Weekly Whiskey Tasting: Ireland vs. New Mexico

There are many myths surrounding St. Patrick and whiskey (whisky is the preferred term for Scotch), all of them probably false, since the first written record of whiskey in the UK don’t occur until the 15th century. The word is actually derived from the Gaelic uisgebeatha (“water of life”) and legend attributes the introduction of distillation in Ireland to St. Patrick in the 5th century—a milestone still voraciously celebrated annually. Legend also claims that once upon a time St. Patrick sat down for a drink at an inn and noticed the bartender was pouring short for his customers. He showed him a demon under his stairs that had grown fat on the profits made from miserly pours, and when the man begged him to banish the demon, he refused until the innkeeper filled his customer’s cups to the brim. This spirit of saintly generosity and call to abundance is also voraciously celebrated on the saint’s feast day, with full cups and full hearts, and full livers too.
 
Irish whiskey is uniquely tied to Irish identity. It is a unique spirit that takes years to produce. And it is in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, we are hosting a whiskey tasting, but with a New Mexican twist that pays tribute to all aspects of the craft of whiskey production.  Frontier Americans had a reputation for drinking that rivaled even the Irish, and New Mexico was no exception. The famous Taos Lightning was a particularly spicy brand of whiskey concocted by mountain men in 1824. From the early 1830s until his death in 1847, Simeon Turley, who grew and milled wheat on New Mexico’s Rio Hondo sold the brew, which was known as aguardiente (fiery water).  He claimed it was strong enough to grow hair on the hide of a Chihuahua and made one feel as if he had been struck by lightning. In the spirit of celebrating these fascinating spirits, we’ll be sampling a few offerings from renowned local distiller Santa Fe Spirits. Come join us for an afternoon of whiskey tasting and history to get your St. Patrick’s Day off on the right track.
 

• Redbreast,  Irish Whiskey 12 yr Single Pot Still, 750ml   $77
• Powers, Irish Whiskey ‘Gold Label’, 750ml   $32
• Colkegan, Single Malt Whiskey, 750ml   $74
• Taos Lightning, Bourbon Whiskey, 750ml   $40

The Tasting Table will be open 3.00pm-5.00pm
Reservations are not required.
$5 Tasting Fee.
Purchase $50 of wine and receive a $5 credit.