Tastes

4.5 stars - Excellent; 3 bottles High West has the Bourye (half bourbon, half rye). This tastes like the Bourotch or maybe the Scourbon? I guess this is why I am not in Marketing. This seems tailored just for me: well aged in bourbon barrels, finished in virgin wood, beautiful bottle, minimal batch variation and frequently on sale for $42. I am amazed at how well integrated this is for the price. This is a superb whiskey. It fixes my main complaint about Glenfiddich by having a long, luxurious finish. If you like this one, also check out Compass Box Spice Tree.

3.0 stars - Good; 200 ml from sample pack The flavor profile is excellent and unique. My only quibble is the finish is very, very short. I now believe this is a feature, not a bug, in Glenfiddich whisky. I believe Glenfiddich has engineered their whiskey to be slurped and not sipped. The low ABV, short finish and good flavor profile keep you coming back for more. Every time I have a glass, I enjoy myself but it seems to disappear quickly.

2.5 stars - Nice; 200 ml sample pack Fresh milled grain and orchard fruits. Ever play with disappearing ink as a child? Applying heat allows your hidden message to reappear. First glass, neat. Huh. This tastes nothing like I remember when I had Glenfiddich over 10 years ago. In fact, I don’t taste anything. Second glass, three ice cubes. Wow, the exact flavor profile I remember magically appears. This is the first whiskey I have encountered that appears to be engineered to be dramatically better on the rocks. I will give them a lot of credit to know their target market and tailor their product accordingly.

2.5 stars - Nice; 200 ml, sample pack Surprisingly boring. Tried neat, splash of water, one ice cube, and chilled in the fridge. I could not coax any flavors to come out from hiding. Built for the “smooth” crowd? Given this is bottled at 40% ABV, seems like the easy answer is “yes”.

2.5 stars - Nice; 750 ml bottle Built for cocktails. Is that a compliment or an insult? Really close to being a good sipper…round off a few rough edges and this would be great at any price. This is very rye spice forward whiskey. MD/PA ryes are softer and sweeter. MGP and Michter’s ryes are more garden herb (dill, mint, etc.). Most KY ryes are spicy bourbon. This tastes like rye bread or roasted rye berries.

3.5 stars - Very good; 750 ml bottle As my friend said: “If I drink this with a cigar, I won’t have any eyebrows left.” This is an absolute flame thrower of a whiskey at 67+% ABV. This is a great whiskey, but the ABV makes it unapproachable. Yes, I can add my own water or ice, but there is an art to proofing a whiskey. I would rather leave it to the professionals. After almost two decades of drinking, and several hundred bottles of whiskey, I still think 43-46% is perfect for Scotch and 46-50% is perfect for bourbon. I would gladly pay the same $55 price for this to be the new Elijah Craig 12 year at 100 proof.

3.5 stars - Very good; many bottles Banana bread in a glass. Like many others, Woodford Reserve was my gateway to bourbon from Scotch. Many years later, when I toured their distillery, I learned they use a pot still for a large percentage of each batch. Over the past couple years, it seems like there is a decline in quality…maybe a lower age to keep up supply. I get a plasticky off note that luckily disappears with a couple months of oxidation. I did give this a higher score for sentimental reasons. If you enjoy the Woodford profile (fruity nose from the yeast, spicy finish from the rye), try the higher end Jack Daniels (Rye SiB, Gold Label), Old Forester (1897, 1920) and Four Roses (SiB, Select Batch). All great stuff.

3.0 stars - Good; 750 ml bottle The honeymoon was better than the marriage. The first week was spectacular. I was worried I had an expensive new favorite. This mellows to a very good Scotch, but not something for my regular rotation.

2.5 stars - Very nice; 750 ml bottle I was expecting…more. Am I a victim of my own lofty expectations? Great concept at a good price. Maker’s Mark are class operators.

3.0 stars - Good; 2 bottles, different recipes I give Maker’s Mark high marks for integrity. They know who they are and spend several agonizing years debating each new product. The wood finishing technique is genius. How do you take a product that was founded on the principle of consistency and introduce the variety demanded by whiskey fans? And avoid the trap of finishing in port/wine/sherry like everyone else? I am very glad this exists for Maker’s Mark super fans and people who are in the mood for something unique. Plus this bottle looks flat out amazing on your shelf; it is a great conversation starter.