Author Archives: Ryan Stryker

Whiskey In Your Mailbox – Where To Buy Whiskey Online

Jamison Irish Whiskey Truck

If you’re lucky enough to live near a large liquor store like Party Source or Binny’s then you’re more than likely able to find enough Whiskey, Bourbon or Scotch to satisfy your craving for a new bottle at your leisure. However, for the rest of us that aren’t so lucky (and don’t want to spend hours in the car) I have found a few good websites that not only sell online but ship to our dear state of Ohio.

Shipping Tips
A few notes about buying booze online – make sure you check the website to see if they ship to your state. Also, I would recommend having it shipped to your work address because it can’t be left on a doorstep and must be signed for by someone over the age of 21. Lastly, keep an eye out for free shipping offers if you purchase over a certain dollar amount. On occasion adding another bottle will earn you free shipping on both and almost covers the cost of the extra bottle. Below are a few online stores that I have had ordered from or plan to in the very near future…

*** UPDATED March 2013 ***

The Liquor Barn
Offering 2 locations and the ability to ship to Ohio these guys have over 4,000 different spirits, an easy to use website and some harder to find bottles. Their customer service is fast to respond to issues and I have placed several orders with them, all of which have been packaged and shipped quickly. I highly recommend ordering from The Liquor Barn.

Binny’s Beverage Depot:
Not to beat a dead horse but this store is amazing and fortunate enough for those not near the store you can order online.

The Party Source:
Similar Binny’s if you can get to the store it’s amazing but fear not, they do sell online but I have had folks mention that the shipping can be a bit pricey. I guess it just depends on how bad you want the bottle.

Marketview Liquor
I haven’t ordered from this retailer yet but they have a 27,000 ft Warehouse which allows a solid selection and ship to 37 different states (including Ohio). Another good option while you are searching for that hard-to-find bottle.

Wines For Today:
Manhattan based Wine & Spirit Retailer with a huge selection of value wines and spirits. I managed to find 2 bottles of the elusive Sazerac Rye Whiskey 6yr.

Love Scotch:
LoveScotch brings to you the best range of scotch and spirits at lowest prices. Select from a vast range of liquor brands and also include a personal note with your gift package.

For Whiskey Lovers:
This site has all kinds of good information not just the online store including blogs, reviews and information on distilleries.

Pacific Online Spirits:
This place has a killer selection but some of the usually hard to find bottles go out of stock quickly. It still carries some unique options especially for Scotch lovers.

Have A Suggestion?
So that’s my list but I am always on the look out for great places to buy Whiskey online. Leave your suggestion in the comments and I will add it to the list!

Let’s Keep It Classy – Whiskey Accouterments For The Modern Gentleman

Whiskey Decanters and Rocks Glasses

When I first started collecting Whiskey I wasn’t quite sure how I should store the bottles or how to serve drinks. I knew I didn’t want my apartment to look like a frat house or for visitors to think I was an alcoholic but I was also really proud of my small but budding collection. Luckily old movies and shows like Mad Men really helped point me in the right direction. Below are some purchase suggestions to help you share your love for Whiskey, Bourbon or Scotch all while looking like the classy gentleman that you are.

Crystal Whiskey Decanter
A good decanter can go a long way in making your collection look like a million bucks. You can find them at vintage stores, flee markets or Amazon makes it really easy to find the perfect one that suits you. While I suggest getting crystal it isn’t absolutely necessary. My first and only decanter was an Italian made Excalibur that I found here. It looks like it now comes with 4 Old Fashioned glasses, which is a great deal and an another item that should be on your list.

Matching Ice Bucket
While I’m sure some Whiskey aficionados are cringing at the word “ice” I still enjoy a cube or two with some higher-proof Bourbons and if I have guests that don’t drink Whiskey regularly chances are a piece of ice will “help the medicine go down” if you will.

While it’s your preference in regards to style, I think it looks the best to match your bucket to your Whiskey Decanter so I chose a mini glass version made by Bormioli Rocco Moncayo which came with serving tongs for only $11 bucks.

Rocks Glasses and Nosing/Tasting Glasses
Although the red plastic cups you see at parties are economical and great for a game of flip cup they just aren’t appropriate to serve the delicious bottle of Whiskey you proudly brought home from the store. I prefer a good rocks glass that can be found pretty much anywhere (much like the set that comes with the decanter mentioned earlier).

