Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye Notes

Notes to self more than anybody else. Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie.

  • Jameson – smooth and balanced with vanilla and honey notes, toasted wood and spicy undertones, fruity (hints of dried fruits and cinnamon)
  • Breckenridge Bourbon – a balance of cinnamon, rye spice, oak, and vanilla, with a hint of burn. It features deep aromas of butterscotch, candied orange, and apple, complemented by dry cacao and brown sugar.
  • Canadian Club – smooth, rich with caramel and oak – rye whiskey
  • Ella Jones, Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Rye spice and cherries. Light oak and caramel notes. Cherry, pear, and green apple flavors. A long and clean finish with vanilla oak, dry spice, and a slight note of leather.
    This bourbon is noted for its sweeter, fruitier side, making it a well-rounded choice for whiskey enthusiasts.
  • Bulleit Rye Whiskey – spicy and complex flavor profile characterized by:
Bulleit Rye details
  1. A crisp and clean finish with lingering notes of vanilla, maple, caramel, and almond.
  2. Rich oaky aromas and hints of vanilla, honey, and spice.
  3. A smooth taste with mild molasses, brown sugar, and a touch of oak.
  4. Flavors of black pepper, mint, cardamom, and dried fruit, balanced by oak and sweetness.

Here is a good explainer of the various taste types of whiskey.

Whiskey taste profiles vary widely based on type, region, production methods, and aging. Below is a concise summary of the main whiskey categories and their general flavor profiles, based on common characteristics:

Scotch Whisky (Scotland):

  • Single Malt: Complex, often with fruit (apple, pear), spice (cinnamon, nutmeg), and oak notes. Highland malts lean fruity and floral; Islay malts are smoky, peaty, with medicinal or briny notes.
  • Blended: Smoother, lighter, with grain-driven sweetness, vanilla, and subtle fruit or spice. Examples like Johnnie Walker balance malt intensity with grain softness.
  •  Taste range: Floral, honeyed, smoky, peaty, or nutty, depending on region and distillery.

Irish Whiskey:

  •  Typically triple-distilled, resulting in a smooth, light profile. Flavors include green apple, citrus, vanilla, and grassy notes, with minimal smokiness.
  •  Taste range: Soft, approachable, with sweet cereal and fruit notes.

Bourbon (USA):

  •  Made with at least 51% corn, offering sweet, full-bodied flavors like caramel, vanilla, toffee, and oak. Often has spice (cinnamon, pepper) from rye in the mash bill.
  • Taste range: Sweet, bold, with varying spice and charred oak intensity.

Rye Whiskey (USA/Canada):

  • High rye content gives spicy, bold flavors like black pepper, clove, and herbal notes. Less sweet than bourbon, with crisp fruit (green apple, citrus) and oak.
  • Taste range: Spicy, dry, with a sharp, zesty edge.

Canadian Whisky:

  •  Often blended, light, and smooth, with sweet notes of caramel, vanilla, and soft fruit (peach, apricot). Rye influence can add subtle spice.
  •  Taste range: Easy-drinking, sweet, with mild spice.

Japanese Whisky:

  • Inspired by Scotch, often delicate and balanced. Expect floral, fruit (melon, pear), honey, and oak notes, with some smokiness in certain expressions.
  • Taste range: Refined, elegant, with subtle complexity.

Other Regions (e.g., World Whiskies):

  • Emerging regions like Australia, Taiwan, or India vary widely. Flavors depend on local ingredients and climate, ranging from tropical fruit (mango, pineapple) to spicy or peaty notes.
  • Taste range: Diverse, often experimental, reflecting local terroir.

Key Influences on Taste:

– Grain: Corn (sweetness), rye (spice), barley (maltiness).

– Distillation: Pot stills (rich, complex) vs. column stills (light, smooth).

– Aging: Oak type (American vs. European), cask finish (sherry, port), and aging time affect sweetness, spice, and wood notes.

– Peat: Adds smoky, earthy, or medicinal flavors, especially in Islay Scotch.

