Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/735312
october 2016 / the tasting panel / 67 into our conversation. "The Glenlivet is a consistent brand about as old as time that others try to emulate. You have this category [Scotch] where the bar is incredibly high. It's very regulated and steeped in tradition. The Glenlivet is a benchmark brand that you have to carry for your guest. That's what I like about it." Of course, I had to ask González, Why whisky (in this case, single malt Scotch) in the fall/winter? "If you're working in classic terms, something like the Blue Blazer [the first flaming cocktail] out of Jerry Thomas's book Bar-Tender's Guide. It had to be snowing or at least really cold in New York for Jerry Thomas ["the father of American mixol- ogy"] to start making Blue Blazers. The Hot Toddy is made to warm your soul. It's curative. So in part, because of Jerry Thomas there's always that connection with whiskey and the cold. I don't know how many times someone will come out of the cold and tell me they just want a Toddy [Scotch and honey, warm water and a little bit of lemon]. That connection with the weather and Scotch whisky has been around for over a century and change. People have been doing it for a hundred years." Although Giuseppe's reasoning is quite valid, I still think Denton sum- marizes the topic perfectly: "A peculiar thing happens when the leaves start falling and the mercury in the thermom- eter begins its inevitable drop. With the coming of fall, the world begins its unshakable thirst for that liquid cardi- gan, whiskey. By no means is whisky drinking only relegated to the cooler months [Mint Julep, anyone?], it's just that it shines when the weather is cooler. Spice and char, oak and grain, the components add up to a complex, yet familiar whole that make us feel warmer and more cozy than white spirits." Apple Orchards and Pumpkin Patches: Yellow Spot is an incredibly complex single pot still whiskey with all the spicy delights you would expect from the category, but it is orchard fruits that dominate this expression. The addition of Malaga casks in the maturation process that already includes American bourbon casks and Sherry casks bestows a sweetness to the golden apple and pear notes mingling. Yellow Spot is quite reminiscent of the hot apple cider staple, plus it makes deciding on that pumpkin significantly easier. Holiday Home Cooking: Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, candied ginger, marzi- pan—all flavor nuances you will find swirling through a glass of Redbreast 12 year and also your family's kitchen. Making mince meat pies with a glass of Redbreast, with the company of a friend or family member, may be the very best way to spend a winter day. OUT CORNUCOPIA: Seasonal Pairings by Jessamine McLellan The "Scotch Bramble" cocktai: The Glenlivet, fresh lemon, sugar and a flow of blackberry purée, shown by Giuseppe González. Pernod Ricard Unveils Redbreast Sherry Finish Lustau Edition A new twist on the Sherry- influenced pot still whiskey, thanks to an old friendship. Redbreast has introduced a new, permanent expression to its decorated single pot still Irish whiskey family: Redbreast Lustau Edition. Finished in hand- selected, first-fill Sherry butts that are seasoned with oloroso Sherry from the prestigious Bodegas Lustau in Jerez, Spain, this release celebrates the iconic Sherry influence found throughout the Redbreast range. It will be available in the United States from October 1 at SRP $69.