I’m Drunk And I Don’t Wanna Go Home: Hochstadter’s Slow & Low

Slow & Low Presents Elle King at The Salt Shed.

Slow & Low Bottled Cocktails

As a Chicagoan we’ve been driving by this twice a day for our entire lives ..and never been in this place until today.  It’s opening weekend at The Salt Shed on Goose Island. This stop on Elle King’s A-Freakin-Men tour is sponsored by the good folks at Slow & Low. 

Hochstadter’s Slow & Low are known for their craft quality Rye Whiskey Old Fashioned Cocktails. Back in Sept 2022 they joined forces with Chicago’s Intelligentsial Coffee for an International Coffee Day debut of their Coffee Old Fashioned collaboration.

Elle King is the first artist to have a number one song on four different charts. Her message connects with all walks of life. Her themes include sharing a bottle of whiskey before breaking up a relationship. This pairing of Elle + Slow & Low makes too much sense, its a natural extension of the brand’s ethos.

Whiskey Sunshine & Whiskey Buck

A Skyline-Backed, Community-Driven, Indoor/Outdoor Music Venue

The A-Freaking-Men Tour

VIP Pregame Experience

No less than 4 options of Slow & Low canned cocktails expressions made an appearance.

•Rock & Rye 

•Coffee Old-Fashioned 

•Whiskey Sunshine 

•Whiskey Buck

-Nkosi

Other Notes:

-From February 21st - March 3rd select tour stops will include Slow & Low sampling activations for concert-goers who can experience the taste and lifestyle of the brand. 

-Slow & Low is now available in both bottled and canned expressions.

-Rock & Rye Old Fashioned made its debut AT The Tale Of The Cocktail Conference in New Orleans 2011

-Rock & Rye tradition began in the saloon era when bartenders in the 1800s were cutting young whiskey with rock candy syrup. 

Intelligentsia Coffee Old Fashioned

Elle King!

Setlist

VIP Pregame Songs

Pregame Cocktail Bar

Give The Drummer Some

Best Party Of The Year So Far

Afro Beer Chick Freedom Cocktails at Revolution Brewing

Afro Beer Chick, 1/2 of The Neat Pour Podcast On Location - Revolution Brewpub, Logan Square. **

Every week on the podcast Chalonda, (Afro Beer Chick) makes cocktails for the show based on that week’s featured spirit…she’s got a knack for this sort of thing. While her co-host Nik takes the lead on weekly feature stories, editing all the episodes and managing The Neat Pour Cocktails page have always been Chalonda’s playground.

Something Old, Something New Feat. Freedom of Assembly **

In 2018 she was Revolution Brewing’s Brewer for a Day. that relationship  over time evolved into a guest role as guest cocktail curator at their brewpub in Logan Square. Revolution began experimenting with cocktails internally through ‘spin-the-wheel’ social media segments that led to some wacky combinations.

Free-jito Feat. Freedom of Speach, Peach Sour Ale. **

What followed was a conversation abt what the cocktail list would look like if people they admired leveraged Revolution beers to make cocktails for the bar to serve.  The spotlight quickly shifted to daytime reel shoots and creations centered around Revolution’s Freedom Session Sour Series. 

Revolution Brewing - Brewpub 2323 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL**

Check out some of the on location recipe reels recorded at Rev.

Something Old, Something New. 

Evan Williams. Luxardo Cherries. Ginger Syrup. Freedom of Assembly Blueberry Ginger Session Sour. 

Happy Hour

Clairin Haitian Rum. Cherry Syrup. Freedom of Expression Strawberry Rhubarb Session Sour. 

Liquid Summer

Hendricks Erbium Gin. Limocello. Fresh Lemon. Sugar.  Freedom Lemonade Session Sour

Free-Jito 

Clairin Haitian Rum. Fresh Mint Leaves. Simple Syrup. Fresh Lime Juice. Freedom of Speach Peach Session Sour.

—The Neat Pour 

**Photos Courtesy of Revolution Brewing

Shōchū - The Most Consumed Spirit in Japan

Choice Selections From A Recent Honkaku Spirits Portfolio Tasting

But seriously, why the hell have we always known about sake but never shōchū? The national spirit of Japan has been produced there for the last 500 years. Shōchū is most widely produced, sold and consumed spirit in Japan  and is the countries most sold both in volume and dollars. 

The process is highly regulated and pretty much unchanged since that time and it can only be made from approved ingredients. 

Part of why we don’t hear about it could be that the Japanese are obsessed with it. They only export 2%  if it, and most of that goes to east Asia.  In comparison Mexico exports 70% of tequila to the US. Alone! Japan is making more Shōchū than Mexico is making tequila! A small import company founded in March 2020 - Honkaku Spirits is changing the narrative on shōchū. 

Founded By Two Ex-Pats Widely Regarded As The World’s Leading English Speaking Experts on Shochu

Selefant Kokuto Shōchū

It’s not the best example of the category because it’s rare and only made in one place. But it’s nice, delicate and a great starting point. This family has been distilling since 1927. Selena Nishihira is President of the distillery and the youngest Master Distiller in Japan. She is the daughter of a musician who was in a glam band. She herself was in a band with a record deal until her dad got sick. She became 1 of 4 female master distillers in all of Japan.

Her family realizes the sacrifice she made, so they converted the aging warehouse into a bar and concert hall. It’s a tropical island, they make shōchū and surf.

Fruity. Floral. Berry Forward.

Nishihira Shuzo's Master Distiller, She’s a visual artist, Selefant is her nickname. Her hand is on the bottle and this is the 1st bottle they’ve ever exported. Its grassy, delicate and green with an expressive cane juice flavor and and goes great in a highball. The most popular Japanese method is brining it down to 15% (1 part sochu, 1 part water) and drink it like a wine. 

Host For The Evening, Shochu Evangelist - Mr. Jake Tennenbaum

Mugi Hokka Barley Shōchū

The most commonly exported style- barley. The population is declining in Japan. Its the type of distill they use. Atmospheric pot still and vacuum pot still. (Craft gin) its uses when you’re trying to a fragrance you want extracted. Vacuum distilling can be 8% is made with heavily roasted barley.

