I am finally in tune with some of the emotions of my tween and teenage children. Both are fans of “The Hunger Games” books and movies, so I’m guessing the feeling of satisfaction they experienced sitting down in the movie theater last night to watch the the finale of the series was close to what I felt standing in the middle of whiskey heaven.
Friday night, I submerged myself into the heart of whiskey culture, breathed it in and felt right at home. The “4th annual Whiskey In The Winter,” is a jammed pack, wall-to-wall bourbon, scotch, and whiskey festival.
Per my earlier articles, “Ten can’t misses at “Whiskey in the Winter,” and “How to prepare for the Comic-Con for whiskey lovers,” I made a plan and stuck with it.
Drink314 on Twitter: “Full crowd as @WhiskeySTL gets underway #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/fOxGORGzHQ / Twitter”
Full crowd as @WhiskeySTL gets underway #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/fOxGORGzHQ
Entering the main room, it is literally wall-to-wall spirits. It is a bit overwhelming at first, but true to my word I stuck to my plan and found my first stop.
Drink314 on Twitter: “First tasting on my list is @highwest Campfire. It’s a blend of scotch, bourbon and rye. #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/BMrKQgN3SE / Twitter”
First tasting on my list is @highwest Campfire. It’s a blend of scotch, bourbon and rye. #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/BMrKQgN3SE
Part of my plan was go with what I didn’t know, try what I’ve never tried High West has been on my ‘to-do-list’ for years. I tried their Campfire, and really enjoyed it.
Next, it was time go local.
Drink314 on Twitter: “Big win with @SpiritsOfSTL J.J. Neukomm #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/Gpb09NsLOZ / Twitter”
Big win with @SpiritsOfSTL J.J. Neukomm #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/Gpb09NsLOZ
I’ve seen this bottle all over St. Louis and for good reason. J.J. is smooth man. Real good flavor that didn’t linger. As you can see, I tweeted, that it was a big winner.
Next up, I went in search of David Weglarz, the owner of StilL 630, who has been so kind in being our de facto guide to the event. David was pouring three of his local products. I tried two, his flagship bottle – Rallypoint Rye Whiskey and the Big Jake Breakfast Brew. This was my maiden voyage into these spirits. I loved Ralleypoint for being local and so sippable. Great flavoring that doesn’t over power and a slight, what I’ll call ‘burn factor’ that I personally love.
Not having any wide experience with flavored bourbons, I psyched myself up for Big Jake, which is a coffee infused whiskey. The first swig opened up the door folks. I get now how flavoring will work with traditional bourbon. I’m glad my first time was with this local spirit. Thanks David.
Just across the way was another Missouri distillery on my list. New Haven, Missouri’s own Pinckney Bend. I met JT, who won my award for presenter of the night.
Drink314 on Twitter: “Meet JT one of geniuses behind @PinckneyBend’s delicious Rested American Whiskey! #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/lK296J7KUi / Twitter”
Meet JT one of geniuses behind @PinckneyBend’s delicious Rested American Whiskey! #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/lK296J7KUi
JT, asked me what I liked, what I didn’t like and then recommended their Rested American Whiskey. I took my glass and began walking away, trying to slow my pace a little. My sip made me do a double take, and I had to go back to tell him how surprised I was. I will be adding this whiskey to my collection soon.
Next up, Corsair Distilleries Triple Smoke.
Drink314 on Twitter: “Possibly the label of the night at #whiskeyinthewinter – @corsairartisan – Triple Smoke indeed. pic.twitter.com/PgS8aRvMYg / Twitter”
Possibly the label of the night at #whiskeyinthewinter – @corsairartisan – Triple Smoke indeed. pic.twitter.com/PgS8aRvMYg
While it wasn’t my favorite sip of the night, I will drink this again – but please, take a look at that label. It’s reminds me of the walking scene in “Reservoir Dogs.” Label of the night for sure.
After this many samplings, it was time to fuel up at one of the five food stations featuring top bourbon influenced dishes. I went with the Bourbon Brisket.
Back to work. I was strolling when I saw a sign for the Missouri Whiskey Society. I had meant to sign up for months. While doing so I saw a bottle I had not seen before. The young man told me that it was from the Basil Hayden family and that during prohibition it was the “medicine” that the company produced when it could not make bourbon.
Drink314 on Twitter: “Holy crap! Just tried Old Grand Dad 114. And I joined the Missouri Whiskey Society as a lifetime member @GamlinWH pic.twitter.com/ZhOl9PJr2Q / Twitter”
Holy crap! Just tried Old Grand Dad 114. And I joined the Missouri Whiskey Society as a lifetime member @GamlinWH pic.twitter.com/ZhOl9PJr2Q
Needless to say I loved this. In fact, it was the bottle I chose to purchase from the entire event.
After trying the coffee infused whiskey from StilL 630, I was ready for another flavor combination. I stopped by another local spirit maker, Big O Ginger Liqueur. Here I met Kathy Kruper and learned what ginger infused bourbon tastes like. I’m not a ginger fan, but this was not as overpowering as I had expected. I tried it mixed with Four Roses Yellow Label, and…
Drink314 on Twitter: “Taste combo of the night. @TheBigOLiqueur infused with @4RosesBourbon yellow label. #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/SG2MVXNiNW / Twitter”
Taste combo of the night. @TheBigOLiqueur infused with @4RosesBourbon yellow label. #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/SG2MVXNiNW
Next on my list – the good folks at Woodhat Distillery. I’ve seen them all around town as well, and have tried their Blue Corn whiskey. This time I tried two others, their Montgomery County Whiskey Bourbon and their Bourbon Rubenesque. I liked both but if I was only choosing one, I’d take the Montgomery County. Smooth, yet bold. Best way I can describe it.
Drink314 on Twitter: “Great hat and great flavor in @WoodHatSpirits Bourbon Ruebenesque. Whew! #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/4QSP0MKGVQ / Twitter”
Great hat and great flavor in @WoodHatSpirits Bourbon Ruebenesque. Whew! #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/4QSP0MKGVQ
My final selection of the night was a total surprise. I’ve seen Mulligan’s around town but never realized it was local. Mulligan’s Grill is located in Chesterfield, but their bourbon is a true four-year-old Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey distilled in small batches in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Never having tried it, my swig forced my second double take of the night. Really good.
Drink314 on Twitter: “Just found another local distiller @STLBourbon. Thanks for taste! #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/YoLw5M4jRO / Twitter”
Just found another local distiller @STLBourbon. Thanks for taste! #whiskeyinthewinter pic.twitter.com/YoLw5M4jRO
Now, it’s time to recover. My head hurts just a bit, but I’m already excited for next year.
