The label states that it is ‘Dead Guy Ale Aged in Dead Guy Whiskey barrels’. The Rogue Brewmaster John Maier and Rogue Spirits Master Distiller John Couchot take the Rogue Dead Guy Ale and age it in their Dead Guy Whiskey barrels. The nose is is sweet and malty. The sweetness comes through in the taste […]
What I Want For Christmas – Chef’s Edition
A few suggestions for gifts for that special someone that cooks you dinner. Technically these are gifts that give back to you all year long in spectacular meals so be generous. The best Christmas Gifts of 2014 for the chef in your life… [masterslider id=87] More Holiday Fun: Best Christmas Gifts For Her Top […]
What is Bourbon?
It seems like an easy enough question but there are material differences between Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey, Rye and Whiskey; there are requirements that must be fulfilled before a distiller can label a product as Bourbon. In 1964 Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson administration declared bourbon the America’s Native Spirit. In order to declare a product […]
The Best Scenes From Road House
Patrick Swayze (RIP) is the best bouncer in the business. So naturally he starts a fight every night and wins them all. They don’t make bars like they used to… 1. You are the bouncers, I am the cooler… 2. Nothing a few staples can’t fix! 3. You’re too stupid to have a […]
Rogue Dad’s Little Helper Black IPA
A black IPA is a new beer for me, in fact, this could be my very first taste. Dad’s Little Helper Black IPA has won me over but I doubt the rest of the field would be as tasty as this Rogue product. The nose is filled with malt and hops. The taste is […]
Raspberry Smash Cocktail
My new summer cocktail is easy to make and delicious. It is also made with bourbon or rye, which makes it pretty near perfect. Raspberry Smash 1/2 Pint of Raspberries 0r about 1 Cup 10-12 oz Bourbon or Rye 10-12 oz Club Soda 5 oz Ginger Ale Add the raspberries to a Mason Jar and macerate […]
My Favorite Bourbon Brands
There are a lot of bourbon brands out there, many of these unique brands are distilled by the same people. Here are a a few of our favorite bourbon brands, their distillers and some of their best products: 1. Pappy Van Winkle The hype has officially got out of control on all of the Pappy […]
Rogue Morimoto Soba Ale
The Rogue brewery collaborated with Chef Morimoto on the Morimoto Soba Ale. The name comes from the first ingredient in the brew, roasted soba. Soba is the Japanese word for buckwheat but it is typically associated with the noodle dish comprised of buckwheat noodles. The nose has a nutty quality, from the soba, with some […]
Rye Whiskey Thoughts: Federalist 12
Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan, created a rye whiskey based on the recipe George Washington distilled himself. The product. Federalist 12, gets its name from Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist Papers. In Federalist 12, Hamilton promoted the idea of a tax on whiskey to ‘diminish the consumption of it’; it would also be ‘equally favorable to […]
My Quick Pickled Red Onions
Fact – there is truly no easier pickle to make than the pickled red onion. Frankly it is a very versatile pantry staple that is perfect on, tacos, salad, in ceviche, on grilled fish, with roast pork shoulder, on deviled eggs or with some cheese and crackers. Pickled Red Onions 2 red onions 1 tablespoon […]
Rogue XS Old Crustacean Barley Wine – Best Beers
The Rogue Brewmaster, John Maier, entered his homebrewed barley wine into the American Homebrewers Association competition in 1988. John’s entry earned him Homebrewer of the Year and a year later he was the head brewer of Rogue Ales. The recipe hasn’t changed since 1988 and it is delicious. The Rogue Barleywine has a funky, carmel […]
Rye Thoughts: Reservoir Rye
In 2012 the Reservoir Rye Whiskey won Double Gold in San Francisco at the World Spirit’s competition. The product was intriguing and unique because it is a 100% rye mash bill. The nose is full of sweet honey and vanilla. The taste is full of rye and the finish mellows with some of the wood […]
Rye Thoughts: Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye
Michter’s released their Barrel Strength Rye in limited quantities. You can tell the year of the release by the barrel number tag on the neck, 2015 bottles start with ’15’. This particular barrel is bottled at 54.7% ABV. Michter’s takes the US*1 Rye straight from the barrel and enable us to sample it […]
