A small holiday update for Spirit Animal's well-wishers (and/or usual motley crew of ne'er-do-wells).
Strangely misunderstood for such a bar staple. Most people think they don't like vermouth. But hey, good thing you're not most people!
Sometimes the best way to really determine what you think about things is to put your suspicions in the ring and let them go a few rounds against each other. Results were ...surprising.
A kickoff of a larger series designed to talk about the elements in your spirits that make them taste the way we do. Today, we start with peat, which to many is synonymous with scotch itself.
There's a concept in economics called "close substitution." Exploring the concept, I have a better grasp of why I love some bottles and am downright pissed off by others.
Just as it took me some time to appreciate tasting spirits in general, it took me a similar amount of time to be able to appreciate the simplicity and vibrancy of the highball. Now, I make this two-ingredient cocktail often.
So after part 1 and 2, let me say again that Independent Bottlings of spirits like Scotch, Rum, and Bourbon can be great. That said, I have some pretty strong feelings about why I'm not going to cover them.
When we talk about "Rye Whiskey," you might initially think that the category were as simple as including all whiskeys made from Rye. Ha! If only life were that simple.
To spoil the ending: no. However, a specific whiskey you enjoy today may not be around tomorrow, or at least around at the same price. I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
Mezcal has been too-long considered a smokey, second-rate tequila. Thankfully, the spirit category is (deservedly) finding a place in the sun. And worry not: it's a rarity to find a worm at the bottom of a good bottle.
Collecting and trying new things is fun. However, you may find that you buy more bottles then you actually drink, and then WHAM: home bar. And there's a psychological reason for it, y'know.
The second of a three-part run down on Independent Bottlings, or "IBs" for those in the know. Should you get them? Yes.
Constantly underappreciated, liquor miniatures actually have quite a lot going for them beyond novelty. I'll do my best to explain why a few of these often sneak their way home from the local bottle shop.
The first of a planned three-parter. You might not have ever heard of an Independent Bottling, or might have seen one out of the corner of your eye, unsure of what it was. Let's crack into the "what" for today before we talk about the "why" later.