Hats and Drinks - A Match Made in Heaven

[ILB Frank]

Me too. I’ve been rewatching the 6 seasons for something to do. This hot summer I have rewatched the 4 seasons of Yellowstone, 1 season of 1883 & 1 season of Mayor of Kingstown. I watched Lonesome Dove. I guess Deadwood is next.

I have a bundle order out for delivery today from Santa Fe Spirits, Santa Fe, NM.

There's also Justified... and Pappy Van Winkle (if you can get ahold of any... which I can't).

 

[Hurricane Jack]

and Pappy Van Winkle

I had a couple rounds of the Family Reserve 15 & didn’t think it deserved the price point. Never had the 20.

Same opinion on Jefferson’s Ocean. And I understand they are down to something like only 100 bottles left.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

@ILB Frank

This is just one page appropriate to the conversation, from one of our best local whiskey bars. Prices are per 1 oz shot.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Completed my contest points at the Tap Room 12 days early, under an Optimo Traditional West.

GOOSE ISLAND HAZY BEER HUG IPA x 2

KC BIER Co FESTBIER Vienna Lager x 2

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Balcones Texas Single Malt under my Resistol 3X Hand felted edge for TNF.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Warmer evening temps find me on a walkabout enjoying a Surley Supreme pilsner tonight.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[ILB Frank]

Since it's the last weekend of summer, it seems fitting to have a summer fun drink under a Sunbody.

So now let's get that backwards fedora hat wearin' sum-gum to sing us into fall and felt hats...

 

[Blare]

Stetson Playboy while trying out Steve Austin’s Broken Skull American Lager by El Segundo brewing co and watching Miami Dolphins come back from 21 point deficit in the 4th quarter to beat Baltimore Ravens. A feat not duplicated in 12 years... all teams down 21 or more points in the 4th quarter since 2011 had a combined record of 0-711 in those games. Crazy game!!

This is my first time getting to try out any of SCSA’s Broken Skull offerings as they had not been available here locally until now. This one… American Lager comes in at 4.8% ABV and is a very smooth drinking beer. It is fairly flavorful with a bit of citrusy flavors coming through but not bitter at all. A very enjoyable beer overall. And I’d have to give it an “Ohhh Hell Yeah”. I will definitely seek out his ‘higher octane‘ Broken Skull
IPA on my next liquor store visit.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

All day does mean day and night! Founders All Day IPA for an evening walkabout.

The current temp is 55'f (13 c'). The temps and quiet evening prompted me to go back in and pour a Guinness Stout. Ahhhh...cool weather and a Stout beer!

Cheers, Eric -

 

[The Shoe]

Whisky glasses.
The old and the new.

Taste comparison tomorrow.

 

[ILB Frank]

A salute to fall and felt with a 2021 Macallan Rare Cask with a 2022 Gannon Big Four. This scotch is as velvety smooth as described and so is the Gannon. Salud!

(Full disclosure: I had already drank a glass of the rare cask and then thought to shoot this photo. I wasn't going to pour another just for the photo so the glass in the photo is holding a splash of The Glenlivet 12 year.)

 

[Short Balding Guy]

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A salute to fall and felt with a 2021 Macallan Rare Cask with a 2022 Gannon Big Four. This scotch is as velvety smooth as described and so is the Gannon. Salud!

(Full disclosure: I had already drank a glass of the rare cask and then thought to shoot this photo. I wasn't going to pour another just for the photo so the glass in the photo is holding a splash of The Glenlivet 12 year.)

Salud! I am not currently sipping anything as special as your magnificent Mac Rare Cask, but I do tip my glass of Guinness in your general direction.

I had to go to a Whiskey Vault YouTube review to find out about your whiskey.

Dang after the review I would like to taste the whiskey. Cheers to you sir!

Watching the above vid has me salivating for a taste of whiskey. To sate my desire I just poured a dram of a MaCallan 12. Thanks for the whiskey diversion tonight!

Sounds like a terrific whiskey evening tonight.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[ILB Frank]

Salud! I am not currently sipping anything as special as your magnificent Mac Rare Cask, but I do tip my glass of Guinness in your general direction.

I had to go to a Whiskey Vault YouTube review to find out about your whiskey.

Dang after the review I would like to taste the whiskey. Cheers to you sir!

Watching the above vid has me salivating for a taste of whiskey. To sate my desire I just poured a dram of a MaCallan 12. Thanks for the whiskey diversion tonight!

