![]() ![]() I’d say I detected more hints of caramel and vanilla and most definitely the woodiness of whiskey.ĭay two was just a straight-up Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cold Brew, since it was the star of the tasting trio. Starbucks describes the coffee as having notes of chocolate, oak, and stone fruit. It’s ultra-smooth, with essentially no bitterness, and just so damn nice on the tongue. I liked it so very much, I went back each and every day until I’d tried all three menu items they make with it. I know I am prone to exaggeration, but I can comfortably say this is the best coffee I have ever treated my tastebuds to, outside of some spectacular sips on a trip to Italy many years ago. The beans are aged in Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey barrels, which imparts more syrupy/toffee flavor than I would think possible to carry through to the final brewed product. In describing this boozy brew, the menu says “spirit-free coffee creations featuring Starbucks Reserve Whiskey Barrel-Aged Guatemala Beans.” They actually want to specify there is no alcohol present because you’d swear there was. Coffee smells good, of course, but this was something entirely different. The rich, malty aroma of whiskey filled my nostrils before I could even get the first drops of pricey brown liquid to my lips. I’d had the Nitro before and loved it, but the Whiskey Brew was mind-blowing. $13 for 10 ounces of coffee, or about 3 ounces each of Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cold Brew, Reserve Cold Brew, and Nitro. So on my first visit, I ordered the Cold Brew Trio Flight. I had recently seen a dietitian on Instagram raving about the barrel-aged coffee and for some reason that had stuck in my brain as something to seek out the next time I was in Seattle. Starbucks describes a roastery as “a place to treat yourself to superb food, rare coffees, and everything in between.” Don’t mind if I do. The real draw for me, though, was the specialized menu filled with coffee and tea beverages you can’t find anywhere else. It smells good, looks good, and sounds good. The Seattle Reserve Roastery in Capitol Hill is grand, high-end, and bustling. It definitely has a different vibe than a regular Starbucks location. They call the reserve stores “theatrical, experiential shrines to coffee passion.” Maybe that helps explain the $13 price tag? I was buying a ticket to an experience AND a beverage. And I’m happy to share the extravagant details. ![]() Perhaps it’s my culinary version of retail therapy during a pandemic: spend a lot on something special and feel instantly better. I’ve never before dropped so much cash on a single beverage, but I’m not ashamed of my novelty-seeking behavior. I went to the mothership of Starbucks stores in Seattle and paid an exorbitant sum for a measly 6 ounces. Well, I took that budget-busting experience a couple of steps further. Spending an embarrassing amount of money to buy a drink at Starbucks. ![]()
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