouldn’t ever refuse a glass of this stuff.

321 Days of Whiskey. Kampai!

1 Comment

Posted in Whisky. Bookmark the permalink.

Windsor Canadian Whisky

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Jennifer DeWitt

Windsor isn’t fit to wear the royal moniker. Canadian whisky just isn’t my thing. This one seals the deal. Maybe it’s that Canadians just crave anything that will warm them up? This ad, sourced from their Facebook page, doesn’t help matters AT ALL. He looks pained and a little lost. Resting his glass on her hip like she’s a human coaster. Nope. I’m not buyin’ it.

Windsor Canadian whisky is about as smooth as swallowing a glass of razor blades coated in rubbing alcohol. Yeah, it’s yellow-ish colored so I guess that’s how they can get away with calling it ‘whisky.’ Check. Next, please.

322 Days of Whiskey. Salut!

Canadian LTD.

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Jennifer DeWitt

Hopefully this is the last of the awful ones. This one was perfume-like and smelled just like acetone-free nail polish remover. Not at all appealing. They claim to be the fifth largest Canadian whiskey sold in the US. I’m not so sure that’s something to brag about. It’s like coming in fifth at a race. There’s no podium for that placing. Should have been a sign. If you’re really curious, here’s their Facebook page. “When you want a cheap whiskey that doesn’t make you feel like you’re cheap.”

323 Days of Whiskey. Prost!

1 Comment

Posted in Canadian Whiskey, Whiskey. Bookmark the permalink.

Whiskey Reading

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Jennifer DeWitt

A few resources for the common man or woman. If you’re attempting a similar feat, you may need some help along the way. I’ve just discovered these helpful resources for the common man or woman:

101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die by Ian Buxton. This is not, as Mr. Buxton states, a book of unattainable whiskey. These are the “accessible whiskies for real people.”

The Art of Distilling Whiskey and Other Spirits: An Enthusiast’s Guide to the Artisan Distilling of Potent Potables by Alan Dikty, Bill Owens, and Fritz Maytag. A well-written and thorough account of distilling and all its devices.

Dr. Whisky – This blog has it all. Ratings, tastings, and more. It’s not pretty but it’s chock full of info.

Whiskey World Tour – Straightforward, easy to read and follow. Chuck’s blog is a new favorite.

Nonjatta – This one is a new discovery and it’s topic is Japanese whiskey. Being a former resident of Japan, I love this blog for its nostalgia first and for its topic second. A fantastic resource on Japanese whiskey though. Something the Japanese take very very seriously.

The Whiskey Advocate Blog – One of my favorite reads on the stuff. John Hansell and the other writers are easy to read and entertaining.

So, you want to learn more about whiskey…give it a shot. (Pun fully intended.)

2 Comments

Posted in History, Resources. Bookmark the permalink.

Johnnie Walker Black Label

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Jennifer DeWitt

Now here’s a Scotch I can get behind. Twelve year old, amber, liquid that is smooth as silk. Nicely done, Johnnie Walker. This has a bit more smoke than I like though but I like the sweetness of…what is that…cherry? Then smoky smokiness and a charcoal kind of palate. The flavor lingers and warms.

I try to take a tiny sip before adding any water or ice. That gives me an idea of what I’m starting with. I’ve found, however, that while I can tell the difference with smell, I can’t yet tell the difference in taste to any real extreme in that first sample. Once the liquid is poured over ice and cools a bit, I can taste a myriad of differences. I think my mouth is getting smarter.

This one is in my top five right now.

324 Days of Whiskey. Salut!

2 Comments

Posted in Advertising, Scotch Whisky, Whisky. Bookmark the permalink.

Days of Whiskey

Recipe: Bourbon Balls

Basil Hayden Bourbon

Lagavulin 16

The Glenlivet Nadurra 16

Glenmorangie 10

Yamazaki

Windsor Canadian Whisky

Canadian LTD.

Whiskey Reading

Johnnie Walker Black Label

Follow Blog via Email

Recent Posts

Archives

Follow “Days of Whiskey”