Summer Spirits

As we move further into summer, we're expecting the heat and humidity to move in and hang around for a while, like they do every year. And in the summer, many people move away from their favorite cooler weather beverages, so we see an uptick in the sale of beer, chilled wines and, especially, sangria.

There is, of course, no rule that requires you to give up brown spirits in the summer. But it's also a great time to try something a little different. As you might expect, we have a few suggestions for you.

Compass Box Asyla. The ultimate “everyday,” “before dinner” or “Sunday afternoon” Scotch whisky. With just a splash of chilled water, this blend of soft, sweet grain whiskies and elegant, refined malt whiskies epitomizes “deliciousness” in the world of Scotch whisky.

The secret to making Asyla is the quality of the casks. We use only whiskies aged in first-fill American oak casks because these yield whiskies with more vanilla character, more richness and more sweetness than refill casks. Asyla is made with 50% malt whisky. There are few blended Scotches that use as high a malt content as we do at Compass Box. The result is a carefully crafted, elegant blended Scotch whisky that makes the perfect aperitif.

Sweet, delicate and very smooth on the palate, with flavors of vanilla-cream, cereals and a subtle apple-like fruit character. Ideal as an aperitif served in a white wine or similar glass with chilled water to taste. Try before a meal with shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Auchentoshan American Oak. If your Scotch has to be a single malt. Triple distilled and matured solely in American bourbon casks. The result: a Lowland Single Malt Whisky with the sweet aromas of vanilla and coconut - along with the signature smooth, delicate, Auchentoshan taste.

Bourbon vanilla and coconut with layers of zesty citrus fruit tempt the nose. On the palate, it's refreshingly smooth yet lively, with vanilla cream, coconut and white peach. The finish is crisp, with sugared grapefruit and a hint of spice.

Climax Moonshine. Ok, not really a brown spirit, but nice for the summer all the same. This is back in stock, after the incredible results from Tim Smith's appearance at our stores earlier this year. Tim Smith is a third-generation moonshiner who turned legit.

The Original Recipe Climax Moonshine is distilled from corn, rye and barley malt. Clean and natural tasting with a subtle sweetness and bold defiance. The grains here, particularly corn, are on the mashbill for most bourbons. Climax Moonshine weighs in at 90 proof, a bit above standard bourbon, yet it feels light, without the presence of oak.

In general, Irish whiskey is lighter that Scotch whisky, making most of this category a great summer whisky alternative. The distillation of Irish Whiskey has a long history. Some sources place it as far back as the early 6th century when Irish monks brought the distillation process back from the Middle East. This history has resulted in hundreds of years of experience and perfection to bring us to the stage we are at today. In Gaelic the drink became known as "Uisce Beatha" which means "water of life." The Normans called it "fuisce" and eventually it evolved into "whiskey." Barley and fresh spring water are the key ingredients needed and are found in abundance throughout Ireland.

Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey is an historic Irish whiskey brand from the 1900’s named after a horse that won a legendary race at odds of 100 to 1. Made from 100% malted barley in traditional copper pot stills Tyrconnell has a beautiful fresh, fruity bouquet with a smooth sweet taste and a delicate dry finish.

A Single Malt Whiskey is the product of one specific distillery and has not been mixed with whisky from any other distilleries. Tyrconnell is distilled by the award winning Cooley distillery, who have been the driving force behind the Irish Single Malt evolution. Most Irish malt whiskey has been traditionally found its way into blended whiskeys thus it is rare to find Irish malt whiskey bottled in its pure form. Irish Single Malts are more complex and character then their blended Irish cousins due to their rich malty flavors and have smoothness and an absence of smoky characteristics associated with Scotch Single Malts. Irish single malts have emerged as a fast growing premium segment of the whiskey market. This charge has been lead by the independent Irish spirit of Tyrconnell.

On the nose, full and fruity aroma with a citrus – spiciness taste. The taste is well structured, with honey notes hanging from the nose. A tang of oranges and lemons, a strong malt presence that balances well with the oily sweetness. A long finish with the malt becoming more dominant to the end without the soft fruits and honey, which helped make up the middle.

As you can see from these choices, our stores are filled with spirits options for you this summer that maybe you didn't consider. Just ask any store associate for additional suggestions.