Sauced

Jim Murray Hosts Whisky Tasting at Paratii Craft Bar This Sunday

And just because it’s on a Sunday doesn’t mean you shan’t partake—Monday is a holiday, remember.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Jan 12, 2012 at 09:00AM 0 Comments

Whisky guy Jim Murray. Photo courtesy Whisky Advocate Blog.

Sam Hassan of Paratii Craft Bar drops a line to say Jim Murray of Whisky Bible fame will be at his Ballard bar on Sunday evening.

According to Hassan, Murray is long overdue for a visit—he hasn’t been to Seattle in 10 years. For this stop he’ll walk tasters through up 16 varieties of the spirit. Reservations are required, so call 206-420-7406 to get on that.

Since Monday means no work, you might as well keep the whisky ball rolling and head to MacLeod’s afterward.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Whiskey, Drinking Events, Paratii Craft bar

Woodinville Whiskey Co. Releases Its First Aged Spirits

Set your alarm on November 19 if you want a bottle (or two).

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Nov 11, 2011 at 09:00AM 0 Comments

Woodinville Whiskey Co.’s microbarreled bourbon will be released November 19.

Here’s some booze news that has nothing to do with a ballot initiative: On November 19, the guys at Woodinville Whiskey Co. will release a pair of limited edition whiskeys, one of which they say is the largest bourbon release in the state since Prohibition.

The bourbon and its counterpart, an American whiskey, are the first of what co-founder Orlin Sorensen says will be an annual harvest time release. The spirits are also Woodinville’s first aged products to hit the market, though the two-year-old company’s vodka and white dog (unaged) whiskey are already hits amongst local drinkers.

The distillery will open at 7am on release day, and don’t be surprised if you see scores of whiskey aficionados lining up early in the morning. Each person can purchase two bottles, which go for $40 apiece. Right now the operation is in the midst of the bottling process; Sorensen says they will have between 3,000 and 5,000 bottles of each style to sell.

Both whiskeys were aged for up to two years in 5- to 8-gallon barrels. These are significantly smaller than the 53-gallon barrels that larger operations use; exposing the whiskey to more barrel surface area helps accelerate aging and deepen the flavor.

You’ll recall that Sorensen and fellow founder Brett Carlile have benefited from some big-name tutelage from David Pickerell, former master distiller for Maker’s Mark Bourbon. Pickerell will be hanging out in the tasting room on release day. It’s not weird at all to ask him to sign your bottles. In fact, it’s encouraged.

Early next year, the distillery will start releasing its core offerings of aged whiskeys, a Mash Bill No. 9 bourbon and a 100 percent rye whiskey.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Whiskey, Microdistilleries, Woodinville Whiskey Co.

Punch and Japanese Whiskey: Two Upcoming Drinking Events

Drink up, do good—two benefit events that promise fun times and plenty of booze.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Jun 02, 2011 at 11:33AM 0 Comments

Drink punch for a cause on June 8.

photo: Thechampagnecompany.com

First, on Wednesday, June 8: Head to Rob Roy. The Belltown bar is teaming up with Hendrick’s Gin for a Spring punch party. Entrance is $20 and for that you get to drink punch all night long. Be careful with that—these punch parties can get a little crazy.

Prizes will be raffled off as well, and all proceeds will go to help Rob Roy friend Charles Munat. He was recently robbed in Buenos Aires.

Then, on Saturday, June 11: Dragonfish Asian Café, it of the celebrated happy hour sushi specials, is turning 14. As part of that celebration the restaurant will host a Japanese whiskey tasting taught by Andrew Bohrer, who is currently working with Kathy Casey.

This happens at 5pm. It only costs $35—that price includes whiskey along with food pairings like tempura peppered bacon and spicy tuna rolls. Proceeds benefit victims of the Japanese tsunami.

For the punch party, just show up and pay. For the tasting, call Dragonfish to reserve. The number is 206-467-7777.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Whiskey, Drinking Events, Benefit, Punch

Free Cocktail Class at Licorous this Saturday

A whiskey-focused lesson served gratis to the bar’s first 30 guests.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on May 19, 2011 at 03:52PM 0 Comments

Licorous, now with free cocktail classes.

On Saturday, May 21 Licorous, the sister bar to Lark restaurant on Capitol Hill, is hosting a free cocktail class that focuses on whiskey and how to use it winningly in your mixed drinks.

