Snow + Cold = Bourbon
We had our first big storm of the season this past weekend. Some might argue it came on Tuesday when we received about two or three inches of snow. I don't really consider that a storm, so my sights were set on the coming weekend.
The forecast was calling for totals in the twelve inch range as I mentioned in some of my posts last week. I didn't take a final measurement, but I think our totals were somewhere closer to six to eight inches which honestly was a little disappointing. @mrsbozz and I work with a lady who has some property about two hours north of us and they got over two feet of snow when you factor in the lake effect stuff that came through on Sunday.
I took the opening photo on Friday evening when the storm was just starting to ramp up. @mrsbozz and I got very lucky that we never lost power through the storm. There was a period on Saturday where we didn't have Internet, but I had my hotspot from work, so that was really a non issue. Many people across our region lost power during the storm with many of them not expected to have service back until sometime today (Monday).
Needless to say, Friday night we made ourselves cozy and just waited to see what the storm was going to bring us.
When we took our trip to Vermont this past Autumn, my wife and I stopped at a state liquor store one afternoon to grab a couple of things for our hotel room. I was looking for something special that I might only find in Vermont to take home from our trip.
I eventually settled on this bourbon whiskey from Smugglers' Notch Distillery. There's two reasons why it stood out to me. First was the fact that we had just driven through a portion of Smugglers' Notch earlier that day.
Second was the fact that some of their other spirits had been ranked pretty highly. I figured if they did that well with their other liquors, then they probably put a lot of time and effort into their whiskey as well.
The miraculous part of this bottle is the fact that I was able to get it back home without it breaking inside my suitcase on the jet and getting all over my clothes. This is part of the reason I would probably drive the next time I go back to Vermont. It makes it much easier to transport things like this back home.
The only time you would really need to worry about it is if you were hauling cases of it and a cop decided to search your car.
I thought the collar on the bottle was interesting. The bottle itself feels more like a wine bottle than your traditional whiskey bottle. It's tall and thin. Most of my whiskey bottles are shorter and fatter. I only have a couple that fit the same profile as this one.
Here you can see that they have won a number of awards at the San Francisco World Spirits competition. As far back as 2011 even. I think that is pretty impressive. If I recall correctly, they had their own spiced rum as well. I kind of wish I had gotten a bottle of that, but maybe next time.
The back label of the bottle gives you a little bit of a history behind the bourbon that is in the bottle. It's important to note that this is a blended bourbon. Which isn't that uncommon for distilleries that haven't been around very long. It's going to be hard for a distillery that just opened in the past five years to offer a 12 year (anything), so places like this usually source some of their bourbon from more established places and blend the whiskeys until they get a flavor profile they are happy with.
At right around 45% alcohol by volume, this was a very drinkable bourbon both on the rocks and neat. I always try the first sip of a new bottle from my Glencairn glass with nothing added except maybe a splash of water. Compared to some of the higher proof bottles I have, this went down extremely smooth.
The flavor profile was quite nice too. I found it very pleasing. I can't always pick out flavors the way other people can, so I am going to spare you the in depth analysis of this except to say it was extremely good.
My only regret with this bottle is that I didn't buy another one. I'm going to have to look into their distribution map and see how close to Michigan they come. It's possible I might be able to get my hands on a bottle without having to go all the way back to Vermont.
If I do though, you better believe I will be picking up a bottle or two.
I only had a glass or two of this bourbon before I moved along to one of my more generic bottles. I like to be sure I can make special bottles like this last as long as possible.
If you ever find yourself in an area that carries Smugglers' Notch bourbon, or you actually find yourself in Smugglers' Notch and you get a chance to visit the distillery, I highly recommend it. Had I known how good it was, I likely would have tried to visit the place myself.
Maybe next time...
This was the perfect drink to enjoy as we watched the snow fall down and cover the landscape. It was warm enough in our house, but this gave the body that extra boost to brush away any chill that might be looking to settle in.
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Sounds like a return visit is most definitely on the cards. Classy style to bottle, sounds like one very happy customer/consumer sipped the cold away!
!WINEX
Yes, it was really good and there is still plenty for me to enjoy on cold nights in the future!
Always great to anticipate then be fully satisfied in selection, enjoy that cold weather...
Well, I am glad you loved the drink. And having it at such a moment where the weather is super cold will surely do some sweet miracles to the body, haha.
Thanks for sharing ☺️
No problem! Thanks for stopping in! It's probably one of the best bottles I have had in a while.
You are welcome 😁.
Cheers, @bozz 🥃
How fun! The Smugglers Notch Distillery is only a few miles down the road from us. Aren't the painted silo's across the street cool? I also enjoy their bourbon from time to time. Another favorite is their Maple Creme Liqueur. Be sure to try some next time you're about!
