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The days of pink Cosmos and fruity Fuzzy Navels are long gone, with flavored vodkas now replaced by bottle after bottle of brown liquor. Whether or not you're enthused by this development, it can be daunting for a newbie who wants to start trying whiskeys. We consulted with two local whiskey experts who are more than happy to help ease you onto the bourbon bandwagon.
Galen Johnson works behind the bar at The 404 Kitchen and watches over one of the city's deepest and most interesting whiskey collections. He has become used to patrons stepping up timidly to ask for assistance, and he is very willing to help out.
'It can be intimidating looking at this huge selection of whiskeys behind me, and we do have a clientele that includes some real connoisseurs,” he says. 'But we want to pull you in to the experience. Think of all the bottles as a whiskey chorus, facing you and illuminated like they are singing to you.”
He starts out by asking whiskey neophytes what they currently drink. 'I'm not going to put a vodka drinker on a 130-proof whiskey. I might start them out with Cooper's Craft, instead, because it's got a lower alcohol content and a great story about how it pays tribute to the craftsmen who make the barrels to age the whiskey,” he says.
Cocktails are an easier point of entry than straight whiskey neat or on the rocks. 'I like to present it first in a vehicle,” Johnson explains. 'I like to talk to them about the history of the spirit and of classic cocktails. Then, I'll offer them something like a Brown Derby with honey and grapefruit juice. Then, I'll move them to an Old Fashioned, but not using a 100-proof whiskey, like I normally prefer. I'll make one with a nicely diluted 90-proof bourbon, like Woodford Reserve. It's more perfumey and languid on the palate.”
After hooking them on a cocktail, Johnson may step it up a little bit. 'I'll serve up a little whiskey neat with a few rocks on the side in a separate glass. Then I encourage them to take a little smell with their mouth open, small short sniffs to become accustomed to it. They might find cologne or caramel or fruit. Then, I ask them to take a little sip and let it move all over their tastebuds before swallowing. Finally, we'll add a few pieces of ice and stir. That softens the flavor and showcases the caramel components.”
Some of Johnson's go-to suggestions for beginners include the delightful toffee and spice notes of Angel's Envy Rye, for fans of sweeter cocktails, and Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Port Finished Bourbon, for wine drinkers.
'But, most of all, we want people to become educated and fearless when it comes to drinking whiskey.”
Over at Sinema, manager Seth Wood is also a big fan of education. 'We stock a bevy of delicious whiskeys, and we cater to the discerning whiskey crowd, so I have a lot of options,” he explains. 'But we also strive to maintain accessibility.”
The clubby upstairs lounge at Sinema has earned a reputation as an excellent spot to sample whiskeys that aren't easy to find around town, and the bar has begun to offer tasting flights to encourage patrons to experiment with multiple small pours of whiskeys arranged geographically or thematically.
'The flights have been our secret weapon to introduce new customers to different types of spirits,” Wood shares.
The Spiritual Advisor is designed to help people discover what aspects they prefer in a drink, be it the innate spiciness of a rye whiskey, the corny sweetness of bourbon, or the delicate smoke of a scotch. 'We use that flight to open a dialog with the customer about what is different stylistically between whiskeys,” Wood says. With more than 120 bottles of domestic and international whiskeys in stock, Sinema's bartenders have something for just about any taste, from familiar Tennessee whiskeys and Kentucky bourbons to more exotic options, such as Charbay R5 Hop-Flavored Whiskey, made from an IPA beer and bursting with grapefruit and tangerine characters.
The Charbay is also a part of Sinema's 'Top Hat Collection” flight, an offering of rare whiskeys from across the country. Approachable enough for the novice, but still challenging to the experienced whiskey lover, this flight is a treat for those seeking to sample some of the best of the best.
Above all, don't be afraid to use your bartender as a resource to teach you about the wide world of spirits. Odds are they'll enjoy taking you on the journey almost as much as you.