McMenamins’ Edgefield Distillery Sampler

The wife and I were out the other day with some friends and after the antique show, decided that lunch was in order.  After some discussion, we headed off to McMenamins - a perennial Portland favorite.  Now McMenamins has a few things going for it: atmosphere, they brew their own booze, and it’s predictable.  The down side is that for whatever reason the service is always slow, which is why we picked it (we wanted to sit and visit). McMenamins has typical pub grub with a few twists. On the other hand they did have what they called, an “Edgefield Distillery Sampler” of which I partook, and review today.

Herbal Liqueur #7: This herbal liqueur has a strong anise smell with a hint of cinnamon, and undertones of a day spent baking Christmas cookies.   Herbal Liqueur #7 has a strong anise flavor, too, which anyone who likes Samboca or Grappa would probably like. I felt that the cardamom flavor was a bit over the top lending it that strong anise (Black licorice) flavor.  This drink is more palatable than Samboca but not something I would recommend for sipping; it feels sharp in its alcohol content. It would probably go great in a mulled cider or with something a little sweeter where a hint a spice and some “heat” would mesh well. 80 proof.

LongShot Brandy:  This brandy retains some of the character and flavor of the wine it was made from.  This brandy is sweet and smooth with hints of vanilla and the strength of Syrah without screaming Syrah.  LongShot brandy start outs light and inviting and finishes by letting you know it is still a distilled spirit aged in oak.  This brandy would actually be good to drink straight, but I think it would best if mixed with something slightly sweet like pear juice or in a pleasant cocktail. 80 proof.

Alambic 13 Brandy: This Alambic brandy starts and finishes smooth; it has a sweet vanilla taste that made me sit up and say “mmm, good”. Everyone at the table agreed that this brandy was very tasty straight, probably a result of 13 years of aging in French oak barrels.  This brandy smelled clean with hints of cinnamon. When I first sipped it, I could taste something slightly sweet/floral, yet spicy with a little bit of vanilla. The Alambic slid down my throat silky and smooth.  Alambic is definitely a brandy to sip with some friends or enjoy by the fire on a cold night. It is pleasant, smooth, and a fine example of the distiller’s craft. 80 proof

Edgefield Pot Still Brandy: This brandy is the most dangerous of the brandies I have tasted so far. It is sweet, smooth, lightly oaky and has no burn in the throat.  This lack of a burn may allow one to think they are drinking something that isn’t a distilled spirit.  Pot Still has a sweet vanilla like smell that is clean and pleasant - like a spring day. This pinot noir and semillon brandy tastes light but a bit syrupy - definitely good straight; another truly fine example of the distiller’s craft. 80 proof

Coffee Liqueur:  For those who like a sweet, rich, coffee alcohol, this is for you. This coffee liqueur has a light aroma of fresh coffee, vanilla, and brown sugar, with a smooth taste on the tongue.  Normally I take my coffee black, but this is one case where a little milk or cream would be ok.  This coffee liqueur would be tasty poured over a brownie with fresh whipped cream. Drink it straight or mix it with some chocolate liqueur or chocolate milk. 40 proof

White Dog Whiskey: Ruff! This dog bites back! He starts out good and obedient going down smooth and neat, but he comes growling back onto the palette and barking down your throat. This un-aged whiskey smells clean, like oak, earth, and fresh cut grass, with hints of barley.  After I swallowed, I thought, “wow no burn” but give it a few seconds. I have never been a fan of white whiskey, simply because it always lacked character and complexity, plus it had a large number of bitter notes. Aging the whiskey in a barrel helps smooth out the highs and lows, plus it adds some character of the barrel to the 4 malted barleys they used.  I think that McMenamins will have a hit on their hands if they can keep making a white whiskey this good. 92 proof.

HogsHead Whiskey:  This whiskey is the older brother of the White dog. It has a lot more complexity in taste and in smell, with much more oak - the barrel aging (minimum of 3 years) truly shows.  This whiskey is smooth with a nice nutty, sweet taste.  This whisky has a vanilla-like after taste, which helps smooth the burn and lends a little bit more leg to this truly fine Whiskey. 92 proof. They have multiple locations: Mcmenamins.com All their whiskies, gins, brandies, and liqueurs are done in small batches and some are seasonal, so definitely worth a visit. All photos were taken at the Kennedy School location in NE Portland.