The North American Whiskey Guide from Behind the Bar: Real Bartenders' Reviews of More Than 250 Whiskeys--Includes 30 Standout Cocktail Recipes

496 Pages·2014·8.56 MB·English

by  Berkey

THE NORTH AMERICAN
WHISKEY GUIDE
FROM
BEHIND THE BAR
REAL BARTENDERS’ REVIEWS OF
MORE THAN 250 WHISKEYS—INCLUDES
30 STANDOUT COCKTAIL RECIPES
CHAD BERKEY
GENERAL MANAGER OF THE AERO CLUB BAR
JEREMY LEBLANC
and
HEAD MIXOLOGIST AT THE ALTITUDE SKY LOUNGE AND AUTHOR
OF THE BEST CRAFT COCKTAILS & BARTENDING WITH FLAIR
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
INTRODUCTION
BOURBON
TENNESSEE
RYE
CANADIAN
BLENDED/OTHER
WHEAT
CORN/WHITE
MALT
COCKTAILS
WHISKEY AND CIGARS PAIRING CHART
THE NORTH AMERICAN WHISKEY DRINKER’S BUCKET
LIST
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
INDEX
Copyright
TO AVA AND GAVEN LEBLANC.
TO BOONE HARTLEY BERKEY … WELCOME TO THE WORLD, SON.
INTRODUCTION
North American whiskeys are more popular than ever. The
whiskeys we cover in this book are produced in either the United
States or Canada. They are made from a variety of different grains
produced from a mash bill that usually mixes together rye, wheat,
corn, malted barley and oats. The legal requirements for
production vary by the type of grains, the percent or proof of
alcohol and the length and manner of their aging. Regulations vary
above and below the Canadian border, but here’s our take on it.
For bourbons, ryes, wheats, malts and Tennessee whiskeys to be
labeled “Straight,” they must have a mash bill consisting of at least
51% of their particular grain, be distilled no more than 80% ABV
(160 proof) and be aged for at least two years in new charred oak
barrels. Tennessee’s number one difference is that most of them
perform a process that filters their whiskey through sugar maple
charcoal, unique to their state.
Blended American Whiskey is required to contain at least 20%
straight whiskey. Blended whiskey that contains the minimum of
51% straight whiskey of a particular grain can legally use that
grain in its label description—for example, blended bourbon or
blended rye. Note that these are the ones your bartender is
probably going to offer you if you order a whiskey and Coke.
Corn whiskeys must contain 80% or more corn and be distilled at
no more than 80% ABV (160 proof). Their hillbilly cousins, white
whiskeys and moonshine, are distilled from a variety mix of corn
and sugars and are bottled right off the still.
Our neighbors from the north have some different rules and
regulations when it comes to making whiskey. Their versions are
mostly blended with a minimum age of three years, but most
brands spend a little more time in the barrels.
In this book we have chosen 250 North American whiskeys from
the back bar of the Aero Club Bar in San Diego. These brands were
selected from a wall of over 900 whiskeys because they are among
the most frequently ordered by our patrons. Our goal is to taste,
review and report our findings from a combined 40 years of
experience from behind the bar. We have spent countless nights
interacting, observing and questioning our patrons and peers trying
to answer questions such as “What’s a good whiskey?” or “What
whiskey do you recommend?” We as service providers do our best
to please our customers who simply say, “Give me something
good.” Answering these questions can be quite difficult as each
individual has different tastes and styles. Our strategy and solution
was to combine our wealth of knowledge along with blind tastings
from four professional bartenders. Our team was not influenced by
brands or labels and wrote their reviews on what they honestly
thought after smelling and tasting the whiskey. As bartenders, it’s
important for us to satisfy our guests, and nothing pleases us more
than to help them find that “perfect” whiskey that suits their taste
and pleases their palates.
In addition, we added a variety of unique whiskey craft cocktails,
along with some classics with a twist. These rare libations were all
handcrafted by mixologists from around the country and are
perfect for mixing up behind the bar or in the comfort of your own
home.
Furthermore, our selected four bartenders picked some of their
favorite whiskeys, and we paired them up with premium cigars for
your enjoyment.
Last, but not least, we included our bucket list of whiskeys. At one
time or another, these extraordinary products graced our shelves
and are a must try if you come across them. We hope that you
enjoy this valuable resource, as we wanted to provide you with
some material that you ordinarily might not see in a whiskey guide.
Cheers,
Chad and Jeremy
OUR BARTENDERS
ANNIE HOBBS
JEFF DELOY
JOHN WRIGHT
BRANDON JOSEFOSKY