I had the luxury of tasting the entire range of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons one time in Austin TX with my brother. We did a full pour flight of the 15, 20 and 23 year, and I am all for staying within budget and picking smart when it comes to whiskies/bourbons/scotches, but yes – the 23 year is that much better than the 20, and miles ahead of the 15. If you love bourbon, you owe it to yourself to try it one day.
This evening, I went to Marble & Rye (http://www.marbleandrye.net/) with a friend and his lady. We originally had planned to head elsewhere – to a location that had the 20 year PVW, but it was closed due to the huge storm that’s occurring in Buffalo at the moment. The plan specifically involved PVW, and had already been rescheduled, so I pulled this uncertain rabbit out of my hat – having seen the PVW bottle up high the only time I had been in there before. I wasn’t sure if it was the 20 year, and ended up being the 15, but even the 15 year is on par with some of the best stuff you’ve had. The one thing I note about PVW is that even when enjoyed neat, prior to slight dilution, it doesn’t attack your tongue immediately. It sort of sneaks in, leaving the sensitive tastebuds on the tip of your tongue alone, then slowly heats and infiltrates from the middle, outward. This is an interesting effect that I have not perceived in a lot of whiskies, and is what I believe to be the true mark of the Pappy Van Winkle allure. Look, I don’t judge or professionally taste stuff, I just swill it and enjoy – ok? let’s get that out of the way right now. You’re not coming to this website to read a bunch of arbitrarily manifested nouns slung together describing the smell, taste and texture of shit. Sorry – that’s not what I’m going to do for you, I’m not taking notes when I swill and chill, I’m taking pictures, making memories, and having fun. Point of the story is Marble & Rye has a great selection of whiskies, bourbons and scotchs, and a great cocktail menu. They’re doing it right there. Get there, check it out.
On top of letting us get our whiskey fix, we tried some of their food, which is all excellent. Octopus, hot Cucumbers, and a Beet salad that was out of this world. I will admit, there was a burger on the menu that apparently is in the top 10 around these parts, but I was looking for something light, so I didn’t get it. I know I’m touting myself as a meat guy, but this is a ‘swillin’ post – the meat is coming, I swear. The food at Marble & Rye is prepared with love, that’s the best way to describe it – the Chef(s) have figured out some killer combinations, and are taking risks that pay off. Everything was perfect.
