Cool Hunting
We're not Irish enough to know if it's total sacrilege to drink scotch for St. Patrick's day festivities, but we've had the good fortune of being awash in the stuff recently here at CH HQ. Scotch has been gaining a wider audience these days among a younger crowds as more and more are learning to appreciate the subtle complexities that differentiate one brand from another. The scotches we've been lucky enough to sample here really run the gamut in flavor profiles, from sweet and light to extremely smoky and intense.
Glenlivet Nadurra 16
Classic scotch brand Glenlivet was kind enough to drop buy our offices for a desk-side tasting. Brand Ambassador Richard Crawford schooled us all on the science behind the drink and led us on a tasting through four of Glenlivet's distinct scotches. All are excellent, with strong fruit and floral notes, but our favorite was the Nadurra 16. Cask-strength and without chill filtration, Nadurra (Gaelic for “natural”) captures the essence of drinking from the cask: a sweet, but spicy nose that goes down surprisingly well considering how strong it is. You can read more at the Glenlivet website.
Balblair 1989 Vintage Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
By far the sweetest and mellowest of what we've tasted recently, our bottle of Balblair arrived unannounced in the CH offices and quickly disappeared. Balblair 1989 has a very light color for scotch and an extremely light, vanilla flavor that went down incredibly smooth. Difficult to find locally, we highly recommend you hunt some down at Balblair. This is a great scotch to introduce to someone who thinks they are scotch-averse.
Ardbeg Ten Years Old Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Islay scotches are known for their peaty flavor, making them the most challenging for the uninitiated. Ardbeg is one of the more intense Islay scotches we've tasted, has been making some waves recently (being named World Whicky for the Year for 2008 and 2009) and is gaining popularity here in NYC. The spicy smokiness took us a minute to get used to; once hooked however, you'll find yourself craving that smoke and going back for more. For the milder among us, we recommend enjoying Ardbeg with a solitary ice cube to help bring out the aromas and open up the flavor profile. Find out more at Ardbeg.
Whichever way you go, you can't go wrong with any of the brands above. And we can't think of any better way than to wait out the last throes of winter than with a nice tumbler of scotch.
|
previous entry Carrera Vintage Racing Sunglasses Redux |
next entry It Is What It is: Conversations About Iraq |
by Laura Neilson Most of us associate the term "mini-bar" with hotel room fridges harboring overpriced soft drinks, booze and snacks, but in Amsterdam, it's a decidedly unusual addition to the city's nightlife. Minibar, the recently-opened drinking spot in the Dutch city's center, operates by allowing customers to serve themselves from the bar's series of variously-sized beverage coolers. After checking in with a staff member...
For an unconventional New Year's toast, we can't think of a better option than Marumoto Brewery's Hou Hou Shu, a sparkling unfiltered Junmaishu sake. Tim and I first sampled it when we visited NYC's tofu restaurant Kyotofu and loved the light, slightly sweet flavor and gentle, natural carbonation which makes for a drinking experience very similar to champagne. At only 6% alcohol, the fruity...
by Laura Neilson For those who prefer an "Appletini" that doesn't conjure a Jolly Rancher, Harvest Spirits' Core Apple Vodka is produced from real Hudson Valley apples (not potatoes or corn), and the flavor is far more delicate and subtle than most apple-infused spirits on the market. Small-batch production began this spring when Derek Grout of Golden Harvest Orchards, opted to opted to make more...
The process of making cognac is a combination of art, science, experience, devotion and genius. In keeping with the passion and vision that goes behind each bottle, cognac connoisseur Rémy Martin has teamed up with visionary artists from the world of art, design, photography and architecture on various projects.An ideal match for the luxury brand, Rémy Martin asked French industrial designer Christophe Pillet to create...
For those who like to whip up a cocktail — but don't have the space for all of the ingredients and accoutrement required for a wasabi Bloody Mary on the fly — there are more and more respectable mixers on the market. A new addition taking it an organic step further is Modmix, a three-woman partnership in West Hollywood that recently unveiled an organic...
Currently in 4th Place for the “People’s Prize” in the Bombay Sapphire Designer Glass Awards, we like Frida Jeppsson’s submission titled “Brilliant." It is one of 21 entries from young designers from all over the world. Representing Sweden, the 24-year-old Stockholmian's entry is a marriage of form and function creating a perfectly balanced piece that remains true to the brief of the prize. Jeppsson...
Riva Yachts
Bike Rides Exhibition
Academy of Art Collection Fashion Week Spring 2010
Cool Hunting Video Presents: Rye Rye
London Design Guide 2010
Olaf Breuning: Color Studies
Bernhard Willhelm: Keep It Unreal Collection
Anniel Sport Shoes and Bags
Babelgum Metropolis Art Prize 2009