Each whiskey’s profile is unique, shaped by distillery techniques and cask choices. Tasting notes can vary within categories, so sampling is the best way to explore. If you want specifics on a type or brand, let me know!

Haunted Bars

Top Haunted Bars In Colorado

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park

The leaves have turned to the colors of fall, the Colorado mountains are topped with snow and the summer air has departed with cool, crisp air in its place. Fall is here, which means the haunting season is upon us. There are many fun and spooky things to do across the metro area this time of year. Refer to this list for the best bars in the city and one beyond that will serve up a side of spirits with your spirits.

Unfortunately this one is now closed: Blake Street Vault
1526 Blake St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 825-9833
www.blakestreetvault.com

Blake Street Vault is in the LoDo area and is a classic historical saloon. The restaurant and bar is rumored to be haunted by a saloon girl called ‘brown ghost’ or ‘lady in red.’ According to legend, she was a saloon girl from the original establishment in the 1860s. People have heard her walking across the old wooden floors in her high heels and others have seen her while walking down the stairs into the basement. She isn’t the only ghost who haunts this bar, as there is also a story of a merchant marine that lives in the basement. Blake Street Vault gives tours regularly and you will need to call ahead to check on times. While visiting one of Denver’s most haunted bars, you can also enjoy a full menu of both food and drink.

Related: Top Anti-Football Bars in Denver

Ship Tavern (inside the Brown Palace Hotel)
321 17th St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 297-3111
www.brownpalace.com

Ship Tavern is located inside the Brown Palace Hotel. The vintage, pub-like atmosphere features several micro-brewed beer and wine selections. It also provides a full menu around the clock with live entertainment each Wednesday through Saturday from 8:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. The building was built in 1892 and is a big part of Colorado history. In 1911, it was the site of one of Denver’s most high-profile murders. Frank Henwood shot and killed Tony von Phul and George Copeland, who was an innocent bystander. Both Henwood and von Phul were in love with Isabel Springer, wife of political candidate John Springer. Underneath the hotel there are tunnels that go in every direction. Around this time of year, the hotel offers a ghost tour. Call for more information.

The Cruise Room (inside The Oxford Hotel)
1600 17th St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 628-5400
www.theoxfordhotel.com

The Cruise Room Bar is located inside The Oxford Hotel, built in 1891. It was the first bar to open in downtown Denver and it opened the day after Prohibition was repealed in 1933. The trendy bar is famous for its handmade martinis, but maybe even more so for its haunted past. There is a legend of a man in a post office uniform who haunts the bar from time to time. He stopped in at the bar while traveling through on his way to Central City at Christmas time and never delivered the packages. The legend is that his body was found on the way to Central City with all of the packages with him.The Stanley Hotel Bar
333 Wonderview Ave.
Estes Park, CO 80517
(970) 577-4000

The Stanley Hotel Bar
333 Wonderview Ave.
Estes Park, CO 80517
(970) 577-4000
www.stanleyhotel.com

The Stanley Hotel Bar is located in one of the most famous eerie hotels in the US. The hotel is famous because this is where Stephen King was staying when he came up with the idea to write “The Shining.” This movie was released in 1980 and has become one of the most beloved horror films of all time and the television series was filmed on location. You can even order the ‘Redrum Ale’ which is made by the Estes Park Brewery.

Randolph’s Restaurant and Bar (inside the Warwick Hotel)
1776 Grant St.
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 861-2000
www.warwickdenver.com

Randolph’s Restaurant and Bar is located inside the Warwick Hotel in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. This neighborhood is rumored to be one of the most haunted areas in Denver and there are regular ghost tours available. In the late 1960s, the local Playboy Club occupied the penthouse floor. The legend is that one of the bunnies died in a drug deal and she can sometimes be seen haunting the building.

Related: Top Pool Halls In Denver

The outside of the Stanley January 2021
Jen enjoying a drink at the Stanley
I was looking for Jack Torrence

The sequel to The Shining was pretty good too – Dr. Sleep.