Flavoured drinks
Let me say upfront, I’m very suspicious of ‘flavoured’ stuff. I kind of think things should taste of what they taste and not try to be anything else. So I’m on the record as not really enjoying this whole new raft of chocolate/coffee Pinotages, vanilla Chardonnays, toffee Shirazes which are hitting the market – I’m sure they suit some peoples’ taste, and I understand why people are making them, but they’re not really for me.
So why should a flavoured whiskey be any different? I didn’t think it would do and frankly wasn’t expecting to like the bottle of Tennessee Honey Jack Daniels which appeared at my door last week. But I actually did.
Whiskey
I suppose that honey isn’t an entirely alien flavour to whiskey, especially not in American whiskies which are always somewhat sweeter than Scottish or Irish versions anyway. And actually the flavour is very subtle – some sweet herbal notes with a soft and warming under-palate of honey and some smoky oak. Very nice indeed.
The nice folks from Jack Daniels actually sent us two bottles of their new whiskey which pleased both my son and Chef Caro’s because it came in an awesomely-cool box with bees all over.
But it also meant that we all got to try it and enjoy it and – in Caro’s case – for the imagination to flip into overdrive.
As we all know, she lives for delicious food and flavour so it’s no surprise that after one one sip, she came up with fabulous ideas for how to drink it, “Oh lovely, how about sloshing a shot or 3 over your ice cream or mix it into some malva pudding syrup or make some yummy jelly? I could so make a hot toddy with it – yum – or add it to a milkshake or pop some into your coffee after supper for a little kick in the arse”.
For myself and Restaurant Ed Cath – it’s an ice-cold bottle and a stiff wrist.
Cheers!!
Tennessee Honey is available at major retailers for R190 a bottle.