The Friskey Whiskey Podcast

EP 40: The Winter’s Wheat is Coming

Join MikeD and TI as we invite Steve back onto this episode! We go through a few of the unique expressions from Maker's Mark!
Maker's Mark was created by T. William "Bill" Samuels Sr., who purchased the Burks' Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky in 1953. Production began in 1954 and the first bottles were bottled in 1958. The brand's signature red wax seal is still hand-dipped today. The story of Maker's Mark began when Bill Samuels Sr. accidentally set fire to the family's 170-year-old recipe. He then experimented with different grains to create his own mash bill.  The family's quest was to create a bourbon they enjoyed drinking and sharing with friends. Maker's Mark was the world's first premium bourbon.  The brand was acquired by Hiram Walker in 1981.
The Wood Finishing Series first hit shelves in 2019, as a spin-off of sorts to the company's Private Selection program. The idea was to take everything Maker's Mark had already learned about wood science and really push the boundaries of their signature, steadfast bourbon in the form of limited releases.
 
Maker's Mark Limited Edition Wood Finishing Series Bourbon Whiskey 2019
 
Maker's Mark Limited Edition Wood Finishing Series Bourbon Whiskey 2023
 
Maker's Mark Cellar Aged

EP 39: Icelandic Whisky

In this episode join MikeD and TI as they discuss the whisky, Floki, that TI brought back from his trip to Iceland.
 
Eimverk Distillery, founded in 2009, is the creator of the first Icelandic single malt whisky. All of their single malts are created from 100% Icelandic barley.
 
Flóki Single Malt
 
Flóki Single Malt Sherry Cask finish

EP 38: It’s Rabbit Season

Join MikeD and TI as we go down the Rabbit Hole and try some interesting whiskeys!
 
History:Rabbit Hole Distillery is a relatively new player in the world of whiskey, founded in 2012 in Louisville, Kentucky, by Kaveh Zamanian. The distillery was born out of Zamanian's passion for whiskey and his desire to create something unique within the spirits industry. Zamanian, originally from Iran, immigrated to the United States and settled in Louisville. He was inspired by Kentucky's rich bourbon heritage and decided to start Rabbit Hole Distillery to craft his own distinct style of whiskey. One of Rabbit Hole's notable releases is their bourbon, which undergoes a unique maturation process in barrels made from wood sourced from France's Vosges region and finished with a toasted barrel technique, distinguishing it from traditional Kentucky bourbons.
Rabbit Hole Dareringer Double Barrel PX Sherry Cask $74.99  93 proof Mash bill 65% corn, 25% Wheat, 10% Malted Barley Aged in Spanish casks. Partners with the Cabello family in Spain. The Dareringer Double Barrel PX Sherry Cask is a bourbon that undergoes a special aging process, starting with its maturation in new charred American oak barrels, which is a standard practice for bourbon. What sets it apart is its secondary aging in Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry casks. PX Sherry is a sweet, dark, and rich style of Sherry known for its luscious, raisin-like flavors.
This secondary aging process in PX Sherry casks adds a layer of complexity and imparts unique flavors to the bourbon. The interaction between the bourbon and the Sherry-soaked wood influences the whiskey, infusing it with notes of dried fruits, dark chocolate, caramel, and a rich sweetness, along with the classic bourbon characteristics like vanilla, oak, and spice.
The term "Double Barrel" refers to the fact that the whiskey undergoes aging in two different types of barrels, contributing to the depth and complexity of the final product. Nose: Sherry, caramel, cherryTaste: Raisins, currants, cherries, almond, vanilla
Rabbit Hole Boxergrail rye whiskey (pink label). 4yr 4 months $145 ($300)  105.1 proof  Mash Bill ????
Rabbit Hole  second Single Barrel release, they have hand-selected casks from an extremely limited number of Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey barrels. Each is a study in patience and creativity. To complement this one-of-a-kind whiskey, the packaging for each season of barrel releases will be unique and feature a different series of six original Limited Edition illustrations from renowned artist Sue Todd, commissioned by our Founder, Kaveh Zamanian. The result is a true work of art inside and out that could only be bottled at cask strength.
Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey with a sour mash rye mash bill bottled at full cask strength. Proof will vary by bottle - but will generally fall between 100 and 125.
Approximately only 150-200 bottles produced at 750mL. Yield will vary by barrel.
Aged in #3, wood-fired, toasted & charred new American Oak barrels for 4+ years.
The bottle side label includes the following personalization:• Handwritten ALC/VOL and Proof• Release Date• Individual Bottle Number• Artist Signature• Handwritten Name of Customer

EP 37: Tour of Scotland Part 1

Join MikeD and TI as we start the first part of an eight part series! We'll be taking a unique tour around the various whisky regions of Scotland from a carefully crafted whisky box.
 