It imparts toast, chocolate, cereal and black coffee, theres a milk chocolate flavor with nothing added. Ever, no additives or coloring. 100% barley single distilled on a potstill fermented with white koji.

Best served in a Sparkling Americano - Black Coffee and Soda Water. 

Cold Brew or Espresso, big splash of Mugi Hokka and twist with lemon. It’s packed with flavor and stands up well to Campari so makes a killer Negroni. This is the top selling Sochu at Binnys. It also comes in a 1.8L bottle. 

If It’s Not At Binnys….It’s Not Worth Drinking

Upstairs Classroom At Flagship Store - Lincoln Park

Colorful -Serious Drinkers Only.

Colorful Honkaku Shōchū

Distilled in Miyazaki. The first master distiller to experiment with blending to create a unique balanced product. 4yrs old with sweet potatoes and black koji and a 1yr aged with white koji. Japanese sweet potato have red or white flesh and are wonderful to ferment.

Fruity and floral notes, berry forward , grape soda notes. Black White and Yellow Koji Only sold in the Miyazaki Prefecture and  in Chicago.  Much like allocated bourbon its only sold in one place and sells out.  Serious drinkers only. Online auctions in Japan only. 

The Wildest Flavors..Went Home With This One

Motoko Honkaku Shōchū

The longest aged Shōchū ever sent to the US.  Aged in 2011, there’s a minerality reminiscent of mezcal aged in clay. The pots used are over 100 years old. This is the most complex, the most savory of the lineup. MostShōchū begins in  unglazed ceramic posts and when it’s done it moves to stainless,  It may go back and forth. The family home is built into the distillery. Notes of dry mushroom, white pepper and the finish is a crisp, charred sticky rice.

Yoka Ryukyu Awamori

43% still strength.Single pot still lightly filtered totally undiluted and the best mouthfeel. Thick and viscous and luxurious/  Sky is the limited as far as mixed cocktails. In some ways it drinks like a young rye or a pot distilled white rum or an agave spirt. Plug this in for the base of any classic cocktail for something fun., its a great gin substitute, makes a great Negroni. 

$34.99 distilled near the capital of Okinawa. 

A Chill, Educational, Low Key Friday Night Hang.

—The Neat Pour

Finally The Neat Pour Has Come Back To Chicago Distilling Company

Logan Square, Chicago

This is the OG strip of Milwaukee Ave in Logan Square. We’re talking 2am bouncing from Slippery Slope to Cole’s after a beer release at Rev’s Brewpub. We’re talking Glitter Moneyyy live on stage at The Whistler then sake bombs at Furious Spoon…..then right back at it for  Sunday morning brunch The Radler. I mean, we haven’t even mentioned Run The Jewels X Pipeworks Lolla Weekend Popup!  This strip of Logan has heavy sentimental value..Chicago Distilling Co has been chillin in plain sight right here the entire time. 

Nik’s Favourite - Blind Tiger 4yr Bourbon Whiskey.

Canned Cocktails.

Single Malt Whiskey Series Inspired By Classic Beer Styles.

This family owned business distributes to 10 states features a single malt whiskey series inspired by beer recipes. 

Star of the show when visiting the cocktail bar were the house specialty old fashioned options. Blind Tiger 4yr bourbon comes in 275ml and 750 ml options. Pre mixed cocktails and fruited CBD water are both canned. 

White Dog.

Theres a decanter library on the north wall and that times bow truss ceiling when you in the tasting hall. You can expect local art exhibits to take over the distillery for an installation this Spring. We’ve actually never been here or tried their spirits in the wild before. Im certain that will change, this place is a great hang on a timeless strip of Hipster Highway

—The Neat Pour

Signature Old Fashioneds. Classic Bow Truss Ceiling.

2359 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Old Fitz 13yr and Parker’s Heritage Wheat Whiskey

Old Fitz 13 BIB + Friends

The starstruck look in our eyes whenever we see that Old Fitzgerald decanter. It might legit be the best looking bottle we’ve ever seen. As an anniversary gift to ourselves we scored the 13yr bottled-in-bond as the centerpiece to the north bar in 2020. 

Parker’s Heritage 15th Edition is a Wheat Whiskey, not to be confused with a Wheat Bourbon like Old Fitz. In fact Parker’s 15 is the same recipe as Heaven Hill’s Bernheim Wheat. 

Parker’s Heritage Collection 15th Edition Heavy Char Wheat Whiskey

Comparing mashbills from the same distillery is common practice on the pod. The best example of this was Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char 10yr Bourbon vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. It was that exam that left us honestly thinking pound for pound ECBP is as good as any whiskey, anytime anyplace. 

This week’s episode payed respect to a pair of the most revered brands in bourbon. 

Spring 2019 Release

PH 15 is the coolest whiskey in the room. Effortless with these pecan cinnamon roll and maple syrup pleasure waves. It’s almost subdued for a 122 proof point and doesn’t offer the complex vibe of Parker’s 14.

Old Fitz 13 however is punching out of its weight class offering tones of vanilla buttercream and an extended spicy oak finish that makes it clear how special a pour this is. 

Parker’s Heritage Named For Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Famer, Parker Beam Heaven Hill Master Distiller Emeritus.

Old Fitzgerald 13yr Bottled In Bond Wheated Bourbon (68% Wheat, 20% Corn, 10% Malted Barley) 

Parker’s Heritage Wheat Whiskey (51%Wheat, 37% Corn, 12%)

—The Neat Pour 

Other Notes:

-The last three Parkers Heritage Releases 13th 14th and 15th Editions, (Bourbon, Rye Wheat Whiskey) have all been aged in proprietary Heavy Char Barrels

-Parker Beam is Jim Beam’s grandnephew and the Bourbon Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award is named after Parker. 

Baker’s 11yr Unfiltered Single Barrel

Unfiltered. 107 Proof. Single Barrel

You can find a 7yr version of Baker’s for about $70 without the lovely silver and black box. This Binny’s Single Barrel is 11 yrs, 8 mos and closer to $110. 

Named for Baker Beam (sixth generation distiller and grand nephew of Jim Beam) this release was always the sleeper hit Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. But it was never beloved in the same way as Knob Creek, Bookers and even Basil Hayden were. So the package was completely revamped and the single barrel expression replaced the small batch release for Beam. 

