What a great gift idea for the Whiskey lover in your life. My guest today is Chad Berkey, co-author with Jeremy Leblanc of a great new book; “The North American Whiskey Guide from Behind the Bar.”
Whiskey has become one of the most popular spirits, and with so many different kinds it’s hard to keep track of them all and select great new ones to try. With reviews of 250 different whiskeys, the historical background of each type, 30 of the best cocktail recipes and even the perfect cigar pairing, this guide has everything a person needs to find some of the most interesting whiskeys available. Chad Berkey is the general manager of The Aero Club Bar in San Diego, which boasts one of the largest collections of whiskey of any bar in America, with over 900 different kinds. With his help, you’ll discover the best whiskeys to try; many that won’t break the bank.
Top bartenders blind taste-tested every whiskey, so you get real, honest comments for each listing. Not only will this help you find whiskey similar to ones you already like, but it will also allow you to pick the best tasting whiskey for your palate and preference. Packed with all the information you’ll ever need on whiskey, this book is what every whiskey enthusiast should have in their library.
About the Authors:
Chad & Jeremy
Chad Berkey is the general manager of The Aero Club Bar, a San Diego bar that features over 900 different kinds of whiskey. Aero Club was named one of America’s Top Bars by Maxim and was featured in the New York Timestravel piece “36 Hours in San Diego.” Chad is the co-owner of TIN PLAY Precision Pour Flair Tins. He lives in San Diego, California.
Jeremy LeBlanc is the senior bartender and head mixologist at ALTITUDE Sky Lounge, named one of the top 10 roof top bars in the world by Condé Nast. He is also co-owner of TIN PLAY Precision Pour Flair Tins. He lives in San Diego, California.
In the second half Elliott Dolin from Malibu’s Dolin Estate joins us to talk about the wineries recently released Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills. There are 3 other central coast Pinots that I look forward to trying. The 2012 Dolin Estate Chardonnay was featured on the show while broadcasting live from the Los Angeles Food & Wine Event. That wine recently received a Wine Spectator 91 rating and is a splendid white wine from the new Malibu AVA. Considering the winemaker, AVA and vineyards where all four of Dolin’s Pinots are produced…these are great value, high quality wines worthy of the effort to have them shipped. Order some today…click here.
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2012 Dolin Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills
This quintessential Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir blend exhibits a bright and aromatic scent of fresh berry compote, intense red cherry, blueberry and cocoa. A bright acidity invigorates the palate upon entry, giving way to a deeply textured mid-palate, with flavors of ripe red cherry and strawberry. The long finish is enhanced by nuanced hints of dried tobacco.
Varietal Composition: Pinot Noir (clone 115, 4, Swan) from Sta. Rita Hills, CAinemaker: Kirby Anderson
Cooperage: 20 months in 18% new French oak barrels
TA: 0.57g pH: 3.66 Alc 14.35% Cases 485
Not available locally yet, but can be ordered direct from Elliott and Dolin Estates. Based on previous wines tasted from Dolin, the winemaker that made this wine and the AVA & vineyard where it came from…this is a steal at $32
Buy it now and have it shipped! YES it’s legal, visit www.freethegrapes.org for more info
Available locally and a great wine for your holiday entertaining and New Years celebrations…
NV Gloria Ferrer Blanc do Noir
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Wine Spectator – “Fun and festive, with floral raspberry and graham cracker aromas leading to crisp and succulent lemon and strawberry flavors. A reliable value in California bubbly.” -
Wine Enthusiast – “There’s a lot going on for the price in this honeyed, rich blush wine. Pinot Noir gives hints of strawberries, while Chardonnay contributes limes and oranges. The result is a smooth, crisp sipper for drinking now. “
To get these recipes, the authors found and traveled to the most vibrant food truck cultures across the country, including: Southern and Northern California; New York City; Portland, Oregon; New Orleans; Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta; Minneapolis; Austin; Washington, D.C and Philadelphia.
The Paleo diet is all about getting back to the basics; eating food in its most simple, unprocessed form, just like our ancestors. What could be more primal than cooking meat over a fire? This book, from Tony Federico and Chef James Phelan, features more than 100 recipes for grilling, smoking, and searing natural, locally farmed beef, chicken, pork, and wild game over fire. Paleo Grilling will help you to choose the best meats for any meal, and offers both innovative new recipes as well as internationally inspired dishes, including desserts and sides, suitable for the modern caveman. 
Eric Greenspan Is Hungry (#EricisHungry) takes viewers on a cross-country, off-the-beaten-path adventure, looking for wild hog in Warren, Arkansas, for wild turkey in Tunica, Mississippi, for Buffalo in Jasper, Arkansas, and for goat in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, just to mention a few of his stops. Traveling in the heartland, Eric goes directly to the source of local recipes to meet the people who farm, raise, nurture, hunt and butcher animals such as bison, prehistoric gar, goat, crawfish, pig and wild turkey. It’s meat unlike what you get from a purveyor. Eric and his cohort will break down the animal, butcher it and prepare the recipe all on location to crank out the best dishes imaginable.
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