Finally, Bourbon Infused Adult Popsicles
When reviewing Clyde May’s Whiskey it was apparent that the apple flavor profile of the whiskey would lend itself perfectly to creating a fruity cocktail. The folks at Clyde May’s in conjunction with People’s Pops took that concept to the next level and perfected it with booze infused popsicles. I was able to sample an Old […]
Rye Thoughts: Willett 6 Year Family Estate Bottled Single Barrel Rye
The Willett Family Estate is a select line of ryes and bourbons that are single barrel collections, bottled at cask strength and aged in white oak barrels for differing lengths of time. This in particular bottle was aged for 6 years from Barrel No. 163 at 58.4% abv. These bourbons and ryes are sourced by […]
Bourbon Thoughts: Henry McKenna Single Barrel
You don’t see many bourbons that are bottled-in-bond these days. The distinction was created in 1897 by the Bottled-In-Bond Act due to low quality hooch killing Americans. The government asked that distillers age their product a minimum of four years, produce a product of 100 proof and finally it must be distilled from […]
Keep It Super Classy With These Seersucker Looks
Seersucker lends itself to timeless, classic summer looks; at the same time there is true functionality to the look. You see seersucker is woven in a way that the cotton bunches up in certain places, giving it that signature wrinkled look. Those wrinkles ensure that the fabric doesn’t lay flat on the skin, thus helping […]
Rogue XS Dead Guy Ale
The Rogue XS Dead Guy Ale is a strong beer, at 9% ABV, that is about double the strength of a traditional American lager. Twice the strength translates into more than twice the taste here. The nose is sweet and toasty with some yeasty bread notes. The taste is a nice balance of toasted […]
Whiskey Thoughts: Clyde May’s
Clyde May’s is technically an Alabama style Whiskey, not a bourbon, distilled in Kentucky and bottled in Florida. A little bit of research reveals the use of dried apples or apple flavorings is what keeps it from being labeled a bourbon. The nose is fragrant with sweet apples. The taste is surprisingly spicy with a […]
Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale
Rogue makes a lot of great beers, at the same time they also make some interesting flavors like the Sriracha Stout. Even the exotic flavors somehow work as delicious beers, the Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale is firmly in that category. As soon as you open this beer you are hit with a smokey maple […]
Bourbon Thoughts: Johnny Drum Green Label
The Jonny Drum Private Stock is a great bourbon and for the price it is an exceptional bourbon. Jonny Drum, distilled by Willett, also makes a more entry level Green Label bourbon that is aged for four years. The nose is spicy with woody hints, you can tell it is a youthful bourbon. The taste is […]
Yes! Sriracha Popcorn Is Here
I like Sriracha so much that I have it on my key chain and drink it in my beer. Surprisingly, I do not love Sriracha popcorn. I found that the popcorn itself was fresh and good but the overall flavor profile was too sweet; especially when you expect some serious heat. Looking at the ingredients […]
Mad Men Can Now Provide Salvation
Some people are just praying for Mad Men to be over and others are praying to grab a cocktail with Don Draper himself. Today the characters of Mad Men can help you with whatever your spiritual quest may be. Buy the Mad Men spiritual Saint candles today to get started. Saint Peggy Can Help You Find […]
Bourbon Thoughts: Four Roses 2014 Limited Edition – Single Barrel
I pulled out a bottle of Four Roses from last year, that is still a big winner. Not to be confused with the Four Roses 2014 Limited Edition. This particular bottle is from a single barrel, 47-3D; and bottled at barrel proof, 118 proof. The nose is spicy with a nice amount of orange […]
Rye Thoughts: Willett 8 Year Family Estate Bottled Single Barrel Rye
The 2 Year Rye from Willett, reviewed here, is the perfect everyday rye. The longer aged 8 Year Rye is cask strength and bottled at an 58.3% ABV. This particular tasting is from the barrel labeled 01A, note that each barrel will have different flavor profiles. The nose is full of spicy rye with some underlying sweet […]