Baker Beam worked 38yrs at the Clermont, KY distillery

 This was the vanilla cake drizzled in syrup member of the Collection. The classic toffee, peanut brittle note we know from Beam are missing.  The barrel we sampled  on Episode 57 of The Neat Pour Podcast has a distinct peppercorn note.  A single barrel might have notes of pipe tobacco, cherry soda or caramel corn. These are flavors you might not want to blend off.

We totally understand the move to a new format, as it pays homage to a key member of this family that’s been producing bourbon since 1795. This a crew that also under stands warehouse sweet spots, that lead to the money barrels.

Exclusive Selection from Warehouse CL-E

 With the first pass you get smoke and oak with nuanced vanilla caramel sweetness. To be fair the experience became to advanced for us to after that. The original Baker’s in the wine bottle was one of our original bottle kills, an unexpected treasure of a pour. This latest version reminds us that with Spring on the horizon,  its time to reload on that small batch variant that reminds us of the good times.

—The Neat Pour 

Other Notes:

-Baker’s Exclusive Selection Single Barrel Unfiltered 107 Proof. Binny’s Beverage Depot. 

 - Warehouse CL-E 11yrs, 8 months old 

-Chalonda’s Cocktail of The Week was a jam session inspired by the sangria. 

Chalonda’s Cocktail of the Week - I Want You

In a shaker add ...

-Frozen Fruit.. 

-3oz Bakers

-1oz Hendricks Oribum Gin

-1oz White Peach Liqueur 

-.5oz Ginger Syrup

-6 dashes of Peach Bitters

Shake and Strain everything into glass. Garnish with some of the frozen fruit..

Enjoy!

What’s Old Is New Again: Innovation at Jack Daniel's

An Age Statement JD Release For The First Time Since Prohibition

Nearest Green taught Jack Daniel the Lincoln County Process. In ‘Jack Daniel’s Legacy’ originally published in 1967,  Nathan ‘Uncle Nearest’ Green and his family appear in that book over fifty times.

On The Neat Pour Podcast Ep 56. We sip no less than 4 variants from Lynchburg TN.  From Old No. 7 to Coy Hill, we make pit stops at the recent 10yr old offering and finish with last year’s insanely glorious Single Barrel Special Release Barrel Proof Rye at 131 Proof. 

When talking about Coy Hill, you have frame that it’s the track on the facility with the oldest warehouses and the highest elevation. The 300 barrels that were filled back in 2012 for this release saw the proof reach as high as 160 in some barrels!

The final blends were mellowed down to a range of 137-148 proof. Master Distiller Chris Fletcher and Asst. Master Distiller Lexie Philips noticed that anything over 150 was actually pushing the cork out of the bottle when Coy Hill got warm!!! This is quite literally the highest proof American Straight Whiskey ever produced on record. 

Coy Hill. On Location at Aman’s Terrace, Wind Lake, Wisconsin

Single Barrel Special Release Rye from our Louisville Trip.

Mid Tennessee is 250 miles south of Bourbon Country..those summers and the top 3 rickhouse tiers (The Buzzards Roost) created dark whiskeys with deep flavors that surprised everyone. There’s a tongue coating sweetness loaded with orange zest and dark sugars on the Coy Hill. It’s pulling baking spice and tobacco notes that add layers to an already wild experience. 

Innovation in the modern sense started with Kentucky Hall of Famer Lincoln Henderson. Before going out to create the Angel’s Envy Brand he was responsible for developing Gentleman Jack back in 1988. Lincoln introduced Jack Daniels Single Barrel in the late 90’s. 

The Single Barrel Special Release Project is 4yrs old now. Taking small nuances like the favorite warehouse of the bottling hall crew and scheduling a release around it is how Jack is creating new traditions from their past. 

Chalonda’s Cocktail Of The Week - Dirty Diana Featuring Du Nord Spirits

Jack is the top selling whiskey on the planet and was actually an allocated product from the ’50s to the 80s when Frank Sinatra declared it the nectar of the gods. Production double from 150,000 cases in ’54 to 300,000 cases in ’55. 

—The Neat Pour

Other Notes:

Notable Coy Hill Warehouse Releases:

 - Single Barrel - Barrel Proof - Heroes Selection  - Melvin H. Keebler - 2021, 126 Proof

-Single Barrel Heritage Barrel 

-Barrel House 114 was renamed for George Green, a longtime Jack Daniels employee and son of Nathan ‘Uncle Nearest’ Green

-The Dept of Treasury in 1941 granted Jack Daniels permission to call their whiskey Tennessee Bourbon after Prohibition sighting that it may be called bourbon but has distinctive characteristics so it won’t be “forced” into the bourbon label. 

Be Sure To Check Out Ep 56 of The Neat Pour Available On Your Favorite Streaming Platform Now

Penelope Bourbon

Illinois Select Toasted Series and Off Premise Private Select Single Barrel

Off Premise in Lincoln Park is a boutique shop that really enjoys their natural wines and armagnacs like nobody’s business. The crew has also introduced us to a host of new bourbon producers that otherwise wouldn’t have been on our radar at all. After the dangerously underrated Mayor Pingree Single Barrel from Off Premise, we spun the wheel to try another crew totally new to us - Penelope Bourbon from Roselle, NJ.

Long Neck Wine Bottle Glass

This Penelope Illinois Select Toasted Series the only Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey on the bar after the 10th Anniversary release from our beloved FEW Spirits. The Penelope approach is to the blend three different mashbills ( (21% Rye Bourbon, 99% Corn Bourbon, 45% Wheat Bourbon) to achieve the optimal four grainess.

The Off Premise Single Barrel is an MGP (Ross & Squibb now) High Rye Mashbill.

On the Toasted Barrel, caramel apple, burnt orange and dare we say a lively palate… bright, bouncy fruits in comparison to those ripe cooked fruits we usually notes in bourbon.

—The Neat Pour

MGP High Rye Mashbill

2 of 7 Bourbons In The Current Penelope Lineup

Other Notes:

-Mayor Pingree, Old Elk, Bull Run and George Remus are other notable MGP single barrels we scored at Off Premise over the years.

