Tastes

Another one of my choices for this month's whiskey club! Nose: Old leather, strawberries, brown paper bags? Subtle smoke, like the smoke from the coals of a campfire the morning after. Black pepper, beef jerky made with a sweet brine, and some wet moss. Fresh cracked pepper, raisin cake, somehow reminds me of Sichuan pepper. Palate: Tingly and sweet. A small bit of peppercorn kick, charred oak and sawdust. creamy vanilla with smoke and brine. Small amounts of other muddled spices, light floral-ish peat smoke (if that's a thing), and ever so slightly medicinal. Finish: Medium-long. Lots of oak, vanilla cream, and even some earthy greens. The peat lingers for quite a while. Conclusion: I'm pleasantly surprised by this! I didn't know what to expect from a cheaper Japanese blend, but this is actually really enjoyable. One of those whiskies that changes with every sip. It's a great example of a lightly peated whiskey in which you can easily pick apart the different components without that big blast of smoke. I love peat, but it can be hard to pick a peaty one for my whiskey club because I don't want to overwhelm anyone - this was a great choice though!

One of the bottles I picked for my monthly whiskey club, poured the samples yesterday and finally got around to trying it today. I'll probably review this again later this week since my nose is still full of dust and dirt from gardening all day and even my brain is exhausted from all the sun I got. Nose: Light fruits - like pears, soft apples, and even green banana. Soft maltiness and a surprising bit of spice and lemon. Palate: Surprisingly spicy at first with lime zest and fleeting tropical fruits. Very light and floral clover honey. More spice on the second sip, mostly cinnamon and floral cardamom. Finish: Short and sweet. This definitely doesn't last long, but the little that remains is coconut, sugar cookie, and subtle lemon. Conclusion: Honestly, this was the perfect pour after a hot day in the garden - light, floral, citrus, smooth - everything you could ask for! It's not the most complex whiskey, but I think that's exactly what I needed, something to just sit down and enjoy without pondering over it. I think it would be a good, cheap bottle to keep in stock for a summer pour.

Nose: Oatmeal cinnamon cookies! A little candied orange peel accompanies a slight alcohol bite. Dark red plums, cherries, and even some sweet raspberries. Another interesting red fruit pops out - strawberries, but more like fresh ripe strawberries rather than the stewed fruits I'd expect. Nice vanilla and spice on the end, specifically clove and cardamom - another rarity. Somehow reminds me of vanilla cake batter as well. Palate: Spice and oily sweetness! Cinnamon, clove, maple? Small amount of other spices as well - anise and nutmeg. Sweet fruit syrup and wildflower honey. Warm, buttery maltiness that keeps coming in waves, slightly changed each time. Tingling on the middle of the tongue. Is that even some milk chocolate? Finish: Long and mouthwatering! This lasts and lasts. That initial spice oatmeal cookie note is prominent in the finish as well, continually coming back between waves of baked cinnamon peaches and vanilla oak. Adding water dulls the spices quite a bit and brings out much more vanilla and honey scents along with more fresh orange zest. It feels much thicker and sweeter at first, though the spices are actually more obvious on the taste than before, contrary to what the nose suggests. Much more like sweet sugar cookies with a dusting of cinnamon and some light raisins. Still lasts and lasts though - wonderful. Conclusion: Wow! Absolutely stunning... This is one of the best whiskies I've ever poured. The original Redbreast 12 is my go to answer for when anyone asks what my favorite whiskey is, but this cask strength has just taken that spot.

Alright, I'm revisiting this after a couple weeks to see if I like it any better. I've had this suggested many times, though when I first tried it, it didn't live up to the hype. So Maybe I'll find something new in there this time that makes this worth it. Nose: Burns a bit, though that's to be expected at >63%! Corn dust, caramel, fresh wood chips, a slight bit of orange peel, and maybe some fresh cut grass. Water brings out a ton of vanilla, some maple syrup, clove, and even a malty note, but drowns out any of that orange and grass freshness. Palate: Definitely tingles! Hot and dark. Deep brown sugar, caramel, vanilla. Initial oaky spice opens up into mellowed corn dust and slight woodiness. Maybe a bit of heavy cherry syrup with cinnamon. Water makes this feel much oilier and bolder, so much more spice - cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, clove, anise, all of it - and turns the corn sweetness into a wonderful caramel glaze. The cherries dissappear Finish: Medium length and dry. IT seems oily at first, but is in fact quite dry. Corn and a lingering dark fruit sweetness dominate. Water makes this last and last, with a lingering oatmeal and vanilla caramel. Conclusion: This time it was pretty much the same before I added water - a high proof bourbon without a ton of complexity. Adding water however completely changed the game! It brought out a whole world of spices and different sweetness than regular old corn dust. With some water, this is definitely worth a glass.

