My first sip of Hirsch 20

[Vange]

I was at a NJ restaurant this weekend and after a crown royal manhattan, bottle of wine, and an enjoyable meal I was ready for a nice brandy or whisky to finish off this great meal. I look at the after dinner drink menu and hirsch 20 is listed for $20. I do a quadruple take and almost gasp. I turn to my wife in disbelief. I walk up to the bartender to make sure its AH Hirsh 20 and not that new Hirsch 20. He says he opened it about a month ago and its the last bottle and its about half full. I ask if I can see the bottle before I order it, he says sure. I go back to my table and the waitress brings the bottle over. Its the real deal. I order it. I get it a few mins later and its a hefty pour. FWIW, Macallan 25 on the menu was $100 a dram. Tastes very Hirsch, the mintiness that I attribute to Hirsch is there, but its deeper more complex and definitely has more wood and cedar flavors than the Hirsch 16 gold foil (I have not had the wax top 16s yet). This is world class whisky. It really is great stuff. At $20 a dram its a steal! At $700 a bottle, no way! At $200 a bottle, I think I would buy another if I find one for personal consumption. Take into account that I was humbled and in awe by finding it on a drink menu plus my palate was slightly tained by that point. All in all, it's a beautiful whisky and well wroth the praise. Just my 2 cents.

[DrinkyBanjo]

Where was this? I make have to make the trip!

[Gillman]

Nice report, thanks.

Gary

[dcb]

whoa, Mac 25 for $100 a dram?? that's pretty outrageous. Sounds like a nice experience with the Hirsch, though.