-Penelope arrives in elegant wine bottles reminiscent of the BTAC collection of the Sam Houston releases.

-Off Premise Private Select - 5yr Single Barrel Non Chill Filtered

-Toasted Series Level 3 Heavy Char 4-5yrs.

-Four Grain, Barrel Strength, Toasted Series, Rosé Cask Finish, Private Select and American Light Whiskey are the current release lineup.

Episode 55 of The Neat Pour Podcast

I.W. Harper 15 - Anywhere, Anytime, Always A Pleasure

15yrs Old, 86 Proof, Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Easily the best looking bottle on either bar at the pad is this one. I.W. Harper has a 4yr offering and a 12 yr Japan release but nothing looks quite like that 15yr. The brand had been away for 20yrs as Diageo discontinued it stateside back in the 90s. During that time it became quite the household name internationally. By 1966 I.W. Harper was sold in 119 countries. 

Young Lena Horne Backdrop

Took this for a ride over the summer at The Loyalist in West Loop as a nightcap. At 86 proof it ranks as one of the most intense, big flavor small proof offerings maybe ever. Fruit perseveres followed by bitter oak are most present on the palette. Big fan of the way vanilla seems to weave its way throughout every sip. 

The story goes that Issac Wolfe Bernheim actually chose the surname Harper because he thought it was more marketable. You might recognize the Bernheim Whiskey name today as its a part of the Heaven Hill family of releases (yes, it’s named after the same guy).

With undeniable notes of pear, toffee, honey, apple and bright citrus this bottle is sure to find a home on most any bar. To be fair Buffalo Trace compares quite nicely in a head to head with this release and that bottle is $26 compared to this one which is  closer $80. 

—The Neat Pour

Other Notes: 

Diageo is also the parent company of Captain Morgan’s Rum and Guinness in the US.

Easily The Best Looking Bottle On The Bar

79$ Retail

Pear. Toffee. Honey. Apple and Bright Citrus Notes 

Brown Foreman’s Mythical King of Kentucky

A Young Diana Ross and 2021 King of Kentucky

We’ve been asking retailers for two years about this release, mythical is the only description that fits. King of Kentucky is annually release ofthe very best single barrels that Brown-Forman offers. 

14yr old, cask strength, non chill filtered. When you get to this final level of bourbon unicorns you start noticing similarities in the releases. At this point, outside of Michter’s 25 or Old Rip Van Winkle 25 we have touched them all..and these ultra aged whiskeys have traits in common. 

Where KOK leaves pours like George T. Stagg and Parkers Heritage (10) behind is this ability to offer different aspects of the best bourbon you’ve ever had with each sip.

Honestly it’s the type of experience we were hoping to have with Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend. An amazing black cherry compote greets you after that classic bouquet of aged, sweet oak invades the senses. There’s a crazy dark brown sugar and rich burnt orange alternating thing that happens with each sip here.  

Afro.Beer.Chick at The Prince Wall on New Years Eve 2021

Bottled and Distilled in Louisville, KY

Only 2700 bottles were released last year. King of Kentucky is a legacy brand from the crew behind Woodford Reserve, Old Forester and the top selling whiskey in the world, Jack Daniels. Its Woodford’s Master Distiller Chris Morris who selects the single barrels to be showcased for KOK.

Retail is $250, and worth every bit of that but not the $1200 you see it for on secondary. 

There’s no defined bottle number for the annual release, but the barrels selected were all filled 12 days apart back in 2007. Mashbill is 79% corn, 11% rye and 10% malted barley and spent 14 years aging in in a heat cycled warehouse. 

1953 KOK Vintage

During last year’s Louisville trip we had the privilege of enjoying at 1953 King of Kentucky at the Frankfort Liquor’s opening weekend. Brown-Foreman acquired the brand in 1936 from Selected Kentucky Distillers. KOK was produced as a blended whiskey until 1968 when it was discontinued.

The single barrel behemoth we enjoy today made its debuted in 2018.

—The Neat Pour

250$ Retail

Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon Showdown 2021: Old Elk Single Barrel vs Larceny B521

Larceny vs Old Elk

Last year the standoff was between one of the best names in the history of spirits - Journeyman’s Corsets, Whips + Whiskey vs Larceny Barrel Proof. It was a split decision as Chalonda used all the Larceny in cocktails but decided that Journeyman’s cask strength version of Buggy Whip (the aforementioned CW&W) was a better offering. 

Wheated Bourbons exist in abundance on our shelves. The decanter house pour is Pour Man’s Pappy. We own every version of Weller except Single Barrel (including Larue). Additionally, one of our all time favorite pours is a wheater bourbon that helped launch this channel - Black Bourbon Society’s Maker Mark Select. A bourbon that didn’t use the most popular stave in the Maker 46 program (mocha) yet created a surreal layered experience. 

Fort Collins, Colorado

So enter the 2021 new comer.  Old Elk Cask Strength. Dave Metz spent nearly 40yrs holding every position you can imaging at MGP. It was his interview with Mash & Drum that peaked our curiosity in Old Elk. The Colorado crew’s origin story is actually related to Otterbox. Founder Curt Richardson launched the waterproof phone case giant 25 years ago. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to start Old Elk in 2013. In order to not fuck things up, he went out and hired the best of the best as Master Distiller.

MGP began as a Seagrams plant on the banks of the Ohio River on the Indiana side. Old Elk sourced bourbons from Lawrenceburg, IN, who produced  itto the specs outlined by Old Elk. First think you notice is a malt milkshake quality to their interpretation. It’s a balance and dessert forward in the best way with flavors that feel like an An éclair topped with chocolate frosting. This really is  one of the best examples of a cask strength of any kind that we’ve encountered this year. 

Binny’s Select Cask Strength Single Barrel

Heaven Hill’s Larceny comes out swinging with a new distinct neck-tag emblazoned with the phrase Whisky Advocate’s 2020 Whisky of the Year. There was a minerality at play on the last batch we had so we opted to sit out of A21 this year but grabbed B25 as a make or break decision about the brand in general . Goose Island aged a Cinnamon Apple Barleywine in Larceny barrels last year and that’s the last we heard as barleywine was excluded from the 2021 lineup . We never really check for the small batch Larceny. Elijah Craig is superior in every way, besides we’re still recovering for paying secondary at a retail shop for Old Fitz 11yr in the fancy decanter.

