Issue 9: Whiskey On A Budget

Is Benchmark the best value whiskey on the market?

We’re coming off a holiday and I had some computer difficulties, so a planned interview has gone awry. 

Thankfully, ya’ll are a fun bunch and we can have a hoot in this newsletter so we’ll be OK.

Rather than the planned focus (which I hope can run next week), which was a great winemaker out in California, we’ll turn our attention to my favorite budget whiskey: Benchmark. 

It’s a brand that can be traced back to the mid-1800s and was at one point a premium bourbon. Now, it can be found for under $15 as a “bottom shelf” whiskey, but is still an extraordinary buy. It’s the same mash bill as Buffalo Trace, now a widely known great whiskey overpriced at stores, just aged a little shorter.

Anyway, this article helps showcase why Benchmark needs more attention, and this week was a lesson for Saturday Sips in why I need interviews saved in the Cloud!

Good Reads This Week

People invest in wine, so why not liquor? The Wall Street Journal dove into the topic and how to get into liquor investing last week. First, it defines “luxury whiskey” as a bottle over $50, and that price was a surprise to me.

But this is pretty wild: “Rare Whisky 101, which has measured whisky prices since 2012, shows as of March 2024 that prices have increased 384% since it began tracking. While that’s still a significant gain, it is down from 2022’s highs when prices were up 431%, suggesting some softness in high-end Scotch values.”

Still, I’d rather drink a great whiskey or tequila now than save it in hopes it skyrockets in value.

Not booze related, but this story blew my mind. Back in 1935, a captive Tiger Shark threw up an arm. It spurred a murder investigation.

Before we get to Alyssa’s Literary Libations, the NY Times went through the 100 best books from the last 24 years all week. It’s a pretty rad collection. How many have you read?

Because we’re in the depths of summer, the Wirecutter reviewed ice cream sandwiches.

Punch talked to restaurants to find out how they price their wine. It’s an interesting peek behind the curtain.

While we’re at Punch, they showcase seven French cocktails everyone should know how to make. Thankfully, the Boulevardier is on there, my go-to pre-dinner drink.

Also, RIP Richard Simmons.

Literary Libations

Hey hey, Alyssa here! This is Literary Libations, where I share a book and beverage pairing each week because a good book deserves to be accompanied by a good drink.

I recently dove into Husbands And Lovers by Beatriz Williams, my July Book of the Month pick! I was first drawn to this book by its cover, but am now fully committed because I’m a sucker for a dual timeline. The book bounces back and forth between Mallory Dunne in 2022 New England and Hannah in 1951 Cairo. Mallory is forced to reckon with her buried past to save her sick son, and Hannah tries to build a life in Egypt after escaping war-torn Hungary. So far, we have seen complicated love stories, varying depictions of motherhood, and dark family secrets.

In an ode to the national drink of Egypt, we are incorporating tea in this week’s cocktail! 

Hannah’s Tea Martini

• 1.5 oz gin

• 1.5 oz Earl Grey Tea

• ¾ oz lemon juice

• ½ oz simple syrup 

• 1 egg white

Method: Combine the ingredients in a shaker without ice and shake for 30 seconds. Fill with ice and shake for another 30 seconds. Serve in a martini glass with a lemon twist. Cheers, readers!