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This isn’t your grandpa’s applejack! Join the Snobs as we explore the fascinating world of Calvados, an apple and pear brandy produced in Normandy. Calvados, a lesser known brandy cousin of Cognac and Armagnac, is made by distilling cider into an eau-de-vie, and then barrel aging. A versatile, complex spirit with a lengthy history, it deserves a closer look from spirits enthusiasts.   This episode’s drams:  Roger Groult 7 Kriek Cask, Calvados Pays d’Auge (47.3 abv)  Roger Groult 12, Calvados Pays d’Auge (41.0 abv)  Adrien Camut 12, Calvados Pays d’Auge (41.0 abv)  Calvados Morin Hors d'Age 15 (42.0 abv)    As always, dram in good health!  #whiskysnobsoflowermoco #dramingoodhealth #socialdistancing #calvados #rogergroult #adriencamut #calvadosmorin

This spring, Ardbeg released the limited-edition Ardbeg Scorch. Whisky enthusiasts the world over have been "hot" to get a bottle of this smoke bomb aged in super charred ex-bourbon American oak casks. How does Ardbeg's latest release compare to early 90s distillate from Ardbeg's Allied years? Listen in and find out! This episode’s drams: Ardbeg Scorch Committee Release, 51.7% ABV Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 1990/2008, 46.0% ABV Cadenhead's Ardbeg 13 1994/2007, 59.7% ABV As always, dram in good health! #whiskysnobsoflowermoco #dramingoodhealth #socialdistancing #slaintemhath #whiskey #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast #ardbeg #ardbegday #isleofislay #dracarys

It’s that time of the year again! As each year closes, whisky writers the world over taste, rate, and rank the prior year’s best releases. Taste may be subjective, but there’s no question that there were some exciting expressions released in 2020. Which ones should you spend your money on? Join us to find out, as we sample through these three notable drams from Whisky Advocate's Top 20 Whiskies of 2020: #4 Bulleit Blenders’ Select (Batch 001), 50.0% ABV #6 Ardbeg Wee Beastie, 47.4% ABV #18 Chattanooga Straight Rye Malt, 49.5% ABV As always, dram in good health! #whiskysnobsoflowermoco #dramingoodhealth #socialdistancing #slaintemhath #whiskey #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast #whiskyadvocate #top20whiskies #bulleit #ardbeg #chattanoogawhiskey

The Whisky Snobs "sat down" with Jared Card, the Mid Atlantic Regional Sales Manager of ImpEx Beverages, for a socially-distanced interview and tasting. Jared is a mainstay of the DC-area whisky scene as he helps Impex distribute a wide range of top-notch global whiskies to the area, including Kilchoman, Port Askaig, GlenAllachie, Penderyn, Ohishi, M&H Distillery, and many more! In addition to hearing about Jared’s background, and the role of the distributor in the whisky ecosystem, he leads the Snobs on a fascinating Kilchoman tasting, featuring: Kilchoman New Make 63.5% ABV Kilchoman Jack Rose Dining Saloon “Slightly Peated” Ex-Bourbon Cask 56.5% ABV Kilchoman Jack Rose Dining Saloon “Slightly Peated” Ex-Sherry Cask 56.2% ABV Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 2/2019 56.1% ABV As always, dram in good health! #whiskysnobsoflowermoco #dramingoodhealth #socialdistancing #slaintemhath #whiskey #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast @ImpExBev @Kilchomanwhisky @JackRoseinDC

In this episode, we test our palates in a head-to-head blind tasting of an ex-sherry whisky versus an ex-sherry with a touch of sulphur. To get our palates ready for some sherry, our sherry baseline for this tasting is none other than Aberlour A'Bunadh (Batch 57). Join us to see if we're able to correctly identify the sample with sulphur! We also discuss the quality-to-price ratio difference between the higher-end Craigellachie 23 and more budget-conscious Famous Grouse 18… and it may not turn out the way you expect! This episode's drams are: Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 57 (60.7% ABV) Craigellachie 23 (46.0% ABV) (blind) Famous Grouse 18 (43.0% ABV) (blind) As always, dram in good health! #whiskysnobsoflowermoco #dramingoodhealth #socialdistancing #slaintemhath #whiskey #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast #aberlour #mysterydram #blindtasting

We’re still social distancing but hey, it’s summer, so there’s no better time to try two fun new bourbons on the US market! We'll also talk about some tasty cocktails to help cool off this summer.  This episode's drams are: Fistful of Bourbon (45% ABV) Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series #2 (49.45% ABV) As always, dram in good health!  #whiskysnobsoflowermoco #dramingoodhealth #socialdistancing #slaintemhath #whiskey #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast @fistfulbourbon @btownbourbon