As much as we love HH, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof pound-for-pound might be the best whisky in the country. Parkers Heritage 10 is as good as Limited Release we have on the bar having said those things, we’ve been out on Larceny as a brand. B25 this year is something you should enjoy as bar pour for the experience. In our view its not a bottle you need to add to your collections.

—The Neat Pour

For a full rundown be sure to check out Episode 50 of The Neat Pour Podcast- Battle of the Wheats 

The Invitation and Tagalong Batch

Little Book Chapter V: The Invitation

It’s our second annual reminder of how different cask strength releases from Jim Beam Small Batch Collection can be. Last year it was Binny’s Single Barrel Select vs Bookers Kathleen’s Batch. The follow up is a showdown between Little Book Chapter 05: The Invitation and Bookers 2021-02 Tagalong Batch. 

Aromas on these whiskeys are very similar. The aged oak presence is pleasant and the first thing you notice, but that’s where the features go in drastically different directions. The 6yr old Booker’s greets you with a massive wall of spice. It’s not quite jalapeño but not quite the cinnamon red hot commonly found around these parts.

Booker’s 2021-02

Our 1st Booker’s Since 2019-03 )Booker’s Country Ham)

Our 1st’s Little Book Since 2017

Think somewhere between allspice, ginger and hot paprika notes on the spice level. Once you’re past it a bounty of vanilla, peach cobbler and those classic creamy dessert like Booker’s notes awaits. It’s really a fantastic and layered offering. 

The Invitation is Freddie Noe’s latest blend under his signature Little Book program. The name is an ode to  him reminding the family of his grandfather, Booker Noe.  The Invitation is a blend of five whiskeys. At a whopping $120 price tag, as much as I love this profile, that’s a huge ask. Especially when the experience is reminiscent of the Bookers vibe in many ways.  

Jin Beam Suntory’s Headquarters is based in Downtown Chicago at Lyric Opera House Building. It was announced early this year that over 300 employees will be moving the the NY offices to focus on synergies with Suntory employees based in NYC. 

Be sure to check out Ep. 51 of The Neat Pour Podcast, Booker’s vs Little Book

—The Neat Pour

2021 Jim Beam Cask Small Batch Releases

Ep. 51 of the pod recorded on a Sunday Night after the KRS-One x Big Daddy Kane- Verzuz

Cobblestone Chicago Brunch, Cider and Cocktails

4337 N. Lincoln Ave

Cobblestone Chicago in North Center is the follow up to Dr. Markus Chwajol’s award winning, Bohemian House Restaurant in River North. Cobblestone, European Bistro & Cider House resides in the former location of cult favorite - The Northman, Chicago’s first cider pub. Cobblestone’s cider program is a bit of an homage to the previous concept, but this project is a completely different team and management group.

Sweet & Savory Brunch Options in North Center

Cobblestone’s Executive Chef, Michael McCloud studied under the legendary Wolfgang Puck for four years in Dallas. The brunch menu is a welcomed Czech interpretation with portions that don’t look to overwhelm your Sunday Funday.

Andy and team have over 30 ciders in house. The selection varies between dry, sweet and down the middle. Most are on draft, the cider flight is what you should order on your visit.

You absolutely cannot go wrong with a seat on the patio and an order of Pecan Pie French Toast. Salted Carmel Glaze is sprinkled over golden Texas Toast. The sweet pecan and custard flavors on this super impressive dish are undeniable. That maple syrup soaks in to create an incredible taste and texture.

Cider Flight + Pecan Pie French Toast

Bloody Mary w Four Roses Bourbon

The Farro Arugula Salad was simple and just right but it was the Bistro Burger (50/50 lamb +beef) that captured the brunch vibe perfectly.

A lamb burger with pepper jelly and goat cheese makes you think twice when reading it aloud. Then we took a bite and wanted to hug. This item is a brunch essential, easy to see why it was our host’s favorite.

We love everything about this place from well executed menu items down the staff’s attention to detail. A separate entrance takes you upstairs to a pair of Air BnB’s located above the restaurant avialable for rentals. It’s the perfect setup for a staycation.

—The Neat Pour

Over 30 Cider Options

Classic European Bistro + Air BnB Located Upstairs

Bistro Burger + The Bourbon Renewal (bourbon, fresh lemon juice, crème de cassis, angostura)

Other Notes:

-After a five year run of renting the BoHo location in River North, Andy and crew own the building that Cobblestone is located.

-All brunch cocktails are $12.

-Cocktails, The Neighborhood Bully, Bourbon Renewal and First Love were all curated by GM Andy Knuth.

-Flights are available for cider and mimosas.

-Cobblestone Chicago is located on the corner of Lincoln and Pensacola Ave. 4337 N. Lincoln Ave. in North Center.

-Bohemian House was Central European-inspired favorite that earned four consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmand Awards.

Dining Hall

Patio

Farro Arugula Salad - cherry tomatoes. farro crunch. fig vinaigrette. goat cheese croutons.

Courtyard

The Ballad of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release Tennessee Rye

JDSBSR Tennesee Rye Whiskey

For most collectors, the idea of Jack Daniel’s making a whiskey that gets the nerds excited is not even comprehensible. But here we are with an absolute hitter of a cask strength rye from the top selling whiskey producer on the planet. For those keeping score at home Jack Daniel’s is the most sold whiskey worldwide by volume.

The top selling bourbon worldwide is Jim Beam white label. The top selling bourbon in the U.S. alone is Evan Willams white label.  So Brown Forman’s Jack Daniel’s Old Number 7 (black label) is top of the food chain overall for whiskey sales.

Jack Daniel’s 5th Rye Release

Now that we’ve got that out the way, this is very much a well crafted rye. The charcoal mellowing, Lincoln County Process that Jack is famous for actually strips corn aromas and barrel astringency from the finished product.

It’s very much akin the ‘beechwood aging’ Budweiser is known for..these steps are design to remove flavor from the finished offering. Jack Daniels reps refer to it as ‘removing the peanuts from the Snickers to create a Milky Way’. 

