The food and whisky matches we know (see above our trip to Bunnahabain), but have you ever tried the music and whisky match (or rather whiskey here)?

 

I suggest you take a trip to the United States to do this experience. We will thus taste a Bourbon that has no right to be one: Smooth Ambler Old Scout while listening to the most American of music: the blues.

 

Before installing, launch the playlist that I propose 

 

https://open.spotify.com/user/11122645932/playlist/62uktrrLlVHQmyiQAyBx5B?si=tmtzqi5nQ2asDA1hZDClXg

 

Once Jack White and his Tales send their Detroit blues, take out your bottle of Smooth Ambler and sit back in your chair. Jack White's almost strident voice with his acoustic guitar enters your ears. A few flights of violins remind you of the country without which American whiskey and bourbon would not exist: Ireland.

 

It is on this heterogeneous mixing air that you will take your bottle directly from West Virginia. Its thin and long shape already announces that we have in our hands a bourbon that wants to be different. From Bourbon, moreover, he will only have in common the method of manufacture and the ingredients (minimum 51% corn). First of all, this whiskey distilled in pure Appalachian water is bottled at 53.5° (107 degrees fahrenheit "CQFD" while Bourbon is bottled between 40 and 50°). On the other hand, if half of it is aged in new oak barrels (such as Bourbon), it is also aged in refinished barrels as if to age a scotch, which is completely forbidden for a bourbon. But that's where Maxweltown's miscreants make the difference.

 

Let's stop talking while Jack White gets angry, goes up in the high pitches and hits his piano, as if he was telling us "stop looking at her, have a drink! »

 

I suggest you do it at a time when old Seasick Steeve is singing a big blues. His guitar and bottleneck send us directly to an old Diner on the edge of Road 66. Let's pour the amber liquid into our glass.  When he starts his solo, plunge your nose into the glass. Once you have passed the power of alcohol, unusual for a Bourbon, you will find the smell of caramel catching the pan. When the music calms down a little, plunge your nose into the glass to discover vanilla aromas. Put your glass down while waiting for the end of the song you will enjoy the tasting even better.

 

It is on a heavy Black Keys blues that I suggest you finally taste this whiskey. When it enters the mouth, the liquid seems to dance and thick. It almost looks like melted butter. It is when Dan Auerbach gets angry, that the power of the liquid explodes in your peeling swinging mouth blends spicy aromas of ginger and burnt cinnamon sticks. Keep the liquid in your mouth for a few seconds.  When the music calms down and the fire calms down in your mouth, the sweeter notes of caramel and sponge make their way in.  The aromas here are more complex than those of a simple Bourbon, even if the corn base brings it closer.

 

Let the emotions cool down a little while waiting for John Belucci and his Blues Brothers to arrive. When he starts his throbbing blues: "takin' pills and cheap whiskey" (good ok not Catholic complement! NDR), the heat returns to your throat with the caramelized sweetness of a candy.

 

Pour a few drops of water into the glass to plunge your nose back into it as Matt Guitar Murphy begins his solo with his Cort. You will appreciate even more the smells and flavours of caramel.

 

The soft blues guitar tunes of Texas's Billy Gibbons (ZZ top), Irish Josh MCClorey (The Strypes) and Alsatian Jean-Noël Scherrer (Last Train) will accompany you to enjoy the end of your drink.

 

Once you have completed this bluezy journey, remember to feel your glass now empty. It keeps for a long time the sweet smell of fudges.

 

On the other hand, this whiskey being quite difficult to find (I know where!!!), you can try with a Bourbon Bulleit the trip will be close to it!