The Friskey Whiskey Podcast

EP 24: All You Need is Rye

Join MikeD and TI as we go through another round of ryes! Only this time it isn't a battle but three unique ryes.
 
Quarter Horse Rye: $25.99 90 proof. 95%rye 5% malted barley
Issued the 10th distillery license in KY, opened its doors as the Green River Distillery in 1885. The distillery in Owensboro has been producing Bourbon and Rye for nearly 130 years. Today the distillery stands proud as the westernmost location on the famed Kentucky Bourbon trail. Over the years, the distillery has been subject to numerous transformations and setbacks such as ownership changes, fire, prohibition, and bankruptcies. In 2014, the property was purchased and industry experts were brought in to resurrect the distillery back to and beyond its former glory. Through extensive renovation that perfectly melded the site’s historic and traditional components with the best and most efficient distilling equipment, the distillery is once again vibrant and producing some of the best Bourbon and Rye available today. Today, they continue the tradition of producing fine Bourbon and Rye under the watch of  third generation Master Distiller Jacob Call, using only locally sourced Kentucky grown corn and oak char barrels. What’s more, the natural limestone in the local water that adds minerals to promote fermentation, coupled with the dramatic extremes of Kentucky weather, complete the recipe for making so many of the best Bourbons and Ryes on the market.
Nose: Caraway, sourdough bread, dill, chalk, walnut, pepperTaste: spicy, pepper, toffee, leather, licorice
 
Roaming Man Rye Bottled in Bond: $40.99(??) 100 proof. 51%rye-45%corn-4%malted Barley (Batch 11 bottle 3692)Roaming Man’s Edition Eleven was released on February 26, 2021. It sold out in 6 minutes, and is Sugarlands Distilling Company’s first-ever Bottled in Bond release.
The distillery was founded in 2010 by Ned Vickers, who wanted to revive the legacy of moonshining in the Smoky Mountains while also paying homage to the history and traditions of the area. The name "Sugarlands" is a reference to the Sugarlands Valley, which was known for its illicit distillation of moonshine during the Prohibition era. The region has a rich history of moonshining.Based out of Gatlinburg, TN. Sugarland Distillery produces multiple spirits, Sugarlands Shine, High Rock Vodka, Appalachian Sippin Cream, Moonshine Cocktails (canned)
Nose: Raisin, grain, caramel, light plum, dark fruitsTaste: Rye spice, Orange chocolate, grain light oak, raisins, apple, vanilla
 
Ragnarok Rye (Catoctin Creek Distillery - Virginia). 92 proof. 100%ryePurchased vai Keg N Bottle @ $99.99 (can buy the 5 pack with all the GWAR bottle tops for $499) 
Eons ago the members of the intergalactic shock rock band known as GWAR descended on this world as passengers on a flaming comet that would bring about the destruction of most life on Earth. The asteroid plowed into the continent of Antarctica with devastating force, melting the ice, setting much of the world ablaze, and leaving a massive crater filled with the purest Antarctic water and a strangely intoxicating ichor that flowed from the veins of the immortal GWAR. Legend recorded these events as the tale of Ragnarök, the end of days. But like all endings, it was also a beginning. Now, this blood of the gods, harvested from the great caldera, has been distilled and bottled by Catoctin Creek as Ragnarök Rye.The mad scientists at Catoctin Creek conducted experiments on aging the blood of GWAR in barrels made from the different types of wood scorched by the comet's blast.
They used the rarest of grains and watered their mash bill with the melted Antarctic ice to create a 92 strength rye whisky, pot stilled and then aged in charred new white oak. Members of GWAR then hurled the whiskey barrels into the orbit of the moon, causing contraction to take place as the barrels spun under the influence of the deathly coldness of space and the life-giving heat of the sun. The end result was Ragnarök Rye, an exquisite beverage graced to produce flavors unheard of in a traditional rye whisky.
Nose: tobacco, roasted grain, dark chocolate, coffee and dried plumTaste: cherrywood, coffee, fruit, sweet, spicy, tobacco, butterscotch, grain, sugar maple

EP 23: Whiskey with a Purpose

Join MikeD and TI in this episode as we try whiskeys with a purpose! Both whiskeys lend a hand in some way and support causes we can get behind!
 
