The Library Journal – September 2021 | Vol. 06, Ed. 09
GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS
Happy September, members and friends! As summer winds down and the nights turn chilly, our thoughts are turning to heading back indoors to have a safe and entertaining fall and winter with you (hello, new Member Lounge!).
To this end, we have outlined below our current health and safety commitments including the proof of vaccination requirement for indoor dining.
Also in this issue, we share the cocktail specs for a crowd favorite being served in The Green Room, plus an in depth look at Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2020 Release and our newest House Pour.
As always, thank you for your readership, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at the Library
SAFE DINING AT MWL
In March 2020, as COVID-19 began to impact our community, the team at MWL began a conversation around how to keep our members, guests and team safe during this time. This conversation is still a part of daily life at MWL.
As we move into September and begin to make plans for the fall, we are reaffirming our commitment to remaining the safest indoor place for you to dine and entertain aside from your very well-loved home spaces. We’d like to take this opportunity to outline a few of the ways that we are accomplishing this:
Proof of vaccination for indoor dining. Members and guests wishing to dine indoors must provide proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to join us on The Green Room patio.
Masking up. The Library and The Green Room staff are fully vaccinated, and we wear our masks at all times while in the service areas. We ask our members and guests to also wear their masks when indoors and when not seated at their tables.
Upgraded filtration. Last year, we added a magnetic mount air purification system that uses UV light to kill up to 99% of airborne viruses. Plus, our extra high ceilings and powerful HVAC system ensure there’s always plenty of fresh air in the room.
Nightly sanitization. In addition to pre-service cleaning and a new stringent sanitizing procedure between parties, we have contracted a company to diffuse a sanitizing mist in all of our spaces every night after service. This hydrogen peroxide-based treatment is approved by the CDC and is completely safe while effectively sanitizing all surfaces.
Private dining. Book the Tasting Room for a party of up to six guests. Close the glass doors to enjoy a more private dining experience while still enjoying a view of the Library. The Tasting Room is also equipped with its own HVAC system. Members also have the option of booking the entire Library for a private dinner on Mondays and Tuesdays. Email events@mwlpdx.com for more information.
**We invite all questions, comments, and suggestions regarding membership at MWL and our house policies. Please email us at membership@mwlpdx.com**
FEATURED SPIRITS
REDEMPTION 10YR BARREL PROOF RYE
Rye Whiskey, cs 58.1 abv
Lawrenceburg, Indiana
MAKER’S MARK WOOD FINISHING SERIES 2020 LIMITED RELEASE
English Single Malt, ck ex-bourbon, heavily charred hogshead, 64.4 abv, US: 36 btls
Bottled in Scotland
MEMBER LOUNGE COMING THIS WINTER
We are excited to announce that construction has begun on the new Member Lounge! While we are still in the beginning building phases, it has already come to life in the design phase – picture the old world atmosphere of the Library, but with more natural light, elegant stained glass, locally commissioned artwork, and the warm charm of a space that feels like your own.
Speaking of locally-commissioned artwork, we are delighted to introduce McKenzie Park. McKenzie is 13-years old and has been oil painting at Studio 84 since she was 8. Painting is her true passion and she looks forward to pursuing a college degree in art.
After sweeping up numerous local and national prizes, McKenzie hosted an art show/fundraiser for Bloomin’ Boutique and donated 50% of the proceeds from her art sales, raising over $2500 for this fantastic organization. It was at this fundraiser that MWL owner Ed Hutson first saw McKenzie’s work. He’s since commissioned two oil paintings from Mckenzie featuring the world-renowned Ardbeg and Kilchoman distilleries to hang in the new member lounge.
Stately Blakely. Oil painting by McKenzie Park.
FEATURED COCKTAIL
Catch a September sunset on The Green Room patio while enjoying a Song for Raja. This cocktail was inspired by the long, lush summer nights and our outstanding Portland neighborhood gardens.
Ingredients:
2 oz jasmine tea-infused Haku Vodka*
.50 oz lemon juice
.50 oz orgeat
.25 oz Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao
To make:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Top with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled coupe or over a big cube. Enjoy!
Tea-infused vodka:
Remove paper tags from 5 Steven Smith jasmine tea bags. Let tea bags sit in a 750 ml bottle of vodka for 15 minutes. Remove tea bags and store at room temperature indefinitely.
HOUSE POUR – ELIJAH CRAIG SMALL BATCH – MWL SELECTION
MWL has partnered with some of our favorite brands to bring our members the House Pour: a complimentary taste of a new, classic, interesting, or just-plain-fun spirit.
Septembers’s House Pour is Elijah Craig Small Batch – MWL Selection. Members who drop by this month can request a half pour of this private barrel selection on the house!
UNDER THE SCOPE – MAKER’S MARK WOOD FINISHING SERIES 2020
Since its creation in the 1950s, Maker’s Mark bourbon hasn’t changed much in their almost 70 years of production. Starting with a wheated mashbill of 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley, they’re still distilling the same bourbon Bill Samuels started making in 1953 and nothing else.
In 2010, Bill Samuels Jr. (son of Maker’s Mark founders Bill and Margie) introduced Maker’s Mark 46 – the first new major expression to be created since it’s original bourbon. This whiskey became the first in their wood-finishing series. Beginning as a barrel of fully matured Maker’s Mark at cask strength, ten seared virgin French oak staves (stave profile 46) were inserted into the barrel which was then finished for nine additional weeks in their limestone cellars. The result was a smooth, bolder and more complex version of their classic flavor profile.
In 2019, Maker’s Mark began putting out yearly limited releases in the Wood Finishing Series. The 2019 release was finished with virgin oak staves for nine weeks. The end result was a rich and delicious toffee aroma and a spiced, strong palate.
While the 2019 was the result of a single stave profile (RC6), it took two stave profiles (SE4, a virgin French oak stave, and PR5, a toasted virgin American oak stave), developed in partnership with Independent Stave Company, to achieve the desired balance of vanilla and caramel for the 2020 release. It was a special year for the distillery, marking the 10-year anniversary Maker’s Mark 46 – the wood-finished bourbon that started it all.
On the nose, the Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2020 Release features an oaky undertone woven together with dried vanilla bean, syrup, baking spices and a hint of cinnamon apple. On the palate, you get large doses of spiced vanilla and baking spices topped with a touch of burnt caramel. The bourbon finishes with sweet notes of caramel and vanilla for just a second before being almost bulldozed by aged oak and leather.
While a thread of vanilla tries to hang on, it just can’t keep up with the aged oak and leather. These two flavors can often come across as dry, however here they manage to toe the line just long enough to keep them enjoyable. This combination of flavor lingers with you for moments afterwards.
Have we piqued your curiosity? Come down and taste through the expressions yourself in a flight of Maker’s Mark 46, the 2019 release and the 2020 release.
VENDOR SPOTLIGHT
FOOD FROM THE GARDEN
Top – Cubanelle peppers and tomatillos ripening in Chef Robert’s organic garden in SE Portland. Bottom – The Groundworks Organics table at Shemanski Park Farmer’s Market.
Ok, so MWL Chef Robert is not exactly a vendor, but we are still pretty excited about the beautiful produce that makes it’s way into the MWL kitchen from Robert’s organic home garden. While we still make bi-weekly trips to support our local farmer’s market as well as relying on great local distribution companies like Cascade Organics, some of the delicacies on your plate (or garnishing your drink) in the Library just may have been grown right here in Portland.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 21
Study Hall – American Whiskey 101
Hosted by Josh Wilford Sold Out
SEPTEMBER 27
Meet Your Maker – Freeland Spirits
Hosted by Master Distiller Molly Troupe Sold Out
