How to Go for the Best Whiskey
When I met Patrick Marran it was a cold December evening in New York. My girlfriend and I had just given up trying to break through the crowd at Rockefeller Center to see a large tree and were in desperate need of a drink. We walked down 49th Street to escape the crowd, turned the corner of 10th Avenue and saw, our grace, a whiskey bar.
We were immediately attracted by its discreet lighting and relaxed atmosphere, so we walked in, took off our coats, and Patrick, the bartender, immediately greeted us with a heartfelt “Welcome to On the Rocks.” The bar itself is not big, but it is chock-full of all sorts of whiskeys you would ever want to serve neat, straight, iced, or even in signature cocktails. And their goal at On the Rocks is simple: they want you to taste whiskey you’ve never tasted before. Marran will ask what you had and what you liked, and then tries to show you the best version of the affordable products. After trying a few glasses of Japanese whiskey and American rye that I had never heard of, I was sold, so I asked Patrick if he could help me offer some helpful advice to other whiskey aficionados looking to upgrade.
How is Maker’s Mark? Try WL Weller Antique
What most people don’t understand about their preference for bourbon is the percentage of ingredients. Marran explains that Maker’s is categorized as “wheat bourbon,” meaning that after the 51% grain requirement, wheat makes up the majority of the other grains used in the distillation process. This makes wheat bourbon a very bland and affordable drink. That’s why Buffalo Trace Distillery’s WL Weller Antique (Old Weller Antique) is the perfect upgrade for Maker fans, and a great stepping stone to the mythical Pappy Van Winkle. It’s not too expensive either. You can find bottles for about $ 30.
Do you like The Macallan 12 Year? Try Yamazaki 12 Year
The Japanese have been producing this award-winning whiskey for decades, drawing the attention of die-hard Scotch whiskey lovers. Marran says that Yamazaki almost always wins the blind tasting he does at a bar when someone asks for a Scotch whiskey. I have drunk a couple of bottles of Yamazaki 12 myself and can attest to its excellent quality. Get a bottle for about $ 100.
How is Jameson? Try a green spot
Marran describes Single Pot Still whiskey as a bridge between blended Irish whiskey and Scotch whiskey, and Green Spot from Mitchell & Son is an affordable way to improve quality over regular blended whiskeys. Marran says:
Many people walk into a bar and think Irish whiskey is bad. It’s about as bad as snow in July. This is my favorite way to break someone’s delusion.
If you want to go up in price from there, Midleton’s Redbreast is also a good option. You can find Green Spot bottles for around $ 70.
Like Bulleit Bourbon? Try Michter’s US 1 Bourbon
Many people love Bulleit bourbon and consider it to be one of the best, but Marran suggests Michter’s US 1 Bourbon is slightly more balanced in flavor. It’ll cost you a few more dollars, but Marran says it’s perfect for bourbon aficionados who know that a high proportion of corn in their mash is their “whiskey problem.” And if you’re interested in a whiskey education, he recommends their rye and American varieties to give you a good example of how different whiskeys taste. You can usually find bottles ranging from $ 50 to $ 60.
Like Four Roses Yellow Label? Try Sons of Liberty Uprising or Stranahan’s Yellow Label
If you’re always looking for a “super smooth whiskey,” Marran advises you to stay away from bourbon and try a single malt whiskey from America. Both Sons of Liberty Uprising and Stranahan’s Yellow Label offer younger, full-bodied whiskeys that always run smoothly. You can find a bottle of Sons of Liberty Uprising for about $ 50 a bottle (hard to find in the West), and you can find Stranahan’s Yellow Label for about $ 65 a bottle.
Do you like Laphroaig 10? Try Bruichladdich Octomore
Laphroaig Scotch seems to be ideal for most peat bog (smokiness type) novices, according to Marran, but there are a dozen other Islay distilleries that deserve your attention. Bruichladdich Octomore is a high quality smoky whiskey that comes in several styles and shows the artistic approach that distilleries use to brighten aromatic drinks. Marran recommends having it neat or with a few drops of water (even a whole ice cube is too much for peat). You can find a bottle of Bruichladdich Octomore for around $ 60-80.
Like Dewars or Johnny Walker? Try Shackleton whiskey
This mixed tape is easy to spot from the blue box and the robin label. Marran describes it as a blended whiskey that is “designed” to taste like a single malt whiskey, so it is the ideal whiskey to help ease the transition to single malt flavor. It has a full body, but it is smooth on the tongue and goes down easily. Plus the recipe has an interesting story. It is based on the tape that Sir Ernest brought with him during his 1907 expedition to Antarctica. It can be found for about $ 40 a bottle.
How is Old Overholt? Try Rye Ragtime
If you’re the rye (or girl) type, Marran says going from simple well rye to three-year-old rye will go crazy. The Ragtime Rye New York Distilling Company is part of a new whiskey movement in New York, where nine different distilleries are producing rye that is 75% rye, compared to a required 51%. This is your chance to switch to “real rye,” as Marran put it. You can find bottles for about $ 45.
How is Bulleit Rye? Try WhistlePig Farmstock
According to Marran, people love Bulleit Rye because it’s an affordable, luscious rye that helps them get into the world of decent whiskey after their college days. If you’re ready to switch to something equally bland but with more rye and better flavor, WhistlePig’s Farmstock is your choice. It has hints of vanilla and toasted honey and is priced at around $ 90 a bottle.
Already like Yamazaki 12 Year? Try Amrut Single Malt Cask Strength
If you’ve already tasted the greatness of Yamazaki, Amrut should be your new best friend. Marran says it’s worth trying for all whiskey lovers:
Whether you want to show that you know more about whiskey, or simply want to continue building your exotic single malt collection, this single malt whiskey from India is a must to understand why so many companies are taking the barley approach. from Scotland and put it in motion.
Amrut whiskeys are slightly younger than others, but they are full of flavor and winning awards. You may have to order it online (prices can range from $ 60 to $ 100 per bottle), but this is a delicious international whiskey that you can definitely brag about to your friends.
After all, most whiskeys are hard to go wrong with. Marran notes that “there is no such thing as a bad whiskey – just different options for an individual budget.” If you enjoy your day to day activities, you don’t need to change anything if you don’t want to. But if you want to broaden your whiskey horizons, try these guidelines. Tell me what are you drinking these days?