One Tree Planted
Green Beret Foundation
 
Noble Oak: Double Oak Bourbon (Finished in sherry oak) $32.99  90 proof (51%corn, ???)
Story: Founded in 2017, Noble Oak was created with a goal of offering a great whiskey that gives back,  - every bottle plants a tree. Their efforts have spanned from the Redwood Forest in California to Detroit, Michigan, to the Finger Lakes in New York, and everywhere in between. Nobel Oak is committed to planting 1,000,000 trees via their partnership with One Tree Planted.# of trees planted in Florida: 61,360
Noble Oak Whiskey Company is a collaboration with Edrington of Scotland. Noble Oak is finished & bottled in Newtown Ohio
Nose: Honey, ripe cherriesTaste: Vanilla, spices, dried fruits, wood, cherry 
Horse Soldier: Small Batch Bourbon $59.99 (95 proof) (70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% barley)
Story: American Freedom Distillery was founded in 2016 by John Koko, Elizabeth Pritchard-Koko, Scott Neil, and key retired members of the hand-selected detachment of Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces Group who were the first to enter Afghanistan on horseback weeks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. These men are known as the Horse Soldiers. All had a passion for bourbon and helping fellow veterans. This is when the Horse Soldier brand was born.
Currently being distilled by Middle West spirits in Columbus, OH and bottled in St. Petersburg, FL. The New York Port Authority donated steel recovered from the World Trade Center to American Freedom Distillery. This steel was used to create a mold for their label. The mold is used to craft every bottle of Horse Soldier Bourbon.
Horse Soldier is in the process of building out their mega distillery in Somerset-Pulaski County in Kentucky.
Proceeds go towards  America’s Response Monument (nicknamed the Horse Soldier Statue), which is located in Liberty Park in Lower Manhattan. The statue is dedicated to the U.S. Special Forces and commemorates the Horse Soldiers. In addition, the distillery also contributes to the Warrior Sailing Program helping vets deal with PTSD and injuries, the Green Beret Foundation, the Armed Forces Families Foundation, and many more local Florida non-profits.
Nose: Butterscotch, Ginger, Cherries, toffee, grainPalate: creamy toffee, stone fruits, vanilla, oak, nut, pepper

EP 22: Pull my Willett then tickle my Chicken Cock

In this episode join MikeD and TI as we have some age old whiskeys. We discuss the history of these classics and touch on our vacation woes.
 
Willett Pot Still Reserve 94 proof $60 - $120History:The Willett family name goes as far back as 1684 where Edward Willet was a master pewter. From 1692 - 1792 the Willets would call George’s County, Maryland home. In 1792 William Willett Jr moved to Kentucky. This is the same year Kentucky became a state. John David Willett was born in 1841, he would become one-third owner and Master Distiller at Moore, Willett and Frenke Distillery. During his lifetime, John was the Master Distiller at 4 other distilleries in Kentucky. In 1883 Aloysius Lambert Willett was born and by the age of 15 was in the bourbon business. In 1909 Aloysius Lambert Thompson Willett  was born and would become founder and president of Willett Distillery in Bardstown around 1936. In 1937 on St.Patrick's day, The Willetts put their first barrel into storage. By the 1940’s they introduced Old Bardstown Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. In the 1960’s Willett developed Johnny Drum Bourbon. After an ownership change in 1984 to the Kulsveen family, Willett Distillery began making Small Batch Boutique Bourbons (Noah’s Mills as an example). 2008 Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon debuts in the signature pot still shaped bottle fashioned using the original still blueprints.
On March 17, 2017  St. Patrick’s Day the family celebrated it’s 80 Year Anniversary of when Thompson Willett and his family put their first barrels into storage.
Nose: Hint of cognac, jasmine, vanilla, sweet corn, cinnamon and gingerTaste: Oak, hints of nut, black tea, butterscotch, lemon, dried corn, spicy,  hints of rye, and banana
 
