Like a lot of people, whiskey isn’t my only hobby. One of the main things I do in my free time when not imbibing is tabletop-gaming. There’s nothing like sitting around a table on a Friday night with friends and investing a couple hours in some dice-chucking or resource-moving fun. Also like a lot of people, I like to mix my hobbies – it’s rare that I play a game without enjoying a glass or two along with it. In fact, in my mind, whiskey and board games are a beautiful pairing. So, in that spirit, I wanted to try a new series for the Whiskey Network, which I’ll call Dice and Drams. In this series, I’ll match a board game with a whiskey, give an overview of both, and describe why I like them together. Hopefully I’ll be able to lead readers to new games, new whiskies, or both!
The Pairing: High West Double Rye with Great Western Trail
The Whiskey: High West Double Rye
A classic rye, this whiskey carries with it notes of pepper, cinnamon, and vanilla on the nose. The palate is light but enjoyable with rye spice, oak, cinnamon and apple. The finish is quick and carries with it more of the pepper and rye spice. For this price (around $30), I think it’s a great buy – simple but pleasant, with many of the classic notes you want in your rye.
The Game: Great Western Trail
Great Western Trail is a classic in the board gaming world. Themed around cowboys herding cattle from Texas to Kansas City, its mechanism are tightly tuned, allowing for multiple strategies. Players can increase the value of their herd, improve their train to ship their cattle to farther cities, or construct buildings along the trail to expand their action tree. One of the best dynamics in this game is the variable speed at which it can be played – players can either rush through the trail to Kansas City to speed the game up, or slow down to do more actions. It’s not a simple game – there’s a lot to consider, and the state of the game can change quickly depending on what other players are doing – but it’s not overly complex either. The rules can be digested quickly and once a few turns are taken, everyone will get the idea. I do recommend playing this one with friends who don’t mind thinking a little harder with their games.
The Final Pairing:
The obvious reason to pair this whiskey to this game is their names, but I promise I put a little more thought into it than that. High West Double Rye is a simple but enjoyable glass. It won’t challenge you, but you won’t find anything unpleasant in it either. For a game like Great Western Trail, which requires the bulk of your brain space while playing, that’s the kind of pour I want. Something that will be pleasant, but doesn’t require focus to appreciate. Also, in keeping with the theme, apparently the whiskey of choice in the wild west was often cheap rye.
I’d recommend drinking it neat while playing. But if you’re feeling adventurous, here’s an old west cocktail recipe I found on True West.
Ol’ Snakehead:
1 gallon Rye
1 lb. plug or black twist of tobacco
1 lb. black strap molasses
1 handful red spanish peppers
5 gallons river water
2 rattlesnake heads per barrel. To give it spirit (apparently).
Drop in a horseshoe. If the horseshoe sinks, it’s not ready yet, but if it floats, the whiskey is ready to drink.
Cheers and happy gaming!
