Tastes
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Thought I'd celebrate St. Patrick's Day with my second pour from my bottle of Redbreast 12. After this review, I went back and read my notes from the first tasting and I don't know if I've ever had two reviews sound so close together. For some reason I enjoyed it a tick more this time, so it earned that extra quarter star. NOSE: Love it. Sweet. Cola, Fruit, Honey, Melon, Oatmeal with Brown Sugar. A little Leather and a Floral note round it out. After some time in the glass, the nose is dominated by warm Sticky Brown Sugar and Butter. NEAT: Decent Clinging Mouthfeel. Sweet. Dessert-Like. Cooked Apples with Brown Sugar and a sprinkle of Cinnamon. Pralines, Sweetened Cream, and Honeycomb. An odd, but not unpleasant note of Pencil Shavings. A Little Bitter or Sour Note on the finish. A slight warming on the way down with Vanilla Sweetness coating. A hint of the Sourness also remains. I get very little Barrel Influence in this. SPLASH: A little water doesn't change much, but it does reduce that sourness a little. However, it does so at the expense of some of the more complex palate notes. VERDICT: Like I said, this whisky must be pretty consistent pour to pour as my notes were very similar from 1st pour to 2nd. This is still my favorite Irish so far.
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Bacoo 8 Year
Aged Rum — Dominican Republic , Dominican Republic
Reviewed March 12, 2020 (edited March 23, 2020)Saw a display of this on the way out of the ABC store the other day. Pretty bottle and it came with a free Tiki glass. Well, I'm a sucker for pretty bottles and free gifts AND I have been wanting to branch out and try some rums. Let's give it a go... Nose: Very promising. Vanilla, Buttercream Icing, Banana, those Yellow Disc Butterscotch candies, Maple and Molasses. Palate: Does not live up to the expectations generated by the nose. Disappointingly Thin. Vanilla, Banana Cream, Coffee with Cream and Sugar. Very little heat and a slight bitterness on the finish. So thin it leaves no coating on the palate, just a saccharine-ish aftertaste. Verdict: The nose was a Grand Slam. The palate was a dribbler back to the mound. The best part of this one is the free glass. I have a bottle of local-ish, unaged White Rum from Outer Banks Distilling that is miles better than this one and a couple dollars less to boot.27.0 USD per Bottle -
My interest was piqued by this since I get a lot of coffee and cream notes from Jameson's standard issue. The nose manages to maintain a hint of the whiskey base at first, but the dark cold brew coffee begins to dominate rather quickly. The taste is pretty straightforward. Strong black coffee and Jameson. Interesting interplay between the coffee and the creamier characteristics of Jameson. There is no sweetness here ala Kahlua, Bailey's or bourbon cream. This will be interesting to cocktail with, but it loses some points with me due to it's close to $30 price tag. I can buy a bottle of Grind Espresso Liqueur for almost $10 less and have a very similar cocktail base.28.0 USD per Bottle
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Wathen's Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed March 9, 2020 (edited March 23, 2020)Wathen's- Barrel: 4697 Bottled: 5-6-19 Pale Golden Straw Color Nose: Caramel and Coconut combine to give the mild impression of a Caramel Delight Girl Scout Cookie. Some Citrus gives this one a Tropical Vibe. Time in the glencairn yields Oak and Dry Grass along with some Floral Notes. While there is a good amount going on here, everything is light and muted. Neat: Light and Sweet. The Tropical Vibe continues with Vanilla, Banana, and a surprising amount of Citrus. Light Astringent Oak arrives mid-palate with a little Peppery Spice. Absolutely Zero Kentucky Hug, with Vanilla Sweetness and a little Mint coating the palate. Splash: A few drops of water brought out a lot of Charred Oak on the nose. Made the palate Spicy and Oaky. Made the Orange Peel way too dominant as well. Verdict: I like this one a little less with each pour. Had I rated it from the neck pour it would've been closer to a 4, but after 6 months and a quarter of the bottle down, I just have zero enthusiasm for it. There are some good elements here, but they just don't play well together. It is a Single Barrel Product (so YMMV) but I think that some of the youthful notes that would be smoothed out with a little more time are running the show here.40.0 USD per Bottle -