The class runs from 4 to 5pm. You don’t have to sign up in advance but the bar can only accommodate the first 30 people that show up.

I have a call in to Licorous to learn just who exactly will be running this here class.

Will update as soon as I hear back.

UPDATE: GM/owner Michelle Magidow and lead bartender Jeshua Madden are teaching.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Booze 101, Capitol Hill, Whiskey, Seattle Bars, Free Cocktail Classes

Free Scotch! Balvanie Rare Craft Roadshow in Town Tuesday

RSVP online.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on May 09, 2011 at 06:23AM 2 Comments

Tuesday=Free Balvenie tasting at the Washington Athletic Club

On Tuesday, May 10 the Balvanie Rare Craft Roadshow comes to Washington Athletic Club (1325 6th Avenue) from 7 to 9pm.

What does it all mean? Well, The Balvanie is a single malt scotch whiskey from the Speyside region in northeast Scotland (also from Speyside: Glenlivet and Glenfiddich, among others). It’s been around since 1893. Its website speaks of barley grown on the grounds that surround the gazillion-year-old castle that houses the distillery and an on-site cooperage and coppersmith. When you drink it you hear bagpipes and your pants take the form of a tartan kilt. (Allegedly).

The rare craft roadshow is of course aimed at familiarizing us with the product. Its two brand ambassadors are going all around the country hosting tastings. Tuesday, they are here. From what I gather they talk some about the whiskey and the distillery and then they give people whiskey. For free! There’s the 12-year, aged in two types of cask and the other 12-year—the Signature—aged in three types. Then there’s the single barrel 15-year, and the 14-year aged in casks once used to make rum in the Caribbean, etc, etc.

RSVP here before the event fills up and you don’t get to have any free whiskey.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Tastings and Classes, Whiskey, Scotch, Free Drinks, The Balvenie, Speyside

Distillery News: Local Bottles Win at San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Plus, now you can buy Woodinville Whiskey products in state stores.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Mar 29, 2011 at 10:09AM 2 Comments

Photo: Andrew Waits

Pacific Distillery’s excellent Absinthe Pacifique won big in San Francisco.

Starting March 29, Headlong—Woodinville Whiskey’s unaged whiskey—will be on shelves at Washington State liquor stores; the Peabody Jones vodka is on its way to getting listed in state stores too, reports Woodinville Whiskey’s Cameron Rogers.

The week before last Peabody Jones won a silver medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. And speaking of that competition, another Woodinville-based distillery, Pacific, did some butt-kicking there this year too. Distiller/owner Marc Bernhard’s Voyager gin won a double gold medal, his Absinthe Pacifique won gold.

I agree with your choices, San Francisco World Spirits Competition. That’s why I included both of Voyager’s products (as well as Headlong, onto which the Beverage Testing Institute recently bestowed a whooping 92 points—pretty fly for a white guy) in this recent roundup of recommended local spirits, bitters, and grappas.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Whiskey, Awards and Accolades, Vodka, Microdistilleries, Distillery Report, Absinthe, Seattle Spirits

Drinking Events This Week: What You Need To Know

More tickets to Sorrento’s whiskey class, details on sake benefit for Japan, and so on.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Mar 28, 2011 at 03:56AM 0 Comments

Fill ’er up. Plenty of drinking events on the agenda this week.

1. The rum dinner at Daniel’s Broiler scheduled for Tuesday, March 29 has been canceled. Seattle boozephiles will flock instead to meet cocktail legend Dale Degroff at Kathy Casey Studios in Ballard.

2. More tickets have been made available for the previously sold out whiskey conversation on Thursday, March 31 at the Sorrento. Get those here. Proceeds from this $25 talk on Japanese and Kentucky-ese whiskies will go to Doctors Without Borders and its relief efforts in Japan.

3. It’s Hop Scotch time. This annual bonanza of craft beers and booze flights happens April 1 and April 2 at Fremont Studios. I say this every year but buy your tickets in advance or get there early! Lines happen at Hopscotch. Remember too: the whole “beer me” thing has run its course. Please don’t ask the poor volunteers behind the taps to beer you. They are volunteering, after all.

4. In other drinking for Japan news, Saké Nomi’s benefit for earthquake and tsunami victims is officially set for Friday, April 1 at 6pm. Tickets are $40; that includes four appetizers from Umami Kushi and a bunch of sake tastings. The store will be showcasing sakes from the Tohoku region in Northeast Japan, site of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake on March 11.

