by Mike » Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:15 pm
Now, y'all and all, bunghole is known as a saint (not yet a Saint) and he is so cause I appointed him to it a good while back.............which means you ain't got to be a saint to appoint one. All that aside, saint bunghole is perfectly right (comes to whiskey, his aim is dead on) when he say that rye can rightfully be drunk right straight from the still. I know cause I be doing it. I am sipping some of Cheryl's Own (might I suggest that as a name for your illustrious rye white dog, Cheryl), a 100 proof unaged rye distillate from the delaware phoenix distillery. This was a gift from Cheryl Her Own Self.
This clear liquid is an excellent sip of whiskey. 'Tis, as Cheryl Her Own Self reported, 90% rye and 10% malted rye. If you have ever had 100% rye bread you would quickly note the similarities to the aroma and taste of this rye white dog. I have claimed (correctly) that whiskies high in rye owe part of their sweetness to the rye grain. It is proved (as if it needed to be proved) in Cheryl Her Own Self's rye white dog. This is excellent rye whiskey as it comes off the still. In my humble opinion, it is superior to corn white dog because rye imparts much more character and flavor than corn does.
I understand now that Cheryl Her Own Self was not such a novice to the characteristics imparted by various grains as she may have led us to believe. Say you want to distill some whiskey, and sell same. There is little tradition of making malt whiskey in America, but a long tradition of making rye whiskey (among the oldest in our history) and corn whiskey. Say you know that corn whiskey is readily available and rye whiskey is making a comeback. Corn whiskey is sold unaged, but not much rye is sold that way. Given her personality (Cheryl Her Own Self is an independent sort who can and does stand on Her Own Two Feet), which would she choose to distill.......consider that she is from NEW YORK where there is some tradition for producing rye whiskey. Now, just which whiskey do you think Cheryl Her Own Self would end up producing? RIGHT! RYE!
Now, Cheryl Her Own Self is amaking a rye white dog that is first rate off the still and saint bunghole (who knows whiskey from shinola) says rye is good straight off the still and you could have a small explosion on your hands. My own opinion is that Cheryl Her Own Self should go right on ahead and market her rye distillate as soon as possible, cause it is that good. Now, marketing is not something I now Jack Sh_t about, but if she sent along a sample to the right peeps and got they endorsement and offered it as an internet product, I would not bet agin her success.............but knowing Cheryl Her Own Self even as slightly as I do, I bet she is way ahead of me on this stuff.
This is (to me anyway) very interesting stuff. A small distillery making a first rate product, learning as she goes. Takes some backbone and Cheryl Her Own Self has some backbone. I could say I liked the whiskey she sent me cause I admire her (which I do), but, lucky me, I don't have to do that. She makes DAMN good whiskey. That can only be for two reasons...............she knows what she is doing and does it well, and some of her own character comes with the whiskey. Now, it is my belief that something of the character of the master distiller always come through in the end. It is ultimately her/his palate that we come to respect and trust. If she/her makes good whiskey, it is because she/he cares/knows how to do so and will not (for her/his signature product) make less than she/he is capable of doing. If they don't do their best, they will know it and so will some of us.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - Dylan Thomas