Chicken Cock: Kentucky Straight Bourbon 90 Proof $54.99History:First established in 1856 in Paris, Kentucky, Chicken Cock Whiskey rose to popularity during the 19th century. James A. Miller built a distillery and started making Chicken Cock, a type of whiskey unique to the bluegrass region. By 1886, the distillery was making  600 bushels per day. After James A. Miller died just few years after starting his distillery , George G. White purchased the Chicken Cock Distillery And renamed it to G.G. White Distillery.
Prohibition began in 1920’s and G.G White Distillery was forced  to sell the to Distillers Corporation Limited, of Montreal, Canada. They purchased legal rights to the Chicken Cock name and began production outside of the U.S. During the 1920’s it was a staple of prohibition-era speakeasies, like the famous Cotton Club, where it was smuggled inside in nondescript tin cans, earning it the nickname, “the Whiskey in a tin can.”After prohibition Chicken Cock basically disappeared after being one of the most popular whiskers of the era.  In 2011, Chicken Cock’s fortunes changed when spirits entrepreneur Matti Anttila discovered the brand while researching the early days of distillation in the U.S. From that point on he focused on bringing back the brand and started Grain and Barrel Spirits. The Whiskey is now being distilled by Bardstown Bourbon Company in collaboration with Grain and Barrel Spirits.
Nose: Wood, dried cherries, vanilla, caramelTaste: Corn, butterscotch, pepper, toasted oak, sweet

EP 21: A Night With the Irish

Join MikeD and I as we take a trip over to Ireland to try some of their fine Irish whiskys.
 
Drumshanbo Single Pot Irish Whiskey $58.99:Started by PJ Rigney in the heart of rural Ireland at The Shed Distillery. PJ Rigney wanted  to create smooth flowing whiskey of exceptional quality. His obsession with excellence, tradition, and innovation has given birth to a truly remarkable Single Pot Still. Melding the time-trusted method of blending Irish malted and Irish un-malted barley with the creamy texture of Irish Barra Oats, First fill ex Bourbon and Sherry Oloroso casks. This is the first Irish whiskey from the western province of Connacht in over 105 years. The Shed Distillery was built by PJ in the village of Drumshanbo Co.Leitrim, on the shores of Lough Allen, at the foothills of Sliabh an Iarainn (The Iron Mountain). PJ used traditional methods using a gleaming copper pot and column still. PJ also had passions for other spirits and makes a line of Gin and Vodka as well
Gunpowder Irish Gin (made with Chinese gunpowder tea)
Gunpowder Irish Gin with California orange citrus
Gunpowder Irish Gin Sardinian citrus
Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka  (Sausage Tree is from Africa)
Nose: warm pot spice, vanilla and dried fruit aromas.Taste: pot spice, fig, Oloroso sherry  toasted oak notes, creamy finish
Spot Whiskey - Yellow Spot 12yr $113.99:1803 -  Upon the death of his close friend, the rebel Robert Emmet, William Mitchell decreed that all the first born children of each generation of the Mitchell family shall be called Robert. This tradition has continued right up to this day with the current Mitchell (Robert Jonathan Mitchell), his son (Robert Mitchell, the seventh) and even his own son Robert James Mitchell. In other words, there are a lot of Roberts behind every Spot whiskey
1805 - Single Pot Still family of Spot whiskeys find their roots in Mitchell & Son, one of Ireland’s last remaining Wine Merchants and Whiskey Bonders. The Spot Whiskeys go back to the days when Jameson’s distillery would sell their new make spirit to bonders who matured them in wine and fortified wine casks. It was then that Mitchell & Son developed a reputation for creating some of the finest Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey to be found in the capital.
1887 - Mitchell family expanded into the whiskey bonding business, whereby they sent empty wine, sherry and port casks via horse and cart to the local Jameson Distillery up on Bow Street. These were then filled and returned to the Mitchell’s cellar warehouse underneath Fitzwilliam Lane. There, beneath cobbled streets in their network of underground cellars, the whiskeys matured for many years until they were ready to be bottled and sold to those in the know.
Spot names: When their fortified wine casks were filled exclusively with Jameson spirit from the old Bow St. Distillery, they were marked with a daub or ‘spot’ of paint which identified how long the barrels would be matured for. Blue for 7 years, Green for 10 years, Yellow for 12 years and Red for 15 years—hence the name Spot Whiskey.
Nose: Mown hay & cracked black pepper. Red bell peppers, nutmeg, clove oil & green tea. Sweet honey & peachesTaste: Honey, spices, fresh coffee, creamy milk chocolate, creme Brulee, red apples, toasted oak, Mix of red grape & dry barley.
 

EP 20: Virginia Distillery Co - VHW Series

Join MikeD and TI as we go through a lineup of Virginia Distilling Company's VHW collection.
 
