We enjoyed a fun and quick trip last week to visit family in Atlanta. The adventure began with an overnight stay in Blacksburg to attend a Virginia Tech basketball game. Despite the home team’s recent struggles, the games are always a good time, win or lose.
After the late night game, we got off to an early start and headed on towards Atlanta the next morning. Passing through Knoxville, TN, we stopped for lunch at Smoky Mountain Brewery. I enjoyed a Cherokee Red Ale alongside shareable plates of nachos and roasted chicken quesadillas. The Red Ale was delightful, with flavors of toasted bread, toffee, and malt. I tend to gravitate toward Red or Irish ales when exploring new breweries, and this one didn’t disappoint. With many miles still ahead, I reluctantly refrained from sampling more of the brewery's beers.
Leaving the brewery, I noticed a Total Wine nearby and couldn’t resist a bit of bourbon hunting. Virginia’s state-controlled liquor sales often limit the options, so this was an exciting opportunity. I tried to exercise restraint but still managed to check off several bottles from my wishlist.
• Redwood Empire Lost Monarch, Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye, and Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated: All three are difficult to find or allocated at home.
• Chattanooga Single Barrel: A local bottle recommended by other whiskey enthusiasts in the aisle.
• High West Double Rye!: Pictured but not purchased with the others, this one came later as a thoughtful gift from family (and yes, it was opened during the visit).
I’m looking forward to trying these new-to-me whiskies!
Although I don’t drink much Scotch these days, I still enjoy it on occasion. Most of the Scotch in my collection has been gifted by friends, and I’ve worked through most of it. I should probably add a few new bottles to my selection at some point. My brother-in-law recently received a bottle of Macallan Scotch as a gift and kindly shared it during dinner.
The Macallan A Night on Earth - The Journey is a holiday release from the Speyside, Scotland distillery. Presented in a beautifully designed box by artist Nini Sum, this single malt was crafted using first-fill American ex-bourbon barrels and both European and American sherry-seasoned oak casks.
At 43% ABV, it’s a mild Scotch, both in aroma and taste. Notes of oak, vanilla, and fruit dominate the nose and the flavor. There's a creamy texture on the palate. The packaging blurb mentions coconut, which I detected only after careful consideration—perhaps the power of suggestion. Overall, it’s an approachable Scotch, suitable for those less accustomed to robust profiles, though its higher price point may be a consideration. The packaging certainly adds to its charm, and the selling price undoubtably.
Later that evening, we opened the bottle of High West Double Rye!. My wife enjoys a Rye Old Fashioned, so I made one using the Double Rye! and the ingredients we had on hand (sadly, no Luxardo cherries). Afterward, I enjoyed the rye neat.
High West Double Rye! (the distillery adds the exclamation point) is a 92 proof rye made from a blend of two straight rye whiskeys — a 95% rye, 5% barley malt rye from MGP, and a 80% rye, 20% malted rye from High West Distillery. This bottle is labeled Batch 21B02.
The aroma has clove and mint, along with mild vanilla. The rye aspect is not strong in the nose. In the mouth, the rye spice becomes more apparent, along with cinnamon, vanilla, and a touch of honey. The finish is clean and short lived. High West Double Rye! is a pleasant rye with a low proof point. And if I do say so myself, makes a decent Old Fashioned.
While I packed cigars for the trip, a busy schedule and unusually cool Atlanta weather left little time to enjoy them. Instead, I made up for it with plenty of delicious food and drink.
After all the indulgence, some physical activity was essential. One afternoon, we took a beautiful sunset walk along the Chattahoochee River.
All in all, it was a fantastic mini-vacation filled with family, friends, and copious amounts of delicious food and drink. Now, I’m eager to pair my new whiskies with a good cigar in the weeks to come.
