I fucking had to shovel the driveway today! I know that I shouldn’t be complaining about snow…in December…in Minnesota. Especially not when this is the first time I’ve actually had to shovel this year. But damn it, I am a spoiled brat who doesn’t like being uncomfortable. And I hate snow with a passion. You might ask, “Eric, if you hate winter so much, why do you continue to live in Minnesota?” Which is a good question.
And one I ask myself every time I shovel the driveway.
But I guess there are problems everywhere. We don’t get earthquakes, or tsunamis, or religious zealots trying to take away people’s rights, or wildfires. Or at least not enough that we need to worry about them too much. Minnesota gets snow, which is fine, I guess. It’s not like I have to drive in it as a self-employed designer. That, however, doesn’t mean I can’t whine about it.
Now that that is out of the way, let’s get onto more important things. Bourbon. You know, the thing I use to make myself forget the white shit falling from the sky. I kid…mostly.
Tonight’s bourbon is a store pick from my favorite liquor store in the Twin Cities. South Lyndale Liquors was always a very well-stocked liquor store with old, creaky floors and a tiny parking lot. It had a lot of charm, mostly brought in by wondering if the shelves were going to fall on you if you stepped too heavily while in their vicinity. Well, they recently moved into a much larger and very beautiful space, and I needed to check it out.
What I like about the store, and what makes it my favorite place to shop for liquor when I venture out, is that I always find something fun there. It might be a little out of my way, but it is well worth the detour for me. Plus, they seldom miss on their barrel picks. They are almost always delicious. So when I saw a barrel pick from a local distillery and noticed it was barrel-finished in a way that I hadn’t tried from them before, I knew I needed to pick it up…along with a box full of other fun things.
So let’s dig in.
Border Bourbon Port Barrel Finished, South Lyndale Liquors Selection
Purchase Info: $74.99 for a 750 mL bottle at South Lyndale Liquors, Minneapolis, MN
Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.00
Details: 50.5% ABV. Port Barrel Finished. Barrel #250
Nose: Dusty oak, plum, almond, honey, and allspice.
Mouth: Follows the nose with oak, stone fruit, almond, honey, and cinnamon spice that builds the longer you hold it in your mouth.
Finish: Medium to long with a warmth that blossoms up after a moment. Notes of oak, plum jelly, honey, and baking spice.
Thoughts: I really like this one. My wife is less enthusiastic but admits that might be just because she isn't enjoying the fruity port finish as much as I am. I'm finding this sweet and fruity, with a nice bit of oak to round out the experience. Quite tasty. Though as I said, I would have been surprised if it hadn’t been. Store picks from South Lyndale Liquors rarely disappoint.
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