Tastings

Tasting #27 Recap: Great Bourbons

On Wednesdays, January 9 & 23, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its first tasting of 2019. The focus of the tasting was Great Bourbons. These were bottles that were collected over the last year by the club. It was a great way to start off the new year! There were 36 members in attendance.

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • Weller 12 Year
  • Old Ezra 7 Year Barrel Strength
  • Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch 11, Spring ’16
  • SMWS B5.1 – Dickel 13 Year
  • Wild Turkey ‘Revival’

For scores from the tasting, please go to Scores

Here are some photos from the evenings:

Two wonderful evenings of Bourbon. Can’t go wrong with that to start the year! Cheers.

 

Tastings

Tasting #26 Recap: Luxury Tasting

On Wednesday, December 5, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its first higher-priced tasting that we named the Luxury Tasting. These were all bottles that we either purchased through auctions or were collected over the last year by the club. There were 16 members in attendance. This was the max number since we only had one bottle of each of the five bottles we tasted.

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • Craigellachie 23 Year
  • Distiller’s Art Bunnahabhain 27 Year
  • Bruichladdich Private Single Cask 9 Year Sherry
  • Edradour Single Cask 14 Year
  • Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique

For scores from the tasting, please go to Scores

Here are some photos from the evening:

It was a great first shot at a Luxury tasting and we can’t wait to do this again in 2019!

Cheers!

Tastings

Tasting #25 Recap: A Scotland Tour

On Wednesdays, October 24 and November 28, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had great tastings of bottles that were brought back from Scotland on the 9 Maple Scotland Tour in September. The Tour focused primarily on the Speyside and Upper Highlands region of Scotland. A total of 22 members took part in this tasting.

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • Balblair ’91 – 27 year
  • The Singleton of Glen Ord – Distillery Exclusive – 14 Year
  • Gordon & MacPhail’s Glenturret 14 Year Shop Exclusive – Spirit of Speyside edition
  • The Arran Wee Double 10 Year
  • Aberlour Hand-Filled 13 Year Sherry
  • Tomatin Hand-Filled 16 Year Pedro Ximenez

For scores from the tasting, please go to Scores

Here are some photos of the evenings:

It was a fun tasting and a great recap of our Tour to Scotland.

Cheers!

Tastings

Tasting #24 Recap: Black Button Distilling

On Wednesday, October 10th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had a special event tasting. Jason Barrett, head distiller at Black Button Distilling out of Rochester, NY, came to Saratoga Springs with the help of local account manager, Brian Baker, to hold a unique tasting for the club.  The club sampled from four different batches of bourbon and was able to pick a winner and also which 375ml bottle they wanted to take home.

Jason from Black Button went over the history of the distillery, its products (along with samples) and how they make their whiskey. The event took place at the Saratoga City Tavern and it was a great evening of tasting, snacks and discussion. Plus, we got bottles to remember the evening. Can’t beat that!

Here are some photos from the evening.

It was a great evening and experience. Thank you to Jason and Brian for making this happen!

Tastings

Tasting #23 Recap: Blind SMWS Tasting

On Wednesdays September 5th and 12th, 2018, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its first Blind Scotch Malt Whisky Society tasting.  We had six different single malt whiskies to taste from and it was an interesting evening to see how close the members came to a consensus.

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • SMWS 73.98 – Layers of harmony – Aultmore 17 Year
  • SMWS 112.27 – Tarry lapsang souchong – Loch Lomond 13 Year
  • SMWS 100.14 – Boozy basil Blueberry – Strathmill 12 Year
  • SMWS 39.130 – Zing like the ping of a musical string – Linkwood 26 Year
  • SMWS 36.145 – Nice day for cricket – Benrinnes 20 Year
  • SMWS 26.121 – A real ‘pick-me-up’ – Clynelish 13 Year

For scores from the tasting, please go to http://www.saratogawhiskeyclub.com/scores/

Here are some photos of the evening:

It was a great tasting and one we will definitely do again.

Cheers!

Tastings

Tasting #22 Recap: Annual Whiskey Club Dinner – Bourbon & BBQ

On Wednesday, August 8, 2018, the Saratoga Whiskey Club held its annual dinner feast.  The theme for this year was Bourbon and BBQ.  We had close to 40 people in attendance for this great evening of outdoor dining and tasting.  The weather cooperated for us which was nice!

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted and the food that they were paired with:

  • We started with a Maker’s Mark Bourbon Slushie
  • Barton’s 1792 Full Proof – Loch & Key Society Barrel Pick – Paired with a slow roasted Pork Belly (braised with Old Grand Dad 114) and topped with a Grilled Peach and a Bourbon Peach Sauce (that contained some Small Batch Barton’s 1792)
  • Weller Special Reserve – Paired with a Smoked Chicken Caesar Salad
  • Rebel Yell 10 Year Single Barrel – Paired with Smoked Baby Back Ribs (Johnny Drum was used in the BBQ sauce), Homemade Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, and Cornbread
  • David Nicholson Reserve – Paired with Smoked Beef Short Ribs which were braised in Michter’s Bourbon and served with a Waldorf Salad
  • Michter’s Toasted Barrel Rye – Paired with Truly Decadent Bacon Brownies and Ben & Jerry’s Urban Bourbon Ice Cream

A big shout out to Primal for helping us with good pricing on most of the meat served at this dinner!

