Tastes

Whistlepig Piggyback 6 Year/Sampled Neat in Glencairn 01/24/20 Nose: COMPLEX. All those great herbaceous Rye notes that I love in plentiful supply. Grapefruit Peel, Clove, Black Licorice, Mint, Pine Sap, Hops, Red Apple, Dill, and Polished Oak. I could nose this one for hours. Floral Notes and Fresh Baked Rye Bread develop. Several mysterious notes that I can't quite pin down. Over time it takes on a Dry and Dusty character. One of the better noses I've experienced recently. Neat: Not as complex as the nose, but still lots going on. There is a light Cola-ish sweetness on the entry, but it yields to a slight bitterness reminiscent of a grapefruity dry IPA or slightly bitter coffee tempered with a little cream. Eucalyptus and Sweet Mint paired with Light Oak. The mouthfeel is buttery, almost creamy. After a few sips, Salted Caramel shows up. There is a pleasant Peppery quality throughout that intensifies on the finish, leaving behind a coating of slightly Musty Rye, Dill and Sweet Oak. Splash: A few drops of water amplifies those late developing Florals on the nose. The palate gets a hint of Cocoa Nibs. In the margins of my notes I've written "Dr Pepper", but not sure if that was pre- or post-splash. Verdict: Got surprised in the mail yesterday by a pre-paid Visa that was part of a rebate from a recent tire purchase. I had been looking at this one on the shelf for a while and was hesitant to drop $50 on it, but since Yokohama was paying I said "What the Hell?". I had come to the conclusion that for me, neat rye consumption was best when the mash bill was in the 51% to 75% range. Those 95/5's that I used to enjoy just weren't in my wheelhouse anymore. This is the exception to that rule. Unbelievably complex with equal parts spice and sweet. I know this was crafted with bartenders and craft cocktails in mind, but I can't imagine mixing this it is so good neat. Makes me wonder about WP's other offerings. Maybe they are worth the price? If you are a rye fan, this one comes with my highest recommendation.

Another re-review that I did at the end of the year and am just now posting. This was among the first bourbons I ever purchased/reviewed, and while I really enjoy it, for some reason it's not something that I purchase very often. On to the review... Four Roses Single Barrel from Warehouse: SS Barrel: 50-1L Nose: Delicate, but Complex. Huge Floral Note, backed by Brown Sugar, Warm Iced Pastry, the smell of a freshly opened bag of Marshmallows (the big ones, not the miniatures), and just a Hint of Charred Oak. Maybe some hay and a touch of orange peel? Dive in too deep and there is a big hit of alcohol. At first, the floral note is so dominant that it's hard to find anything else but as it slowly fades, Dried Spices and Dusty Rye notes take its place. Interestingly, on subsequent pours the floral note has become much less noticeable. Neat: There was not much Oak on the nose, but it really makes its presence known on the palate. Oak Heavy with a general Maple Sweetness. A Peppery Tingle. Maybe some of those Marshmallows from the nose? Slightly Tannic, but in a good way. Nice Kentucky Hug with a Long Finish of Oak and Brown Sugar coating the palate. Not as complex as the nose would suggest thanks to the heavy-handedness of the Barrel influence, but still a good solid profile. Splash: Brings the Orange Peel from the nose to the palate. Reduces some of the Tannic notes and accentuates that Black Pepper tingle. Verdict: This is a Single Barrel so My (and your) Mileage May Vary, but I don't remember the nose being this Complex and the palate being this Oaky in the past. It has been a couple years between bottles though. I was disappointed that the floral quality that I liked so much in the first pour has greatly diminished as I've worked through the bottle (leading me to drop it a quarter point), but overall this is a solid choice.