JDSBSRBPR is the Lynchburg, TN crew’s fifth rye release. Unaged Rye (2012, Rested Rye (2014) Single Barrel Rye (2016) and Tennesee Rye (2017) This 2020 release is in single barrel form with proofs ranging from 125-140. Barrels were aged at the highest floors in the rickhouse. 

Louisville, Kentucky

For what it’s worth, the Four Gate Whiskey Company’s River Kelvin Rye Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey by comparison is a much more well integrated product. Theres no sharp edges of oak or decadent fruit cake notes like the JD Rye.

The 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley of the Four Gate is more about mint,  lemon zest, and slight hints of dill in a very balanced and seamless offering.

The company is releasing this whiskey with no barrel finish for a reason. They plan to offer at least two different finishing styles over the next year. The plan is to let customers taste the base rye as well as finished releases in the future. 

Four Gate River Kelvin Rye. Cask Strength. Aged 7 Yrs.

Other Notes

• Only 1484 bottles of the River Kelvin Rye were produced at 113.2 proof.

• We compared Jack Daniel’s Special Reserve Barrel Proof Rye to the Four Gate Cask Strength River Kelvin Rye on Episode 46 of The Neat Pour Podcast.

Afro Beer Chick. One Half of The Neat Pour Podcast

Podcast Ep. 47 It’s All About the Rye

Joseph A. Magnus’ Grooviest Release to Date - Psychedelic Summer

Cigar Blend Bourbon Batch 46

Batch 46 of Cigar Blend Bourbon is known as Psychedelic Summer around the distillery. It’s part of a series #42 - 46 dubbed the ’Rock and Roll Series’ by Nancy The Nose Frahley These batches all hail from the same mother blend of six specific armagnac casks that made their way from DC to the current distillery home in Holland, Michigan. 

The pilgrimage from DC to Michigan is one that the company’s namesake Joseph Magnus himself made back in 1894 when he relocated from Cincinnati.

Magnus Family Crest

Joseph was a traveling Salesmen, Blender and Wholesale Liquor Magnate. The top selling spirit for Joseph and team was Murray Hill Club Whiskey.  This was up until 1918 when Prohibition ended the party.

The Joseph A. Magnus Co. was re-established a century later by Joseph’s Great Grandson in 2015.  A 120 year old bottle of whiskey was found by the family, so they invited some friends over to analyze samples. Those friends were a former Master Distiller at Woodford Reserve, a former VP at Buffalo Trace and the American Distilling Institute’s Director of Research, the aforementioned Nancy Fraley. 

On Ep. 46 of The Neat Pour Podcast we were back with a vengeance sampling Joseph Magnus Bourbon (8-9yr MGP triple finished in Oloroso Sherry, Pedro Ximéinez Sherry and Cognac Casks). Paired with Cigar Blend Bourbon (blend of 13 and 20yr old MGP finished in Armagnac, Sherry and Cognac Casks). 

Cigar Blend, as the name implies is meant be paired with a stogy. It made sense to compare this variant next to the original.   Where the Jos Mag Bourbon has notes of black walnut bitters and tea leaves. Cigar Blend takes the complexity higher with a rich ripe berry compote note. Its a mouth coating experience with hints of plum and dried mulling spices like a glogg wine. Its really fantastic stuff. 

Joseph Magnus Bourbon (100 Proof) and Cigar Blend (127 Proof)

Joseph A. Magnus Bourbon retails for around $100. Cigar Blend Bourbon after taxes will run you about $220 retail. They both pour like special occasion whiskeys.  It was said that Magnus formed his liquor dealership on Main Street in Downtown Cinicinatti on the principles of Kind Deeds and Pleasant Thoughts. Fast forward 100 years and the name still stands for remarkably artful blends that  you can enjoy in 33 states. 

-The Neat Pour

Other Notes: 

-Batch 46 Psychedelic Summer is the follow up to Shake, Rattle and Roll (Batch 45, 127.1 proof) and the precursor to Beatnik Brunch (Batch 47, 127 proof) 

-Cigar Blend Bourbon took Double Gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2018, 2019 and 2021. 

-A Double Gold means that every judge in the category gave the spirit a Gold. 

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. in Louisville

Downtown Louisville

Nowadays you can find Peerless Distilling across 35 states. Our local bottle shoppe insisted we try both Peerless and Wilderness Trail, that’s how both got on our radar. Peerless has a 30 person crew and possibly the youngest Master Distiller in the country. 

Level three char with a medium toast is the standard for this crew.  Sweet Mash refers to fresh water, corn, yeast and barley with every batch. They distill at 130 proof instead of 145 for most of their competition that uses sour mash

Peerless Rye Gold at 2020 World Whiskey Awards for Rye Under 12yrs

The idea of sour mash really came along with the industrialization  of the bourbon industry. As the scale of  things to began to grow in the ’50s and ’60s, consistency became more of a priority. Sour Mash refers to leaving some of the wort from the previous batch in the mash tun to be added to the next batch.  This process requires you to distill at a higher proof to rid some of the off flavors from the mash.

When you distill at 130 like Peerless, you pick up more of those creamy, honeyed flavors in the beer phase. It’s part of the reason they are able to release flavor forward products at such a young age. 

The in-house bottle design is modeled after the doubler at the distillery. The copper on that equipment flairs out into the shape of an onion and receives the spirit that has already been cooled into liquid. 

On a recent episode of the pod we paired the Peerless Small Batch with Burban Cowboy Single Barrel. Aside from focusing on flavors that shouldn’t be blended off, the distillery also partners with Kelvin Cooperage, a family owned barrel producer in Louisville. Kelvin only chars their barrels with oak. It’s a process that doesn’t introduce any gas flavors to cook the wood resulting in a barrel that yields more flavor compounds for aging. 

Urban Cowboy Single Barrel + Peerless Small Batch

Kentucky Peerless sweet mash is superb, super rich and aromatic. You could smell the cocoa, even hints of coffee immediately.  It’s got some sexy complementary dark fruit notes, the light spice gives an interesting savory character and the combination is insane with a wonderful depth beyond what four years of aging typically would produce. The 2yr Rye is near $100 in most stores and the 4yr Sweet Mash retails near $70, both get a big recommendation from us. 