Bourbon Thoughts: Jefferson’s Ocean
Jefferson’s Ocean is bourbon that is uniquely barreled at sea. The process is thought to replicate many original types of bourbons that were shipped via boat and thus unknowingly aged at sea. Today the folks at Jefferson take the barrels around the world to 5 different continents, crossing the equator 4 times during the journey. […]
Rogue Big Ass Barrel: Rye Strong Ale
Rogue Big Ass Barrel, Rye Strong Ale is a bold and flavorful ale. The Rogue company grows their own Rye on their own farm in Oregon and then they age the ale in ‘Big Ass’ oak barrels for 60 days. While the ale is bold, the flavors are well balanced. There are some sweet malt flavors that meld […]
My Bourbon Thoughts: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
The Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is aged for 12 years and bottled without chill filtering, straight from the barrel. That unique bottling processes leads to the strong 140.2 proof and ultimately defines it as a Barrel Proof bourbon. The tasting notes below are as is, without water added, you may want to add water to bring […]
My Bourbon Thoughts: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel
Elmer T. Lee (ETL) is distilled by the folks at Buffalo Trace. Unlike Eagle Rare the mashbill for ETL is much more rye forward, bringing that rye spiciness upfront and, in my opinion, making this a delicious product. The nose is sweet with vanilla notes. The taste is spicy with the rye shining through around fruit […]
Abstract 2012 by Orin Swift
I have been vocal about my love of Orin Swift’s Machete, reviewed here. Abstract is equally dark and purple in color; a mixture of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Syrah primarily from hillside vineyards. Aged for 10 months in both new and seasoned French Oak barrels. The nose is is packed with dark fruits […]
Noise Canceling Ear Buds Are Magic
I have always been wary of noise canceling headphones and the claims made by the companies who make them. Do they really work? Can they possibly block out all the annoying sounds on an airplane? Are the comfortable to wear? And, since I’m not a huge headphone guy, do I really want to wear, let […]
Light Beers We Can Support
Sometimes life calls for light beer. Maybe it is 100 degrees out and you are at a concert, or you are spending the day watching sports and drinking for the day. Whatever the occasion, if you do not want to feel the heaviness that can come from a dark hoppy brew, here are our favorite light […]
My Bourbon Thoughts: Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project
The good folks at Buffalo Trace have been creating the Single Oak Project bourbon to better understand how 7 variables impact the taste of any given bourbon. “It all started with 96 individually selected American oak trees that differed according to the number of growth rings per inch and growing location. Each tree was then […]
Taylor Oyster Bar: Fresh, Local Shellfish in Seattle
Photo via Western Neon’s Instagram Sometimes when you are traveling you just get lucky, no research, just dumb luck. I wanted to taste some of the shellfish the Pacific Northeast had to offer when in Seattle but I hadn’t had the time to figure out where to visit. We had some extra time before our […]
Rogue Beard Beer
Was I intrigued by Rogue’s Beard Beer because of the label? Absolutely. Regardless of the enticing packaging, it happens to be a pretty good beer. The beer is brewed with a yeast created from Brewmaster John Maier’s beard. Yes, brewed with real live beard yeast. If you have ever home brewed, the Beard Beer will be […]
Mamnoon: A Middle Eastern Treat in Seattle
The Capital Hill area of Seattle reminds me a lot of Brooklyn. The hipsters have created out a nice enclave of good food, impeccably brewed coffee and perfectly concocted cocktails – yes, cocktails. This groundwork generally makes for a very nice food scene, and Mamnoon is no exception. As you walk into Mamnoon the fragrant spices […]
Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer
How can any person pass up the ability to taste Sriracha beer? The Rogue brewery out in Oregon partnered with the folks at Huy Fong and added the spicy staple to their stout with surprising success. The stout bottle mimics the Sriracha bottle down to the logo and green cap. The stout is smooth and creamy […]
My Bourbon Thoughts: Stagg Jr.
