Tastes

4.0 Stars - Excellent; 750 ml bottle If Remus Repeal and Woodford Reserve had a love child, it would be this whiskey. Huge aroma. Rich and distinctive taste. Beautiful bottle. The finish is a little hot for 100 proof.

3.0 stars - Good; 750 ml bottle Great whiskey, just like great art, should not leave us cold. This whiskey is like a fine painting from a renowned artist, but I am left with no emotional reaction. Is it still art? This should be a home run. MGP? Check. High rye? Check. High age statement? Check. 100 proof? Check. Lots of old oak and rich cherry. But I am left feeling something is missing. Objectively good, but where is the soul? Am I hearing the echos of too many sourced MGP products? I gave the rest of the bottle to a good friend. He loved it. I guess both art and whiskey are subjective.

2.5 stars - Nice but not my style; 1.75 L This is a good $25 whiskey. This is selling for $80/750ml here. The world has lost its mind. Luckily my mom & pop liquor store had a bottle in the back at MSRP. Makers Mark is all vanilla and caramel. Larceny is all baking spices. Weller SR is all orchard fruits. Each is a good, sub $30 whiskey and I am glad each has its own distinctive style. This is not the poor mans Pappy’s. It is not even in the same zip code. Please stop the madness.

4.0 stars - Excellent; 750 ml bottle Mr. Clynelish, in the Library, with the Candlestick. I have finally solved the mystery. Compass Box Oak Cross, Compass Box Spice Tree, Johnnie Walker. Clynelish is used in so many blends I love. It is you. It has always been you. I am absolutely fascinated with this whiskey.

0.5 stars - Poor, flawed God made beer because he loves us and wants us to be happy. Satan made George Dickel because he walks the Earth and wants to deceive us. Flintstone vitamins and creamed corn. Why???

3.0 Stars - Good; 750 ml bottle It was the best of whiskies, it was the worst of whiskies, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Scotland, we were all going direct the other way… This is dramatically better with some air. Decant and come back in 6 months. Two stars first 6 months, and four stars the last 6 months. Excellent price.

2.0 Stars - Nice, but…. 100 ml sample This is very Tommy Boy. Remember Chris Farley? “Fat guy in a little coat…” Richard, is this your Sherry Barrel? Bold whisky in a sherry finish. Bold whisky in a sherry finish. Richard, what is happening? This whisky seems completely unnecessary. Glenmorangie does so many things well. This feels like they are checking a box for the whisky novice.

4.0 Stars - Excellent, 2 bottles Baby Bookers! He sure looks like dad when he was young. Dusty peanut, but no hay barn. Excellent aroma and mouth feel. I enjoyed this way more than I expected. I have only found it locally twice in two years. This easily competes with the best bourbons at the $25 - 35 price range. Honestly, this tastes right on par with the two age statement Bakers.

2.0 stars - OK, 100 ml sample Supposedly, this is designed for Highballs. I thought it was lacking in character. And normally I love blends with Clynelish. I do not drink whiskey cocktails, and cannot comment if this is better as a scotch and soda.

1.0 star - Foul This was the first Scotch I purchased 15 years ago. I thought, “If they are all like this, I cannot do it.” Tastes like it was aged in an old boot. What is the target market, George Thorogood fans?