Sample 1:
Glentauchers Distillery
Age: 4 years
Cask: 1st fill bourbon barrel
Nose: Lemongrass and fresh orange, with oily barley
Palate: Cherry bakewell, spicy cassia, brown sugar and buttered crumpets
Finish: Salted caramel and sponge cake
 
Sample 2:
Tullibardine distillery
Age: 7 years
Cask: Barrel; 180 - 200L
Nose: Apricot wheats, fresh pancakes and melted butter, and a dusting of cinnamon
Palate: Honeyed toast and toffee apple, with oak spice and juicy raisins
Finish: Lemon curd and buttery pastry, with toasty oak and sweet malt
 
Sample 3:
Undisclosed; distillery in Orkney
Age: 5 years
Cask: Hogshead; 225 - 250L
Nose: Blackcurrant, ripe peaches, fruit jelly, hay
Palate: Black pepper and strawberries, peach syrup, cherries
Finish: Sweet and sour cherries, grassy, sea salt

EP 36: Vermouth Takes Manhattan

Join MikeD and TI as we dive into a classic whiskey cocktail, the Manhattan! 
 
We use three different vermouth to determine if they really do impact the flavors of a Manhattan. We go with the classic rye version of this legendary cocktail.
 
Michter's Straight Rye
 
Martini & Rossi
 
Dolin Vermouth de Chambery
 
Carpano Antica
 
Recipe Used:
2oz whiskey of choice
1oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes angostura bitters
 

EP 35: Howl at the Owl

Kentucky Owl was founded by Charles Mortimer Dedman in 1879, operating until prohibition became law in 1916. At this point, the government seized some 250,0007 gallons of Kentucky Owl, taking it away for safekeeping.One night, the warehouse where the bourbon was stored burned to the ground. Oddly, for a building filled with alcohol, the fire lasted only a matter of hours, leading many to suspect the entire Kentucky Owl  stock had been whisked away by organized crime to fuel their booming speakeasies. Number one suspect was Al Capone.A hundred years later, the great, great-grandson of C.M Dedman, Dixon Dedman revived the family business and set about blending a bourbon worthy of the Kentucky Owl  name.
Kentucky Owl St. Patrick's Edition $99 (-$135) 100 proof  Mash bill: Unknown. . blend of 4-11 year old bourbons
 In celebration of the long-standing ties that bind Irish and Kentucky whiskey making together, Kentucky Owl has partnered with Irish Whiskey Bonder, Louise McGuane to bring her craft in selecting rare whiskey barrels for their unique flavor profiles to this collaboration with Master Blender, John Rhea, to deliver this exceptional blended bourbon together.
Nose: Caramel, honey, spiceTaste: caramel, butterscotch, frosted cinnamon roll, chocolate orange, citrus peel, fruit, vanilla , wood
Kentucky Owl Takumi Edition $119 (- $150) proof. Mash bill unknown. blend of 4, 5, 6, and 13 year old bourbons
A collaboration with John Rhea, Kentucky Owl’s master blender, and Yahisa Yusuke, Japanese whiskey master blender for Nagahama Distillery in Japan.Takumi means "master" [or “artisan”] in Japanese, with the name of the release celebrating the art and craft of modern whisky blending. Rhea and Yahisa worked together to create the resulting Takumi Edition blend, with Rhea selecting four different formulations and sending the samples to Japan. Yahisa evaluated those samples, which represented different ages and mash bills available from Kentucky Owl. Yahisa then created different blends with those formulations to develop one most reflective of his Japanese whisky style.
Nose: rye, caramel, fruit salad (bread, caramel, fruit, tobacco, oak)Taste: butter rye bread, caramel, cinnamon, apple , pear (caramel, cinnamon, apple pie crust, leather, oak, raisin)

EP 34: Mark Your Wild Turkey in Yellowstone

Join MikeD and TI as they take another tour through some of TI's personal collection.
 