George T. Stagg, part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC), has become one of the more sought after bottles released every year. We reviewed it here and loved it. The folks at Buffalo Trace decided to release a ‘little brother’ version in the Stagg Jr. The bottle here is from the second release of […]
My Bourbon Thoughts: Willett 11 Year Family Estate Bottled Single Barrel Bourbon
As you might have guessed from the name, the Willett 11 Year Family Estate Bottled Single Barrel Bourbon is not blended. Each bottle is from a unique barrel and, since each barrel can have different tasting notes, a review is less helpful unless you can track down a bottle from the particular barrel that is the […]
10 Books that Will Help You Become a Better Manager (Not That You Need It!)
Managing people is difficult and at times we all need advice. Here are 10 books that will help any manager navigate difficult situations. [Swipe Left] [masterslider id=”157″] You’ll Also Love: The 21 Best Books of All Time for Men & Women The Most Overrated Books Ever Books: Drunken Shakespeare is the Best
Why I Can’t Live Without My Cuisinart Hand Blender
The Smart Stick Plus, cordless and rechargeable Cuisinart Hand Blender makes your life in the kitchen easier. The chopper work bowl makes it a small food processor, the whisk makes it a hand mixer and of course it is a portable blender.
My Bourbon Thoughts: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year
The Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year is the younger brother of the Pappy 20 Year. Like its other family members, this is a wheated recipe. The 15 Year Pappy is is bottled at 107 proof. Today this bourbon is distilled by Buffalo Trace with the exact same recipe and process as the Stitzel-Weller version […]
My Bourbon Thoughts: W.L. Weller 12 Year
Tasting the W.L. Weller 12 Year product, there is a tangible relationship with Pappy Van Winkle. The folks at Pappy distilled the original Weller recipe and the rumor is that Weller shares the same juice as Pappy. The flavor profile of this wheated bourbon has a lot of the same DNA markers as Pappy. With 12 years on […]
My Bourbon Thoughts: W.L. Weller Special Reserve
The Weller label was first developed and distilled by the well known Pappy Van Winkle. Today the Weller label is distilled by the folks at Buffalo Trace. It is still a fine product regardless of who claims it as their own. Much like Pappy and the Old Weller Special Reserve, the W.L. Weller Special Reserve is a wheated […]
My Seasonal Take On a Tom Collins
The wonderfully convenient French Bistro, Orsay, had a pear Tom Collins. I happened to buy half a dozen pears at the greenmarket this weekend so here is my attempt to dissect and replicate. Pear Tom Collins 2 oz Pear Puree 2 oz Clove Infused Simple Syrup 2 oz Gin 2 oz Champagne 4 oz Club Soda […]
My Bourbon Thoughts: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon
Michter’s took the US*1 Bourbon and added it to a second barrel assembled from 18 month air dried wood that is toasted but not charred. The second barrel process is what creates the unique flavor in the US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon. The second barreling process reportedly takes 26 days. The nose is woody with noticeable smoke. […]
My Bourbon Thoughts: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10
You get used to seeing the same bourbon bottles on the shelf of the local liquor store. Some days, even though there are new products on the shelf, most of them are not worth buying. But if you have a good relationship with the local liquor store, and the staff is knowledgeable, they will let […]
My Bourbon Thoughts: Old Weller Antique
Old Weller Antique is another bourbon label distilled by the good folks at Buffalo Trace but most of the chatter you hear about Old Weller is its connection to Pappy.
Foods That Will Bring Me Good Luck In The New Year
People all over the world have food traditions for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s day – maybe even bordering on superstitions – that they are unwilling to break. These traditions are important to people because in addition to staring the New Year on a positive note, eating specific foods at the New Year are thought to bring […]
The Best Socks for Men This Season
Next to underwear, socks can be the most important part of your outfit. Beyond obvious function, a good sock puts the finishing touch on an outfit, and allows you to exhibit a bit of your personality and individual style, event if you are constrained by a suit. The right sock can transcend dull convention and can take you from […]