Virginia Distillery - VHW Series:
The late Dr. George G. Moore had a great passion for single malt whisky and his adopted home in Virginia. A native Irishman, George came to the U.S. in the 1970’s to seek new opportunities. In 2011, after many years of building successful businesses in both the U.S. and Ireland, George finally had the chance to combine his two passions when he started Virginia Distillery Company. Today, George’s wife, Angela Moore and their son, Gareth Moore, along with his wife, Maggie Moore, have taken the helm to continue building George’s dream.
Virginia Distillery puts themselves in 3 categories for distilling:
Courage and Conviction: Signature line of American Single Malt whisky. This line includes 9 different whiskeys. This line of whiskeys feature three core cask types:  Bourbon, Sherry, and Cuvee. This collection has won 7 awards including 2023 Whiskey of the year at the London Spirits Competition for their Signature Malt Whisky.
VHW Series: Made from 100% malted barley. Showcasing the traditions of whisky-making around the world. Marrying their American Single Malt whisky made in Virginia with aged Scotch malt whisky. Offerings in the VHW series include Port Cask Finished Whisky, Cider Cask Finished Whisky, Brewers Batch and Chardonnay Cask Finished Whisky.
Limited Offerings: Typically single cask specialty whiskies, these offerings are highly unique and one of a kind. They use this to help various different charities and local groups.
Port Cask Finished:Nose: Honey fig, walnut, and appleTaste: barrel smoke, fruit , cocoa, cinnamon, clove, caramelized sugar
Cider Cask Finished:Nose: Apple, vanilla, toasted pecanTaste: Honeycomb, vanilla, butterscotch, creamy, biscuit
Chardonnay Cask Finished:Nose: Lemon zest, green apple, honeysuckleTaste: Pear, vanilla, baking spices, creamy 

EP 19: The French Connection

Join MikeD and TI as we welcome our guest Chef Christophe of Piknik. In this episode Chef Christophe walks us through some traditional French dishes while we pair them perfectly with Scotch whisky.
 
London Square 12 year old: 80 proofFounded by Charles Edge. He began his journey into the world of spirits over two decades ago in France, where he learned the value of terroir, authenticity, and provenance in creating truly high-quality drinks. All of this knowledge and understanding was distilled into the launch of Charles Edge London in 2015, to create top quality, authentic British spirits with provenance that modern drinkers can always trust.
London Square whisky is made from a precise blend of malt and grain whiskies aged in Bourbon Barrels for 12 years to create a distinctively deep depth of flavor.
Nose: Smoky wood, hints of lemon, mint chocolateTaste: Caramel, smokey fudge, sherry, oak, candied cherry, malt
The Glenlivet 15 year old French Oak Reserve: 80 proofGlenlivet is a renowned Scottish whiskey distillery located in the Speyside region of Scotland. Its history dates back to 1824 when it was officially established by George Smith. George Smith started learning his craft of distilling whiskey in 1822. In 1823, the Excise Act was passed, allowing for the legal production of whiskey in Scotland under certain conditions. George Smith seized this opportunity and obtained the first license to legally distill whiskey in the Glenlivet region.The Glenlivet distillery was created in 1824 by Geroge Smith and his son John Smith. By 1839 they were producing 200 gallons a week.Glenlivet name is Gaelic  meaning is ‘Valley of the smooth flowing one’
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old single malt scotch whisky gets its distinctive rich and exotic character from a process of selective maturation in which a proportion of the spirit is matured in French oak casks. In fact, The Glenlivet were one of the first to use French oak for making whiskey, a technique that has since been imitated the world over. Its low density allows the whiskey to sink deep into the wood.
Nose: Buttercream, floral, roasted almondTaste: Fruity, buttery almonds, cream, nutty, cinnamon spice
Brenne Estate Cask: 80 proofFounded by former ballerina turned whisky entrepreneur Allison Parc, who had  a passion and dream to make a single malt whiskey that was produced in France.  She is from a third generation Cognac family in the heart of the Cognac region. Using her family's farm-distillery to produce the world’s first single malt whiskey aged exclusively in both new French Limousin Oak barrels and Cognac casks. First released in New York City in 2012, the whiskey embodies the elegant nature of its French terroir and brings a completely new style of French single malt whiskey to the market.
Nose: Fruit, violet, lilac, clove, vanilla, applesTaste: Orange, almonds, blueberry, hibiscus, spice, oak, anise, chocolate, floral, honey

