For the Love of Whisk(e)y
This week I am being featured with three others on the Century Grand blog in an article titled “4 Best Whiskey Blogs for Father’s Day” You can see it here and meet some of my fellow whisk(e)y friends. So it gives me the opportunity to talk about my love for Whisk(e)y, Phoenix and Century Grand. If you hang with me to the end your reward will be a code to save you some money on a great bottle!
Century Grand is a magical concept in three spaces. I have an entire post dedicated to just how special it is. The Grey Hen, the apothecary style bar hidden within, boasts the largest single barrel whiskey collection in the country. Even if you aren’t a crazed whisk(e)y drinker like me you can still enjoy the experience there. John Christie and the rest of the Grey Hen staff can help guide you, whether novice or expert, on a whiskey journey available no where else in the world.
As the Century Grand blog espouses, whisky can be a great Father’s Day gift - whether you like the kinds with an “e” coming from America or Ireland or the kinds without coming from the rest of the world. Buying a bottle of whiskey for someone is easy if you know their tastes well. But it can be difficult, if you don’t. I will often opt for a simple cocktail kit and reasonably priced universally regarded bottle of whiskey. Because you please most any palate.
This bottle of Ridgmont Reserve 1792 Full Proof Barrel #3292 is a great way to start. 1792 itself isn’t difficult to find or expensive and generally people enjoy it. But what makes this bottle special is that it is a single barrel hand selected by Century Grand. It’s full proof so you can really taste the spirit with notes of fruit, cereal and berries throughout. Plus it can’t be found on just any store shelf. The price is only $40. So for not very much money you can still give that special Dad in your life a unique hand selected bottle. Add to it a couple of rocks glasses, a nice clear ice sphere maker and a some bitters and you have a great gift that is just as good neat, with rocks or in a simple cocktail.
If you want to do something a little more unique and sophisticated you can add the smoking board pictured above. They aren’t hard to find online. Mine are made in by a cooperage in upstate New York, from air dried white oak that is waiting to be made into barrel staves. You just torch the board for a few seconds, place your glass over the top and let the smoke fill the glass before putting your cocktail inside. If you are interested in one send me a message, they are custom and not available directly from the cooperage.
Another fun item to add in the gift is a bottle of old fashioned syrup to make the cocktail super easy. You can buy several kinds on Amazon or I also sell my own. It’s made from fresh oranges, Demerara sugar and bitters. Basically everything your bartender would put in the glass for you at that fancy craft cocktail place you can’t go to right now. You can find the syrup on Etsy.
Putting all these items together can make a really thoughtful gift under $100 for a dad or any special whiskey drinker in your life.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 Century Grand is closed right now. Lucky for us, bottles are still available but you have to order them online and pick them up. I have an affiliate code for you to use if you’d like to pick up this bottle or another one of their single barrel picks for dear old dad…. or yourself.
