The other night, I cracked open a bottle of Laphroaig 10. It was a Christmas present from my mom. Though such a gift would normally be a sipping Scotch after dinner, something inside of me just wanted to have it while I was eating. From the first sip to the last, I was utterly blown…
Tag: Whisky
A Quick Stop at Gaslight
This is not a review, just a quick piece to say that I have finally been to Gaslight in Atlantic Highlands. They have been around since 2014 and I have worked in town since 2011. I have always heard this was an ultra-hipster spot. The restaurant actually bears no name, simply a literal gaslight in…
Photo of the Day: May 15, 2018
It took months, but I finally found her,
Vat 69 Gold and the Perfect Scotch Sour
Every year on my birthday, my parents would try to find me a bottle of whiskey that I had never heard of before. Sometimes, it is random. Other times, there is significance. Last year, it was the Quiet Man Irish Whiskey, named after the classic film starring John Wayne. This year on a spring trip…
Fermented Musings: A Year Older Me; A Six Year Older Scotch
I came to appreciate a good scotch somewhat late in life. My experiences as a younger man tended to be with brands and styles heavy in smokey, peaty flavors, of which I am not a fan. So I avoided scotch, preferring instead a good Irish whiskey (Bushmills remains a favorite). It was only later that…
Product Review: Johnnie Walker Blender’s Batch Triple Grain American Oak
Here’s a short but sweet post: you have to get your hands on a bottle of Johnnie Walker’s new addition to their limited Blender’s Batch series. It’s a 10 year old Scotch blended with triple grain American oak. The result is a finished product that barely tastes like Scotch. It is incredibly smooth, there is not…
Travel Guide PA: Booze Notes on this Current Trip
Years ago, my friend Jeff said the only two things more expensive in Pennsylvania are gas and alcohol. So far, he’s been right. I always visit the liquor stores just to see if they have anything I cannot find in New Jersey, but more often than not, I walk out empty-handed. For example, Johnnie Walker…
The Night 10 Bottles of Glenlivet Showed Up at an Indian Restaurant
It was a last-second decision. Before we left for Bollywood Tadka in East Brunswick, I grabbed a bottle of Glenlivet 12. As stated earlier on this blog, usually I go with Johnnie Red when it comes to Indian food. Or, if I think I am about to be reamed by some ultra-spicy food, I’ll take a…
A Bottle of Bell’s Scotch from the 1970’s and the Shock of a Lifetime
My friend wanted to give me a gift because I was going to help her at an estate sale she was running (the same one I snagged this ash tray at). She presented me with this beautiful decanter—a bell—which she had assumed could only be used for decorative purposes. It was heavy, and you could…
Product Review: Johnnie Walker Select Casks Rye Finish
Photo credit: manofmany.com It’s not Scotch and it’s not Rye. So what is it, then? How about just damn good. Johnnie Walker Select Casks is going to be a series over the coming years where their Cardhu single malt is aged in barrels atypical to their usual Scotch production. The first in this line is…
Product Review: The Knot
The Knot may just about have the boldest title for a spirit on the market today. But what is it? The best description would be a “whiskey-based liqueur” because the base is Irish whiskey from Bailieboro County, no-doubt mixed with other sweeteners and spices. My friend who recommended this to me last week said, “First…
