Tastes

4.0 - Great; second 750 ml No life ‘til leather.

4.0 stars - Excellent, 750 ml bottle. Let’s be clear. The Distiller expert score is old and outdated. With the 2019 rebrand, we actually have a higher quality product. In fact, I have transcribed a little know audio recording from one of Arrans marketing meetings: VP: This is a brand new distillery and we need ideas on how to stand out in a crowded market. Intern: Let’s make a whiskey that doesn’t suck. VP: Sounds risky. How would that even work? Intern: 46% ABV, non chill filter, no added color, mostly bourbon barrel, we can even print the label in braille as a sign it is very accessible and progressive. VP: We need to keep costs down. Intern: We can bottle it at 10 years. VP: People love old whiskey. Intern: Seems like Glenmorangie 10, Talisker 10, Ardbeg 10, and Springbank 10 are doing OK. VP: That will never work. Intern: OK. Sorry, boss. VP; OK, gents, what we are going to do is make a whisky that doesn’t suck… I love this bottle. Everything about it is honest. Even the flavor description (“Rich, honeyed, malted. Soft vanilla & coconut flavor. Citrus fruit freshness, orchard fruits, and hazelnuts.”) is exactly correct.

3.0 Stars - Good; 750 ml bottle Well crafted and easy to drink. Simple to the point of being boring. Reminds me of Buffalo Trace bourbon in that regard. Safe bet when starting someone on their Scotch journey.

3.5 stars - Very good; 375 ml bottle Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. This is a very good bourbon. It is close to being in my regular rotation. I find so many things in this whiskey that I used to love about Woodford Reserve several years ago. Woodford has fallen off and Old Forester is vastly improved. In the high proof category, I prefer Bookers, Jack Daniel’s SBBP, Makers Mark Cask Strength, and Willet 4 yr Rye.

4.0 stars - Excellent; two bottles I am a bottled in bond man, myself. This is a very good whisky. I may stand alone in preferring it over the OF 1920. It seems 1920 is universally praised and 1897 is often panned. Which seems a bit churlish. Having several glasses side-by-side there are only minor differences. The aroma is very similar, 1897 is more bright and chocolate banana, 1920 has more dusty oak. The taste is similar, 1897 matches the aroma and 1920 is more syrupy (brown sugar and tobacco). Old Forester seems to acknowledge this minor difference with only a 10% price premium on 1920. I think American whiskey shines at 50% ABV. BIB: Rittenhouse, Henry McKenna 10 yr, New Riff, Old Fitzgerald and OF1897. Near BIB: WT101, Rowan’s Creek, and 4R SIB.

3.5 stars - Very Good; 375 ml bottle This is a great dessert whiskey. Rich, well integrated flavors. Easy drinking for its proof. This is one of the best double barreled American whiskies that is easily available. It runs circles around its cousin, Woodford Reserve Double Oak. The name is probably holding this one back. If it was Double Oak McWoodface it would fly off the shelves. Which begs the question…where are the triple wood or quad wood whiskies? They are coming. The whiskey world is about to get real weird, real quick. I rode the wave of the craft beer world. First the imports (“Wow, Germany and Belgium make good beer!”). Then the early American crafted beer scene. I remember the store by my first apartment carried 5 craft beers. I could buy one 6-pack a week and not even have any repeats all month! Seasonals added some fun variety. Then West Coast IPAs redefined what beer could taste like. Now we have moved from experimentation to full on Frankenstein’s monster. Try this weeks Double Dry Hopped 83 IBU Gose Coconut 11.2% strong ale with pickled elderberries. Buckle up, whiskey fans.

1.0 stars - Poor, flawed; 750 ml bottle I would like to see the chain of custody on this bottle. Admittedly, I am not an Irish whiskey fan. But this got great reviews and sounded like a flavor profile I enjoy. Like almost all highly rated whiskey, it complexly disappeared from shelves for the last two years. Imagine my excitement seeing it back in stock at my favorite shop. When I opened it was very tight, aroma and taste. Like I-am-in-very-uncomfortable-social-situation-and-do-not-know-what-to-say tight. Gave it time to breath. Gave it months in the bottle. Opens up. And reveals some discordant young and off notes. This tastes like an imposter. Or this sold out rapidly and they overstretched existing stocks to replace.

3.5 stars - Very Good; 750 ml bottle Finally! A hidden gem. The review on Malt is perfect. This screams “Do not buy me!!” Ultimately, it is Heaven Hill sourced, got high praise from someone I trust, and was $45. I will take that bet all day long. This drinks so easy for 120 proof. Absolutely, Heaven Hill DNA. Impossible to find Larceny Barrel Proof. This must be a great substitute.

3.0 stars - Good; 750 ml bottle I wish I loved it. I am a bourbon fan. I am a Heaven Hill fan. I am an Elijah Craig fan. This is a good, premium bourbon. Love is not a science, but I think the disconnect comes down to two things. This drinks hotter than the proof (which is odd to say at 136 proof) and I like a little strange in my bourbon. This tastes like classic, textbook bourbon flavors. In the category, I prefer Bookers (dusty hay barn), 4R Single Barrel Selects (flowers and spice), JD SBBP (banana). If I am spending this kind of money, I want to get a little freaky.

3.0 stars - Good; 1.0 oz hotel pour Tastes like pie (cherry, apple) a la mode with peanut butter ice cream. Dash of cinnamon.