Category: Spirits

Quick Flight, Small Pours 1/12/12

Morrison Bowmore names Rachel Barrie Master Blender.

The best cease and desist response ever. FFO: dinosaurs
   Legal action can be fun!

Yes, foodies and non-foodies can fall in love.
   The key to a good relationship: communication.

Tom Wark defends 100-point scale as subjective.

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0 comments - Posted by Greg Versch at 12:50 PM - Categories: Beer | Spirits | Wine

Binny's in Champaign: Under Construction

   Just a quick progress report on the new Binny's we're building in Champaign, IL. Construction is running right on schedule, and everything is looking great for our target opening in February. You'll to find the new Champaign Binny's...

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9 comments - Posted by Greg Versch at 9:52 AM - Categories: Beer | Spirits | Wine

The Wording of Whisky

   Scotch is scotch, right?

   Yes and no. How Scotch whisky is labeled and how we refer to said whisky on the label has been a contentious debate for as long as we have had whisky.Scotch whisky? Scotch malt whisky? Scotch grain whisky? Blended Scotch whisky? Single-malt whisky? Single-grain whisky? Pure malt whisky? Vatted malt whisky?And then when we add definers such as Fine Old, Rare Old, Choice Old, Extra Special, Special Reserve, Aged, Finest, Oldest Matured; none of which actually define the age or quality of the whisky! It's enough to make your head spin.

   There are several laws currently defining how we label the water of life. Scotch whisky is whisky if...

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2 comments - Posted by Patrick Brophy at 1:56 PM - Categories: Spirits

Quick Flight, Small Pours 1/3/12

Using game theory and psychology to analyze buffet behaviors.
   People load up on stuff they assume others want before stuff they like.
   Think about that when the next limited bottling arrives.

Ever buy stuff online after knocking a couple back?
   By the way, nothing is more relaxing than browsing binnys.com.

Tom Wark on Natural Wine's sales tactics,
   which bear frightening similarity to political attack ads.

Not in love with wine?
   Wine Spectator's Matt Kramer wrote a letter to you.

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0 comments - Posted by Greg Versch at 11:48 AM - Categories: Spirits | Wine

Shots in the Dark

Shots in the Dark: Binny's Spirits Experts Get a Taste of Humble Pie

   I'm the lucky one here. All I have to do is round up the spirits, funnel them into generic bottles, photograph the bottles, head down to the South Loop Binny's, get Brett Pontoni and Pat Brophy to focus long enough to taste these four spirits. I'll need to take careful notes, then edit the whole thing down to a compelling narrative that stays true to the conversation.

   But they have to get through a blind tasting. I do not envy them.

Sample A

   Pat runs through all four first. He talks as he tastes. "Not much on the nose. Spirited. A little thin up front but it finishes long. Sweet and peppery. You brought me bourbon, and I'm struggling to figure out which. Could be Blanton's. It's too sweet though. Not enough vanilla or dry enough to be Elijah Craig. Young and spirity on the nose, which leads me to believe that it could have been aged in smaller barrels and could be from a micro distillery. Something like a Hudson. This is wild."
   I ask him for a thumbs up or thumbs down. He takes his time, sums up his descriptors.
   "Corn puddin' nose, balanced by some brown sugar and maple. Medium body, nice finish, long. Thumbs up, whatever this is...."

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0 comments - Posted by Greg Versch at 1:07 PM - Categories: Spirits

Brophy's Barrel + Bonus Barrel Bonanza!

It has now been two weeks since we filled our 1-liter barrel with Lemon Hart 151, plenty of time for the overproof rum to soak up influences from the barrel and the tequila that last filled it. Joe Maloney and I tasted the aged Lemon Hart together. What's really interesting is that this rum has a lot of character on its own, so we're guessing that more time in the wood can only settle it down a little.

   On the nose, the brown sugar that absolutely dominates Lemon Hart has toned way down. There's a lot more spice, anise and fruit...

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9 comments - Posted by Patrick Brophy at 1:36 PM - Categories: Spirits

Quick Flight, Small Pours 12/26/11

2011 brought news of Scotch in a can - and now wine in a can.
   It's on our wish list, not yet available in Chicago.

From The New York Times: Bourbon's All-American Roar.
   Don't miss the slideshow of stunning photos accompanying the article.
   We'd like more love for the little guys, but it's good to get people talking whiskey.

Are you in the rye fan club? 
   Sigh. We were drinking rye before it was cool.
   Is rye the Apple of the spirits world?

The last few weeks of December always bring press on Champagne.
   Asimov's non-obligatory article is interesting.
   So is this one focusing on the little guys that gets beyond RM.

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2 comments - Posted by Greg Versch at 11:22 AM - Categories: Spirits | Wine