Don't Take My Whisk(e)y Away From Me
By Chuck Sudo in Food on Apr 11, 2007 6:00PM
Even though we write a weekly column on beer, our first love was, is, and always will be bourbon. If you've ever had the opportunity to tour the Maker's Mark distillery in Loretto, Ky., the first sentence that crosses the lips of your tour guide is "all bourbons are whiskies, but not all whiskies are bourbons." It's that variety that is one of the draws of the spirit to us. That, and the two acceptable ways to spell it. Scotches, Canadian blends, Irish, and Japanese whiskies are all nestled in this wide inclusive bosom. If you don't like bourbon, then you'll probably like Jameson's or Bushmills. Maybe you only drink a single malt that's been in a bottle for slightly less time than you've been alive. Whiskey and song go together like a hand in glove. In addition to the Wynonie Harris songs we quoted and used for the headline — whiskey is a common theme in his songs — you have Willie Nelson's "Whiskey River," the traditional Irish song "Whiskey in the Jar" (Thin Lizzy's rendition being the gold standard), and Steve Earle's "Christmas in Washington," where he sings about "Republicans (drinking) whiskey neat," celebrating that "there'll be no more FDRs." We returned the favor last November when the Democrats re-took the Congress.
Once the domain of grandfathers who savored and frathouse types who wasted it, MSM is now declaring that whiskey is making a comeback. Our rule is that if they're only now jumping on it, then it's not really news. With Friday's WhiskyFest having sold out two weeks ago, there have been stories printed about the spirits' resurgence. But it never really went away. With better distilling techniques and easier access to tasting notes, whiskey has shaken off the perception of being a drink for old farts. Notable bar owners like Delilah's Mike Miller have long carried the torch for whiskey in this city. Among the Chicagoist staff, Kevin loves his whiskey cheap, Tankboy's drink of choice is a shot of Maker's and a pint of stout, and we kneel at the altar of Buffalo Trace, Jefferson's Reserve and the Kickin' Chicken. That's a far cry from our days smoking cheap cigars with single-malt scotches we couldn't afford at Ten Cat (and if you find yourself at Ten Cat this weekend, please say hello and tip Courtney generously — she's a sweetheart who also loves her bourbon).
What is your whiskey of choice? And why? If you don't like whiskey, why not?