HOUSTON, April 21, 2011—How a combination of Canadian whiskey and coffee adds up to more than wide-awake Mounties will be disclosed a complimentary tasting Tuesday evening, April 26th, at 6:30 p.m. at downtown Houston bar Reserve 101.

The tasting will feature Canadian whiskeys Forty Creek Barrel Select and Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve and products of Houston-based Katz Coffee.  Ontario-based Forty Creek is run by winemaker-turned-whiskey-maker John K. Hall, who is widely regarded as bringing a vintner’s attention to detail to the distilling business.  Katz Coffee is a small-batch roaster creating proprietary blends for Houston and the Southwest’s most highly acclaimed and discriminating chefs, restaurateurs, hotels and coffee houses.

Attendees at the Tuesday Tasting, hosted by Reserve 101 co-owner and whiskey expert Mike Raymond and Katz Coffee founder and owner Avi Katz, will sample both straight whiskeys and whiskey infused with Katz Coffee.  To register, visit: http://reserve101.com/whiskey-tastings-houston.

Forty Creek is the only independent distiller in Ontario and Canada’s only distillery that still employs copper still pots to achieve better flavor than the less-expensive column distilling process used today.  It has won numerous top international whiskey awards.

“There is a reason why cognac and small scotch whiskies are made in copper pot stills. Pot stills capture not just the alcohol but also the flavor,” says Hall.

“I treat each of my grains the same way as a noble grape variety: fermenting, distilling and aging each grain separately to highlight the best characteristics of each.  This brings out the fruitiness and spiciness of the rye, the nuttiness of the barley, and the heartiness of the corn.”

Since its inception in 2003, Katz Coffee has become a Houston success story, growing at the rate of 25 percent a year and at 37 percent just since last June. The best coffee beans grow at high elevations around the tropics, but the mountainous terrain makes them difficult to harvest, driving up the price. Katz purchases premium goods directly from the farmers at a pre-determined fair price.

Reserve 101, “not your daddy’s whiskey bar,” has the best collection of premium whiskey in the region, stocking over 170 varieties.  Infusions—organic materials steeped in liquor to impart unique flavors—are a Reserve 101 specialty, along with Martinis, Signature Cocktails, beer, wine and other liquors.

Reserve 101 is located downtown at the corner of Caroline and Dallas, across from House of Blues.  “Happy Hour,” with dollar-off beers and wines and half-price signature cocktails runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday with specials just about every day of the week, including Sundays.

More information about Reserve 101 and whiskeys is available by contacting This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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