thecasks.com

When you have little kids, it’s easy for that awe and interest in trains to be rekindled, and I’ve very much enjoyed multiple visits to places like Twin City Model Railroad Museum, the Lake Harriet Trolley, the Jackson Street Roundhouse, and the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. One of the latest offerings from MGP Ingredients, Eight & Sand Blended Bourbon Whiskey is, as you may have read, a blended bourbon whiskey. In addition to the MGP bourbons used, this one also reportedly includes MGP rye whiskeys, MGP corn whiskey (at least 80% corn), and MGP light whiskey (in this case, 99% corn whiskey that’s been matured in used or uncharred casks). I expect that some bourbon purists will turn up their nose at the thought of this one, but bourbon purists have never been known as the most exciting bunch in the world.

Basically, tequila is a spirit distilled from the fermented mash of agave plants, specifically the agave piñas – the large central core of the plant. Along with this Blanco, the Espolon range also includes a Reposado (“rested” in oak for 3-5 months), an Anejo (aged for 10 months is new American oak barrels, then finished for 2 months in Wild Turkey barrels), and an Extra Anejo (aged for six years in American oak barrels). Agave’s vegetal notes are sometimes described as cooked, and I can see that here I guess, but it only a faintly reads as “cooked” to me. I found it to have a nice balance between the fruitier notes, the spice notes, and the more earthy, vegetal notes, with the later perhaps turned down a bit so as not to be too off-putting to the formerly Tequila-adverse like myself.

The Brecon Beacons National Park, or as they say in Welsh, Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog, encompasses 519 square miles, which is a little less than half the size of Rhode Island for those needing a Rhode Island comparison. I was very interested to see how the distillery would integrate their lighter, cleaner house style and the concentrated influence of peat from the smaller finishing casks. But, despite the heavier, slightly dominant peat and smoke of the palate, this still feels like a lighter whisky, certainly not a peated single malt Scotch. The Celt manages to keep its house style intact and show off how nicely it fares with a peated influence, making for a refreshing, interesting twist on the “smoky Scotch” style.

The majority of Scotch single malt is distilled twice in pot stills, and its new make spirit leaves the stills generally around 65-70% alcohol. Penderyn has distinguished itself by using this complex single distillation and producing a distinctively lighter, cleaner, yet still flavorful single malt whiskey. The Myth is matured in ex-Buffalo Trace casks for approximately six years and is then finished for six to twelve months is a variety of ex-red wine casks. There’s pale, floral honey, poached pear, and juicy orange upfront, but behind that lurks a subtle, complex mix of fruit – sticky raisins, dried red fruits, and a hint of passionfruit.