Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky - Made in South Africa

Bartender Journey Podcast # 136

·      Guest this week is Andy Watts Master Distiller of Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky from South Africa.

·      Bains is made from 100% corn (or maize as it is called it in South Africa).  It is double matured in first fill Bourbon barrels.

·      In South Africa, Whisky is spelled without the “e”, as it is in Scotland, Canada and many other countries.  American Whiskey is always spelled with the “e”.

·      Cocktail of the Week - Cape Mountain Boulevardier:

o   1 ½ oz Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky

o   1 oz Sweet Vermouth

o   1 oz Campari

o   6 drops Sea Salt Saline Solution: (1 teaspoon Sea Salt - Himalayan Sea Salt preferred) dissolved in 1 oz very hot water)

o   Stir in mixing cup with ice.  Strain into Old Fashioned glass with one large ice cube

o   Express oil from a lemon twist into glass

o   Add twist as garnish

·      A Boulevardier is a Negroni but made with Whiskey (traditionally, Rye Whisky), instead of Gin.  I used the Bain’s Whisky and changed the ratio from the 1:1:1 used in a classic Negroni, and did 1.5 oz Whisky, 1oz sweet vermouth and 1oz Campri.

·      If you are not able to acquire Bain’s Whisky try a high-wheat Bourbon such as Larcany (a great bargain), or W.L. Weller, (more expensive, but still a great bargain for such a high quality Bourbon). The Bains is a very soft, mellow whisky, not spicy like a Bourbon that has a lot of rye (like Bulleit, or Basil Hayden). Even though I personally love high rye Bourbons, these have a much different flavor profile than Bain’s.

·      There are very few Bourbons made with 100% corn. There's a great article about this subject in the New York Times.

·      Book of the week:  Discovering The New York Craft Spirits Boom by Heather Dolland.

You don’t have to be from NY to appreciate this book.  Its all about Craft Distilleries of course and there is a lot of knowledge about how spirits are produced in the book.  Heather traveled all throughout NY interviewing distillers.   

·      Bartender Journey will be traveling to Tampa in December 2015! The Tampa chapter of the US Bartenders Guild has a 4 day Repeal Day party. Repeal Day – December 5 1933 is the day alcohol became legal again in the US after Prohibition…a traditional anniversary for bartenders to celebrate!  But the Tampa Repeal Day Party is not all just about celebration -  there are seminars and educational opportunities too.  If you are interested in attending the event or just finding out more about it, its repealdayparty.com

·      Toast of the Week:

"Remember friends... The glass is neither half empty, nor half full... It just needs to be topped off!"