Tasting #41: Luxury Irish Whiskey

Tasting #41: Luxury Irish Whiskey

Tasting #41: Luxury Irish Whiskey

On Wednesday, October 23rd, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 41st tasting as a club! We had a special Luxury tasting (our third) of bottles that were recently brought back from trips and tours of Ireland. 22 members were in attendance for this outing!

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • Teeling Brabazon Port Cask
  • Redbreast 21 Year
  • Teeling 24 Year
  • Celtic Cask 27
  • Cadenhead’s Cooley 11 Year
  • The Irishman Cask Strength
  • Dingle Founding Father’s The Palace Bar

What an incredible night of Irish whiskey. One for the record books!

Check out the scores! Scores

Slainte!

Tasting #39: Annual Club Dinner

Tasting #39: Annual Club Dinner

Tasting #39: Annual Club Dinner

On Wednesday, August 14, 2019, the Saratoga Whiskey Club held its annual dinner feast.  The theme for this year was whiskey finished in a variety of different casks.  We had 48 people in attendance for this great evening of outdoor dining and tasting.  The weather cooperated for us which was nice!

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted and the food that they were paired with:

  • We started with a Rye Lemonade Cocktail
  • Writers Tears Florio Marsala Cask Finish – Paired with Jerk Shrimp & Pineapple Skewers and Chicken Satay with Siracha Aioli
  • Sagamore Spirit Port Finished Rye – Paired with an Arugula Salad with Port Poached Pears & Roquefort
  • Highland Park Twisted Tattoo 16 Year – Paired with Lobster Sliders and Greek Israeli Cous Cous Salad
  • Bardstown Bourbon’s Phifer Pavitt Reserve – Paired with Braised Brisket with Bourbon Peach Glaze, Summer Succotash and Honey Jalapeno Cornbread
  • Limestone Branch Yellowstone Limited Edition 2018 – Paired with Whiskey Bacon Brownies

A big shout out to Airstream Catering for providing us with the food for this dinner!

Scores can be found on our Score page.

And here’s to another great annual dinner!!  Cheers.

Tasting #38 Recap: Race Track Tasting

Tasting #38 Recap: Race Track Tasting

Tasting #38 Recap: Race Track Tasting

On Sunday, July 28th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its second annual Track Tasting. It was a great afternoon of tasting various whiskies, betting on the ponies, and getting treated to some Pies on Wheels! It really was the perfect afternoon for our club. 24 members were in attendance for this outing!

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • Dingle Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Batch 4
  • Barton’s 1792 Full Proof Bourbon – Gordon’s store pick (Waltham, MA)
  • Balblair 2005 Single Cask – Gordon’s store pick (Waltham, MA)
  • The Macallan Edition #4 Limited Edition
  • The Glenlivet Enigma Limited Edition
  • Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Single Cask – Symphony #2 – Gordon’s store pick

A great second year event for the club. We are already looking forward to next year. Cheers!

Tasting #34 Recap: Drams For Fams 2019

Tasting #34 Recap: Drams For Fams 2019

Tasting #34 Recap: Drams For Fams 2019

On Thursday, May 2nd, the Saratoga Whiskey Club took part for the second year in the North American Drams For Fams charity benefit. Drams for Fams was started a few years ago by the Edmonton Scotch Club in Edmonton, Canada, as a way to use their love for whisky tasting to raise money for the local Edmonton Food Bank. Last year we joined them along with a number of other whiskey clubs throughout Canada and the United States. Over $50,000 was raised since the idea was started.

Our club benefit whiskey tasting was held at Henry Street Taproom in Saratoga Springs, NY. HST was kind enough to donate the space to hold the event as well as provide tasty appetizers. Whiskey was donated by members of the Saratoga Whiskey Club and by some brands. Money raised from ticket sales ($50 per ticket) is being donated to the Franklin Community Center, our local support center for families in need of food and supplies. The Saratoga Whiskey Club raised $1250 this year.

The goal for 2020 is to double this club initiative.

17 whiskies were donated and 25 members attended this wonderful evening of sampling and comraderie. It’s exciting to see the 13 clubs that are now involved in this charity and how much money is being raised this year. We are proud to be a part of this group.

Here are some photos from the evening.

Tasting #20 Recap: Irish Whiskey-Paired Dinner

Tasting #20 Recap: Irish Whiskey-Paired Dinner

Tasting #20 Recap: Irish Whiskey-Paired Dinner

On Monday, July 16, 2018, the Saratoga Whiskey Club was invited to a great Irish Whiskey-Paired Dinner at Harvey’s by Sinead O’Hagan, the Irish Whiskey Ambassador from Kilbeggan Distilling Co. It was a great night of food and Irish Whiskey. We would like to thank Sinead and Kyle Gilligan from Beam Suntory for hosting us on this fun evening.

Here are the whiskies we tasted and the food that was paired with each:

  • Tyrconnell Single Malt – paired with Shrimp Crostini with an Irish Whiskey Sauce
  • Kilbeggan Single Grain – paired with Ginger Whiskey Glazed Pork Belly served over house-made Cole Slaw
  • Connemara 12 Year Peated Single Malt – paired with Roast Chicken over Blistered Tomatoes and Peppers and Mashed Potatoes topped with a Whiskey Cream Sauce
  • Tyrconnell 15 Year Single Malt Madeira Finish – paired with Brownie Topped with Whipped Cream and Whiskey Caramel Sauce

It was a great night of whiskey, food and company!!