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episode 109 season 3
Whiskey Tastings:
- Why whiskey or is it burban?
- What did you learn about Bourbon scotch & whiskey
- Where do these originate?
- Why did you choose the ones we’re trying today?
- Why the order?
- Price point?
- Describe the glasses – shape
- Water?
First time my hubby takes a spot on my microphone..todays show is about Bourbon, Scotch and Whiskey or whisky? I’d like to Welcome my husband Jeff to the show, you’ve heard his name over the course of the last 99 shows here and there. He listens to the show sometimes and gives me feedback on the episodes where I’ve recorded him and some of our intimate discussions…but todays show is different today we are doing a tasting episode. A few burbans, and scotches to wetted our pallets – enjoy the episode. This episode was originally recorded later in 2019…
Well our first interview together now you finally know what my husband sounds like and thanks for joining us on our first whisky tasting – it was very enjoyable to learn and try these out…not sure they are for me but I’m always up for trying something new. If you’ve gone down this bourbon rat hole, let me know what you’ve tried and enjoyed. I’m thinking there will be more experimentation in the future with my hubby. If you have any questions about whiskeys please check out the show links to everything we’ve discussed today and drop a comment or question and we will get back to you 🙂
Some cool things to check out…happy tasting!
I’d like to Welcome my husband Jeff to the show, you’ve heard his name over the course of the last 99 shows here and there. He listens to the show sometimes and gives me feedback on the episodes where I’ve recorded him and some of our intimate discussions…but todays show is different today we are doing a tasting episode. A few burbans, and scotches to wetted our pallets – enjoy the episode. This episode was originally recorded later in 2019…
Break One
Monkey Shoulder is a blended malt scotch a product of multiple single malt scones – in this case of Money should it’s from their 2 neighbouring speyside distilleries includes whisky from Kinivie, Balvenie and Glenfiddich, this particular distillery has been opened since 1990.
Break Two
Mash is made from grain
Scott whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least 3 years to All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three years. Any age statement on a bottle of Scotch whisky, expressed in numerical form, must reflect the age of the youngest whisky used to produce that product. A whisky with an age statement is known as guaranteed-age whisky. These barrels are USED
Break Three:
These barrels for example Jack Daniels cost roughly $160 these are the original JD barrels they used to age their whisky – for $300-$600 you can find quality barrels that are not sanded or polished as they are used for function and storage. They can only be used once when making the Jack Daniels batches- then they are sold to hot sauce makers, beer brewers and Scotch whiskey distillers who will reuse them…In Kentucky you can only use the barrel once, Burbon has to be in a brand new barrel – scotch cannot be used in the brand new barrel…
Break 4
Glencairn – spell it – these glasses are the coolest scotch, bourbon and whiskey tasting nipping glasses. A Glencairn is a tombstone erected on the highest mountain peaks to mark the grave sights and honour fallen Scottish warriors. The glass was designed with aid of master blenders from five of the largest whisky companies in Scotland – in 2001. Specifically for ‘nosing’ the whisky sample. The glass itself is small just holds 6 ounces when plumb full but typically should only hold 1.75 ounces. Guess what this glass on the Queen’s award for Innovation in 2006.
Break 5
We’ve all heard the word proof before when describing alcohol or moonshine even. The term proof dates back to the 16th century in England or 1848 in the USA – when spirits were taxed at different rates depending on their alcohol content and proof was on a score of 0 – 200. Originating in England proof was equal to 1.82 times the alcohol by volume ABV or generally twice. 100 proof would be to the equivalent in today measurement at approx 57% Alcohol by Volume or ABV. So if 100 was the middle anything above this when tested in a burn or no burn test which was based on alcohol igniting was said to be above proof.
Break 6
Whiskey or Whisky
– the word whisky is the spirit or alcohol that is used as the base this word actually just means water of life in Gaelic. The spelling tells you the location it originated from whiskey is for Ireland and whisky without the e is used in all other whisky producing regions. Scots, Canada and Japan to not use the ‘e’. So the top 9 are Irish Whiskey (e) Scotch Whisky (no e) Japanese Canadian, Burbon Whiskey (American), Tennessee (American)Whiskey Rye Whiskey (American) and then blended whiskey – made for cocktails
Break 7
When you smell whisky with your mouth open the alcohol in the whisky doesn’t burn your nose…and you can smell the floral ness of it
Break 8
Jeff’s so accurate in his details, the level of smokiness is of a whisky is determined by the time the barley grain is exposed to the pungent peat smoke during drying. Damp malt is usually dried for approximately 30 hours. Others dries its malt over peat fire for about 18 of these 30 hours, some only use only unpeated fire. Scotland has large peat bogs wich grow approx 1mm a year. – so a 3 meter peat bog takes 3000 years to grow!
Break 9
Okay so here’s a bit of a breakdown, alcohol vs sugar…the spirit should not have any sugar in it like gin, vodka, whiskey – unless you add mix of course. White wine is approx 3 grams per 5 ounces and and beer is approx 5 grams/12 ounce. For wine, just to clarify this comment, also Alcohol levels in wine are directly correlated with the amount of sugar that’s developed in the grapes at harvest time: the higher the sugar levels, the higher the potential alcohol. This doesn’t mean higher alcohol wines are sweeter, though sometimes this is the case.
Break 10
There are 5 regions in Scotland where whisky without the e remember comes from Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and speyside
Break 11
Markers mark does indeed come from Loretto, Kentucky, USA by Beam Suntory originally called th eBurks Distillery and production began in 1954 so not quite hundred of years old but definitely getting up there. It had a slogan of “ it Tastes expensive…and it is”
Also one of the most unusual qualities about markers mark is that no rye is used as part of the math over 70% is corn and it’s aged for about 6 years.
Break 12
Makers Mark fires each barerel for a customary number 3 char in just 40 seconds – new American white oak is seasoned outdoors for nine months, including the summer before the firing takes place. Also all barrels are rotated by hand in their warhorse ensure proper exposure to different temperatures first with a minimum of 3 hot Kentucky summers on the top of the rack house.
Break 13:
Yes aficionados of bourbon and corn whisky (at least 51% corn) say it’s sweeter and more robust in
Whisky room – try all sorts of options here with different woods they use to smoke the glasses and different types of bitters, mixes etc. something fun to maybe try with friends…
A bit of a re-cap – we tasted Monkey shoulder $60/bottle Blended Malt Scotch – Genfiddich 18 year Scotch $130/bottle – GlenFarclas single malt scotch 21 year about $150/bottle – makers Mark Burbon $50/ bottle.
Well our first interview together now you finally know what my husband sounds like and thanks for joining us on our first whisky tasting – it was very enjoyable to learn and try these out…not sure they are for me but I’m always up for trying something new. If you’ve gone down this bourbon rat hole, let me know what you’ve tried and enjoyed. I’m thinking there will be more experimentation in the future with my hubby. If you have any questions about whiskeys please check out the show links to everything we’ve discussed today and drop a comment or question and we will get back to you 🙂
Links:
Glencairn Whisky Glass – Even the queen voted for this innovation!
Whiskey or Whisky – Where is it from?
Scotch Whisky Regions: Where and their specific names.
Top 9 Whiskey you need to know – these are the must try
Scotch Whiskey – What is this?
Smoke Whisky – significance of Peat Moss
Promo Clip
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The show music is call ‘Girl’ by Text me Records and Leviathe
The cover art, storytelling and production is by me, Valerie Moss.
Stay Tuned for the next season, season 3 on Valerie’s Variety Podcast with your host me, Valerie Moss from Studio 17
