WRITTEN BY GERALD GLAVOTA
I previously wrote about experiemental whiskies and included the Bearface whisky which was created by Master Blender Andres Faustinelli. The newest release is the Wilderness #2, the Mitlenatch Island Release. Unlike many of his counterparts, Andres uses some unique – and sometimes once off- techniques to experiment and create new whiskies together with the type of casks he selects to use.
The name of the release gives you a hint … “BEARFACE has gone to the edge of the Canadian wilderness, beyond the forests of our Bear Country home, to Mitlenatch Island, off the rugged coast of the Pacific Northwest. We Elementally Age the finest BEARFACE single-grain whisky in selected wine casks. Then we proof with distilled water, collected from artisan salt makers on Canada’s wild Pacific coast.”
To be honest, I’ve enjoyed the Bearface releases and this one doesn’t disappoint. It has a gentle smokeiness (not peaty, not in your face) minerality, carmel, grain sweetness and a bit of salinity.
If you’re looking for an Irish Whisky to try that’s also versatile for cocktails, then the Buser is for you. The Busker includes all four types of Irish whiskeys (Single Grain, Single Pot Still, Single Malt, and Blend) and is made at the Royal Oak Distillery, at County Carlow located on an 18th-century estate in Ireland’s Ancient East region.
THE BUSKER PALOMA
Ingredients:
1 oz The Busker Triple Cask Triple Smooth
2 oz Pink Grapefruit Soda
Fresh Mint Sprig
Method:
Fill a highball glass with ice, pour The Busker Irish Whiskey and top up with Pink Grapefruit Soda. Stir and garnish with Fresh Mint sprig.
My oh my, who doesn’t like Irish Cream Liqueur and the Five Farms makes an amazing S’mores martini. A great indulgence, or treat.
Indulge in the captivation of a s’mores martini, where the nostalgia of toasted marshmallows meets the sophistication of a classic cocktail. This decadent drink captures the feelings of intimate nights by the crackling fire.
Ingredients:
2 oz Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur
1 oz chocolate flavoured vodka
0.75 oz caramel syrup
1 oz whipped cream
Steps:
Drizzle a martini glass chocolate syrup and rim with chocolate syrup and graham cracker crumbs
Add Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur, chocolate flavoured vodka, caramel syrup, whipped cream, and ice into a shaker
Shake for 20 – 30 seconds until chilled
Strain into the martini glass
Garnish with a toasted marshmallow
The Tia Maria liqueur is delicious on its own but this year, why not try the Tia Espresso Martini at your next get together
TIA ESPRESSO MARTINI
Ingredients:
3/4 oz TIA MARIA
3/4 oz VODKA
DOUBLE OR SINGLE SHOT OF ESPRESSO
Steps:
Fill a martini glass with ice and set aside to chill.
Pour Tia Maria, vodka and espresso into a cocktail shaker.
Fill the rest of the shaker with ice.
Shake the ingredients together.
Empty the martini glass of ice.
Pour in the contents of the shaker using a strainer and sieve into the glass.
Finish with three coffee beans
Let us finish our cocktails with a classic Gin and Tonic. No recipe needed as you can add one part or more of gin and top off with tonic, or possibly sip on Blood Monkey Gin from Ireland- which I find delicious!
Blood Monkey Gin gets its name from “a nautical term from the 17th century, referring to sailors who’d tap into a ship’s ‘grog’ reserve. The drill bit symbol reflects this history.”
“Blood Monkey is a sophisticated spirit with a complex character that reveals various details as it evolves on the palate. It hits you with a smooth, warm citrus spice followed by a slight hint of floral entwined with smokey, caramel flavors of whiskey.” The botanicals: Angelica, Citrus peel, Coriander seed, Juniper, Lime leaves, Oris root, Rosemary, & Szechuan pepper.
We were there in Torono when The Dalmore unveiled the first in a four-year programme of rare whisky collections.
“The Cask Curation Series Sherry Edition marks the first release in a series celebrating The Dalmore’s whisky making artistry and the role exquisite casks play in the creation of the iconic Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Dalmore’s Cask Curation Series will feature celebrated makers and their partnerships with The Dalmore. The 2023 release – The Sherry Edition – features renowned fifth-generation winemakers González Byass, of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Each set in the collection comprises three exceptional aged-statement whiskies finished in the finest of González Byass casks, available exclusively to the whisky makers of The Dalmore.
Strictly limited to 150 sets, The Sherry Collection is beautifully presented in a bespoke leather-finished.
The travel case hand-crafted in Florence, Italy – perfectly framing the trio of new expressions. Each age-statement whisky is housed in the iconic Dalmore bottle adorned with a matching collar;
The 26 Year Old, finished in rare Gonzalez Byass 2002 vintage, Cask No.4
The 28 Year Old, finished in very rare Gonzalez Byass 30 Year Old Matusalem Sherry Cask
The 43 Year Old, finished in very rare Gonzalez 30 year old Apostoles Sherry Cask.”
Each expression in the collection represents The Dalmore Single Malt finished in Gonzalez Byass Sherry Casks in its purist form; natural colour, non-chill-filtered, and cask-strength.”