Every whiskey enthusiast has a collection. For the folks of Scofflaw?s Den, these collections can be large and even appear a little hoarder-ish.
So when one of us is looking to finish off a bottle you?re going to want to be around. Liquor, after all, is made to be drunken.
This week, our friend Sean Mike shared a bottle of Willett Single Barrel Rye Whiskey at The Passenger near Chinatown.
Ledroit Brands, Washington D.C.?s current Willett distributor, dubbed this share ?The Iron Fist.? How could you resist a name like that?
If you are unfamiliar about how this works, Kentucky Bourbon Distiller (KBD) brand makes entire barrels of their whiskey available for purchase. If you can afford that type of indulgence and really love whiskey this might be a great investment.
The Iron Fist was distilled in Bardstown, Kentucky and aged in oak for 23 years.
Each of these distinct Willett-labeled Ledroit whiskeys were given a unique and unconventional name. The Iron Fist?s presumed counterpart, for instance, is named ?The Velvet Glove.?
Others names include ?Orange Blossom Special,? No Chemists Allowed,? ?Cocoa Loco,? ?Suspension Bridge,? and more.
Cask strength is always a little difficult for me when trying to parse out flavors. But, one major takeaway about this particular bottle of hooch was how I felt the taste very much lived up to its name.
Caramel, vanilla, and spice are always the most obvious characteristics coming from any bottle of whiskey. Some express toffee. You could find these in this Willett.
For me, however, there was a tinge of brininess hidden at the very end which put the brakes on those sweet-associated flavors. I have mostly gotten this element from single malt scotches.
The burn on my mouth was an easy one. It never really muted the flavor and even handed them off to me in a much smoother way than many of the other cask strength whiskies I have tasted.
Most of those whiskies completely blow out my taste buds. It really gives you appreciation for dilution. This whiskey leaves quite an impression despite its strength.
Speaking of which, I really need to dilute my own collection of booze that has been collecting dust in my apartment. Maybe, it is time I shared a few bottles of my own?