Tastes

Got a sample of this beautiful dram. 15 min rest before tasting but evaluating how the nose evolves in the middle. Fresh taste in a GC. N(4.75): Beautiful blend of peat and sweet white fruits. One is not dominating the other. Nose is not bold. Peat smoke, nectarine, peach, vanilla whip cream, cookies, touch of lemon oils. A couple drops of water really opens up the sweetness and boldness. Tarty cinnamon comes out. P(5): sweet melody explodes, then comes the creamy texture coating the mouth, and the peat comes right behind. A bit of spice and bit is there. Pepper and ginger F(4.5): Medium finish. yeast, wood coated with honey. Ginseng. Vanilla bean ice cream. Tiny sprinkle of bitterness. Apples.

From a sample bottle. Trying it with a Wee GC. Rested 30 mins N(4.25): light aromas. Malt, caramel, and spices. Ginger. Citrus. A lot of flavors, but you need to do some hunting. P(4):Sweet honey. Bright fresh. F(4.25): Medium finish but complex. Malt. White pepper spice. Vanilla. Leather. Cumin. Anis. Tiny bit of black licorice. At the price, I'm yearning for something bolder, thicker, and oilier. The flavors are delightful and complex.

N (4.25): Apple / Orange tart. Cherries. Chocolate. Light cinnamon and kitchen spice. A bit leathery. Slight alcohol sharpness P(4): Creamy. Thick. Malty honey. F(4.5): Taste follows through. Get some carbonation. Dark chocolate. Pepper. Apple juice Overall. It's a pretty good sample. I'm going to try and find a sample of the batch 4. If I can't, definitely grabbing this bottle. It's delicious. At the price point, it's a definite buy.

From a sample bottle. Rested for 30+ mins. First pass of Longrow. Love Springbank N(4.5).Earthy. Mild Peat. Good musty funk. Malt. Fruit basket - apple, ripe grapes, and a light tangerine. Cotton Candy. Strawberry Starburst. P(4.25).Creamy and oily. Salty. F(4.75). Medium. Creamy. Ginseng. Peat. Malt. Mild Pepper. Crisp Apples. Prunes. Bacon. Black Tea

I was really hesitant in purchasing this bottle. Barely any info on it, but following the Bourbon Junkies, I decided to take a gamble, so happy I did. I'm a fan of finished whiskey but the only bourbon I've tried with a port finish was the regular Angel's Envy, eh. It's a 13.5 year MGP, not just 12, finished in Port for 3 months. Has a bad ass sticker "Dramtalaty". A spin off of Mortal Kombat. Even has a pic of scorpion on it. The first time I tried this, did a blind head to head with Angel's Envy Port Finish, Haystack Port Finish, and Angel's Envy Cask Strength. I plan to do it again to confirm the results. Haystack was a neck pour as well. Nose, surprising AECS came 3rd then AE then Haystack. On the pallet and finish, AE 3rd, AECS, and Haystack. So a little preview that it beat out a $250-$299 bottle. This tasting was a second pour a week later, and it's even better than the neck pour. GC, 15 minutes N(5): So dense, thick and sweet. Definitely that port brandy like sweetness. Tons of milk and dark chocolate. As nose the different rims of the GC, I pick up ripe warm plums, pears, dash of lemon skin, wild flowers, fire roast marshmallow cherries, coke cola with the fizz so much more I couldn't pull. P(4.5): Burst of sweetness coating the whole mouth what mouth feel. Get some of that rye spice tingling the tongue. What really stands out is how creamy it feel. Cherries and coke. Reminds me of Stagg Batch 12. Amazing taste, definitely above average, but not a lot of complexity. Flavors are bold though F(4.75): So good I wish it was longer. Has a medium long finish. Chocolate. Sweet oak, not the bitter kind. Vanilla extract. Honey maple feel all over. Final thoughts: Definitely recommend. The Cab finish is coming, 100% picking that up. At 110 proof, I can't believe it's so easy to nose and drink. I'm scared of finishing the bottle too fast.

This is my first HAZMAT, had to pick it up when I got word this was available. The particular one I have it Selected by Bourbon Street W&S, Barrel #1 Barrel V220, Bottle 001 Proof: 146.12 / 73.06% Age: 14 years Pour in GC. About 0.5 ounces. I was scared...seriously scared. N(3.5): Initial smell, so surprised it didn't burn. Light sweet honey on top of a vanilla cookie. If you disrespect it and try to take a big deep sniff after that gentle invite, you will get slapped by the alcohol stick. Mint and peppermint. Added 3 drops of water. Doesn't hurt it at all. P(4): Surge of sweetness in the front. Totally deceiving. Immediately notice the thick coating. Vanilla. After a second or two in the mouth, the proof gets progressively mean. I tried to hold it in my mouth for ~10 seconds. Like your first time using the yellow Listerine feeling. OOOOHHHH Weee. Take small sips. Flavor goes a long way. F(4): It is hot. Super hug. From the chest and the fumes. Try to swallow slow and not gulp. Rye. Vanilla. Bright fresh young berry melody. Heavy cream feeling. My favorite part of the whole experience is the initial finish. So flavorful. The oils are still on your tongue with huge flavor. The finish lasts looooong. Overall: I'm so happy to have it. Not an everyday drinker. Its like going on a date with a HOT model who's crazy. If you don't be careful and skillful, you can die. But you still want that experience.