Henry McKenna 10 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed March 4, 2020 (edited November 12, 2020)Scouring the closet last night for something to celebrate the anniversary of the Bottled in Bond Act, I came across a bottle of HMcK10 with a couple pours left in it. I haven't had it in ages (since it got scarce I made myself drink other things), but I was immediately reminded why this was my go-to pour for several years. Sweet Vanilla/Caramel Cream, Eggnog with Nutmeg, and a Musty/Oaky coating finish paired with just enough peppery spice to keep it interesting. I was in a local ABC recently that had just put a case on the shelf at $37, but knowing I had a couple in reserve I passed. Wishing I would've picked one up now. I've had a couple bottles of this that bordered on stellar and have had none that were less than very good. Well done, Heaven Hill.38.0 USD per Bottle -
Larceny Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed February 20, 2020 (edited March 29, 2020)*NOTE: This is for a Single Barrel ABC Store Selection *Barrel: 6196277/Warehouse:E Floor: 2/Aged: 6yr 10mo/Exit Proof: 58.5% Does anyone else have a note they associate with certain whiskeys (good or bad) that they don't get from anything else? For Larceny that note for me is Baked Sweet Potato. Let's grab my trusty Glencairn glass and see if that holds true for the Single Barrel. NOSE: Thin and Stinging (which I get from a lot of Wheaters) with a general Muted Sweetness and Dry Wheat Toast. Not much going on at first, but as it opens up here comes the Baked Sweet Potato complete with Butter and Brown Sugar. Maybe a hint of Cinnamon and Clove. Very "Autumn-like". NEAT: My main complaint with the standard release is the Heat. It drinks hotter than it's 92 Proof. I find the same here. It arrives Hot and Stinging with a Thin and Oily mouthfeel. There is Vanilla Sweetness with a Grassy undertone. A little Saltiness mixes with the Oiliness to give the impression of Salted Butter. That Earthy Sweet Potato is there along with a little Cinnamon. There is some Oak here, but not much, and what is here is a tick on the astringent side. The Heat comes back on the Finish. Some Vanilla and Oak coat the palate. SPLASH: Gives the nose a Hint of Floral. Reduces the Bitter Oak on the palate and introduces some Citrus. Helps with the heat some. Makes it a little different, but it's no better or worse. VERDICT: Larceny is on sale this month for $25 and it was a Single Barrel, so I bit. I don't regret the purchase, but if I'm in the mood for a Wheated Mashbill I much prefer the Rebel Yell 100 (which is ironically Heaven Hill sourced) which is $10 cheaper. At its regular price I may choose this over standard Maker's, but I'd more than likely chip in the extra cash for the Maker's 46.25.0 USD per Bottle -
Glenlivet 12 Year Double Oak
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed February 17, 2020 (edited April 18, 2020)A little better than I remember. Ordered at bar while waiting on my Sushi order. In rocks glass, big notes of malted cereal grains, apple and honey on the nose. The palate has more smoke than I remember and almost a medicinal note? If this were a blend, I’d swear there was some peated whisky in there somewhere. Apple and pear. Honey. Nice tingly finish with vanilla and charred wood coating the palate. Not as much bitterness as I remember from my initial tasting. Maybe I should revisit this one more often.Southport Gourmet and Sushi Bar -
TINCUP Straight Rye
Rye — Indiana (bottled in Colorado), USA