Here are some photos of the evening:

 

 

Thank again to Primal!!  And here’s to another great annual dinner!!  Cheers.

Tastings

Tasting #21 Recap: Saratoga Race Track Tasting

On Saturday, July 28, the Saratoga Whiskey Club held its first whiskey tasting at the Saratoga Race Track on Jim Dandy Stakes Day. We had a great group attend and this will definitely become an annual tradition at the track. We couldn’t use our fancy Glencairn glasses, but there was still plenty of whiskey to be tasted. Now if we could only get the wagering to be better!!

Here are the whiskies that we tasted. Scores are posted on the Scores page.

  • Aberlour A’Bunadh – Batch #62 – 59.9% ABV
  • Glengoyne Cask Strength – Batch #5 – 59.1% ABV
  • Benromach – Gordon’s Single Cask – 60.6% ABV
  • The Macallan Edition No. 3 – 48.3% ABV
  • The Glenlivet Code – Limited Edition – 48% ABV

Here are photos from the event:

Looking forward to next year already!

Tastings

Tasting #20 Recap: Irish Whiskey-Paired Dinner

On Monday, July 16, 2018, the Saratoga Whiskey Club was invited to a great Irish Whiskey-Paired Dinner at Harvey’s by Sinead O’Hagan, the Irish Whiskey Ambassador from Kilbeggan Distilling Co. It was a great night of food and Irish Whiskey. We would like to thank Sinead and Kyle Gilligan from Beam Suntory for hosting us on this fun evening.

Here are the whiskies we tasted and the food that was paired with each:

  • Tyrconnell Single Malt – paired with Shrimp Crostini with an Irish Whiskey Sauce
  • Kilbeggan Single Grain – paired with Ginger Whiskey Glazed Pork Belly served over house-made Cole Slaw
  • Connemara 12 Year Peated Single Malt – paired with Roast Chicken over Blistered Tomatoes and Peppers and Mashed Potatoes topped with a Whiskey Cream Sauce
  • Tyrconnell 15 Year Single Malt Madeira Finish – paired with Brownie Topped with Whipped Cream and Whiskey Caramel Sauce

Here are some photos from the dinner!

It was a great night of whiskey, food and company!!

Tastings

Tasting #19 Recap: Drams For Fams

On Wednesday, May 23, 2018, the Saratoga Whiskey Club took part in a North American initiative started by the Edmonton Scotch Club in Canada called Drams For Fams (#Drams4Fams).  The purpose of the initiative is to raise money for a local food bank or other charity in the form of a whiskey tasting.  Many different clubs in Canada and the United States took part in this and a lot of money was raised.  It was great to be a part of this and we look forward to making an even bigger contribution next year.

The format for our tasting was a lot of fun.  Bottles were donated by members and the club for this tasting.  All money raised went directly to charity.  Participants were able to taste up to 10 different whiskies of the 13 that we had available for the group.  Henry Street Taproom provided us a great spot in their restaurant and some awesome appetizers as well.  It was a perfect night for tasting a lot of whiskey (but then again, when is it not the perfect night!).  All in all, we had 22 people attend this great evening.

Here are the whiskies we tasted and the scores they received:

Blood Oath Pact #4 Bourbon – Score of 88 (avg. of 10 scores)

High West American Prairie – Score of 83 (avg. of 5 scores)

Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye – Score of 85 (avg. of 9 scores)

Elmer T. Lee Bourbon – Score of 87 (avg. of 6 scores)

Glenmorangie Lasanta – Score of 75 (avg. of 3 scores)

Ardbeg Auriverdes – Score of 83 (avg. of 6 scores)

Boone County 12 Year Single Barrel Bourbon – Score of 84 (avg. of 7 scores)

Glenmorangie Spios – Score of 82 (avg. of 5 scores)

Whip Saw Rye Whiskey – Score of 82 (avg. of 9 scores)

Pikesville Rye – Score of 84 (avg. of 2 scores)

Weller Antique 107 – Score of 79 (avg. of 4 scores)

Laphroaig Cairdeas – Score of 83 (avg. of 3 scores)

Johnnie Walker Blade Runner Director’s Cut – No Score

Photos from the event:

A fantastic evening was had by all.  We can’t wait for next year!

Tastings

April 2018 Tasting Recaps

The Saratoga Whiskey Club had a very busy Spring in 2018 with 3 different events in April.

On April 11, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits had Pete from Pernod Ricard in Saratoga Springs for tasting #17 at Bailey’s.  Four different great whiskies were tasted along with great appetizers from Bailey’s.  Thanks to Meghan for putting this together for us!!

Throughout April we also had home screenings of the Bourbon documentary NEAT: The Story of Bourbon.  This was tasting #18 for the club.  We paired different bourbons with different parts of the documentary which was a lot of fun.  Each house was very different with food & drink.  It’s a great documentary and we highly recommend it.

At the end of April the Saratoga Whiskey Club filled its own barrel of whiskey at the Albany Distilling Company.  We had a great day distilling whiskey for our barrel and learning what it takes to fill a 53-gallon barrel.  We all got to sign the barrel and now get to wait at least four years to decide what to do with it, other than drink it!

Here are some photos from all of our April events.  May is turning out to be a very busy one as well.

 

Our Bourbon documentary lineup

Dan’s slow-cooked brisket

Bailey’s crew

Our barrel

It was a great month!  Stay tuned for more from May.

Cheers.