First up a little information that you might not know.
- did you know that the growth and increase in popularity of Scotch Whiskey globally was caused by a single aphid? It's true. Way back in the mid 1860's it was Cognac NOT Scotch that dominated the spirit world.
Cognac's rich flavour (made from distilled wine that had been aged) was so popular amongst Europeans that Cognac distillers were having trouble keeping up with demand.
However, as un just luck would have you, it would be a small American aphid that would hitch it's ride across the Atlantic that would send Cognac's brandy as well as most of French wine into a tailspin. Oops!
This aphid would bury itself in the root stocks of vines and eat its way through till the vine died. This epidemic would become known as Phylloxera.
Because of this tragedy, the Scottish Whiskey trade found itself the lucky beneficiaries of a thirsty lot looking for a something new to drink.
Crazy huh? "One man's loss is another man's gain" Cognac would never regain it's footing for another 60 years where by then Scotch Whiskey had all but eradicated it's stronghold.
- did you know that the difference between premium vodka and so called low grade vodka is a mere 2%? Yup it's true.
Vodka incase you didn't already know is what is called a "neutral" spirit.
By neutral what I mean is it's been distilled to such a purity that it inherently has no discernible characteristics. Yes I said it, "Vodka should have no distinctive character, aroma, taste or colour". Hmm...makes sense now that I think about it.
So then why do vodkas such as Grey Goose and Belvedere fetch a higher dollar than lower brands like Smirnoff? One reason. MARKETING!!!.
Yup, in our day in age, he who barks the loudest wins, which invariably leads to higher sales. Vodkas stance in the Spirit market has been growing remarkably strong decade by decade ever since the end of World War II.
Vodkas pureness captured a new generation looking for crispness and light flavour or no flavour to be exact. Unlike Scotch or Bourbon and especially Rye, Vodka can be paired with anything, thusly making it the
best base spirit for any additive.
As the 1950's rolled around new drinks such as the Cosmopolitan and Bloody Mary brought with them a new found use for Vodka's disguisable quality. Then as the decades rolled on, Vodka company's saw that Vodka could or should we say be marketed as a "Premium" spirit much the same as Scotch.
With that, newer Vodkas with names like Grey Goose and Belvedere began to appear. But then here's the question, are they better? Not really. They're good, not better but different. Grey Goose for example is made from Wheat grown in the Cognac region of France. This wheat base is said to give Grey Goose a more "smooth" flavour.
But does it really? Or is that what THEY want you to think.
In most blind taste tests, Grey Goose generally falls near the bottom of most peoples favourites. In the end what separates one from the other is a touch more Glycerol (a sugar additive) and solid marketing.
Where the vodka comes from has nothing to do with its flavour or taste. The difference between one and another is so slight most can hardly tell one apart. Ahhh the lies we've all be told to believe.
- did you know that Bourbon CAN be made anywhere in the USA.
Yup, all you need to have to make Bourbon by law is for it to contain:
- a minimum of 51% corn as its base grain
- it must be distilled to no higher than 80% alcohol by volume
- and aged in new American Charred Oak Barrels.
That's it, however, only Kentucky can have it's name on the bottle...haha there's always a catch. So let me get this straight, you can make Bourbon in Phoenix for instance but you can't put Arizona on the bottle...boo not fair :(
- did you know the term London Dry Gin refers to the newer style of making "unsweetened" gin.
When Gin was first being made it was generally sweetened and usually termed "Old Tom".
London Dry gin has to be distilled and not macerated and it CAN be made outside of London.
Ah and here's my favourite.
- Canadian Club is NOT rye!!
Actually no Canadian Whiskey is as they are all blends made mostly of Corn, Wheat, Barley, bits of Rye and get this Sherry!!!.
Yup Canadian Whiskey can contain up to 9.09% Sherry/wine or other fruit spirit additives...huh?
Most don't anymore but the cheap ones do. Only Alberta Premium can be called a rye as it contains more than 51% rye as its base grain. Who knew!
Hopefully that entertained you some. Interesting stuff huh?
And lastly my
cocktail of the week.
Delilah
1.5 oz Woodford Reserve (sub Makers Mark if you wish)
0.5 oz Giffard Creme de Peche (most any peach liqueur will do)
0.5 oz Pineau des Charentes (a fortified Cognac + Grape Apertifs)
0.5 oz Absinthe
4 dashes of Old Fashioned Bitters (Angostura will do as well)
In a mixing glass stir all ingredients for 20 seconds. Pour into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with sour cherry or lemon peel. Yum!
Lastly I'll leave you with this
"bring me the horizon and the rum that comes with it"
see you next week. savy.
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