Reviewed February 16, 2020 (edited August 5, 2020)Visiting family in VA and thought I'd see if I could find something not available here in NC. I found two, Cooper's Craft and the new Tin Cup Rye. It's Tin Cup's turn... Nose: Dried Spices. Dill, Oregano, Black Pepper, Dry and Dusty. Slight Sweetness with a Polished Oak. Neat: Spicy. Vanilla, Dill, Black Pepper, Grapefruit Peel, Eucalyptus, and a healthy Tingle. The finish is slightly warming with Vanilla, Black Licorice, and Light Oak coating the palate. Splash: Not much change. Only served to slightly mute the flavors. Verdict: About what I expected. Nothing to separate it from MGP's other 95/5 offerings. All are around $30 and make great mixers.30.0 USD per Bottle -
Coopers' Craft Original 82.2 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed February 16, 2020 (edited May 5, 2020)Visiting family in VA and thought I'd see if I could find something not available here in NC. I found two, Cooper's Craft and the new Tin Cup Rye. The CC up first... Nose: Definite Brown-Foreman/Old Fo nose, but with the addition of a light floral, fruity note and none of the Latex Paint I usually get from BF. Perhaps from the Beechwood and Birch filtering? Neat: A little thin. Cherry Cola, Vanilla, Bitter Citrus Peel, Harsh Oak, Some Leather, but overall fairly flat and unremarkable. A little Sting on the finish and it coats with the Bitter Citrus, Oak and a little of the Cherry Vanilla. Splash: A little water gets rid of a lot of the bitterness and transitions the sweet to straight vanilla. Even though you lose some notes, it actually makes it a little more palatable. I can see this being a good one to enjoy with a large cube or mixed with Coke/7Up, etc. Verdict: If this were priced in the neighborhood of Beam and EW Black maybe I wouldn't be as harsh, but this is not a $30 bourbon. I just can't get past the bitterness I get from it. Thankfully I only purchased 2 50ml bottles and not the 750ml.30.0 USD per Bottle -
High West A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 6 (All Scenes)
Rye — (bottled in) Utah, USA
Reviewed February 3, 2020 (edited October 3, 2020)This is one I wasn't seeking out, but I was in a local ABC as they were putting out 6 bottles and I had a little extra cash so... I took a chance. MWND Act 7 Scene 2 NOSE: The nose on High West seldom disappoints and this one is no exception. Complex and Evolving the longer it sits. Definitely Rye! I get a savory Umami Note that for me is a characteristic of several HW Ryes. Dried Herbs and Spices like Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Clove, Dill and Mustard Seed. You also have some Dried Dark Fruits in the background. Think Raisins or Prunes. After a while, the Dill begins to dominate. A nose of the empty glass yield Floral and Oak notes that transition to a Humidor full of Cigars. Very good! NEAT: Dry Spicy Oak dominates. Dry Red Wine, Dried Fruit, with just a touch of Vanilla. I get Sweet Tea down the center of the tongue with Black Pepper down the sides. Nice warming Medium Length Finish. The palate is coated with the Spicy Oak, Fresh Mint and Port Wine. This fades to a Grassy, Earthy note. The Mouthfeel is Silky and Tingly. SPLASH: The palate on MWND seems almost angry or aggressive, but a little water has a calming effect. To the nose it adds Orange Peel and Caramelized Sugars. Burnt Pie Crust? Transforms the nose more to the sweet side. It really helps some of the conflicting notes on the palate play a little more nicely together. Reduces the Black Pepper and helps bring the Vanilla to the forefront. The Wood is a little less dominant as well. Takes on a Sweet-ish Wine-y quality. The coating of the palate is a little sweeter and the nice Grassy Note on the finish arrives sooner and is more pronounced. Cherries also make a late appearance. The more I drink of this, the more I like it. VERDICT: While this is not something I sought to purchase, I'm glad I lucked into it and purchased it on impulse. I was struggling with this until I gave it a little water. There are probably not very many spirits I've reviewed that have more notes under "splash" than "neat". An interesting whiskey and I could see myself buying it again, even with the $100 price tag. Well done HW!100.0 USD per Bottle
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