Proceeds here will go to Peace Winds America, a Seattle-based organization working to help Japanese disaster victims. Call the store at 206-467-7253 to reserve your ticket.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Whiskey, Drinking Events, Sake, Seattle Cocktail Scene, Japan Relief Efforts, Cocktail Luminaries in Town

Benefit for Japan: Reps from Suntory and Maker’s Mark Talk Whiskey

Proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Mar 21, 2011 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

Photo: Amos Morgan

Kentucky or Kyoto? Learn your whiskys at the Sorrento’s upcoming class, a benefit for Doctors Without Borders.

“Japan and Kentucky, a Conversation, with Whiskey” is the next class in the Sorrento Hotel’s Drinking Lessons series, to be held in the hotel’s penthouse at 7pm on March 31.

The price is $25, buy tickets here.

Presiding over the gathering will be San Francisco bartender Neyah White, who is a brand ambassador for Suntory (Hibiki, Yamakazi), and Cody Rossen of Maker’s Mark. If you’ve ever been curious about Japanese whiskey—or how whiskey varies from region to region—here’s your chance to bone up while contributing to an urgent cause. And while drinking delicious, delicious whiskey.

Side note: A lot of industry folks are suggesting we invest in Japanese whiskeys and sakes as a way of stimulating the Japanese economy. If you want to contribute in this way, you can find Suntory whiskeys at state liquor stores or go by Sake Nomi, an excellently stocked Pioneer Square shop that regularly holds sake tastings and other educational events.

Side note to the side note: Sake Nomi is planning a benefit for tsunami victims, a tentative date of April 1 has been set. I’ll update with details when they are available.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Tastings and Classes, Booze 101, Drink booze, do good, Whiskey, First Hill, Japan Relief Efforts

Spirit Dinners (Under $100!) at Spur and Daniel’s Broiler

Whiskey or rum? Pick your poison at one of two upcoming cocktail-pairing feasts.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Mar 07, 2011 at 11:40AM 5 Comments

Spur hosts a whiskey dinner this Wednesday.

Photo courtesy: Spur Seattle

I daresay we’re starting to see more cocktail-pairing dinners around Seattle, though Spur and Daniel’s Broiler have been in the game from the get-go.

Spur’s next boozy repast happens this Wednesday, March 9 and features whiskey cocktails from some of our city’s celebrated bartenders. You’ve got your Phillip Thompson from Tavern Law, your Bryn Lundstrom Lumsden of Rob Roy. Charles Veitch from Bastille will make a drink, as will Adam Freem of Bathtub Gin just across the street.

These will be their base spirits: Oban 14 single-malt scotch, Bushmill’s Black Bush Irish whiskey, Crown Royal Reserve from our neighbors to the North in Canada, Bulleit bourbon, and Dickel 12 year from Tennessee.

This is what you’ll eat with your cocktails: Kusshi Oysters; duck terrine; smoked cavatelli with razor clams, cashews, and grana padano; porchetta with cabbage, apricots, and chantarelles; and an orange blossom panna cotta.

This is what it will cost you: $80 per person. That’s a good value since the drinks alone would run about $50 at a cocktail bar.

Call Spur to reserve.

On Tuesday, March 29, Daniel’s Broiler on Lake Union has planned a rum dinner. Rum obsessive Rocky Yeh will speak along with Dragos Axinte, who runs the Novo Fogo cachaca company from Bellevue, though the distillery is in Brazil.

Presumably, you’ll be drinking Novo Fogo’s aged and uaged cachacas. Other stuff on sample: Dos Maderas, Rhum Clement, Creole Shrubb liqueur, and Ron Zacapa 23.

Daniel’s Broiler chef Mike Hillyer cooks, a call into the restaurant revealed that he’s still working on the menu but the price has been set at $85.

Call 425-990-6310 to reserve.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Cocktails, Seattle Bartenders, Special Dinners, Whiskey, Rum, Seattle Cocktail Scene

Want To Live Past 100?

Drink a pint of whiskey a day.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Jan 07, 2011 at 12:09PM 0 Comments

Whiskey: The secret to a long healthy life.

Seattleite Barney Chichester died on Monday at the age of 104. One hundred and four!

How did he live so long?

