There’s a myriad of faux-exotic liquors on the market today: they boast of youth, charm, popularity, perhaps even an advancement in terms of attractiveness to the opposite sex.
Where have advertisements based on the drink itself gone? Where is the talk of the authenticity? The ingredients? The know-how of the producers? Would I rather a drink that can prove its worthiness as a drink, or a drink that spends its budget on pretending I’ll teleport to a log cabin adorned with masculine decor in the woods upon sipping it? Stauning sets itself apart from the competitors by never claiming to be what it isn’t: instead, it uses cold-hard facts to let customers know: there’s a new challenger in town, and it’s all natural, all simple, and all good.
Stauning Danish Rye Whiskey
Hailing from and inspired by Denmark since 2015, Stauning prides itself in using all natural ingredients; just three in fact, grain, yeast, and water. The grain is taken just minutes away from the distillery located on the West coast of Denmark, and by mixing old and new methods in production, their signature Danish Rye Malt Whisky is born, a testament to authenticity, transparency, and a love for the craft.
I was invited to Stauning’s Rye & Records event at the enigmatic Public Records in Brooklyn, and with an opportunity to meet one of the founders, Lasse Vesterby, as well as try several cocktail concoctions using Stauning whisky, and not to mention enjoy music and good food, I was inclined to accept.
At Public Records, the first thing I noticed was the laid-back atmosphere and the tunes bursting throughout the floor. Public Records is well-known through the city for offering a modern venue with a special twist— they possess a huge collection of records that can be thrown onto the record player, spinning up old and new jams alike.
Cocktail Menu
They also pride themselves on remaining environmentally-conscious, offering a fully vegan menu. As I made my way to the bar, I was able to try out some of the small bites: jackfruit tacos and a delectable sushi.
At the bar, I got a chance to meet Lasse himself, who was actively making cocktails for attendees from Stauning’s specialized menu. I said hello and introduced myself, and then tried out a Sommer Martini, made from Stauning whisky, noilly prat, lychee, juliette, and cocchi americano for bitters. It was a wonderful cocktail, lightly sweet, but also letting through the deep flavors of the whisky very nicely.
I tasted complex weight and character, and I knew Stauning was on to something with this whisky; unapologetically bold and simultaneously old-fashioned and modern, it proved the perfect balance between what whisky drinkers look for in their glasses.
Definitely check out Stauning’s authentic rye, and make sure to pay a visit to Public Records while you’re at it.
