Flavored whiskey challenge

`Tis the season for aged spirits, especially those with a little extra ... oomph. Whiskey has long been the star of most hot toddies, but flavored whiskeys -- from apple to maple to honey -- have been popping up on more bar and liquor store shelves lately. With options such as Fire Eater, a cinnamon-flavored whiskey-based liqueur from Early Times, launching in Chicago next month, the trend shows no signs of slowing down. How easy is it to identify a flavored whiskey's main note? Not as easy as you'd think. We rounded up the five flavored whiskeys and whiskey-based liqueurs introduced in Chicago in the past year and tasked RedEye staffers with identifying their flavors in a blind challenge. Tasters ranged from whiskey novices to dark spirits devotees. Prices are manufacturer's suggested retail.

January 23, 2013