Got to sample this for my buddy's 40th birthday. Came in a similar box as Booker's, just black. Beautiful presentation. Seeing the ratings from others, my expectations were pretty low. Tasted in GC. No waiting around and neck pour. N(3): Some type of citrus fruit soda. Other bright crisp fruits. Not complex. Does not nose like a 110 proof at all. P(5): The coating was so thick and cool. Flavor bomb. Bright fruits. Honey. Hint of rye spice. Very well rounded. Couldn't pick out much bourbon flavors other than vanilla. F(4.25): Rye bread. Oak spice. Orange creamsicle. Medium finish. I wish it was longer because it was so good. Overall: I've never tasted anything like this. Got me real interested in Canadian rye, because there's a 40 year old in it. Next type of whiskey I'm jumping into. Highly recommend if you want something different. Giving it a score bump because of the uniqueness. I would definitely pick it up if I can find it at MSRP. Be careful, very easy drinker and super flavorful.

Was lucky enough to have a friend bring this over. The bottle was close to being gone, about 15% left. Current price $700+ GEEEEZ Awards: World Whiskey 2018 Gold. International spirits challenge Double Gold. SF Spirit Challenge Best in Show, etc etc. GC. Didn't let it breath, too excited N(5): Delightful. Maybe low in the bottle or I can handle the proof now, but I can stick my whole nose. It's not bold or punchy. Instead rounded and gentle. You definitely get a of flavors and it evolves. Thing I was able to pick out. Dried ginseng. Condensed honey syrup. Those dried Asian prunes without the sourness. Hint of wood and peat. Vanilla powder. Caramel. Wood spice. P(4.75): Like the nose this baby evolved. Flavor wise I can't complain. Mirrors the nose. The only other note was some hints of milk chocolate. Not perfect because I wanted more punch. I think if this was elevated in proof a little bit, it would be amazing for me. F(5): No hug but this think is long finish. A lot of woody notes. Dried out wood that has been baked next to a blueberry, raspberry, boysenberry pie. Overall: I'm so glad I had the opportunity to try this. I would definitely buy it if I can afford it. Just need to wait til supply comes back. I think the MSRP on this bottle was $250-300.

As mentioned in my Rare Perfection 14 year review, I tried this back to back. Wanted to see the difference a year makes and which one is better. I really like Willet Rye from Preservation Distillery and eye balling Rare Perfection 14/15 and their Summer Rye (a play on Samurai). Rare perfection struck out. Let's see if 15 year can turn the tides. Awards: Breaking Bourbon two of the guys had this as their Whiskeys of the year for 2019. San Francisco World Spirits Award 2020 - Best Canadian Whiskey. Again, thank you @Milliardo for the samples. Super generous and allowed me to try before I buy. GC, 15 minutes to breathe. N(3): Ahhh. I guess 1 year older and higher proof couldn't eliminate the burned plastic spork funk. Still had the wet wood musk as well. The flavors were a lot more bold than 14. Got a bit of an ethanol tickle, but not overwhelming. There's a lot more pleasant aromas that I'm picking up over the 14. Butterscotch. Vanilla. Sweet Oak. Some peppermint-ish spices. P(3.75): Woo-Hah. Spice. Sweet brown sugar swimming in creamy vanilla. Brown sugar evolves into caramel that has been cooking to the point where you can also pick up the sweet smoke. Surprisingly, no fruit is coming out. It's like a spicey cupcake. F(4.5): Finish is long, deep, rich, velvet. Vanilla full fat cream. Crush roasted almond and peanuts mixed together. Could even be hazelnut. A drop or two of lemon juice with TONS of melted butterscotch dominating. Overall: 15 almost turned the tides. At $190 it's not strong enough to buy or push me to try Summer rye. It is good. Better than 14 but that plastic. I can't get over it. If I could, I would pick it up for $150. Since I can't, maybe $60.

Whiskey Consensus rated this whiskey 9.1 and I really wanted to try it. I found it for $150 and really pondered about pulling the trigger. It's kind of a unique story. Bourbon from Kentucky aged in Canada making it a Canadian whiskey. Except for Crown Royal Norther Harvest Rye, I don't have any Canadian juice. I do have the Willet 4 year rye, mmmmm. But that price tag and mixed reviews I read on distiller, I was on the fence. HUGE thanks to @Milliardo for hooking me up with samples of the 14 and 15. I tasted 14 and 15 back to back. To make sure my taste buds weren't playing games with me, I tried it again a week later with another buddy. My rating and review of this was the same. Let's dive in. As always, in a GC and let it to rest for minimum of 15 minutes. N(2): I've never nosed anything like this. It punched me in the face, in not a good way. The proof wasn't off putting. I got this weird burned plastic smell. Imagine burning a plastic spork. It was dominant. Then got this wet wood musk. Definitely not pleasing for me. After sniffing it a while, I was finally able to get under those aromas to pull out vanilla and sweet honey comb. P(3.25): Damn you plastic spork, I got that on my tongue too. But you also get this rich sweet cream. Butter. Vanilla. Some rye-ish type of spices on the tip and sides of the tongue. I also get a hint of citrus. Either a sweet lemon or a sour orange. If it wasn't for the spork, I would rate this at 4.25. F(3.75): The wet wood funk came in on the finish. Strong vanilla. Toasted almonds. Sour vanilla pudding. Caramel/Butterscotch sweetness. Medium length on the finish Overall: I wouldn't buy this bottle at $150. I really wanted to like it but I could not overcome the plastic. It is a beautiful bottle, it's unique, but the juice didn't deliver for me. I would buy it at the $50 price point though.