Yellowstone Bourbon: $36.99. 93 proof. Mash Bill 75% corn 13% rye and 12% malt
Yellowstone Bourbon was originally launched in 1872 to honor the establishment of our country's first National Park, Yellowstone, The distillery was started by J. B. Dant (son of J.W. Dant) who teamed up with D. H. Taylor and J. T. Williams. It operated independently until the 1940's. When the United States entered the Second World War in 1941 a wartime prohibition was enacted forbidding the production of beverage alcohol so the distilleries were required to make industrial alcohol for the war effort. Once again the profit margin was very small on this production and by 1944 it was decided to sell the company to Glenmore Distilleries.The 1970s however, were not as kind to the brand. Bourbon sales declined every year and the distillery was making less whiskey every year as the warehouses remained full. The brand became less popular and fell into a lower quality category even though the quality was still superb. In 1985, Glenmore shut down the distillery. Glenmore was purchased by Diageo, who promptly shut it down and sold off the Yellowstone brands to David Sherman who continued to produce Yellowstone brands. David Sherman became Luxco in 2006. In 2015 Luxco purchased a share of the Limestone branch Distillery. Part of the deal was that the Yellowstone brand would be given to Limestone Branch Distillery to produce. Paul and Steve Beam, descendants of both J.W. Dant and the legendary Beam family founded Limestone Branch Distillery with the intention of crafting only the finest whiskey and the dream of restoring the Yellowstone brand to its former glory.
Nose: Rye spice with soft, leather, cherriesTaste: Smoked caramel, Smoky oak and brown sugar
 
Wild Turkey Rare Breed $47.99  Proof 116.8 Mash Bill 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% barleyBlend of 6, 8, and 12 year old small batch bourbons. No water is added before bottling to get the experience like drinking from the cask
The first distillery on Wild Turkey Hill was established in 1850 and named Old Moore. In 1851, James and John Ripy arrived in Kentucky from Tyrone, Ireland, and opened a store selling general goods. In 1869, they built their first distillery beneath the limestone cliffs of the Kentucky river. In 1855, Austin Nichols & Co., a wholesale grocer, set up shop in Lawrenceburg, KY. The company eventually took over what would become Wild Turkey Bourbon. In the early 1940s when Thomas McCarthy, an executive at Austin Nichols, took some warehouse samples on a wild turkey hunting trip. The bourbon was so popular among his friends that they asked for “that wild turkey bourbon”. In 1954, Master Distiller Jimmy Russell joined Wild Turkey. He learns his craft and becomes the third in a line of master distillers for the brand which includes second master distiller, Bill Hughes, and Ernest W. Ripy, son of the original distiller. In 1976, Wild Turkey introduced the world’s first bourbon liqueur which would eventually lead to the creation of American Honey. In 1981, Eddie Russell, son of Jimmy Russell, joined Wild Turkey as a relief operator and began to work his way up the distillery ladder. In 1991, Wild Turkey introduced their premium Rare Breed bourbon, one of the first barrel proof bourbons to hit the market.
Nose: Spring flowers, pepper, almonds, honey , datesTaste: warm,  smoky flavors of grain and spice
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Batch 23-01 $43.99 Proof 110 Mash Bill 70% corn, 16% soft winter wheat, 14% barley
Batches will vary from 108 to 114 proof
Maker's Mark was created by T. William "Bill" Samuels Sr., who purchased the Burks' Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky in 1953. Production began in 1954 and the first bottles were bottled in 1958. The brand's signature red wax seal is still hand-dipped today. The story of Maker's Mark began when Bill Samuels Sr. accidentally set fire to the family's 170-year-old recipe. He then experimented with different grains to create his own mash bill.  The family's quest was to create a bourbon they enjoyed drinking and sharing with friends. Maker's Mark was the world's first premium bourbon. The brand was acquired by Hiram Walker in 1981.
Nose: Big oak, vanilla and caramelTaste: warm, caramel, vanilla, spice

EP 33: Oh Canada!

Join MikeD and TI as they discover some unique Canadian whiskeys!
 
**Canadian whisky was the best liquor category in the US until 2010**The Hiram Walker’s Distillery was one of the key suppliers during prohibition. Al Capone being one of their biggest customers. Capone paid $7 a case and sold them in the US at $75 a case
Swear Jar 6yr Canadian Whisky (Québec)  $24.99  80 proof(candied green apple, Maple Donut, and a 10yr whiskey)
Nose: oak, ginger,clove, vanillaTaste: rich caramel, pepper
Three Fingers High 12yr Rye (Location unknown) $45.99 80 proof  Mash Bill 100% RyeThree Fingers High is a blend of twelve year-old 100% Canadian Rye Spirits and marries them in a variety of Sherry casks for finishing. The Spirits came from both pot still and continuous columns.
Nose: Rye, baking spices, caramel applesTaste: cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, vanilla bean
Treaty Oak 11yr 8mos Schenley Reserve Rye $99.99  134 proof Mash Bill?? 53% rye, 39% corn, and 8% barleyDistilled in Canada (Gilpin Township) , finished in Texas.
Treaty oak was founded by Daniel Barnes in 2006. It was then the fourth distillery operating in Texas. Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.