Mercer & Prince Blended

Mercer & Prince Blended is a blended American whiskey from Esplanda, made in Massachusetts. That puts it in a different category from straight bourbon or rye. A blend usually combines whiskies of different mash bills or ages, so the aim is a balanced profile with no single grain dominating. The details supplied don't give a mash bill, age, proof or barrel treatment, so what follows describes what blended American whiskeys typically do, not a measured profile of this bottle. Expect a gentle grain-forward base with caramel or vanilla sweetness from the oak. You may also find a light baking-spice edge, and the char tends to stay in the background. Blends like this are generally built to be approachable and consistent from batch to batch. They suit people who find a high-rye or barrel-proof pour too assertive. They also work for bartenders who want a dependable base that won't overpower other ingredients. Start neat in a Glencairn glass. The tapered bowl concentrates the aroma, so you can judge the sweetness and oak before tasting. If it feels hot or tight, add a few drops of room-temperature water. Water loosens the tighter notes and often brings out the softer grain and vanilla character. Over a large, slow-melting ice cube in a rocks glass, the pour will taste cooler and slightly leaner. That is a reasonable way to drink a blend of this style on a warm evening. In cocktails, the likely strength is as a mixing whiskey. An Old Fashioned (a sugar cube or a bar spoon of simple syrup, two dashes of Angostura bitters, an orange peel) lets a lighter-bodied blend show its sweetness without being overwhelmed by the bitters. In a Manhattan, pair it with sweet vermouth and a dash of aromatic bitters. Expect a softer, rounder result than a rye Manhattan, so a bit more bitters can help. For a Whiskey Sour, shake with fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and, if you like, an egg white for texture. As a highball, pour over ice with soda water or ginger ale and a lemon or orange wedge. The mixer's carbonation lifts the grain and vanilla, and a wedge of citrus keeps it from tasting flat.