Life Cafe - New York City and Brooklyn Bar, Restaurant, Cafe » whisky

Balvenie 12yr Doublewood-Life Cafe 983

Life Cafe — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:07:31 +0000

Hi, it’s the Beer Dude, Andy, bringing you tidings from the bar at Life Cafe 983 in scenic Bushwick, Brooklyn. If you haven’t heard, our Balvenie Scotch Tasting event has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 10th, from 8-10pm at the Life Cafe 983 location. Mark your calendar and get your taste butts over here. It’s gonna be a real treat.

Balvenie 12yr Doublewood

I promised you a bit of background on each of the scotches we’re tasting so here we go. The first is the 12 year Doublewood. Doublewood does not mean twice as much wood, or anything else inappropriate that some of you may be thinking. It means that the whisky, while still maturing, was transferred from one kind of wooden barrel to another. In this example, it starts off in traditional oak barrels that add smoothness to the whisky, and cherry casks that add some additional complexity. Very smooth with a spicy kind of sweetness. A very nice 12 year single malt. This means you’ll be doubly happy!

If you can’t wait for Thursday, November 10 from 8-10pm to get a taste, stop on by and see me, Thursday through Sunday nights. We’ve got a full line up of unique Scotches for you to choose from. All “scotch” is not the same. Scotch whiskeys are as varied as the places from which they originate. I’d love to met you so we can talk more Scotch. It’s what I love to do.

Loaner kilts available. Forget Halloween scary ghosts and ghouls; there is absolutely nothing scarier than looking up a Scotsman’s kilt.

Love,
Andy McMills

Dinner Specials @ Life Cafe 983

Life Cafe — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:13:00 +0000

1/14-1/20

APPETIZER

POPCORN SHRIMP 5.99
served with chipotle mayo

ENTREES

GRILLED SHELL STEAK 14.99
in a red wine, mushroom and cream sauce
with mashed potatoes and broccoli

GRILLED SALMON STEAK 13.99
with a teriyaki glaze, mixed veggies and white rice
(may contain bones)

LAMB CHOPS 12.99
in a red wine sauce
with mashed potatoes and French beans

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NEW – Whisk(e)y Flights

Try 3 whisk(e)ys from your favorite
whisk(e)y making region

AT LIFE CAFÉ 983

From Scotland – $18
Caol Ila 12yr – Laphroaig 10yr – Macallen 12yr

From Kentucky – $14
Basil Hayden’s – Woodford Reserve – Knob Creek
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Dinner Specials @ Life Cafe 983

Life Cafe — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:36:00 +0000

1/07-1/13

APPETIZER

CRAB MEAT STUFFED PORTABELLO 6.99
served over a mesclun salad

ENTREES

½ ROASTED CHICKEN 11.99
with a pineapple chutney, mashed potatoes
and green beans

BAKED COD FISH 12.99
in a miso glaze with julienned veggies and brown rice

PENNE PASTA WITH HOT ITALIAN SAUSAGE 10.99
with tomato, mushrooms, fresh basil,
all topped with goat cheese

SEITAN SAUTEE 11.99
seitan, red peppers, spinach, and edamame
served in a sweet soy ginger sauce.
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NEW – Whisk(e)y Flights
AT LIFE CAFÉ 983
From Scotland
Caol Ila 12yr – Laphroaig 10yr – Macallen 12yr
From Kentucky
Basil Hayden’s – Woodford Reserve – Knob Creek

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Booze Speak @ Life Cafe 983

Life Cafe — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:14:00 +0000

Whiskey, Whisky, Uisce Beatha?

by Andy Mills, Bar Manager Life Cafe 983

Once upon a time, there was a powerful magician. This magician focused all the power he could muster into one magical act; the creation of usquebaugh (the water of life), today known as whiskey to some and whisky to others. The spelling of the word is a perfect demonstration of how different this stuff can be. “What’s it made from?” you ask. Anything from malted barley, wheat, rye, corn and more. This fact is only the beginning of the versatility of whiskeys or whiskies. Distilleries age whiskey for different time periods, in different sized barrels made from different types of wood. They even dry the malted grains differently. Some traditional Scottish distilleries use peat moss fires to dry the stuff. Believe me, this makes a world of difference. Then, hell, they may even blend many different barrels from many different distilleries to get a particular whisky the way that it was intended to be. Johnnie Walker is a perfect example of this. The big boys, however, tend to not play these games. They give you the real deal. The single malt whisky, always expensive, usually worth the price, is a more complex, intense and usually awe inspiring drinking experience.

I took on the effort of trying to offer examples of the different flavours and textures of these amazing spirits at the cafe. I am now offering whisk(e)y flights. I have one from Scotland, and one from Kentucky, each includes three different pours of 3 of my favorite examples from the particular regions.

Scotland includes:

Caol Ila 12yr Single Malt – From Islay (Island off the coast of Scotland)

- Tastes like the island (in a good way). Light in color, brilliantly complex. Perfect balance between peat and barrel. Must try. (My favorite distillery)

Talisker 10yr Single Malt – From the Ilse of Skye (also off the Scottish mainland)

- Definitely a little spicy this one here. Very medicinal, very good. This guy one the 2008 Single Malt Whisky of the Year 12yr and under award.

Laphroaig 10yr Single Malt – Also from Islay

- This is an example of the peaty side of things. I guess if I had to describe what a “peaty” scotch was, I would make you drink this very good example.

Kentucky includes:

Basil Hayden’s – Small Batch Bourbon Collection

- Aged 8 years, this is one of the smoothest bourbons there is. Amazingly delicate and light bodied.

Knob creek – Another one from the Small Batch Bourbon Collection

- Aged 9 years, this is an example of an “over-proofed”, meaning more alcohol, bourbon. Still surprisingly smooth, it’s got a nice vanilla spice to balance out the rye it’s distilled from.

Woodford Reserve

- Aged 6 years, it tastes like the wood it was aged in. This is an incredibly “woody” take on bourbon topped off with a nice sweetness.