Building the Home Bar: Whiskey
Michael Dunning
Whiskey can serve a variety of purposes, but there are many whiskeys to choose from and many styles of whiskey that should be understood in order to fulfill whichever need you require.
All whiskey is distilled from grain, but the type of grain and the percentage of each grain are what differentiate whiskeys from one another. Single malt whiskey is made exclusively from malted barley, water, and yeast. Grain whiskey is made from either corn, wheat, or a combination of the two. Blended whiskeys are an integration of single malt and grain.
The most prestigious and traditionally-forward whiskey there is to use is scotch. In order to be honorably classified as a scotch, the spirit must be made from malted barley, aged for a minimum of three years, and be produced in Scotland. Like wine, different regions contribute different flavors. For example, Islay is home to more exclusive scotches, as only eight distilleries remain on the isle. These scotches are more smoky and briny, due to their location on the coastline.
Irish whiskeys have a similarly rich and extensive history. In general, Irish whiskeys are much lighter and less peaty than scotches, and are still broken up into different classifications. There are single-malts, grains, single grains, single pot still, and blended, which is the most popular making up over 90% of Irish whiskeys.
American whiskeys come in a multitude of popular variations. Bourbons contain at least 51% corn mash and are almost exclusively produced in the state of Kentucky. Tennessee whiskeys are filtered with charcoal, giving them a smoky, earthy flavor. Rye whiskeys are equally popular in Canada, a generous contribution during Prohibition, Rye whiskeys must partially contain rye mash to be considered rye whiskey and are more spicy and peppery in flavor.
Japanese whiskeys have recently popped up as an independent style of whiskey and are growing in popularity and production. Japanese whiskeys are most reminiscent of Lowland scotches, but the innovation of Japanese whiskeys has set them apart as their own recognized distinction. Japanese whiskeys are smooth and delicate and normally perfumed with honey for sweetness.
Whiskey comes in a wide variety of styles, each of which carries different distillation methods, alcohol contents, flavor profiles, and applications. Some are best in cocktails and others are sipped neat or on the rocks. The right whiskey in the right cocktail can cool you down in the summer just as well as it can warm you up in the winter. As always, the style of whiskey you stock your bar with depends on your own preference and purpose. As you stand before the whiskey section in your local grocery store, keep in mind the purpose of your whiskey purchase. Whatever that may be, here are three options that can take care of any goal you’re setting out to accomplish.
Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon
America’s three greatest contributions to the west are jazz, baseball, and bourbon. Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon is the flagship spirit of this Americana.
The Maker’s Mark distillery operates on Star Hill Farm in Loretto, KY. The water used for distillation is naturally filtered by limestone, a water source exclusive to Maker’s Mark that removes iron and is rich in calcium and magnesium that purify the water and protect the 150-year-old heirloom yeast added at the next step. Maker’s Mark is distilled twice in copper stills, the same method used since the bourbon’s birth in 1953.
The bourbon’s white oak aging barrel is charred to extract its natural sugar and caramelize its surface. Once the barrel is filled with the bourbon, it is rotated by hand and relocated periodically to different temperatures for the next six to seven years. The length of the aging varies because Maker’s Mark is aged to taste. Once the Master Distiller and tasting panel approve of its quality, this bourbon is ready to be batched and bottled.
Despite being a less expensive spirit, Maker’s Mark goes down as smooth as its doubly priced counterparts. Your home bar is not complete without a workhorse, straightforward, versatile bourbon fit for anything from your preferred old-fashioned to a mint julep to just a couple rocks of ice. Maker’s Mark is that bourbon and you really won’t ever need another. A 750 mL bottle is available at Mission Wine & Spirits for just $22.
While the lifespan of whiskey dates back millennia, Whistlepig has been quick to stamp its name on the industry, all while preserving tradition and striving for innovation. Since 2007, Whistlepig has called a 150-year-old renovated dairy farm home. This farm, located in the densely green foothills of Vermont, is still home to livestock, maple trees, and other natural, indigenous ingredients.
Rye is typically a temperamental grain and pushing it to its full potential takes patience and poise. Luckily, Whistlepig has both. When the farm was purchased, Master Distiller, Dave Pickerall, invested in a stock of ten years aged rye whiskey. Now, that stock is mindfully finished in a variety of unique casks, including one developed themselves using white oak from the very same plot of land.
Whistlepig ages multiple rye whiskeys in different ways for different lengths of time, but the 10 years, small-batch rye whiskey is the quintessential fruit of their labor. This 100 proof rye is bold, spice forward, and versatile. It can perfectly balance and embolden your Manhattan or bring warmth and comfort neatly on a cold winter’s night. Whistlepig Small Batch Rye greets your nose with aromas of allspice, anise, orange peel, charred oak, while your palate is wrapped in a mellow sweetness. The finish line is elongated, as warm butterscotch and caramel linger on enticing you to come back for another sip. Whistlepig Small Batch Rye is the whiskey that ignited the Whistlepig operation, and thanks to it, the horizon is ripe with possibilities for both themselves and yourself alike. A 750 mL of Whistlepig Small Batch Rye is available at Divine Cellar for $70.
Scotland’s reputation for the extraordinary is encapsulated by The Macallan. Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the very first scotch distilleries to receive an official license. Barley farmer Alexander Reid founded the distillery on a plateau above the river Spey in northeastern Scotland that’s surrounded by a 485-acre estate. The final color, flavor, and texture of every Macallan single malt depend entirely on the quality of the cask it matures in. The oak trees used to make each cask are sawed, crafted, toasted, and then seasoned for 18 months before shipment to The Macallan distillery. From there, The Macallan’s traditional distillation of water, yeast, and barley enters its cask to be aged to excellence.
The Macallan 18 Year Double Cask Single Malt Scotch has aged once in one of these casks and then again in a sherry seasoned oak cask from North America. The sherry oak provides a delicate vanilla flavor to balance the warm spice of the European oak. This harmonious collaboration makes for a single malt scotch whiskey irresistibly inviting and soothing in character.
The Macallan 18 Year Double Cask Single Malt Scotch is not meant to be purchased, consumed, tossed, and forgotten. This bottle of scotch is the kind you invest in. This is the bottle you indulge in to mark milestones of your life. These pillar moments require monumental and memorable celebration and every time this cork is pulled and the contents are shared and celebrated, the occasion will be stamped as one to cherish for the rest of your lifetime. A 750 mL bottle of The Macallan 18 Year Double Cask Single Malt Scotch is available at Rancho Liquor for $400.
