Contents
Whiskey Basics
Types of Whiskey
Whiskey Drink Recipes from the Four Seasons Restaurant
Algonquin
Black Rock
Blackstone
Blue Monday
Boilermaker
Catch-22
Catskill Cocktail
Charles’s Ward Eight
City Stormer
Commodore
Connolly Cooler
East River Cocktail
52nd Street Cocktail
The 59th Street Bridge
Four Seasons Shamrock
Four Seasons Whiskey Sour
Hudson River Cocktail
Irish Cooler
Irish Fixer
Karen’s Cocktail
Lynchburg Lemonade
The Manhattan
Mounted Cop
Old Fashioned
Opening Night Cocktail
Park Avenue Sour
Parking Meter
Rusty Screw
Rye Fizz
Seaside Whiskey
7 and 7
Smithtown
Subway Car
Taxi Cab
Whiskey Driver
Whiskey Fizz
Whiskey Godfather
Whiskey Mint Cooler
Whiskey Orchard
Whiskey Pres
Whiskey Stinger
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Types of Whiskey
Whiskeys produced in different countries vary in character because of distinct production methods and grain combinations, as well as regional factors such as the mineral content of the local water supply. In addition, whiskeys may be straight or blended.
- Straight: Straight whiskey is not blended with any other alcohol or any whiskey made at another distillery. Some countries have enacted laws for identifying straight whiskeys. In the United States, for example, straight whiskeys must be labeled with the name of the grain accounting for 51% or more of the mash bill (the distiller’s grain “recipe”). Straight whiskey is often named after the distillery where it was made.
- Blended: Distillers blend whiskey with other alcohol or blend whiskeys from multiple distilleries to create a uniformity of balance and character in their brands and, in most cases, to achieve a lighter taste. There are two types of blended whiskey. Blended whiskey is a mixture of straight whiskey and neutral grain spirits (ethyl alcohol)—small quantities of sherry, fruit juice, or other flavorings are often added to these blends. Blended straight whiskey is a mixture of straight whiskeys only. Some countries require both types of blends to be aged for a specified period.
Whiskeys by Country
Not including Scotch (made in Scotland) or bourbon (made in the United States), the largest producers of whiskey are Ireland, Canada, and the United States.
Irish Whiskey
Irish whiskey includes both straight and blended whiskeys:
- Single malt Irish whiskey: A straight whiskey, single malt Irish whiskey is made from a 100% barley mash and is distilled in pot stills.
- Blended Irish whiskey: Blended Irish whiskey is made by blending single malt Irish whiskey with grain whiskey (made from corn, rye, wheat, or oats, or a combination thereof). It’s lighter-bodied than single malt and is typically in greater demand.
In general, the taste of Irish whiskey is similar to that of Scotch, since both are made primarily from barley. However, because the malted barley used in Ireland is dried in smoke-free closed ovens (rather than over peat fires, as in Scotland), Irish whiskey lacks the smokiness of Scotch. Many Irish whiskey aficionados also describe it as slightly sweeter than Scotch. In addition, the Irish triple-distill their whiskey, which results in a softer, smoother, and milder whiskey.
Producers of popular blended Irish whiskeys include Black Bush, Jameson, Michael Collins, Paddy, and
Tullamore Dew. Producers of straight Irish whiskey include Bushmills, Connemara, Locke’s, and Magilligan.
Canadian Whisky
Canadian whisky has become synonymous with blended whiskey—the only Canadian distiller that doesn’t produce blends of grain whiskies is the Glenora distillery in Nova Scotia. Corn and wheat usually predominate, though the Canadian government doesn’t require these grains to be a specified proportion of the mash bill.
The lightness and versatility of Canadian blends make them ideal for cocktails. Taste profiles range across the spectrum, so sample a few brands to see which ones you prefer. Canadian distilleries of note include Canadian Club, Canadian Mist, Crown Royal, Pendleton, and Seagram’s.
American Whiskey
American straight whiskeys, made from a variety of grains by a host of distilleries, are named for the predominate grain in the mash bill. American blended whiskey must contain at least 20% straight whiskey—the remainder is usually made up of neutral grain spirits, though in a few cases high-proof light whiskeys are used. Popular blended whiskey brands include 7 Crown, Heaven Hill, and Kessler.
Two additional American whiskey varieties of note are rye whiskey and Tennessee whiskey:
- Rye whiskey: Though rye whiskey is used most often for blending, there are a few American brands of straight rye whiskey, including Wild Turkey, Old Overholt, Sazerac, and Michter’s. The flavor of straight rye is usually described as being similar to the flavor of bourbon, but slightly more powerful and bitter.
- Tennessee whiskey: Produced only at the Jack Daniel’s and George Dickel distilleries, Tennessee whiskey is often confused with bourbon. Though these two spirits taste similar, they are separated by law by a distinctive final step of production: Tennessee whiskey is filtered through a bed of finely ground sugar-maple charcoal, resulting in a sweeter, lighter-bodied whiskey that’s also darker in color.
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