I've got several new bottles to open and try, but my palate just seems "off" the last couple weeks. Whether it's my mood (which has been relatively foul), sinuses/allergies (with this wacky weather half my property is in bloom), or my brief fascination with Vodka Cranberries (don't judge) I have been afraid to try anything new until stuff I've already tried tastes right to me again. I did promise myself that I would re-visit some of my earliest reviews now that I have some experience under my belt and this was one I had ready to go at the end of 2019. So, here goes... NOSE: Fairly Simple and Straightforward. A little Heat from the alcohol, but when that dissipates, it smells like a bourbon should. Caramel, Vanilla, Leather, Oak, a Hint of Soft Pink Bubblegum, maybe a Little Citrus and Floral. After some time, Dried Apricot or Peach. Haha...Okay. Maybe it's not as simple as I first thought. NEAT: Sweet. That Pink Bubblegum note is front and center. Vanilla, Light Astringent Oak, Sweet Tea, and Leather. Finishes with a Medium Kentucky Hug with light Vanilla and Wood coating the palate. Not as much going on here as the nose would lead you to believe, but solid nonetheless. SPLASH: Gives the nose a Peppery quality. Seems to accentuate the rye notes. Makes the palate even sweeter by showcasing the Vanilla notes. VERDICT: I really like BT products and usually pick them up on the rare occasion that I find them, but apparently I need to enjoy them more. What led me to re-visit this one was opening my closet and finding 5 unopened bottles of BT that I have purchased over the last 3 or 4 years. One at a time on the rare occasion that my ABC store guy emails to let me know he got a few bottles. In that time, I don't know if I've drank a drop. Bought, put away and never thought about again. What am I doing? It's Buffalo Trace for God's sake, not some Van Winkle unicorn. It's a bit overpriced at $30 (especially considering Eagle Rare has made a comeback around here and is only a few dollars more), but it's on par with other distilleries base/mid-range offerings (WT101, Maker's, Elijah Craig, 4 Roses Small Batch, etc). New Year's Resolution #10? Drink more Buffalo this year!

Quick hit review...after a long day moving my daughter into NC State, grabbed a late pour at the on campus hotel where we are staying. Saw it on the shelf and thought “What the heck?” A generous pour in a rocks glass yields lots of “red” notes (appropriate for NCSU). Cherry Cough Syrup, Red Apple, and Cinnamon. A healthy dose of bitter oak and tons of heat on the finish spoil this one. Better than I remember, but still only a 3.

Was gifted a handle of this by someone who knows I like bourbon. I can't believe I haven't reviewed this one before, so...Here goes. Nose: Peanut Brittle, Shellac, Juicy Fruit Gum, Cola, and Oak are the prominent notes I pull from my Glencairn. After some time in the glass, it develops an Herbal Note similar to a rye whiskey. Neat: Vanilla Coke, Oak, Mint, and a Black Pepper Tingle. Not overly complex, but solid. Dry Roasted Peanuts become more prominent the longer it's in the glass. There is some astringency, but not enough to be off-putting. There is a little bite on the finish and a nice sweet Oak and Vanilla that coats the palate. Splash: A little water adds a touch of Citrus to both nose and palate. Verdict: Solid and Workmanlike. A great value at between $15-$17. Decent Neat and a great mixer. I was sent a Heaven Hill survey recently with some new bottle designs for this one, and it is getting a much needed makeover with Old-Time bottle shape, Label and large cork stopper. I hope the price doesn't go up as a result. 3.25

My goal for the coming year is to go back to some of these spirits I reviewed with a novice palate and give them the treatment they deserve now that the tastebuds (and sniffer) have a little experience. I've done this with a few already (I'm looking at you Rittenhouse, OldFo, and Bernheim) and today it's Sazerac's turn... NOSE: Dry and Dusty. Light Dill. Mint. Juicy Fruit Gum. Some Vanilla and Oak with a light Floral note Creeping in. A pretty good jolt of alcohol as well. NEAT: Buttery and Lightly Oily Mouthfeel. Mildly Spicy. Loaded with flavor. Oak, Dill, Clove, Mint, Black Pepper, Cinnamon and Honey. Lightly Astringent but not to the point of being unpleasant. A little Bite on the finish with a Minty/Cinnamony Tingle and Fall'ish Spices coating and lingering. SPLASH: Brings out a Black Licorice note on the nose and really accentuates the Clove on the palate. Also adds some Lemon Peel to both. VERDICT: Maybe a little better than I remember it being. In this $30 range, it definitely bests the Bulleit Rye and rivals the Rittenhouse (though I find the two of them to be completely different profiles). This is a BT product, so sightings are rare here in NC. I'm very surprised that this is a barely legal 51% Rye based on all the Clove, Mint and Dill I pull out of it. It drinks almost like a 95/5. Very reminiscent of the old High West Double Rye which I called almost Gin Like. I regret passing on it the last couple of times I've seen it, and am very glad I picked it up this time. 4 Stars

