Hats and Drinks - A Match Made in Heaven

[Hurricane Jack]

With a heat index of over 100* it was time to break out the Stetson Hemp OR for Taco Tues; should have done it yesterday. HH was spent with a few Modelo Negra imports...

...then home for a new bottle of Arette Artesenal Blanco Tequila, which consistently scores an 84 - 86.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Another hot day under a hemp OR, starting with a morning Cold Brew coffee...

...& HH @ GC's with their Prairie Vixen, a seasonal German Hefeweizen.

 

[The Shoe]

Me in a Bailey Toyo & Etsuko in a Maxim…

…with beer…

…and a Japanese spirit called shochu - usually made from wheat or sweet potatoes, but this one, our favourite, is made from raw sugar.

It all went beautifully with yakitori.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

a Japanese spirit called shochu - usually made from wheat or sweet potatoes, but this one, our favourite, is made from raw sugar.

Looks like it is served chilled, on ice. What's the taste profile like?

 

[The Shoe]

Looks like it is served chilled, on ice. What's the taste profile like?

I prefer it on the rocks, though it is often drunk with water and ice, soda water, or hot water. When drunk with water, they’ll often add an umeboshi (Japanese picked plum). The wheat version also serves as the base of innumerable sweet mixed drinks in all kinds of fruit flavours, though I believe it has been replaced by vodka in the cheaper canned versions.
The flavours of the spirit itself can also range from the almost tasteless wheat versions to ones that have a burnt wheat taste. The sweet potato ones have a more pungent aroma which many find disagreeable at first, but people, like myself, often come to enjoy. The raw sugar (brown sugar?) ones also have a fair range of tastes. My favourite ones have an almost whisky like taste on the palate, but without the strength on the nose, nor the bite at the back of the throat (25-30% ABV), nor the lingering aftertaste. This, I feel, makes it a better accompaniment for the yakitori.
I’ll save the whisky for when I get home - either on its own, or with dark chocolate.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I prefer it on the rocks, though it is often drunk with water and ice, soda water, or hot water. When drunk with water, they’ll often add an umeboshi (Japanese picked plum). The wheat version also serves as the base of innumerable sweet mixed drinks in all kinds of fruit flavours, though I believe it has been replaced by vodka in the cheaper canned versions.
The flavours of the spirit itself can also range from the almost tasteless wheat versions to ones that have a burnt wheat taste. The sweet potato ones have a more pungent aroma which many find disagreeable at first, but people, like myself, often come to enjoy. The raw sugar (brown sugar?) ones also have a fair range of tastes. My favourite ones have an almost whisky like taste on the palate, but without the strength on the nose, nor the bite at the back of the throat (25-30% ABV), nor the lingering aftertaste. This, I feel, makes it a better accompaniment for the yakitori.
I’ll save the whisky for when I get home - either on its own, or with dark chocolate.

Gary, thanks for the detailed reply & the chance to learn something new. I do want to start a journey thru Japanese Single Malt soon.

 

[The Shoe]

Gary, thanks for the detailed reply & the chance to learn something new. I do want to start a journey thru Japanese Single Malt soon.

I hope you’ve got deep pockets!

 

[The Shoe]

The hat is a Bailey toyo straw that I often wear to work. The beer is an Ao-oni (Blue Demon) IPA.

The dinner is fish (snapper) heads that Etsuko whipped up.

The nightcap is, well, you can all read.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I hope you’ve got deep pockets!

Most have tasting notes of citrus, fruit & flowers; not really up my alley. I sometimes wonder about the effort. I have only tried Single Malt from a couple of the American distilleries. I should probably concentrate on more of those.

 

[The Shoe]

Most have tasting notes of citrus, fruit & flowers; not really up my alley. I sometimes wonder about the effort. I have only tried Single Malt from a couple of the American distilleries. I should probably concentrate on more of those.

The only one I’ve had is the Hibiki 17, and it was very special. But I think it goes for about $500 a bottle, so you would want it to be. I was very grateful that my teetotaller friend thought of me when he was given a bottle.
I confess I’ve not heard of American single malts.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

The only one I’ve had is the Hibiki 17, and it was very special. But I think it goes for about $500 a bottle, so you would want it to be. I was very grateful that my teetotaller friend thought of me when he was given a bottle.
I confess I’ve not heard of American single malts.

Nikka has the best selections fitting my taste profile.

A lot of American Single Malts are just white dog Bourbons.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

A new Whiskey & cigar club has opened here, with a public side & a private membership & patio side.

Starting a journey into American Single Malts with a couple bottles on order I will pick up later today. Balcones Texas Single Malt & Stranahan's Blue Peak Single Malt.

Some of the Texas distilleries producing Single Malt Whisky are drying the barley grain in mesquite wood smoke. Really looking forward to that.

 

[The Shoe]

Most have tasting notes of citrus, fruit & flowers; not really up my alley. I sometimes wonder about the effort. I have only tried Single Malt from a couple of the American distilleries. I should probably concentrate on more of those.

I think you should start with a couple of bottles of this…
https://en.thevalue.com/articles/ya...pensive-single-bottle-japanese-whisky-bonhams

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I think you should start with a couple of bottles of this…
https://en.thevalue.com/articles/ya...pensive-single-bottle-japanese-whisky-bonhams

For $800K I'll just fly over & help you drink your bottle.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I'm going to have a hard time holding off on breaking the seal!

 

[Blare]

I'm going to have a hard time holding off on breaking the seal!

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Hopefully at least until you get it to the house

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Hopefully at least until you get it to the house

Don't know if you can see it or not in the pics but the backside of the Stranahan bottles are made flat so they don't roll around on the floor of your truck or Jeep.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Back Friday afternoon from some business travel and I dropped my bags and headed outside to enjoy a Guinness. Ahhh.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Got into the Stranahan's Single Malt Whiskey last evening.

PS: Happy Father's Day to all the good dad's, surrogate dads & grandpa's out there!

No socks or neckties!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

NBD! This Balcones Texas Single Malt has earned a spot on my bar. Even though the mouthfeel is normal, not thick, & it doesn't curtain the glass, it is rich tasting. The taste up front is predominantly an overripe pears & apples Southern fried fruit pastries taste from growing up. Some toasted toffee & oats taste, barley malt, & Oak wood from aging a min of 24 months. Non chill filtered & no color added. I get more toasted Oak wood, mild/different smoke than Peat, & cloves in the aftertaste. Maybe cinnamon; @ 106 proof I get a warming sensation but not a burning. I'm impressed; this stands out.