The Seattle PI’s Big Blog reports: “When asked his secret to long life, he often joked it was an apple a day, plus a ‘pint of whiskey,’ said his son.”

He also wrote this poem a few years back.

I’m 99 and life’s routine.
I’m on a plan which keeps me lean.
At breakfast bran and then at noon
I’m allowed a wrinkled prune.

I don’t really have anything to add except that this man is my hero and may he rest in peace. Read the full story here.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Whiskey, Booze in the News

Gulpable Gift Guide 8: Age Your Own Whiskey Kit

Tired of waiting for locally made brown booze? Age it your own self, says Woodinville Whiskey.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Dec 20, 2010 at 03:49PM 1 Comments

Woodinville Whiskey keeps the juice moving with Age Your Own Whiskey kits. If you want one before December 25, call the distillery.

So here’s the trouble with being a brand-new distillery: You have to make money, but you don’t have any aged product yet because you’re brand new.

What to do?

You can sell vodka—people love the vodka. You can sell gin. Some people love that, though those people tend to be pretty particular, so good luck tearing them away from their Hendrick’s and their Plymouth. You can also make white dog—unaged—whiskey and sell that, which is what, in addition to selling vodka, the men at Woodinville Whiskey did.

And now—clever fellows that they are—they’ve created an age-your-own whiskey kit. For $149.95 you receive a two-liter, new charred oak whiskey barrel, two bottles (or 1.5 liters) of cask-strength (110 proof) un-aged whiskey and two nosing glasses. Don’t look at me like that, that’s what the glasses are called.

Because the barrel is small, aging is accelerated. So within a few months, says Woodinville Whiskey’s Cameron Rogers, you’ll have something worth tasting. Rogers says the distillery is also planning to release an unaged rye down the line, so whomever you give this to can age that next in the same barrel.

Call the distillery right away if you want one of these kits before Christmas.

·

Add a Comment »

Tags: Whiskey, Woodinville, The Sauced Gulpable Gift Guide, Home Bar

The Gulpable Gift Guide #6: The Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit

Give the gift of the world’s greatest (when properly prepared) mixed drink.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Dec 15, 2010 at 12:32PM 3 Comments

There’s nothing wrong with picking up a bottle of wine, slapping on a bow, and offering it up to hosts at a holiday party. It’s a rather nice thing to do, in fact. But if it leaves you feeling empty inside, I have another idea for you: a make-your-own old-fashioned cocktail kit.

Collect the following.

1. Fruit: Buy a small mason jar and fill it with homemade maraschino cherries. I have a recipe from Mike McSorley (Tini Bigs) right here.

You’ll also want to buy a few oranges to toss into the kit.

2. Bitters: A traditional old-fashioned calls for Angustura bitters, which you can buy at QFC or Fred Meyer or on the internet. But you might also consider buying some locally made Scrappy’s Bitters to promote experimentation. Orange and maple, for example, could both be fun to play with. You can buy those at DeLaurenti or 12th and Olive.

3. Booze: You can make an old-fashioned with bourbon or rye, for a spicier effect. I tend to have Makers Mark ($23) around the house so that’s what I often use. Blanton’s bourbon ($56) is wonderful too and boasts the coolest bottle in all Bourbontown—something to consider when giving a gift. Rittenhouse Bonded Rye is an excellent value at $22. But how is that going to help you if you can’t get any at Seattle liquor stores? Try (Ri)1. It’s $39.95 and widely available.

I love the herbal quality of an old-fashioned made with Ransom Old Tom gin from Portland, Oregon (another cool bottle), which costs $37.25, but that may be an acquired taste.

Bourbon is safest.

4. Glasses: Including glassware upgrades this bad boy to a premium gift. If you want to go for it, might I suggest these, the most elegant old-fashioned glasses I know.

I’m assuming your giftee has sugar (for the simple syrup) at home, but you can always throw in a fancy pack of some gourmet sugar and/or a fruit-peeling tool and/or a bartender’s spoon to complete the kit.

Either way, grab a basket or gift bag large enough to hold all the goods, toss ‘em in, and that’s pretty much that. Though you might consider attaching a card to your kit with a link to Robert Hess’s excellent instructional video on how to make a proper old-fashioned. I consulted it last Christmas before making OFs for my family, and they went over gangbusters.

Good times. Happy holidays.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Cocktails, Whiskey, The Sauced Gulpable Gift Guide