Whisky is now one of the most lucrative businesses in the world, with sought-after bottles fetching thousands at auction. So, it is no surprise that many distilleries are attempting to produce whiskies with gimmicks, hoping to make their own fortunes from the whisky industry. While some have been great successes, others have proved a little too bizarre for most whisky lovers. We take a look at seven of the weirdest whiskies that have been produced.
Whisky is the tipple of choice for many, but while you might know your malt from your grain or your rye from your corn, how much do you actually know about your usual down at the local? It’s been around for centuries and has been there for generation after generation when they need it most; it’s often known as the drink for every mood be you happy, sad or somewhere in between. Much like marmite, you either love it, or you hate it, and either way, we’ve listed some of our favourite facts you probably didn’t know about Whisky.
Whether you spell it whisky or whiskey, the dark-golden drink comes in many different forms. With signature sips created in different regions around the world, we take a look at some of the main whisky types and how they are made.
Since the beginning of film and television, characters onscreen have often been depicted with a drink in hand, sat at a bar, or enjoying a sneaky sip at home. Some of these characters and shows have made the drinks famous, or have made the drink so iconic, linking it to the character that we can’t think of one without the other. We take a look at some of the best cocktail depictions in film and TV, and how you can recreate them at home!
When it comes to alcohol and cigars, even the most seasoned cigar aficionado and spirit buffs can find themselves in a bit of trouble when it comes to finding the perfect drink and cigar pairings. We take a look at how to pair cigars based on our ability to pick out complex flavours with our sense of taste.
An Introduction to Taste
You already use your natural abilities for taste, such as noticing a new ingredient in your lunch or deciding which wine would taste best with the dinner you made for your partner. With time your palate will evolve and become more refined, which is the way sommeliers and expert cigar makers acquire their skills.
A master cigar maker can pick out a single tobacco leaf, and just by smelling and smoking it, they can identify the type of tobacco, tell you where it was grown, and how far along it is in the fermentation or ageing process.
When you are able to pair two exquisite items together, the magic starts to happen. Some classic pairings for cigars when it comes to alcohol are Cognac, Single Malt Whisky, Bourbon and Port. Drinks such as Vodka and Gin alone do not work as well, as the cigar overpowers the subtle herbal notes of the beverages.
Weaker alcohol content drinks, such as red wine and craft beers, also make an excellent match for certain cigars, just make sure they balance each other out by not letting one dominate and overpower the other.
A simple method for beginners is to follow a few of these basic ideas of cigar and drink pairings.
Mild Cigars
Mild cigars such as a Davidoff Grand Cru No.2 cigar, go particularly well with cocktails that use coffee or Irish cream.
Mudslide – This vodka-based drink can be made using 3 equal parts vodka, coffee liqueur, and Irish cream liqueur. Just fill a glass with ice, pour an ounce of each ingredient into a cocktail shaker, shake, and strain into the glass.
Black Russian – This is a similar drink which uses vodka and coffee liqueur. Mix about 1 ¾ oz vodka with ¾ oz coffee liqueur into a glass filled with ice and stir.
If you’re not a big fan of vodka, you can replace it with Malibu, Amaretto or Kahlua.
Medium-Bodied Cigars
With medium-bodied cigars, such as the Swag Connecticut VIP Petit Robusto cigar, drinks like an Irish coffee during the cold winter months, or a stinger when it’s warmer, are a perfect choice.
Irish coffee – Mix 1 ½ oz Irish whiskey with a tablespoon of brown sugar, 6 oz of hot coffee, and as much heavy cream as you want. Mix the first three ingredients together, and put the cream on top to complete this drink.
Stinger – Stingers are made using brandy and white crème de menthe liqueur. Typically they are paired with chocolate desserts, but they go very well with medium-bodied stogies. Mix 1 ¾ oz brandy with ¾ oz white crème de menthe. Pour into a glass with crushed ice and stir (shaking is optional).
Full-Bodied Cigars
For full-bodied cigars, like a Davidoff 702 Series Entreacto cigar, here at Havana House we enjoy an Old Fashioned cocktail using a quality single-malt, such as Ardbeg Uigeadail Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Mix 2 oz whisky with 1 sugar cube, 1 dash of bitters, 1 slice of lemon, 1 orange and 1 cherry. Start by combining the bitters, sugar cube, and a teaspoon of water in an old-fashioned glass. Once they are well mixed, add your whiskey and stir well. Now add your ice cubes and lemon peel, along with your orange slices and cherry.
In the end, like most things in life, it all comes down to individual taste. You will soon discover through trial and error what works best for you and what doesn’t. Buy cigars online and develop your own perfect pairings by testing out a variety of cigar and drink combinations. What’s your favourite cocktail to enjoy with a cigar? We’d love to try it out, so let us know in the comments below!
A Whisky Inspired Fashion Line Is Launching
13 July 2018 by Ellie
A Scottish distillery is launching a fashion line, inspired by the whisky it produces. BenRiach, a Speyside distillery who are known for their adventurous approaches to whisky making, will be working hand in hand with Scottish designer Kestin Hare to form a series of apparel inspired by the distillery, scotch and the Speyside landscape.
Drinks Fit For Royalty: The Royal Family and Scotch
8 June 2018 by Ellie
Scotch whisky has been in the lives of the British Royal Family for almost 200 years. Over the long whisky history, bottles have been made especially for the Royals, and some bottles around the world have been awarded a Royal Warrant! With the birth of a new prince and a Royal wedding, we’re sure that there have been plenty of celebratory tipples enjoyed by the Royal Family this year too! We take a look at the history of the family and this drink, and some of their favourite bottles.
Whisky, or whiskey, is one of our favourite drinks. A dram of the golden amber coloured drink matches perfectly with a luxurious Cohiba cigar, and makes for a perfectly relaxed evening. Whisky is distilled from fermented grain mash, which comes in different varieties such as corn, barley, wheat and rye. It is usually then aged in wooden casks. Whisky production is highly regulated, and different regions have set rules and methods to follow in order to classify their brand as being from that region. Here is a guide to the whisky regions around the world:
While Winston Churchill is perhaps best known for being the Prime Minister to lead Britain successfully through the Second World War, the man is also known for his love of food, liquor and, most importantly, cigars. We take a look at these three loves in this iconic man’s life.
In the investment world, whisky has become something of a hot topic in recent years. While we all know that a top-quality bottle can easily set you back a bit, increased interest in rare and old bottles of the liquor has boosted sale prices to the point that whisky is now a better investment than other liquid assets, such as wine, oil and gold. With new investment opportunities, such as whisky investment funds, starting up over the past few months, the popularity of investing in whisky does not seem to be dying down any time soon.
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