Tastes

Quick Summary: My bro was down in KY when Batch 13 was released and he snagged me bottle #: 783. I think the ‘small batch’ releases over-hypes this bottle a bit. Solid, but nothing earth-shattering. Nose: Caramel or burnt sugar notes, maybe even crème brûlée. Perhaps some toffee. Palate: Starts hot. Very alcohol forward. Getting spent grain, malty, and orange notes. I think I’m picking up something sweet like honey as it cools. Finish: Smooth mouthfeel. Pretty mellow considering how powerful the start. Enjoy: One bottle for the experience.

Quick Summary: Rather interesting experiment. This is the first Rye in the series. May be borderline gimmicky based on the price tag, but this seems to be a very approachable (yet mysterious) rye. Nose: Light. Kind of sweet. Get pepper and spice for sure. Maybe some marshmallow. Palate: Soft rye notes. Starts a little hot with some serious spice, but then mellows into caramel and leather. Not as rye-forward as expected and that’s not a bad thing. Finish: Dry, almost astringent. You get seasoned oak and some char from the barrel mixed with the spices from the nose. Enjoy: Once or twice. If it was less, I’d say enjoy often.

Quick Summary: I was lucky enough to try this thanks to a work friend. This has a heavy proof, but no need to dampen as you can enjoy it as is. Very pleased with this offering. Nose: Strong enough to make you pull back a bit in order to enjoy. Then you can pick up notes of oak and something pleasant I can’t quite describe. Palate: You call feel the proof, but it’s enjoyable. Strangely smooth given the proof and the complexity. Heavy spice and burnt orange with slight vanilla notes. Finish: Quick finish. Spice and brown sugar notes are forward. Enjoy: More than once (if you can).

Quick Summary: With this being the longest-aged bourbon I have tried to date, I guess I had higher hopes for complexity. I love oak, but this is oak to the max, in various spectrums, and it’s just about all I taste. Nose: Heavy acetone surprises you, but then is followed by dark cherry and a hint of chocolate. Palate: Musty oak. Which is heavy and lingers for a minute. It might open up into caramel, pepper, and brown sugar notes, but that oak is still present. Maybe even overpoweringly so. Finish: Stale. It’s weird. I get the oak in the finish, too. But it tastes… stale. Enjoy: Seldomly

Quick Summary: I was excited when I saw the marriage between Port and Scotch, but this did not blend as I’d hoped. The spiciness overwhelms the subtlety I was seeking. Nose: Boozy oak notes. Richness from the Port Wood is picked up forcefully. In a good way. Palate: Harsh spice notes that have a strong grain and oak middle. This feels hot compared to it’s proof. Takes it a minute to mellow after sipping. Finish: Spice is still here and it’s strong. Some honey and vanilla notes. Enjoy: Randomly

Quick Summary: A peat forward offering that I could enjoy often. Smokier then I’d normally seek, but overall I appreciate this Talisker variant. Nose: A smack in the face with the peat and smoke. Hints of orange peel and citrus. Palate: I get the peat and some charred barrel. Earthy notes linger in a pleasant way. Finish: Medium finish. Smokiness and pepper last on the tongue. Enjoy: Often.

Quick Summary: I was quite surprised by the overall well-balanced approach here. The rye is a little lighter than I traditionally like, but it works. Nose: Charred oak barrel with fruity notes. Some vanilla hiding in there. Palate: Starts with the oak and cherries. Some citrus and light rye notes. Finish: Spicy and grainy. Doesn’t linger, but it’s really pleasant. Sets up the next sip well. Enjoy: Anytime.

Quick summary: Lacks a punch. Nose is light which also translates to the overall taste. Finish is where you finally start to pick up what you’re looking for in an aged rye. Nose: Light and simple. Subtle oak and almond. Palate: Smooth. Light proof lends to a lackluster bite. Have to really search for any distinguishable notes, even the rye. Finish: The highlight of the pour. You finally get the rye you were looking for with a hint of oak. Enjoy: Seldomly.

Quick summary: Nice derivative of the original, but not better. Nose is what you’d expect from a Laphroaig, which is my favorite part. You can definitely pick up more of the wood notes from the 10-year. Finish is smooth with some lingering notes. Nose: Peat. Smoke. Turf. Awesome. Palate: Smooth and full mouthfeel. Strong woodsmoke presence which is stronger than the staple. You get that charcoal taste mid-palate and it transitions well into the finish. Finish: Long. That charcoal note hangs around for a while with a subtle hint of sweetness at the very end. Enjoy: Occasionally.

Quick summary: I really enjoyed this pour. Nose is pleasant and backs up the taste. Nice mouthfeel. Complex, but not perhaps not as much as you’d think and it works. Nose: Strong oaky notes with subtle hints of dark fruits. Palate: Vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut are prominent. Some floral notes are lingering in the background. The proof is perfect. Finish: Powerful, yet short. Get light hints of cinnamon. Enjoy: Frequently.