I will have to check that out for sure! I have a love hate relationship with maple flavored stuff thanks to eating too much maple candy when we were traveling in New England as a kid. I'd be willing to give it a shot though! We were actually getting hungry, so we didn't make it all the way through the notch. We turned around at one of the park buildings just past the one boulder that is almost in the middle of the road. We went back to Stowe and had lunch at Idle Tyme Brewing.
Yes, it's a bit too sweet for my taste, but my wife loves it.
Nice! Good bourbon is nice to enjoy, but always go back to the cheaper stuff so you don't drink up all of the quality spirits. Forty five percent isn't bad, too bad you couldn't pick up some Booker's on your trip, that stuff is awesome!
@DHEDGE
Yeah, I'd love to get my hands on some of that sometime. I got a bottle of Buffalo Trace the other day. That stuff is really good for $28 USD. It's just hard to find most of the time. They had some at Costco, but it was one bottle per member limit!
Buffalo Trace is hard to find anywhere anymore. You got a good deal at Costco, too bad it's one a customer. I guess we can always dream about having a barrel of it in the man cave!
Oh yeah, for sure. I was thinking I had already mentioned my bottle to someone and I think it was you. Sorry for the repeat!
You can never talk too much about bourbon my friend!
True!
Good to see you were well equipped for the weather! That looks like a nice bottle design and good that it went down well!
Yeah, I have some stuff that is so strong I could probably use it for heating oil if I needed to!
I can't imagine getting so much snow here. I'm sure it will split the country in two, but probably more people will be happy as we rarely get so much snow. The thought of a cozy night in when it's snowing outside sound so nice, even better if you have an open fire 😊
I love the snow when I know I don't have anywhere I need to be the next day. It's when you have to go places that it gets exciting and a pain! We have temps in the -20's today with the wind chill. I expect this snow will stick around until spring now and anything else we get will just be added on top of it.
Everywhere is looking so snowy. The snow has actually covered everywhere. I wish this could just happen in Nigeria for a day so I can imagine what the snow feels like, lol
I can only imagine what it would be like to see snow for the first time. It's pretty to look at, but dangerous to drive on. It gets old after a while!
Sounds like a nice burbon when the only downside is that you didnt buy another bottle !
And I had to laugh at your snow - being disappointed that you didnt get more. You'd laugh at us over here in the UK - if we get 2-3 inches the country grinds to a halt !
Cheers !
That's how it is down south too. They just aren't equipped for this kind of snow down there. Just image my friends to the north that got two feet!
One day i will experience this type of season 🥺
Good luck! It's not for the weak!
Nice one. I'm sure you can get these things online. We have plenty of drinks distributors here with some specialising in whisky. Are there issues getting it over state lines?
Yes, in my state they aren't able to deliver like that. In other states they have services like drizzly.
I have no knowledge at all when it comes to alcohol but I bet that it's a really good one! The design of the bottle looks pretty dope too ☺️
It was better than some I have had. I would probably put it close to the top as one of the best I have ever tried.
Glad to know you are coping with the rough temperatures over there as best as you can. Hope you have a great day. Regards.
Thanks, I hope you have a great week as well!
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Looks like a fantastic dram of whiskey. I do need to get myself those beautiful Glencairn glasses. I love reviews like this as I too am not very clever with the various taste profiles :) I can feel the warmth you speak of, reminds me of a dram of scotch I had out of my hip flash the first time I saw snow for the first time, on top of Ben Nevis.
I agree about stretching good bottles. I do the same for my Scotch, especially as it is so costly here in India. Same goes for my cigars. Enjoy for the enjoyment and savor the moments, I say.
Great post.
A while ago I got a nice bottle of bourbon for myself and a friend of mine. He had his bottle gone within a week. I am still working on mine and it has been probably a year ago now. I had another whiskey recently where it had some pretty distinct fruit notes, but usually it all just tastes like whiskey to me! I'd like to get a nice flask sometime. My buddy has one and it is fun to take a pull while we are playing disc golf.
I too want to buy a good one, the one I had was from a Pound Store. I just had to buy it having read about hip flasks in the detective, spy, and war stories. :)
I love to hold on to beautiful bottles even after it has emptied, especially for smooth whiskeys. It is a very contentious issue between my wife and me as she feels things should be disposed asap :D
I totally understand that last part. My friend has a guy that turns old bottles into desk lamps. Some of them turn out really cool.
Drinking is a pretty good way to wait out a storm. You got some good looking bourbon there!
I think it's great the way you describe that whiskey, setting it to the perfect conditions in which you should consume a good drink of that drink, I would like to ask if the community is only published on whiskey, because I am Cuban and we have good rum here and I would like to make a post with some of them, greetings.
Unfortunately, it's only Whiskey. You could start your own Rum community though. I'm a fan of rum, I might check it out!
Thank you very much, I will try to create it, when I create it I will send you a notification so that you can also participate if you are interested, greetings.
Cool thanks, I enjoyed some Captain Morgan rum just the other night.
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