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WhiskyEpic, 515 W 7th St Fl 2, Los Angeles, CA (2026)

01/01/2019

Epic Whisky of 2018.
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I tried a lot of amazing whisky this year, but many of them are either priced beyond reason or are impossible to find, so here is the list of “affordable” quality whisky.
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Epic Bourbon - Henry McKenna 10 y.o bottled in bond, because solid age statement, higher proof, classic bourbon flavor and enough depth to please both beginners and connoisseurs alike.
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Epic Rye - Sazerac Rye, because perfect for cocktails or neat, excellent spice and black licorice flavors.
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Epic Grain Whisky - Nikka Coffey Grain, because this is a great quality young whisky with lots of tropical fruit and floral character.
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Epic Irish Whiskey - Red Breast 12, because you have to graduate from Jameson and try this single pot still beauty.
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Epic Japanese Whisky - Nikka From The Barrel, because it is finally available in the USA, 51,4 % abv. The only issue being it won whisky of the year and will be harder to find.
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Epic Scotch - Ardbeg 10, because If you love peated whisky this is a must have, unchillfiltered, no caramel coloring and classic dry ashy Ardbeg taste.
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Epic Blended Whisky - Compass Box No Name, because compass box does not make bad whisky, excellent combination of oily, peat and vanilla, this is relatively available with 18000 bottles produced but here it represents Compass Box as a brand and they are not difficult find.
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Remember, epic whisky doesn’t have to be expensive or impossible to find.
Happy New Year All!!! #2018

12/08/2018

The whisky advent calendar is the best holiday gift for any whisky lover. Literally a gift that keeps on giving, well at least 24 times. This is The Hard To Find Whisky version. More photos with interesting and unexpected drams to follow. Happy holidays and cheers!!!!

12/03/2018

The Rosemary Maple Bourbon Sour

The name pretty much says it all. This is yet another variation on a whiskey sour and I find to be particularly appropriate as we just finished setting up our Christmas tree. Rosemary and maple syrup just adds that holiday touch. So here it is:
*2 oz of bourbon (don’t you just love the holiday wax on the Makers Mark?)
*3/4 oz of fresh lemon juice
*1/2 oz of good quality simple syrup
*1 large spring of rosemary
1. Crush the rosemary in the shaker
2. Add the remaining ingredients and ice
3. Shake for 15 seconds
4. Double strain into a coupe glass
5. Garnish with rosemary
Drink
🥃Epic Fact - Rosemary stands for “dew of the sea” in Latin, and although it looks like pine, it is part of the mint family.
The recipe was borrowed from the “Shake - a new perspective on cocktails” book.

11/26/2018

William Larue Weller Barrel Proof
ALC/VOL 64.1 %(128.2 proof)
William Larue Weller is the 2019 world whiskey of the year, well at least according to one man - Jim Murray and his Whisky Bible.
This whiskey is part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, alongside Sazerac 18 (rye), George T. Stagg (bourbon), Eagle Rare 17 (bourbon) and a 3rd place winner according to Mr Murray - Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye, which I also tried and like very much.
So let’s begin.
There is a lot to like in this wheated (there is no rye in this mash bill) barrel proof bourbon, after all it comes from the place as Pappy. It is uncut and unfiltered, which means that it tastes exactly as it would directly from the barrel, and just like with any straight bourbon it is without any added coloring.
Smell - plum wine, coffee, sourdough, caramel covered apple, peanut brittle,vanilla.
Taste - black pepper, orange soda, cane sugar, sour cherry; long, oily finish.
Verdict - a must try! An advanced bourbon at an advanced price point. At first taste I was thrown off by an almost sherried scotch experience! While this is not my whisky of the year, it is a great bourbon.
Score 5/5
I don’t own this bottle and although in 2018 there have been over 17,000 bottles produced, the least expensive bottle I could fine in the US is $599, and that’s for a 12 year old bourbon! 🥃Epic Fact - in line with many other bourbons, this bourbon is named after a famous person. William Larue Weller was born in 1825 and is accredited with creating the first wheated bourbon recipe. Wheat is a “soft” grain and when it is used in place of rye it results in a more gentle taste. @ Bar Jackalope

