I was in Costco the other day, and they had Martell Blue Swift for $36. Normally it is $44-46 in liquor stores. I didn't really know what Blue Swift was, but I once had a good Martell cognac in a restaurant, and I figured it was just a mid-level grade of cognac, and I decided to try it since the price was right.
While Blue Swift is technically a cognac (distilled grapes, not grains), it is aged in bourbon barrels, which gives it strong bourbon flavor overtones. The result seems to be a liquor that has the mildness (less alcoholic bite) of cognac, and the flavor of whiskey (not totally, but significantly). I drink it on the rocks (which I never do for traditional cognacs).
The first glass, I wasn't sure what to make of it. My main thought was, "What the hell is this stuff?" which is not the best reaction to have. I was expecting cognac, and this was an awful tasting cognac. I had a glass the next night, with the thought that I was drinking whiskey, and thought, "Hmm. Not bad" By the third glass, I knew I would buy another bottle. Great stuff. Not a night finisher like cognac. Drink when you would drink whiskey.
This is probably not for the hardcore whiskey drinkers. But, if you have ever found yourself in a bar with whiskey drinkers, and whiskey is not your thing, this might be a good option.
I look forward to being told to man up and just drink whiskey. :-)
Generally speaking ice anesthetizes the palate and waters down the flavor. Also makes it less breathable.
Enjoy yourself.
Then repeat.
That is why I like a lot of my drinks on the rocks.
You are correct, though. For the good stuff, I don't don't add ice (maybe a single cube, depending).
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