As a famous movie star once quipped, "Age is just a number. It's totally irrelevant unless of course, you happen to be a bottle of [whisky]." We couldn't agree more! Age statements on whisky are more relevant than ever, especially as distilleries continue to increase the number of non-age stated (NAS) releases. But how does age correlate with quality, taste, and value? Join us as we tackle this topic from all angles, accompanied by a trio of drams old enough to drink! This episode's drams are: Redbreast 21 (46.0% abv) Cadenhead's Highland Park 28 (48.8% abv) Ardbeg 21 (46.0% abv) As always, dram in good health! #whiskysnobsoflowermoco #dramingoodhealth #socialdistancing #slaintemhath #whiskey #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast #redbreast #highlandpark #ardbeg

The interview with The Whisk(e)y Library continues! Join the Whisky Snobs of Lower Moco with our friends Brian Thompson and Tim Moll of The Whisk(e)y Library, a Washington DC-area organization dedicated to the education and enjoyment of our favorite spirit! Part 2 picks up right where we left off, with the second virtual tasting, featuring special releases by The Whisk(e)y Library from another local distillery, Lyon Distilling Co. (now known as Lyon Rum). Stick around for the tasting, and of course, more whisk(e)y discussion! The drams we poured for Part 2 are: Lyon Distilling Co. collaboration with The Whiskey Library Rum Aged in Rye Barrels (60.0% abv) Rye Aged in Rum Barrels (46.0% abv) Check out The Whisk(e)y Library at whiskeylibrarydc.com or on Instagram @WhiskeylibraryDC! You can find One Eight Distilling at oneeightdistilling.com and Lyon Rum at lyondistilling.com. As always, dram in good health! #whiskeylibrarydc #whiskey #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast #caskstrength #whiskysnobsoflowermoco #oneeightdistilling #lyondistilling # lyonrum #DCwhisky #socialdistancing

The Whisky Snobs of Lower Moco conducted a two-part socially-distanced super-fun discussion with our friends Brian Thompson and Tim Moll of The Whisk(e)y Library, a Washington DC-area company dedicated to the education and enjoyment of our favorite spirit! In addition to a great discussion of The Whisk(e)y Library’s history and mission, we discussed the vibrancy of the DC-area whisk(e)y scene, favorite spirits, and more! We also arranged a virtual tasting of two double sets of special releases that The Whisk(e)y Library has done with two local distilleries. The drams we poured for Part 1 are: The Whisk(e)y Library Anthology - One Eight Distilling Volume 1, Chapter 1 (61.8% ABV) Volume 1, Chapter 2 (60.6% ABV) Both of these drams are made from the same Straight Rye Whisky distillate (60% rye, 35% Hickory King corn, 5% malted barley), aged over 2 years in 25-gallon oak barrels with No. 4 char; uncut and unfiltered. Don’t forget to listen to Part 2 of this interview for the second half of this tasting with special pours from Lyon Distillery. As Always, Dram in Good Health! Check out The Whisk(e)y Library at www.whiskeylibrarydc.com or on Instagram @WhiskeylibraryDC! You can find One Eight at oneeightdistilling.com and Lyon Distillery at lyondistilling.com #whiskeylibrarydc #whiskey #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast #caskstrength #whiskysnobsoflowermoco #oneeightdistilling #lyondistilling #DCwhisky #socialdistancing

We love trying whiskies being made all around the world, and in this episode, the Whisky Snobs (and special guest Chris) were together--before social distancing--to pour from a bottle of Israel’s first 5-year-old whisky. This bottle comes from the Golan Heights Distillery, a family-owned and operated craft distillery. This episode's drams: Golani Black, Aged 5 years, Cask #2 (60.4% ABV) Bonus Sample: Distillery 9th single malt, T2 Port Style, Aged 39 months, Cask #47 (63.3% ABV) Dram in Good Health! Check out The Golan Heights Distillery at golanispirit.com, and you can also check out their original crowdfunding campaign for additional information. #golanheights #golaniwhisky #israeliwhisky #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast #lchaim #caskstrength #whiskysnobsoflowermoco

One big question on everyone’s mind is: how much longer will we be social distancing? The answer is a mystery. Do you know what else is a mystery? What the Whisky Snobs sampled in this episode! Join us for a “dram in the dark” as we critically assess nose, palate, and finish to try to identify the distillery and expression using only our five senses and whatever clues we can pry out of Jesse. With a bit of luck, we just might get it right. (Hint, hint.) As always, dram in good health! #socialdistancing #mysterydram #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast #dramingoodhealth  #whiskysnobsoflowermoco

With Passover approaching and the Snobs still social distancing, we decided to record another remote episode, this time focused on Israel’s first whisky distillery, the Milk & Honey Distillery. For this episode, we tried the two new limited releases of Milk & Honey’s Whisky in Bloom Young Single Malt series: Milk & Honey Whisky in Bloom Double Cask (46% ABV) Milk & Honey Whisky in Bloom Lightly Peated Triple Cask (46% ABV) Join us as we explore what makes this new distillery so intriguing today, and promising for the future. As always, Dram in Good Health! Check out the Milk & Honey Distillery at mh-distillery.com #socialdistancing #milkhoneywhisky #israeliwhisky #whisky #podcast #whiskypodcast #passover #lchaim