-The Neat Pour 

-Be sure to check out Episode 44 of The Neat Pour Podcast. We spotlight a pair of  Kentucky Peerless  Bourbons- Small Batch and Urban Cowboy Single Barrel 

-Kentucky Peerless consulted with another sweet mash distillery - Wilderness Trail for their current yeast strain.  

-We are big fans of the Single Barrel. Those hints of cherry bitters, smoke and pipe tobacco are undeniable. 

-Kentucky Peerless is your 2019 Icons of Whisky Craft Producer of the Year

Our New Favourite Louisville Distillery

Cherry Chocolate Tart. Farmhouse Cider. Bread Pudding. Burban Cowboy Single Barrels on location

Starward Australian Single Malt on World Whisky Day

Virtual Tasting to Select a Starward Single Barrel w The Legendary Delilah’ s

Delilah’s Chicago is probably the only crew in the city that considered this something possible of pulling off. This event was so fabulous it couldn’t happen live in person. Sometimes it’s the most amazing city in the world…other times it’s get me outta here. This was the virtual escape we needed. It was the opportunity to chat and do a group barrel selection over zoom. All 5 were fantastic but we could only pick one as the Delilah’s barrel.

Dave Vitale is founder of Starward New World Whisky in Australia.. None of us understood Australian Whisky, in fact Michael Jackson mentions only 5 distilleries back in 2005, by 2015 there are 14 mentions in the Malt Whisky Yearbook…in 2021 there are 55 !!!!

5 whiskeys we sampled were all finished in charred oak barrels. In the mid aughts, circa 2007 for Starward the challenge was to grow the category beyond single barrels. Tasmania at the time was making great whiskey already so the focus became - how do you get it?

Delilah’s and Starward Cask Strength Samples For The Barrel Pick

A new drinker would be confused by the special occasion nature of Australian whiskey. He wanted something that speaks to the place that it was made. Starward ages in all red wine barrels then transfers into a french oak barrel. Baking spice, oak influence and wine characteristics are the pillars of balance in their products.

Toasted oak instead of charred oak are present and there’s more of a berry note in these whiskies. Nova, flagship single malt is 82 proof. Solera, aged in sherry barrels is 86 proof and both are aged 3-4 Melbourne years. There’s a little bit of that youthfulness at play with these releases. The older it gets more unbalanced things become. oak, spirit, previous barrel all coming through. The goal is always to have an equal triangle.

Australian Whiskey is unique compared to other regions of the world that serve as inspiration. Taiwanese whiskey or whiskey from Israel is aged in extreme climates, those barrels are always evaporating, because those places are always hot.

The difference between those and Starward is the huge temperature range. Where Kentucky has four seasons. In Melbourne you can get all that in one day. Australia’s Outback is in the middle in the country. Dry, oven hot wind is coming from the northwest into Melbourne. The wind coming from the southwest is freezing and quite humid. To the south Antarctica bringing in humidity. The days in Melbourne can begin at 110 degrees, 20 mins later its 65 degrees. It’s an insane range, these are often called the hardest working barrels in the world as a result.

5 Samples Aged In Wine Barrels Finished In Charred French Oak Barrrels

Starward takes its inspiration from 5 distilleries - Laphroig, Johnnie Walker, Makers Mark, Wild Turkey and Balevenie. There’s been a total of six blenders at Johnnie Walker in 200 years. I think we are all impressed with the mastery of Wild Turkey and all the flavors they’re able to showcase from just one mashbill.

Wine barrels are a cut above bourbon barrels..quite literally. Amazing oak from premium cuts of wood that are seasoned longer in most cases. For comparison bourbon casks start at $200 where wine barrels can run $2000-$3000 each. Consistent affordable and accessible are the hallmarks of Australian Whisky. Everyone on the call will have a chance to purchase the Delilah’s Starward Single Barrel when it arrives.

With about 30 or so folks in attendance there should be plenty bottles available for most who would want to experience it.

We all decided that if we’re picking one, it should be like nothing attendees had currently on their bar. You have a change to choose something that has these caramel, orange and French Oak influences, you’d select that one over something that taste more like classic whiskey for example.

—The Neat Pour

Single Barrel Will Be Made Available At Delilahs For Attendees

The Illustrious FEW Spirits, Evanston, IL

Chicagoland Award Winning Spirits

We were at The Ritz Carlton Hotel on the Mag Mile in Downtown Chicago the first time we understood how serious this FEW Spirits thing was. The distillery made a barrel for them aged on Benedictine. The hotel rinses your glass with absinthe before serving…this was back in 2013!

We all know Koval to be the first Chicago distillery since prohibition but we find ourselves drinking more FEW over the calendar year than any other local spirit. The distillery and their speakeasy tasting room are a mile north of The Neat Pour Studios.  This week on The Neat Pour Podcast we spotlight the Imortal Rye Whiskey from FEW. This rye whiskey is proofed down to 93 with cold extracted 8 Immortals Oolong Tea. 

Pre-Prohibition Inspired, Small Batch Spirits

At the recent San Francisco World Spirits Competition the Evanston crew took home no less than five awards including a Silver for Immortal Rye

FEW Straight Bourbon (GOLD)

FEW Straight Rye Whiskey (GOLD) 

FEW American Blended Whiskey (BRONZE) 

FEW Cold Cut Whiskey (proofed with cold brewed coffee) (SILVER)

FEW Immortal Rye Whiskey (SILVER) 

The Dude Abides + Tropic Thunder

200ML Sizes of Core Offerings, 3 for $100

We love that this small operation is the definition of craft, taking chances with mind bending interpretations of whiskey styles with wonderful execution. The Immortal Rye is like nothing on the home bar. An eye opening experiences that bring excitement to the category. In Chicago all their releases are readily available at retail chains. The tasting room is literally down a nondescript alley just a few blocks from Sketchbook Brewing up in E-Town. 

F.E.W, is named after the founder of the Evanston Women’s Temperance Union, Frances Elizabeth Willard. Cocktails are served in the same 200ML glass bottles that the you can purchase the spirits in. 

I’d advise anyone looking to escape occupied Chicago to pay them a visit. Icons of Whisky named FEW named few the most sustainable distillery of 2021. 