11/19/2018

Auchentoshan, Glen Garioch, Bowmore and Laphroaig single malts.
You may wonder why are these 4 unique single malts a part of a single tasting, the reason is simple, they are all part of the Beam Suntory Inc portfolio, one of the largest whisky producing companies in the world.
1.Auchonteshan 21 (43%) - matured in second fill sherry casks for 21 years. The unusual thing about Auchentoshan is that it is triple distilled, resulting in the higher proof spirit that in theory is more reactive with the barrel. Quick Notes: Tanic, dark grape, chocolate, cocoa; long dry finish. I am normally not a fan of Auchentoshan but the active sherry casks in this release have done wonders in my opinion - well done!
2.Glen Garioch 1994, bottled in 2011, Batch 32 is a cask strength lightly peated single malt. Glen Garioch (read glen geeree) stands for the valley of the greenery and is the smallest distillery in the Beam Suntory portfolio. The distillery was founded 1797 and pre-1996 used peated barley, this 17 year old expression is no exception at 12ppm. Quick Notes: sourdough, margarine, salted caramel cheesecake, raw peanuts, brown butter, pink salt, pine. 3.Bowmore 26 French Oak Barrique (48.7%) Bowmore features the oldest licensed scotch warehouse on record. This expression is part of The Vintners Trilogy series and was aged for 13 years in ex bourbon cask and 13 years in Chateau Lagrange cask. Beam Suntory also owns the winery. Quick Notes: dry red wine, brine, smores, bell pepper, cinnamon, bananas; long dry finish. A splendid experience, and my favorite Bowmore to date.
4.Laphroaig Cairdeis Fino Cask Finish (51.8%) this annual release is a 2018 edition produced to commemorate the Islay festival. This Laphroaig was aged for 6 years in ex bourbon casks and finished for 2 years in fino Sherry casks. Fino is the youngest kind of sherry and it is very dry. Quick Notes: medicinal smoke, brine, bacon covered dates; long dry finish. Overall experience is like drinking a delicious cigar smoothie. Fino extends the peat delivery in a long dry fashion, this is a great Laphroaig

11/19/2018

Dewar’s and Aberfeldy
Dewar’s brand of blended scotch whisky was established by John Dewar Sr in 1846. Although Dewar’s white label is a blend of 40 different whiskies, Dewar’s family wanted to control some of the spirit that went into the blend and in 1896 they opened their first distillery - Aberfeldy. Other distilleries owned by John Dewar and Sons Ltd. are Aultmore, Craigellachie, Macduff and Royal Brackla.
As always, we got to try multiple releases and here are the Quick Notes:
1.Aberfeldy 12 Apple 40% honey, apple, mellow and light; short medium/dry finish. A well rounded and good introductory single malt, but it may leave a more experienced scotch drinker longing for more.
2.Aberfeldy 21 40% green apple, fresh cut grass, cucumber, green cherries, light and creamy; medium finish. The experience reminds me of the Hendricks gin. I just wish it was at least 43%
3.Dewar’s 18 40% dry, grassy, cookie dough; medium finish. Given more time it changes its character and considering the price point - a good value and my favorite of the bunch.
4.Dewar’s 25 40% dark fruit, honey, granola; medium finish. Once blended this expression is finished in Royal Brackla casks. You must know by now that in my book 40% is a little light and this would be a lot better at 43 or more.
🥃 Epic Fact: Dewar’s became popular in the United States after a news broke that Andrew Carnegie requested it for the president Benjamin Harrison’s inauguration.
@ Bar Jackalope

11/19/2018

Glenfiddich - Speyside Single Malt
I had to work really hard for you all those week by partaking in not one, not two, but three tastings 😱. Let’s begin the reviews with one of the most ubiquitous scotch whiskies.
Founded in 1886 by William Grant, Glenfiddich is the 7th generation family owned company.
Glenfiddich relies on a rather lengthy 72 hour fermentation process and 64,6 % distillation cut point, which is high, resulting in a spirit with light fruit and green apple palate.
We got to try multiple releases and here are the Quick Notes:
1.Experimental Series #01 - Glenfiddich India Pale Ale Cask 43% is a result of finishing the spirit in casks from the Speyside Brewing Company which produces the proprietary IPA only for barrel seasoning.
Quick Notes: light, crisp, fruity and dry, finished with clover and slight bitterness.
2.Project XX(20) 47%. This is an amalgamation of inputs from 20 Glenfiddich employees from 16 countries and combines spirits that are 6-20 years old. The barrels used were ex bourbon, olorosso sherry, port pipe and American oak.
Quick Notes: Light, cherry, milk chocolate, black pepper, medium tangerine finish.
3. Glenfiddich 21 Reserva Rum Cask Finish 40% is part of the prestige range. The rum barrels used to finish this whisky are of the same origin as in the Balvenie Caribbean cask.
Quick Notes: Tropical fruit nose, cola, tanic dry flavor, toasted coconut, medium green almond finish. I just wish this release was 46% especially at this price point.
4.Fire & Cane 43% is the latest in the experimental series. This malt is peated (60/40 ratio resulting at 20ppm) and finished in the rum casks. My favorite from this tasting!
Quick Notes: Honey smoked ham, roast duck, bacon wrapped dates, white pepper, green apple, honey dew, teriyaki, medium oil finish.
🥃Epic Fact: Glenfiddich means the valley of the deer in Gaelic. Also Glenfiddich were the first to build a distillery visitor center in Scotland.
@ Bar Jackalope

