Noticed a disturbing trend in higher-end (as in not corner ghetto) liquor stores these days. Corn Whiskey aka Raw Whiskey aka White Whiskey is being increasingly promoted. Now, granted I'm not the first to come across this:
http://gothamist.com/2009/12/22/of_course_artisanal_williambsurg_hi.php
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/dining/05white.html
But only recently has it become enough of an issue for me to notice it. My question: Who is drinking this shit? I mean, I appreciate that we're finally exiting the 'vodka era' but do we really need to act like babes in the wilderness, groping about blindly for spirits with a flavor other than alcohol (or vanilla/fruit additives)? I mean, it isn't like worthy beverages aren't sharing the shelves with this transparent abomination. Even more horrible than the overly corn-flavored taste is the ridiculous price on some of these bottles of shine, I mean, really, what jackass is going to pay $50 for this garbage when they could just as easily get a bottle of Green Label or well, anything!
That being said, I did find myself giving into the hype and giving corn whiskey another chance. I saw some Buffalo Trace White Dog on the shelf and, seeing as how I've found their affordable bourbon to be rather enjoyable, I figured that they were the company to go with if I wanted to tread on this god forsaken ground. For some idiot reason I picked it up without even looking at the proof, probably because I've been so jaded by the 40% standard (which the trendy Hudson New York Corn Whiskey embraces) that I didn't even consider that this would be any different. Clearly I'm a moron. White Dog is a healthy 125 proof, that's 62.5% alcohol for the lazy, and the strength of the first whiff from the newly opened bottle nearly knocked me on my ass. In the future I'll have to remember my chemistry lab days and make sure to waft rather than jam my nose into the bottle. Right now I'm just working myself up to having it on its own, or as close to 'on its own' that I drink whiskeys as I never take it neat. I've currently made a corn whiskey Manhattan and Highball and... the corn, I can still taste it, maybe its all in my head, but I swear its coming through. I'll report back once I finally get the courage to try this stuff on its own, but I have the feeling it isn't going to be an enjoyable experience.