With social distancing in full swing, the Snobs get together to celebrate St. Patrick's Day the new-fashioned way... remotely! Join us as we taste through an eclectic selection of Irish whiskies: West Cork Glengariff Peat Charred Cask (43.0% ABV) Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey (42.0% ABV) Knappogue Castle 12-Year-Old Single Malt (43.0% ABV) Triple the whiskey, triple distilled, triple the fun! Dram in Good Health! #socialdistancing #stpatricksday #westcork #glendalough #knappoguecastle #irishwhiskey #tripledistilled

The Whisky Snobs love Ardbeg's Annual Committee Releases! So why not review another one? In 2019, Ardbeg Drum was released among what seemed like a suddenly crowded field of rum finished Scotch, including Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask and Glenfiddich Fire & Cane, as well as other whiskies, like Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Finish and West Cork Rum Cask Finish 12 year old. Listen in to hear our take on Drum, and how well it stacks up against other past Ardbeg annual releases.  This episode's dram:  Ardbeg Drum Committee Release (52.0% ABV)  And as always, dram in good health! #ardbeg #islay #singlemaltscotch #whiskysnobsoflowermoco

It's that time of year again... time to get your whisky hunt on, and find Ardbeg's annual Committee Release--if you can. Ardbeg Blaaack Committee Release is a Limited Edition bottling that marks the 20th anniversary of the Ardbeg Committee, and the Whisky Snobs of Lower MoCo—the Men in Blaaack—were lucky enough to find a bottle of this stunning whisky! This episode's dram is: Ardbeg Blaaack Committee Release, 50.7% ABV, Pinot Noir cask matured Dram in good health! #ardbeg #ardbegcommitteerelease #ardbegblaaack #blaaack #islay #peat #pinotnoir

In Part 2, the Whisky Snobs of Lower MoCo, joined by special guest Chris, continue tasting releases from Whisky Advocate's Top 20 Whiskies of 2019. This episode’s drams: #12 Laphroaig Càirdeas Cask Strength Triple Wood (2019 Release), 59.55% ABV #13 Talisker Select Reserve (Game of Thrones Edition), 45.8% ABV #WhiskyAdvocate #Top20Whiskies #Laphroaig #Talisker #GameofThrones #BringOnThePeat Dram in good health!

After searching up and down the east coast, we procured five of Whisky Advocate's Top 20 Whiskies of 2019, including the three bottles sitting on the very top of the list (and on the magazine cover). The Whisky Snobs of Lower MoCo, joined by a special guest Chris, will see what all the fuss is about, and talk about whisky ratings. This episode’s drams: #1 George Dickel 13-year-old Bottled in Bond (Distilled in Fall 2005), 50% ABV #2 Dewar’s 21-year-old Double Double, 46% ABV #3 Four Roses Small Batch Select, 52% ABV Don't forget to keep an eye out for Part 2 of this episode, as we try two more from the Top 20: #12 Laphroaig Càirdeas Cask Strength Triple Wood (2019 Release), 59.55% ABV #13 Talisker Select Reserve (Game of Thrones Edition), 45.8% ABV #WhiskyAdvocate #Top20Whiskies #GeorgeDickel #Dewars #FourRoses #Laphroaig #Talisker #GameofThrones Dram in good health!

For this follow up to our epic Lagavulin Vertical Tasting, we are pouring the Cadenheads Islay Blended Malt 1842 Live Casks Series (54% ABV, bottled July 9, 2016). Join us for this bonus episode as we also discuss the role of independent bottlers, and how much water to add to whisky.  #cadenheads #lagavulin Dram in good health!

With the release of the new Lagavulin 11 year old “Offerman Edition" comes another episode of the Whisky Snobs of Lower MoCo! For the occasion, we each grabbed a couple special Lagavulin bottles from our own collections and assembled an epic “vertical” tasting. Join us for this tasting as we determine if the new Offerman Edition is worthy of the legendary Ron Swanson. This episode’s drams: Lagavulin 8 year old 200th Anniversary, 48% ABV Lagavulin 9 year old “House Lannister” Game of Thrones Edition, 46% ABV Lagavulin 10 year old Exclusive Malts 2007, 55.7% ABV Lagavulin 11 year old Offerman Edition 2019, 46% ABV Lagavulin 12 year old (2015), 56.8% ABV Lagavulin 16 year old Distillers Edition (2015), 43% ABV #Lagavulin #NickOfferman #ParksandRec Dram in good health!

Scotch and bourbon drinkers are exploring the fascinating world of rum in droves. Rum is a compelling malternative… it has a great history, enjoys diverse production methods, and can have a flavor profile as complex as high end whisky, but without the same buying hysteria and ever increasing price point. In this episode, we jump right into tasting Haitian, Jamaican, and Fijian rums. Join us for a lively discussion about molasses, rhum agricole, hogo, dunder, muck, and more! This episode’s drams are: Clairin Le Rocher, 46.5% ABV 2011 Habitation Velier "Hampden - LFCH", 60.5 ABV Plantation 2009 Fiji, 44.8% ABV #clairin #haitianrum #jamaicanrum #hogo Dram in good health!