Pairing High Bourbon With Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra

The Whiskey: High West Bourbon

High West Bourbon is the pour that opened up the world of whiskey to me. I tried it in a jazz club here in Kansas City and fell in love with it. I’ve since found pours that I like better, but this is one that I will always come back to, and for good reason – it’s a great budget pour. 

On the nose, the High West Bourbon offers more than initially appears. You have the traditional notes of vanilla and light oak, but there’s more to find around those notes. There’s a scent of honey present, alongside some brown sugar and cinnamon. There’s also a whisper of green apple, which is a note I’ve found on other High West pours. It’s unusual on a bourbon, but I like it. All around, a gentle but really enjoyable nose. 

On the palate, the vanilla and honey continue. I also taste something that makes me think of buttered, flaky biscuits. Another strange bourbon note, but again, it works here. As I continue through this glass, a flavor emerges that I can only describe as Butterfinger. Sugary, a little chocolate, a little peanut butter – quite tasty. It’s not a strong note, but it’s present and is a plus. 

On the finish, I find that the buttered biscuit and butterfinger flavors continue, alongside a little oak and honey. The finish ends a tad quicker than I’d like – I want those flavors to last longer! But for what I would consider a budget pour, I can’t complain. There’s a reason I revisit this one every now and then – it’s a classic for me. 

The Game: Azul Stained Glass of Sintra

You may have heard the Azul name – it’s become a mainstay in board gaming, joining the ranks of Catan, Risk, Wingspan, and others. Its popularity is directly tied to its accessibility. The ruleset is simple, the goal is easy to plan for, and the visuals are attractive, which combine into a great package. Just because it’s accessible doesn’t mean it’s easy though – it requires flexible planning and tactics, and rewards good players more often than not with a win.

Mechanically, players take turns drafting pieces from the center of the table and placing them on their personal window. You can take from either one of the circles or from the center, always taking all the pieces of the color you chose from that locations. If you take from a circle, the rest of the pieces go into the middle. As you draft, you’re looking at what colors are rewarded bonus points for that round, what colors you need to complete your patterns, and what other players are looking for. These three factors combine to make the decision of what you draft a little more difficult than you might think. There’s another factor to consider as well – when you place a piece of glass into a pattern, your “glazier” piece above your board moves to that pattern. From that turn forward, you can only place pieces into that pattern or patterns to the right. If you want to place in a pattern to the left, you must take a turn to move the glazier back without drafting anything, which can be a big deal. The game overall is fun, quick, and interactive. I recommend it.