SPVAQ22021 - 35

vanilla-caramel smoothness.
The George Washington Rye is
interesting because it is based on
Washington's recipe. It is distilled
at the reconstructed distillery at
Mount Vernon and is made using
traditional 18th century methods.
It is distilled twice, aged two years,
and is 86 proof. Despite its young
age, I found it to be smooth yet
robust, with a nice woody, spicy
flavor.
" The Dalmore is aged in
American oak and finished in aged
oloroso sherry casks. It has tasting
notes of oranges, dried fruits
and vanilla and a dark chocolate
finish. Lagavulin, however is on
the complete opposite end of the
spectrum. It is aged in oak casks
for 16 years and has an intense,
peaty smokiness nose and taste but
finishes with a fruity sweetness. "
Then there's Yellow Spot Irish
whiskey, which is " matured for 12
years in three separate casks: used
American oak bourbon barrels,
Spanish sherry butts, and Spanish
Malaga casks. Yellow Spot has a
nice honey sweetness, with coffee,
red apple, and toasted oak. The
finish is sweet and complex. "
Which whiskey did Parlati's
descriptions sell you on?
" I have hiked in the [Scottish]
highlands, skipping down Speyside
with Balvenie, and Aberlour was
a blast, but something about
those Islay Scotches always keep
me swimming back for more, "
says Scotch lover Logan Baker,
Assistant Manager at Store 201 in
Abingdon.
" That smoky peaty flavor, which
some find intolerable, fills my
senses with the utmost enjoyment
and leaves me craving more. "
Baker prefers Glenmorangie
Nector D'Or and
Dalwhinnie. He
prefers his Scotch
neat, but notes, " A
few ice cubes can

release flavors that lie dormant
otherwise.
" Lagavulin 16 is my favorite to
sip and savor on special occasions,
while The Sexton is my favorite
for more common consumption, "
says Melissa Benefiel, Manager at
Store 186 in Salem. " The Lagavulin
16 is already a recipe by itself, "
she adds, " but if you
did want to mix it,
perhaps the tiniest
splash of club soda
or water, depending
on if want bubbles
or not, but you definitely don't
want anything to compete with
its already amazing flavor profile. "
Benefiel also suggests adding it to

a cup of hot coffee,
with perhaps a
splash of Baileys.
" Some people are
named after distant
relatives. Some are
named after historical figures.
Some people's names come out of
a book. My name, Evan, I have a
sneaking suspicion came off my
dad's favorite bottle of bourbon,
Evan Williams, " reports Evan
Ordonez, Assistant Manager at
Store 414 in Blacksburg. " When
I decided to try the bourbon of
my namesake, a love of bourbon
was born. " Ordonez recommends
enjoying the classic liquor in a
classic cocktail, a Manhattan.

PEACH BERRY SMASH

James McClain, Manager at Store 136 in Leesburg, uses a local rye
whiskey for this refreshing and easy-to-make cocktail. " The sweet,
lightly spicy and fruity flavors will still allow the rye to shine through, " he
says. " Rye whiskey is spicier and drier, and (as an over-generalization)
can stand up to more assertive flavor pairings than bourbon ... This
cocktail works well with seasonal fruits and cheese, and also works with
light salads ... and is best paired with good company. "
▷	 2 OZ. CATOCTIN CREEK
ROUNDSTONE RYE 92-PROOF
RYE WHISKY
▷	 ½ OZ. GRAND MARNIER OR
OTHER ORANGE LIQUEUR
▷	 ¾ OZ. LEMON JUICE
▷	 ½ OZ. STRAWBERRY-PEACH
SIMPLE SYRUP
▷	 APPROXIMATELY 3
STRAWBERRIES, HULLED AND
HALVED

▷	 APPROXIMATELY 4 FRESH
PEACH SLICES
▷	 MINT SPRIG FOR GARNISH
In a Mason jar, combine all
ingredients except garnish. Screw
the lid on the jar and store in the
fridge until ready to drink. When
you are ready for your cocktail, add
ice to the jar, screw on the lid, and
shake. Remove the lid, insert a mint
sprig and a straw. Enjoy!

BLACK MANHATTAN

Bourbon is the favorite spirit of Alex Thompson, Manager at Store 212 in
Falls Church, and his favorite cocktail is Black Manhattan-a " heavier take
on a traditional favorite ... The oak and caramel notes of the whiskey are
complemented by the bitterness and citrus of the amaro and orange. "
▷	 2 OZ. RYE WHISKEY (OR A DRIER
BOURBON)
▷	 1 OZ. AMARO AVERNA HERBAL
LIQUEUR (OR YOUR AMARO OF
CHOICE)

▷	 DROP OF ORANGE BITTERS
AND/OR HERB- AND SPICEBASED BITTERS SUCH AS
ANGOSTURA
Shake with ice and strain into a glass.

SPIRITED VIRGINIA | APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2021 35
SPVAQ22021

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