Birthday Tasting at Idle Hands

If you’ll remember back a few weeks, I posted about celebrating World Whiskey Day at Idle Hands in the east village. At that time, I was enamored by their unbelievable bourbon list and their straightforward approach summarized nicely by their motto: Bourbon. Beer. Rock. But it was the conversation I had with the owner that night, that made me sure this was the place I wanted to spend my birthday.

Every Wednesday night these guys are offering up one of the most ridiculous and worthwhile tasting experiences I’ve found in New York. Every week a brewery (last night was Sierra Nevada) and a whiskey (last night was McKenzie) send a representative to walk you through a tasting. Three 8 oz beer tastes (although I think we ended up with more like  five 5 oz pours) and two full pours from the brewery (although I think we ended up with one strong ass torpedo) and one solid tasting of the whiskey goes along just perfectly with an order of tater tots. But here comes the ridiculous part. It costs $10! Yes, I said $10!

Even more in line with my notion of a proper night out, these tastings occur in a truly informal manner. We had a fairly large crowd and managed to stake out a bit of a claim. Sitting back as the beer and whiskey came to us makes for an extended experience. It was almost like they read my last blog post!

As for the specifics, the Sierra tasting was pretty delicious. By the time we got to the 10% torpedo, I was heading upstairs to re-fuel with some extra food. Those tots were amazing but needed some company to help absorb all that 10% was offering. Even more interesting however was our McKenzie tasting. The rep Steven, walked us through the uniqueness of this Finger Lakes distillery sourcing their ingredients from NY state. Next week Steven’s coming back with their Rye which has me intrigued but at this point, I think it’s safe to say, you know where to find me on Wednesdays!

Thanks to everyone who made it out making for one of the more memorable birthdays I’ve ever had. And thanks to the folks at Idle Hands for being brilliant!

Never met a bourbon I didn’t like…

Until now: For the first time in my whiskey loving life, I found a bourbon that just isn’t for me…

Booker’s is another member of the “Small Batch” grouping of bourbons distributed by Jim Beam and just like the Basil Hayden’s, the Knob Creek, and the Baker’s, the Booker’s is meant to offer unique and distinguishable characteristics separating the brands from the masses. And I’m all for that notion. But to me, the Booker’s misses the mark. It was a bit abrasive on first sip and there was almost an acidity to the overall flavor profile. At the time I hadn’t known much about the Booker’s but after a little research the flavor profile started to make some sense.

Booker’s is said to be one of the only uncut and unfiltered bourbons bottled right from the barrel between 121-127 proof; talk about packing a punch! It’s clear that intensity is part of the equation in flavor and in effect. Because even after a little melted ice, the flavors at the forefront were of the oaky tannins more so than the richness I prefer. But honestly, it was kind of refreshing to find a bourbon that really didn’t do it for me. Maybe I’m not just a lush after all!

But what about you? Anyone out there a fan of Booker’s?

Nobler Reviews: The Wayland

Applewood smoked moonshine at The Wayland

Saturday night, while the Tim Tebow saga was abruptly coming to an end, we made our way over to the brand new, The Wayland down in Alphabet City for the prospect of applewood smoked moonshine and a kale and ginger margarita. You can see how I was intrigued, particularly because the location of The Wayland would imply an atmosphere more suited for the Nobler Experiment compared to some of the “go-to” and “must be seen at” cocktail establishments of the city. In large part, I think The Wayland hits the mark. While it was quite crowded, we still managed to find a spot to sidle up against the bar for a few drinks which were both unique and flavorful. Cash only makes for a potential calamity when it is as cold as it was and they unfortunately ran out of their “moonshine” which was disappointing. But from what I hear, their “moonshine” takes its cues from the traditional “apple pie” style in which corn liquor is cut with apple juice and cinnamon sticks leaving you with a potent yet flavorful concoction. Except at The Wayland, they take it one step further. By smoking some applewood over top of the cocktail and topping it all with a tumbler, the aroma becomes a major part of the experience. At least that’s what they are shooting for. As I mentioned, they ran out, so next time!

As for the other drinks, the menu is set up by liquor type. Rum, bourbon, gin, and tequila were available in distinct cocktails which I can only assume varies over time. My bourbon drink  incorporated an old school method of incorporating an egg white. Much like some of the old fashion fountain drinks, the egg white added some richness to an otherwise simple cocktail. It was good, but felt like it was missing something. As for the other three we tried, the tequila cocktail (kale and ginger margarita) was by far the most interesting. Much like I do with the Juice Bar Blends, the point of this drink was a clear focus on the namesake ingredients. The flavors were strong and the drink was delicious. Not sure how many of these you could drink in a row before feeling a bit overly “vegetated”, but it was unique and for sure worth a try.

I’m really excited to head back on a weeknight where I plan on trying  a few of their other drinks (which I assume vary from night to night like I mentioned…does anyone know for sure if this happens?). I’m also seriously intrigued by their food menu. Small plates of seemingly everything I would want to eat. Braised meats, smoked trout, oysters and charcuterie plates. Are you serious? Did they make this place for me? The spot has a real southern vibe to it, and was rocking some fantastic music. Looking forward to another trip to The Wayland.

The Wayland, 700 E 9th st (Ave C), Manhattan NY

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Nobler Reviews: The Mulberry Project

A good cocktail must be linked to a few key descriptors. But “balance” in my mind is by far the most crucial.

At the Mulberry Project in Little Italy on Friday night, the artists behind the bar were feverishly mixing mind-blowing cocktails with no menus in sight. And while I am sure they can make an old-fashioned or a gin ricky as good as the next guy, that’s not the point at this underground establishment. With little more than a tempting chalkboard full of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices acting as inspiration, individualized drinks are made to order. Like my bourbon, maple syrup, cayenne, and lime drink that blew me away, or the honey ginger vodka concoction that was so refreshing, it wasn’t until your legs got a little lighter you remembered its alcoholic content, these are real deal cocktails; balanced and delicious.

And I would have stayed until the chalkboard became too blurry to read if the ambiance hadn’t dictated otherwise. But unfortunately for our Nobler intentions, a Friday night at the Mulberry Project was a little too jacked up. Good looking, well dressed patrons in flickering candlelight doesn’t sound like much to complain about, but as the crowd packed in and the liquor flowed steadily, it quickly felt like so many other overpriced lounges in the city; a bit unbalanced.

I plan on heading back on a weeknight to see how my first impression holds up but until then, I’d say check it out for yourself. Go a bit early, be amazed by the cocktail wizardry and push on…

The Mulberry Project, 149 Mulberry St (btw Hester and Grand), Manhattan, NY

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