PJ

Hello,

My name is P.J. Zavada, I do the beer and spirit buying at South Lyndale.  This is my first blog ever as I am a firm beliiever in the fact that nobody really cares what I am doing or thinking, so why would I put it on the world wide web.  But when my boss Dan told me he would like me to start blogging, I secretly got excited about it because it's a perfect excuse for me to spread my opinions to the 5 or 6 people who will read it.  It's a job requirement.  The blog will contain whatever subject within the beer and spirits arena in which I feel like talking about, and will conclude with recommendations for both beer and liquor. My first blog is about how to drink whiskey.

People ask me all the time when standing at our awesome tasting station, how they should drink their purchase. Water? Ice? Neat? Is it a sin to put sour mix or Coke in this whiskey? (I am going with the American spelling for this post but know that I am talking about all whskey)  My usual response as a retailer is once you pay for it you can do whatever you like with it.  And that statement is not a lie in any way.  A person should be able to do what they want with the whiskey they buy with their hard earned money.  Nobody should feel shame for prefering a little Coca Cola in their drink.  That being said, most "expert" whiskey tasters drink their whiskey 2 ways.  They will try it neat first, with water second.  By adding water, the whiskey loosens up.  The oils and fats get pushed around and you end up with a different profile.  The aromas and tastes are both enhanced and accentuated by the addition of the water.  Some people believe that an ice cube or two "shocks" the whiskey or tightens it up.  I suppose in the same way that blanching asparagus halts the cooking process, the whiskey will not further open up.  I think that's bull roar.  Never happened to me, but who knows, maybe I just smoke too many cigarettes to tell.  If you like your whiskey by itself, I would recommend always adding a little water or a cube to it and note the subtle differences it makes.  This is especially important with cask strength whiskies.  They are so high proof and so tight that it is essential to add water to get the full expeirience of the whiskey.

Now, on to my next point.  I am a huge fan of whiskey cocktails.  The range of flavors in whiskey makes it the perfect spirit for cocktails.  For my money, you can't beat a bourbon lemonade on a hot summer day.  Whiskey cocktails have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years.  Restaurants and bars are adding all kinds of new and innovative whiskey based cocktails to their menus.  House made bitters, herbs and spices, and specialty syrups are all used to create cocktails that show off the subtle flavor profiles in different styles of whiskey.  It may suprise or even anger people to see a single malt scotch mixed with bitters and syrups but the truth is, it works great.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is there is no right or wrong when drinking whiskey.  Only personal preference.  Putting sweet vermouth, bitters and a cherry in my favorite rye doesn't make me appreciate it any less.  In fact, the bitters plays perfectly with that signature rye spice. So the next time you get all high and mighty at your friend for mixing a Crown and Coke, you may want to bite your lip.  Chances are there's a whiskey cocktail out there that will become your new favorite drink.

Recommendations:

Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon, - Kentucky.  This is not your father's Four Roses.  Completely revamped and out of the hands of Seagrams, this distillery is now producing some of the best bourbons around.  A premium Single Barrel Bourbon with a taste you'll want to savor again and again. Complex, full bodied and surprisingly smooth with a delicate long finish that’s unbelievably mellow. Contains hints of ripe plum and cherry tastes with fruity, spicy aromas including maple syrup and cocoa. 100 proof.  On sale now at South Lyndale. $39.99, Regular $46.99.

Bateman's Combined Harvest English Pale Ale, - Lincolnshire, England. A fantastic, award winning english pale.  Combined Harvest is a unique combination of brewing worts, or extracts from a variety of cereals. Most premium ales are brewed only using malted barley, but this multigrained beer has a blend of malted oats, malted rye, and malted wheat. The end result is lots of flavour. A unique multigrain blend of malted barley, oats, rye and wheat. Grainy tasting with a delightful floral start and finish. $5.99 a pint.