I'm giving this another shot since I was so underwhelmed by it a week ago. I wanted to like it then but it was just another bourbon, maybe this time I'll find a uniqueness I missed last time. Nose: Orange peel and cherries. Oak and a bit of herbal spice, maybe mint and a tiny bit of anise. White pepper too, with slight vanilla. Palate: Thick, cool sweetness. Spicy, lots of cinnamon, clove and even a bit of nutmeg? Opens into sweet oak and mint atop corn sugar and oats. Finish: Medium length, mouthwatering. Almost buttery sweet with lasting spices. Tongue tingling for a while. A little orange peel at the end. Conclusion: Yet again, does not live up to the hype, though it's definitely tasty. I definitely like what the high rye mashbill provides in terms of spice and herbal notes.

Nose: Menthol, oak spice, dark wildflower honey, brown sugar, candied orange, cherry syrup. Reminds me of brandied cherries. Palate: Dry and spicy, cinnamon, honey, lots of oak, black pepper. Can definitely tell it's a high-rye. Finish: Medium-long, dry. Corn sweetness and spice remnants. Conclusion: It's an easy drinking bourbon. That's about it. The hype behind this makes me laugh now that I know it's just another bourbon.

Nose: Beautiful! Fresh grass and green apples, light honey, candied lemon peel. Orange breakfast muffins under the lighter notes. Palate: Silky, slightly oily at first. Mint and malted barley, then graham cracker and slight spice. Open oak woodiness with almond. Light clover honey, though none of that citrus I find in the nose. Finish: Medium length and ever changing. Surprisingly nutty for a while with toasted oats and honey. Maybe a bit of fresh grass here as well. Conclusion: The nose on this whiskey is phenomenal... Like a refreshing lemonade on a hot day. The nose is definitely the dominating characteristic of this, though the taste is interesting as well. On all accounts, I'd consider this a great summer sipping whiskey - fresh lemonade, fresh cut grass, light honey - all so perfect for summer.

Nose: Oak and leather, some bright red cherries. Sugary baked goods, like sugar cookies. Orange peal and icing sugar. Palate: Initial juicy cherries, almost a bubblegum-cinnamon note that is phenomenal, vanilla-oak, and sweet pear. So much cinnamon, allspice, white pepper - wonderful. Finish: Medium length. Tingling spiciness on the middle of the tongue. Subtle, thin sweetness and oak notes. Conclusion: Phenomenal for the price, actually a pretty complex bourbon that's more than just the usual sugary sweetness.

Nose: Hot! Brown sugar and lots of spice. Oak and a bit of char underneath a base of dark red cherries. An interesting banana/apple and some orange peel after it sits a while. Water opens up a whole new world of vanilla, toffee, and more brown sugar while hiding the cherry notes. Palate: Thick and juicy! Ripe cherries, cinnamon spice, oak, and pepper. Brown sugar. Thin and hot on the way down, not all that complex. Adding water brings out a lot more spice and spreads it out into a slowly changing spice note rather than a short spike of spice. Finish: Medium length. Brown sugar and heat for a while. Maybe a bit of dusty corn on the back end. Conclusion: Not sure i this lives up to the hype, it's pretty simple, but definitely enjoyable. I'll approach this again after a week or so and see if my taste for it improves.

Nose: Bright red cherries, green apples, dark plums - first nosing is an explosion of fruit. After a bit, the bright fruits get a bit darker and deeper, reminds me of blackberries which I don't know if I've ever found in a whiskey before. Fresh and grassy - lightly buttery as well. There's a surprising lack of any grain notes. Palate: Smooth and silky on the tongue. Thin icing sweetness with a little orange. Raisins and soggy vanilla cake. A little maltiness towards the back. A surprising bit of spice at the end. Finish: Medium-long. Dark raisins and slightly sweet biscuits for the most part. The spiciness fades slowly, but gives way to lingering sweetened oats. Conclusion: I was pleasantly surprised, for a budget whiskey this has a pretty good complexity. I definitely found that sherry influence in there as well. This is definitely a good one to keep on hand; it'll satisfy everyone no matter their experience level.