6 Irresistible Flavored Whiskies
October 23, 2017 –––––– Brad Japhe
Flavored whisky is rarely taken seriously, but that's starting to change as serious distillers eschew the sugar in favor of an all-natural approach. Open your mind, and take a walk on the flavored side, where real ingredients like chocolate, maple, and cherry add spice and profile worthy of consideration.
Alberta Rye Dark Batch—$30
The addition of about 1% sherry wine gives this blend of rye and bourbon whiskies a touch of prune and candied dates. Offers a pleasant richness and supple body quite unlike traditional Canadian ryes.Whisky Advocate score: 87 points (Fall 2017)
Charbay R5 Hop Flavored Whiskey—$80
Distilled from Bear Republic Brewery's Racer 5 IPA, with extra hop flavoring, this whiskey's smoky, slightly salty green spices come roaring out of the gate before a hoppy heart reveals itself in a lengthy, dramatic finish.
Kings County Chocolate “Flavored” Whiskey—$37
Brooklyn-based Kings County steeps fresh cacao husks—remnants of the chocolate-making process—in their corn-based white dog. The resulting juice is rich, bitter, and soft on the palate, never overplaying its subtle sweetness.
Knob Creek Smoked Maple—$31
Pure maple syrup on the nose. The intrigue here is the interplay between a dialed back BBQ-glaze-like essence and the base spirit. Like a rack of ribs and original Knob Creek bourbon in one convenient pour.Whisky Advocate score: 89 points (Fall 2014)
Leopold Bros. Michigan CherryFlavored Whiskey—$40
Montmorency cherry juice leaves a gently tart footprint, quieted by time in the barrel. The marriage in oak allows for a well-rounded finish, wherein familiar notes of vanilla and caramel are brightened by stone fruit.
Seven Stills Fluxuate—$37
Legally, up to 2.5% by volume of harmless coloring or flavoring may be added to non-straight American whiskey. Typically, it's caramel coloring, but Seven Stills of San Francisco includes cold-brewed coffee from nearby Black Medicine for a whiskey with aromas of roasted vanilla, and a gently caramelized finish.
Alberta Rye Dark Batch—$30
The addition of about 1% sherry wine gives this blend of rye and bourbon whiskies a touch of prune and candied dates. Offers a pleasant richness and supple body quite unlike traditional Canadian ryes.Whisky Advocate score: 87 points (Fall 2017)
Charbay R5 Hop Flavored Whiskey—$80
Distilled from Bear Republic Brewery's Racer 5 IPA, with extra hop flavoring, this whiskey's smoky, slightly salty green spices come roaring out of the gate before a hoppy heart reveals itself in a lengthy, dramatic finish.
Kings County Chocolate “Flavored” Whiskey—$37
Brooklyn-based Kings County steeps fresh cacao husks—remnants of the chocolate-making process—in their corn-based white dog. The resulting juice is rich, bitter, and soft on the palate, never overplaying its subtle sweetness.
Knob Creek Smoked Maple—$31
Pure maple syrup on the nose. The intrigue here is the interplay between a dialed back BBQ-glaze-like essence and the base spirit. Like a rack of ribs and original Knob Creek bourbon in one convenient pour.Whisky Advocate score: 89 points (Fall 2014)
Leopold Bros. Michigan CherryFlavored Whiskey—$40
Montmorency cherry juice leaves a gently tart footprint, quieted by time in the barrel. The marriage in oak allows for a well-rounded finish, wherein familiar notes of vanilla and caramel are brightened by stone fruit.
Seven Stills Fluxuate—$37
Legally, up to 2.5% by volume of harmless coloring or flavoring may be added to non-straight American whiskey. Typically, it's caramel coloring, but Seven Stills of San Francisco includes cold-brewed coffee from nearby Black Medicine for a whiskey with aromas of roasted vanilla, and a gently caramelized finish.