EP 18: June Madness - Battle of the Ryes Finale

Michter’s Single Barrel Straight Rye 84 proof (46.99) (KY) : Part of the Whisky Row collection in  Kentucky. The Whiskey recipe dates from 1753. Originally known as Shenk’s whiskey when John Shenk founded his whiskey in Pennsylvania. It was America’s first production distillery. Historical lore has this Rye as the whiskey Georoge Washington purchased to give to his men at Valley Forge during the long winters in the Revolutionary war. The company has gone through several name changes and eventually moved to Kentucky. In the 1950’s Lou Forman (Forman-Brown) branded the whiskey with Michter’s name  
Taste/Nose: Rye Spicy, Pepper, Butterscotch, Marmalade ,Port, Grain
Uncle Nearest Rye 100 proof (51.99) (TN):Uncle Nearest is named for master distiller Nathan "Nearest" Green, a former slave who taught Jack Daniel distilling in the 1800s. The brand Uncle Nearest debuted in 2017. Their first three whiskey releases are named after the year Nearest was born (1820), the year he was credited with perfecting the Lincoln County Distilling Process (1856), and the year he retired (1884). In September 2022, Uncle Nearest released its first rye whiskey, Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey.
Taste/nose: buttery, honey, licorice, pear, caraway seed, pine, clove, eucalyptus, dried orange, oak, vanilla, cinnamon, and banana, earthy
Sazerac Rye 90 proof (29.99)  (KY) History: Part of the Buffalo Trace family. Sazerac Rye dates back to the early 19th century when Antoine Peychaud, a New Orleans apothecary, created a recipe for a medical  elixir containing a blend of bitters and brandy. This became known the first creation of the ‘cocktail’In 1838, a Creole immigrant named Thomas H. Handy acquired a bar called the Merchants Exchange Coffee House in New Orleans. Handy, recognizing the growing popularity of the cocktail, started serving a variation of the drink using Sazerac Cognac as the base spirit. The cocktail became widely popular, and Handy eventually purchased the Sazerac brand in 1869, changing the recipe to feature American rye whiskey instead of cognac.
Taste/nose: Oak, leather, molasses, all-spice, mint, eucalyptus, cinnamon, vanilla , pepper

EP 17: Heaven’s Door Trio

History:Heaven’s Door is a collection of handcrafted American Whiskeys co-created with Bob Dylan. The perfect blend of art and craft, a collection of stories to be savored and shared. Each bottle of Heaven’s Door showcases Dylan’s distinctive welded iron gates he created in his studio, Black Buffalo Ironworks. Their Master Blender collaborates with world-renowned distilleries and whiskey makers. All 3 whiskeys are Certified Kosher
Straight Bourbon Whiskey 92 proof is distilled and aged in Tennessee, for a minimum 6 years in new American oak barrels. The sour mash distillation process and non-chill filtered bottling allows this mature whiskey to remain consistent, as well as creating reliable flavor profiles that come from being aged in single story warehouses
Taste/nose: Bread, dried fruit, buttered popcorn, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, light maple, peppercorn, baking spices vanilla , toasted oak 
Double Barrel 100 proof consists of a unique blend of three different whiskeys - two whiskeys from Tennessee with a traditional bourbon mash bill, and a straight rye whiskey. Each of these whiskeys is aged independently in both new oak and fresh dumped bourbon barrels for at least six years before being married together and aged an additional year in virgin, heavy charred, American oak barrels. Heaven’s Door Double Barrel Whiskey is maple charcoal mellowed after distillation, also known as the Lincoln County Process, resulting in a smooth finish.
Taste/nose: Maple, milled grain, dried berries, vanilla custard, toasted oak, toasted caramel, fried dough, cherry, meyer lemon, dried apricot, coconut, orange oil , cocoa, warm butterscotch, woody 
Straight Rye Whiskey is aged for seven years in new, charred American oak barrels. Breaking with tradition, the whiskey is finished in toasted oak cigar barrels, harvested and air-dried in the low-lying mountainous region of Vosges, France. This unique and proprietary finishing process - which has never been used before in whiskey making - results in a smoother, more approachable rye.
Taste/nose: Herbaceous, apple, citrus, spearmint, oak, Honey coated marzipan, fresh cut grass, fennel, dill. Clove, cinnamon, black pepper and orange peel. Chamomile and cedar. Vanilla toffee, wet wood, chocolate cookies, a hint of mango and a dash of white pepper.