Evanston

Cocktails we enjoyed during our visit. 

Boulevardier (FEW Whiskey Italian Wine Barrel Finished, Cappelletti Italian Bitter, Dollin Sweet Vermouth)

The Dude Abides (FEW Cold Cut Bourbon, St George Coffee Liqueur, Orgeat, Chocolate Bitters)

Tropic Thunder (FEW Barrel Gin Infused w Toasted Coconut, Passionfruit Syrup, Falernum, Lemon Juice)

918 Sour ( FEW Straight Bourbon, Chai and English Breakfast Tea Syrup, Lemon Juice, Angostura Bitters)

The Last Word (FEW Breakfast Gin, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino, Lime Juice) 

—The Neat Pour

Be sure to check out Episode 38 of The Neat Pour Podcast for our full thoughts on the Immortal Rye

Few Things In Life Are Better Than English Breakfast Gin

Statue of the Republic, Chicago World’s Fair 1893

The Resurrection of Kansas City’s Largest Pre-Prohibition Whiskey Brand

J. Rieger & Company Kansas City Whiskey

This is a fascinating piece of Kansas City history, having it in the original family is what’s important for the legacy of the brand.

Ryan Maybee is a James Beard Semifinalist for his tremendous bar program at Manifesto.  When Ryan decided to leave his bartender role at Union Station in KC, he opened a restaurant across the street at the old Rieger Hotel. While looking for artifacts and pictures to decorate his space,  he stumbled across the fact that it wasn’t just a hotel but J. Rieger & Co. was also one of the largest distilleries in the country back in the late 1880s. 

Reborn 90yrs After The Original

The idea of relaunching the distillery became an obsession turned reality when family member, Andy Rieger came on as a partner after floating the idea around for over a year. 

Ryan and crew knew they needed to release un-aged products to reach the market quickly, Midwestern Dry Gin and Cafeè Amaro Liqueur were both launched before any whiskey. 

On this week’s Episode of The Neat Pour Podcast we focus on Rieger Kansas City Whiskey. 

2017 Rieger Tasting at Longman & Eagle

KC Whiskey is a mingling of 4.5yr old bourbon,  5yr straight rye and 10yr light corn whiskey. Both the bourbon and the corn whiskey come from MGP. 100% of the rye from Alberta, Canada, same source as Whistle Pig. 

The Kansas City Whiskey pays homage to history. From 1920 till Prohibition rectified whiskey was about 90% of the market. The team found a sales sheet from the original Rieger that called into question what was Rieger back in those days.

Of their 100+ products sold was an imported sherry. It turns out that the beverage alcohol manual for the TTB says sherry can used up 2% and it can still be called American Whiskey. The decision was made to  go to Spain and source sherry from bodegas. Sherry is added to the tank and rectified at 2% of the final blend.

92 Proof, Rectified With 2% Spanish Sherry

The flavors in this whiskey cascade and balance each other perfectly. It’s a 92 proof whiskey meant to hold its own in cocktails. The sherry provides a nuttiness with dried fruits and hints of sweetness. A big part of building this brand Is how bartenders think about these spirits and how well they play in a bar setting. Retail starts around $30.

—The Neat Pour

Be sure to check out Episode 37 of The Neat Pour Podcast for our full thoughts as we pair Rieger Kansas City Whiskey with KC’s own Martin City Anniversary Stout.

Blended WithWilliams and Humbert 15 Yr Oloroso Sherry

Traditional Maryland Style - Sagamore Rye

Port Covington, Baltimore, MD

Chicago’s proximity to Kentucky means brewers have long made the trip down to secure freshly dumped bourbon barrels. Chicago’s beer culture is built in many ways on depth of styles at local breweries and the love affair this town has with bourbon barrel aged beers.

Summertime is unforgettable here, but it’s a cold weather town with disrespectful wind chills blowing off the lake most of the year. You’re likely to find dark, heavy, sassy beer options over say a vast selection of local sours, saisons or wild ales. When it was time for Malt Row’s Begyle Brewing to extend the product line for their award winning BA oatmeal stout, Flannel Pajamas, they laid it to sleep in barrels from barrels Sagamore Spirit Distillery? 

Mixed 4-banger of Begyle Flannel Pajamas Aged in Sagamore Rye Barrels

Some of the oldest whiskeys in America were probably ryes. The grain is abundant in the Northeast states. Before Kentucky became a state in 1792 rye whiskey was the popular spirit. The original Michter’s up in Pennsylvania was rye focused. Our episode on NY Distilling’s Ragtime Rye was a reminder that from the Colonial Days up until the Civil War that New York was major whiskey producer.

Compared to the Pennsylvania style, the traditional Maryland style rye uses local spring water to proof down their releases. The pleated jockey silk inspired bottle design is an instant classic. This is the most handsome bottle on the shelf now. 

Binny’s Barrel Select Sagamore Rye( 6yrs, 110 proof) has that earthy type of cinnamon spice. It’s more like the Saigon or Celyon cinnamon flavors instead of the traditional red hot cinnamon notes we pick up in many featured ryes.

Maryland Style has its roots in triple-distillation, nowadays Sagamore partners with their friends at MGP to execute on the recipes designed by Sagamore. The current lineup includes a Double Oaked, Straight Rye and a series of finished whiskies (Cognac, Calvados, Tequilla, Manhattan bbls) etc. 

On Sale Now

The story goes that  Under Armor, CEO Kevin Plank is behind the project. Kevin hired a former MGP Master Distiller to head the operation. The first batch of Sagamore was distilled and aged in Indiana. A major $25M infrastructure investment in Maryland includes a five story aging barn and 57,000 sq ft complex for a distillery and visitor center in the Port Covington neighborhood in Baltimore. Sagamore Rye is in 30 national markets as well as Japan, China and The Philippines . 

We have Begyle Brewing to thank for putting this on our radar. Their criminally underrated Mixed Four Pack of Flannel Pajamas is on sale now. Sagamore Rye Cask Strength and the 80 proof offering can be found all over the city. 

-The Neat Pour 

Be sure to check out Episode 36 of The Neat Pour Podcast for our thoughts on Sagamore Rye.