Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/288975
april 2014 / the tasting panel / 109 ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ THE TRIFECTA: MONKEY SHOULDER THE REAL MCCOY: CUTTY SARK PROHIBITION EDITION A tribute to the dedication of the malt-men who would hand turn the malting barley and eventually suffer from a condition that would make their arm resemble a primate's, Monkey Shoulder ($38.99) is a vatted malt, blending three Speyside single malts, represented by the three monkeys on the bottle. Malt Master David Stewart has the exclusive responsibility of maturing and selecting the casks—only he knows the exact time for maturation required and only he can taste each cask for quality and consistency. Brian Goodwin, Bar Manager at The Gladly in Phoenix, explains what he loves about Monkey Shoulder: "It doesn't get lost in cocktails. It's a beauti- ful expression with great caramel notes that come out when mixed. It's a very approachable scotch and it blends very well." Our Panel's Notes: "The 100% malted barley has a pronounced vanilla character—super mellow. The superb flavor profile of that occurs from this cocktail includes a sweet orange and black tea—simply put, the amaro is a fine match with the Scotch." —Micah Olson "What a great cocktail for a superb spirit! The orange notes from the Scotch shines through and the complexity from the Cardamaro [bitter but also slightly sweet] makes this twist on a vintage cocktail even more stunning." —Anthony Mueller In the 1920s, smuggler Captain William S. McCoy gained a reputation for only selling the best, unadulter- ated liquor—including Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of Repeal Day, Cutty Sark recreated the original recipe that The Real McCoy sold himself: Enter Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition ($29.99). Acclaimed as one of the best in all of Scotland, Master Blender Kirsteen Campbell is one of the few women in what was once considered a strictly male profession. Camacho explains why the 100-proof Prohibition Edition is a perfect fit with Young's Market Company's Craft Spirit division: "We love to hear a good story, but on top of that, this spirit is still really great." Our Panel's Notes: "This is a go-getter, big boy's 100-proof Scotch with a peppered entry that leads to a bed of dried flowers, fruits and dates. The orange peel and sassafras notes are memorable. The tiki-esque cocktail with the pineapple leaf garnish adds oomph to what is ordinarily a rum drink." —Meridith May "From the pink peppercorn on Cutty Sark neat, to its light smoke, light grass and soft malt—the high, sweet tones from the fruit in the cocktail balance it all out for a way-too-easy-drinker." —Andrew Record The Mixologist: Brian Goodwin, Bar Manager at The Gladly in Phoenix. Monkey Butler ◗ 2 oz. Monkey Shoulder ◗ 1 oz. Cardamaro ◗ ½ oz. Gran Classico Bitter The Weatherlight Cocktail ◗ 2 oz. Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition ◗ ¾ oz. Amaro Montenegro ◗ ¾ oz. pineapple juice ◗ ½ oz. lime juice ◗ Dash of Abbott's Bitters ◗ Dash of allspice The Mixologist: Karl Goranowski, Lead Bartender at Playground in Tucson. TP0414_102-132.indd 109 3/24/14 3:32 PM