Now if you were doing a tasting for yourself or friends and family, I would highly recommend a Glencairn Crystal Whiskey Tasting Glass. These are quality glasses and the shape really helps you identify nuances (smell, color, legs) of what you’re trying, dramatically improving the experience.

Whiskey Stones
For those who are anti-ice, these non-porous Soapstones are a good way to chill your drink without watering it down. I don’t use them but do have a set for guests if they prefer. I recently ran across this set from Whiskey Disks, which seemed interesting but I haven’t tried them.

Giant Cube Ice Cubes
After a visit to Barrel 44 one evening, I knew I had to find the giant ice cubes they used for the drinks served on the rocks. They were perfect 2” square ice cubes that melted extremely slow due to their surface area. Aside from the benefits of a slower melt rate I enjoy the novelty of the giant cube. After a long time searching the web I finally found them here.

Wrapping It Up
In summary there are a lot of classy and inexpensive ways to make your Whiskey collection look great and still showcase your love for this refined spirit. I could go on forever discussing items I still want to add to my collection (serving carts / trays, etc.) but the items listed above should be more than enough to get your started.

I’d love to hear about what you’re using and what items you find indispensable to your Whiskey display so make sure to leave a comment below! You never know, I might just buy it and add it to the list…

My Whiskey Wish List

Whiskey Wish List

I’m fairly certain that I could fill up endless pages with Whiskeys and Bourbons that I would like to have in my collection. From a coveted bottle of Pappy Van Winkle to some cheaper bottles that have interesting labels. However, I have been keeping a short list of modestly priced bottles that I hope to add to my shelf sometime soon. If you spot one of these at your local liquor store feel free to give me a shout (or buy them for yourself). Most of these I have tracked down online but who doesn’t enjoy a trip to the store with a bottled prize in hand!

My current whiskey wish list:

  • Black Maple Hill 16 Year Bourbon
  • Jefferson’s Presidential Select 18 Year
  • Van Winkle Whiskey 12 Year Special Reserve
  • Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Bourbon
  • Four Roses Limited Release Small Batch
  • Willet Family Estate 21 Year Cask Strength
  • Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Cask
  • Willet Family Reserve in Pot Still Decanter
  • Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon
  • Eagle Rare 10 Year Single Barrel
  • WH Harrison Governor’s Reserve
  • Armorik Double Maturation Single Malt
  • Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel
  • Thomas Handy Sazerac Straight Rye
  • Parker’s Heritage Collection 10 Year
  • Old Pogue Master’s Select
  • Whistle Pig 10 Year Rye

So what bottles are on your current wish list?

Is it Bourbon or is it Whiskey?

Bourbon Barrel

I’ve often heard the old saying, “All Bourbon can be a Whiskey but not all Whiskey can be a Bourbon”, and while it’s been helpful understanding the differences quickly, I think that with the large amount of small  (and not so small) distilleries creating their own Bourbon that it could he helpful to take a quick look at what characteristics differentiate Whiskey from Bourbon.

U.S. Bourbon is required to be:

  • Aged in NEW charred-oak barrels.
  • Made from at a grain mixture of at least 51% corn.
  • Distilled to no more than 160 proof.
  • Barreled at no more than 125 proof.
  • Bottled at 80 proof or more.

A few finer points I should mention concern aging. While Bourbon doesn’t have a minimum aging period it does need to be aged at least briefly. However some Bourbons that have been aged at least 2 years and haven’t had any additives (coloring, flavoring, etc.) are usually referred to as “Straight Bourbon”.

It’s also important to notice that there are NO requirements mentioning a geographic location where Bourbon must be produced.  It’s a common misconception that Bourbon must be made in Kentucky most likely from the various legends surrounding it’s origin including Elijah Craig inventing the charred oak casks process, Jacob Spears labeling the product “Bourbon Whiskey” or due to being produced in Bourbon County. This rumor could also be perpetuated since a majority of Bourbon today is in fact produced in Kentucky (over 90%) but is not in fact required to be.

While Bourbon’s origins are mixed with legend and folklore I think we can all be thankful that this great American spirit was invented and is still going strong today. I even picked up a bottle of Bourbon from both of our local Columbus Ohio distilleries, Watershed Distillery and Middle West Spirits just a few weeks ago – both of which are being released for the first time.