VA Distilling Co. Port Cask (Batch 12) Pours into the Glencairn a dark reddish gold. Nose: Port. Dark Dried Fruits like Raisin and Prune. A Soapy/Perfumey Floral Note. Tea, Old Oak and an occasional hint of Lemon Peel. It also has a heavy "Boozy" quality if that makes sense? Neat: Heavy Mouthfeel. Barrel Notes, Port, Leather, Tea, and a wisp of Smoke. Slightly warming dry finish with Black Pepper and Earthy Oak coating the tongue. You get some accumulating heat on the back of the throat and a Slightly Tannic/Musty Leather aftertaste lingers. Splash: A little water gives the nose and palate some Extra Spice and a good dose of Vanilla. Verdict: This was the second sample out of my (3) 375ml pack. I like this one almost as much as I liked the Cider Cask Finish. Being born in the mountains of Southwest VA, I knew I'd be predisposed to liking these, but I've been surprised by how good they actually are. Hope to try the Chardonnay Finish tonight. Another 4 Star.

VA Distilling Co. Cider Cask Finished (Mine is Batch 4 but my notes were similar enough to previous tastings that a new entry wasn't warranted ). Pours into my Glencairn a pale straw in color. Think Apple Juice or Lipton bottled Green Tea. Nose: The Cider greets you on the cork pop as the scent of Apple hits you square in the face. In the glass you get Granny Smith Apple, Malt, Cream, Buttery Biscuits, Tea, a wisp of smoke, and a hint of Sourness. The more it sits the more complex it gets. I really like this nose. Neat: Despite the lack of wood on the nose, it is the first note I get on the palate. Apples, Beeswax, Barrel Wood, Ginger, and some smoke as well. It also has a nice Peppery Tingle throughout. There is a Mild Bitterness hanging out, but it never becomes dominant or offensive. It leaves with a slightly Warming finish that coats with with sweet'ish Vanilla and Oak. The Apple is definitely there, but to me it's not much more than I get from a fruit forward Highland Single Malt. Splash: Sweetened the finish a good bit by removing the bitterness that had been lurking. Verdict: Pleasantly surprised by this one. I was hoping for something in the 3'ish range, but I got a solid 4. I had been reluctant to try this at $65 per bottle, but I found a gift pack that has 3 half-size bottles (Cider, Chardonnay, and Port) for only $30. A great deal. A combination of American and Scottish Malt blended and given a secondary aging sounds like something that would be hard to pull off, but VA Distillery has managed to do it. Cheers!

Finished off my current bottle last night. Sweet Tea, Oak, Cigar, Vanilla and Chocolate Malt. How they make something this good with so little aging is a mystery that I wish other craft places would solve. It has to start with an awesome mash (provided by Olde Mecklenburg Brewery) and some Distilling/Barrel wizardry from Ollie at Great Wagon Road. Now, If I could only get my hands on some of the Cask Strength or Sherry Cask Finished...

Blanton's (Dump Date of 09/21/2016)-Single Barrel, your mileage may vary. A few ounces of this has become a Thanksgiving tradition for me. My current bottle was down to the last couple pours and I enjoyed it so much, I had to review. Nose: A group of smells (brown sugar, melted butter, coconut oil) that has the cumulative effect of fresh out of the oven Pecan Pie. Old Oak and Leather as well. Neat: All the notes from the nose transfer. A rather dry experience with the sweeter notes playing a supporting role to the Leather and Wood. Medium Length slightly Warm/Tingly Finish with Drying Oak coating the palate and layering with each sip. Splash: A little water sweetens it some (think Sugary Pink Bubblegum) and adds a healthy dose of Black Pepper to the finish. Verdict: There are folks who will tell you that this bourbon is overrated. I'm not one of them. If you told me I had to pick one bourbon to drink for the rest of my days, this is the one. Do I think it's worth the overinflated secondary prices? No way, but it is worth every penny of the $60-$70 suggested retail price. Unfortunately, I haven't seen a bottle here in NC in over two years. Hopefully I'll find one before next Thanksgiving.