11/11/2018

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Batch: A118 ALC/VOL 65.3% (130.6 Proof) 🥃
So before we proceed with this review I suggest we get comfortable, as this whiskey requires a lot of time.
First things first, Miles Davis - Kind of Blue on vinyl ✔️
Followed by a comfortable “whisk(e)y chair”, this is any kind of a comfortable chair you like to drink your whiskey in ✔️
Finally the tools of the trade, a tasting glass, I suggest a Glencairn, a vessel with still water and a water dropper ✔️ Just like with this record, we will need to dive deep and break this whiskey down layer-by-layer and adding water to a high proof whisky, especially something as strong as this, helps us look behind the curtain and peel the flavors one layer at a time.
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Now, let’s start the music and wait until the “So What” track is over before diving in, to ensure that we gave this 12 year old whiskey enough time to settle and open.
Side 1 Smell
The high proof is evident right away; freshly baked apple pie with cinnamon, caramelized peaches, vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate covered oranges.
Side 2 Taste “All Blues - no water” spicy, oily, makes your mouth water like MSG, dark chocolate with chili, peanut brittle, long and tannic finish, tangerines. Busy yet harmonious event.
“Flamenco Sketches - with a few drops of water” - citrus becomes a lot more forward, honey, black licorice, same long finish but less tannic, popcorn. Much more settled and easier to follow in line with the music.
Verdict - 5/5 this is not a beginners whiskey in the same way that Miles Davis is not Britney Spears, and don’t get me wrong I like me some Britney at times. I am halfway through this bottle and if I can find another I will restock.
Best paired with - the right moment in time, great music and a friend that can appreciate a sophisticated experience. 🥃 Epic Fact - this whiskey is named after an eighteenth century Baptist preacher that lived in the area currently known as Kentucky. While there is no solid evidence, Elijah Craig is often referenced as the father of bourbon and the person responsible for the charred oak barrel process.

11/11/2018

The Gold Rush Cocktail
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A simple variation on a classic whiskey sour that delivers a lot in terms of refreshing flavor through a few simple steps.
* 2 oz (60ml) of bourbon
* 3/4 oz of fresh lemon juice
* 3/4 oz of honey syrup (3/4 honey 1/4 warm water)
1. Add ingredients to the shaker with ice
2. Shake for 15 seconds
3. Double strain into a rocks (old fashioned glass) with one large ice sphere/cube.
4. Optional - garnish with a lemon peel.
Drink
🥃Epic Fact - This cocktail was created by T. J. Siegal of Milk and Honey.

11/10/2018

This week I had the pleasure of meeting Ian Chang, the master blender at Kavalan, and learning from him about this phenomenal whisky. Kavalan is a Taiwanese, yes you read this right, Taiwanese whisky distillery. It was founded in 2005 and named after the indigenous Kavalan people. First whisky by Kavalan was released to the market in 2008, only 2 short years since the start of production. They were able to bottle such young whisky due to the hot and humid climate in Taiwan, which significantly speeds up the maturation process. Current expressions from Kavalan are at a minimum 4 years old.
We got to try 7 releases and while all of them were really good, my personal favorite is Vinho Barrique.
I think what really stands out the most about Kavalan is how approachable yet complex their entire whisky range is, and while entry level expressions are no match to their more sophisticated counterparts, they are a good value.

🥃 Epic Fact: Kavalan is not the only distillery in Taiwan. The second distillery is OMAR - founded by the state-owned Taiwan To***co and Liquors company.

Special thanks to the crew for hosting this whisky society and their ongoing quest to spread the whisky gospel.
@ Bar Jackalope

11/03/2018

Manhattan

Manhattan is a classic cocktail with its history dating back to 1860s. Also this is one the first cocktails to feature vermouth as a smoothing agent for the whisky. The trick to remembering the recipe for this cocktail is the area code for Manhattan - 212:
* 2oz (60ml) of rye whiskey
* 1oz (30ml) of sweet vermouth
* 2 dashes of bitters (Angostura is traditional but I like 1 dash Angostura 1 dash chocolate bitters)
* 2 Maraschino cherries
1. Add all ingredients to your mixing glass
2. Add ice and stir for 45 seconds
3. Strain into a chilled glass
4. Garnish with two cherries on a pick
The results are a simple yet sophisticated cocktail.

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