Sounds like a terrific whiskey evening tonight.

Cheers, Eric -

I am a fan of single malt. The rare cask was a gift for doing a friend a favor (nothing illegal ). It is the best whisky I have had in recent memory. The only possible contender would be the first scotch I ever had - back in about 1987 - The Royal Salute (Chivas).
Maybe it's time to pick one up and have a taste test?

 

[The Shoe]

Tried the new Glencairn glasses first with the Glen Scotia Campbeltown Harbour, then with The Classic Laddie.

Our conclusion was that the glasses were worth it. The aromas were far more intense than drinking from the smaller tulip glasses.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

The Fall season is starting to bring out some darker colors starting with this Navy blue VS in 100X.

And the weather has brought a taste for Stouts with the taste of oatmeal & molasses. Sammy Smith is the best but being from the UK (not on tap) is a bit pricey.

Even a desert beer. One or two of these with some salty white kernel popcorn would be great. Or pretzels.

Colin Kegan is an Englishman with an extensive career in Irish Single Malt whiskies. Ten yrs ago he moved to Santa Fe, NM & started Santa Fe Spirits. He has become a leader in the new & growing American Single Malt whiskies & his have been winning awards. Several of his malts are known for the barley being dried with mesquite wood fires Producing a pleasant woodsmoke flavor. I recently made a bundle buy & had it shipped in.

First bottle opened was Santa Fe Mesquite wood @ 92 proof.

A few days later I opened a bottle of the Apple Brandy Cask Finished. The Apple Brandy Cask Finished has won several awards. Tastes of NM apples, toffee & butterscotch. Not overly sweet but not citrusy. Perfect for a Fall apertiff & reminds me of a good Speyside. Wonderful aroma

Still to be opened is a bottle of the 118 proof Cask Strength.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Cool temp evenings..Ahhhh! Omni Brewing Birdie Putt India Pale Ale was my walkabout beer.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Sunday night under a Tatton Baird with some Balvenie 15 Single Barrel Sherry Cask Finish. Part of the 2013-2014 Rare Craft Series bottling which is pretty much sold out now & hard to find.

 

[The Shoe]

Sunday night under a Tatton Baird with some Balvenie 15 Single Barrel Sherry Cask Finish. Part of the 2013-2014 Rare Craft Series bottling which is pretty much sold out now & hard to find.

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We just ordered a bottle of the 12 Doublewood.
I would’ve liked to go for the 15, but it’s close to $400 over here. Even the 12 is more than we usually pay, but it sounded appealing in the reviews we read.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

We just ordered a bottle of the 12 Doublewood.

Nothing wrong with that! It scored very high as a newbie just a few yrs ago. I haven’t bought much of it lately due to price increases but you can’t go wrong with 12 DoubleWood.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Sunday night under a Tatton Baird with some Balvenie 15 Single Barrel Sherry Cask Finish. Part of the 2013-2014 Rare Craft Series bottling which is pretty much sold out now & hard to find.

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Jack; Superb Whiskey this evening. I have asked Ace Liquors to RSVP me if they source a rare cask bottling. I will take it. It is on my short list of, "if you can get a bottle" list.

Tonight no whiskey, but started with a Surley Supreme and then sampled the first of a four pack of beer - the Founders KBS Maple Mackinaw Fudge.

I picked the four pack of Founders up to sample this, to my experience a unique beer, KBS stout. I like Founders KBS Stout (barrel aged imperial stout). It is a big 12% ABV bourbon barrel aged stout with all the fixings. Coffee, chocolate, vanilla, cocoa and of course oak are the flavorings of the KBS.

BTW: I opened the bottle while grilling a couple of buffalo burgers with raw onion, homemade pickles and some horseradish and mayo suase. Paired better than I imagined. I can eat this again!

The KBS Maple Mackinaw Fudge may be my fav variant of KBS and might challenge the original, IMO. First out it is not sweet. Thank goodness. Coffee, chocolate and maple are what I taste in order. Full and creamy with lots of mouth feel. A sipper beer for me. Oddly the beer is thinner than the thick head that is the result of the pour. Desert beer - I would have to say a reluctant yes. Sweeter than the KBS, but not cloyingly or sickly sweet. Summary - It is a stellar variant of KBS.

I will work on picking up another 4 pack to keep on hand for the cool winter season that is forecasted.

Cheers to all, Eric -