A Brooklyn, N.Y. Scotch Whisky

We’ll try to sort it out for you.  Whyte & Mackay is a distillery founded in 1844 in Glasgow.  It has had a number of owners, which we won’t go into here.  In 1993, Whyte & Mackay’s parent company bought the parent company of a distillery on the Isle of Jura, which dated back to 1810.

So Whyte & Mackay has a whisky called Jura Scotch.  In 2013 someone had the unusual idea to produce a Scotch whisky catering to the tastes of Brooklyn.  Jura’s Master Distiller, Willie Tait, descended on Brooklyn armed with six different casks reflecting the flavors of Brooklyn’s heritage, such as barbecue, egg cream and artisanal chocolate.  He gathered together a group of chefs, restaurateurs and artisanal food purveyors to taste and blend.  He described them as “…craftsmen and pioneers in the place where food and drink trends are born.”  We think San Francisco might have something to say about that.

Finally the collaborators came up with a blend they believe is distinctly Brooklyn, for Brooklyn, and it is now available at select retailers nationwide.  Jura Brooklyn has been aged up to 16 years in American White Oak Bourbon, Amoroso Sherry and Pinot Noir casks.  It is described as having notes of berries, bonfire smoke, figs, roasted coffee beans, honey and currants that can be tasted throughout. Jura Brooklyn retails for a suggested price of $79.99.