Tastes
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Jade Espirit Edouard Absinthe Supérieure
Absinthe — Maine-et-Loire, France
Reviewed March 10, 2024 (edited March 11, 2024)DISCLAIMER: If you are a serious absinthe aficionado, please defer to Mr. Cascode, who seems to have a lot of knowledge and expertise about absinthe. This was my first time trying absinthe (having previously only tried Pernod). This spirit has an herbal aroma strong enough to smell across a table. It smells damp and herbal and tastes similarly: woody, vegetal, and subtly sweet. I tried it neat, first, and then diluted it as is proper. It tastes strongly of citrusy coriander and fennel, with a candied sweetness. For this non-expert, it tastes a lot like swallowing a teaspoon of coriander seed with a chaser of sweetener. The high abv is surprisingly well-masked by these herbal overtones, presenting itself only as a mouth-warming sensation. I wanted to try absinthe, and from what I've read, I think this is a good representation of it at its best. -
Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon
Bourbon — Texas, USA
Reviewed January 14, 2024 (edited March 11, 2024)Tasting on large rock. This bourbon has a faint but fresh smell, like syrup and pine--the sensory equivalent of a walk in the woods. It's not too spicy on the palate; crisp but smooth, and also a little sweet, with a taste like underripe pear dipped in honey. Its flavors are bright and light without too much twinge. Its finish is disappointingly absent. Nothing notable, but perfectly respectable for everyday.27.0 USD per Bottle -
Uka Sparkling Sake Junmai Daiginjo
Other Spirits — Fukushima, Japan
Reviewed January 10, 2024 (edited March 11, 2024)My fiance and I sampled this at a tasting event and loved it. This is my first experience with trying to taste sake seriously. This drink is very faintly aromatic--just barely floral, with a whisper of melon like cantaloupe. Its taste is equally delicate, so it's very drinkable and food-friendly. Subtly sugary with a tiny taste of tang, it reminds me of Asian pear--an earthy, prickly sweetness. It's like a gentler version of sparkling wine without the bite, or a sweet Riesling without quite so much in-your-face sugariness. It's easy to want more! -
Weller Special Reserve Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed December 28, 2023 (edited January 11, 2024)This bourbon is a journey in a glass. Very zippy on the nose- it burned my eyes!- but also sweet and caramelly. At first sip, it’s spicy, reminiscent of the sassafrass of root beer. This dissipates to a very round, buttery middle, rich as pie crust, and finally a caramel tail that seems to linger for minutes. It’s really sweet and full with a spicy kick. Very good! -
Jim Beam Black Label Extra-Aged
Bourbon — Kentucky , USA
Reviewed December 9, 2023 (edited February 10, 2024)Jim Beam Extra-Aged won my “tournament” of sixteen relatively inexpensive whiskies. It’s a pale citrine color with a subtle aroma of nuts and pear. It’s well-balanced on the palate with tastes of citrus and vanilla balanced by a subtly pepperiness and round, warming honey backnote. It’s perfectly pleasant to sip on either a large rock or neat.25.0 USD per Bottle -
I tried this neat at room temperature. On this nose, Laird's Applejack reminds me a bit of dark rum, tinged with the tart fruitiness of Granny Smith. It tastes like undersweetened apple pie filling: tart and zingy, with strong notes of vanilla and cinnamon, and finishing with a lingering peppery crispness. It retains some echoes of the cherry booziness of traditional brandy, and also the tarry backnote of molasses that I've detected in rum--which could be offensive if it were too strong, but it's not overbearing here. This wouldn't be my go-to sipper, but it's a welcome on a dark and cool evening.
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Espolòn Reposado Tequila
Tequila Reposado — Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico
Reviewed November 5, 2023 (edited March 11, 2024)Tequila neophyte here, drinking neat and room temperature. The Reposado is a lovely light gold, like pale citrine. It has a really beautiful, alluringly subtle aroma of smoke, toasted oats, and maybe the slightest hint of citrus. On the palate, it's very different: much fruitier and tannic--like eating a bite of orange its rind together. It has a prominent and lingering acidic backbite (excuse the lack of professional terminology...). The enticing smokiness is present, though it takes a backseat to the acidic citrus flavors. As someone who primarily enjoys whiskey, it reminds me a little bit of Scotch, much moreso than bourbon. I certainly wouldn't turn it down if someone offered it to me, though I probably wouldn't select it over other liquors. -
Traverse City Whiskey Co. American Cherry Edition
Flavored Whiskey — Michigan , USA
Reviewed July 29, 2023Tasted on large rock (it's warm here in Houston!). I'll update the review when I try it neat. Nothing complex here; a sweet, slightly sour whiskey that tastes overwhelmingly of cherries and vanilla and not much else. Almost more brandy than whisky, with no afterburn to speak of. It's very quaffable--almost too easy to drink! Still, it's a nice dessert drink, and I bet it would be fantastic in cocktails, especially when tamed by chocolate bitters. -
Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed May 24, 2023With a nose of cedar chest, baking spice, and cherry, this bourbon smells deliciously promising. Extremely peppery and fiery upon sipping with tastes of vanilla, toffee, and oak; a firecracker finish that lingers for minutes. Aggressive, but delicious.Good Luck
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