The Young and Restless

Wasmund's Single Malt Whisky

From: Sperryville, Virginia

Age: between four and thirty-six months

Cost: $36

48% Alc./Vol.

'onemalt' Rating: 6.5/10

When you are young, the world is an open chayote squash in your hands. Old man mouth is not on your mind. Instead, you chase impulses and throw caution to the wind. At 4 am, you fall asleep on your friend's couch, with only your pea-coat to keep you warm. You make snow angels in your boxers during the first snowfall of the year. You are footloose and fancy free!

The Copper Fox is stunningly young. This Virginia based distillery has had its grain floors malting for only 6 years! Is it enough time for a single malt to season? Yes! Part-owner and distiller, Steve, tells us that the secret is in the apple-wood aging. The sweet flavors of local apple trees house the whisky as it distills from four to thirty-six months. Currently, Copper Fox is working on releasing a 5 year batch. You can't start a single malt whisky distillery overnight you know...

For me, the flavors are young and ravishing. Fairly shallow but suggestive of a deeper body. It is warm and pleasing to the tongue, leaving a light tingle and warmth. The apple-wood flavors are sweet and floral. Enjoyable on the superficial level, however, it is lacking some key depth to elderly and more traditional single-malts. Not the hot-peaty mess we are used to.

Many times in life, you are expected to know what to do or how to act. When you are young, you are given the chance to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes so you don't make them when you are 'older and wiser'.

In my experience, I recommend you make mistakes for a lifetime.

Palates Welcome,

CH/AZ

With A Note of Sentimentalism

Caol Ila

From: Scotland, Islay

Age: 12 Years

Cost: $46

43% Alc./Vol.

'onemalt' Rating: 6.5/10

It is the New Year. The boxes from Christmas and Hanukkah are packed away, New Years resolutions are already being broken, and you can't wait to open that new 12 year bottle of scotch that you received for the holidays. Although tomorrow will be 9 degree Fahrenheit (-13 degrees Celsius for our rambling readers), warmth is still to be found! And an essence of nostalgia seems to be a growing in my writing style .

On the love of scotch and noble things, early January is a time to ruminate on the self. What is in store for me this coming year? Where will I be tomorrow? Who do I want to be this year? Perhaps most importantly: How did I get here? Thoughts as these have brought me to a point of reflection in my glass of light amber liquor:

Sentimentalism:

Forging deep emotional bonds

on contact

to animate and inanimate objects

Living life in the past

constantly.

You carry your memory on your back

You carry a heavy burden.

Willingly, with great joy.

Sentimental for yesterday, yestermonth,

yesteryear.

Attempting to recreate the past

in the present.

Quixotic, fool-hearty, Romantic.

You tilt at windmills.

Anticipation for the future baffles you

love baffles you

You write the script to your own life

and forget the words

Curiosity of your eulogy pulls you forward

and in that

You are nostalgic for tomorrow.

Next stop, nine-forty,

New York City

Palates Welcome,

CH/AZ