Tastes

WOODFORD RESERVE STRAIGHT MALT APPEARANCE: Put to the light, it's a nice shade of dried tobacco. A quick swirl makes slow forming and slow moving fat droplets. NOSE: Whoa! That Brown Foreman fresh Latex Paint note jumps right out of the glass, but it fades quickly. I get Smoky/Toasty Malt Notes of Dark Chocolate, Raw Almonds, and Coffee. There is also Black Pepper, Clove, and the smell of Fresh Cut Lumber. (Side note: I only got the Latex Paint note on the first pour) NEAT: Slightly Oily/Coating Mouthfeel. Lots of Oak here, but the toasted Malt Notes dominate yielding hints of an Extra-Hoppy Beer, with bolder notes of Cashews, Dark Chocolate, Unsweetened Toasted Coconut, Dried Cherries, and Burnt Sugar. A drying finish with Slightly Bitter Oak and Malt coating the palate. SPLASH: Gives the nose and palate a a dominant note of Tea Leaves. Reduces the Bitter Oak and adds a mint note. Am I also picking up some Honey Butter? VERDICT: I am not a huge fan of Woodford in general, but I do applaud their willingness to go out on a limb and try new/different things. Some, like this one, work for me. Others? Well more on that in a future review. I think this is priced just right at $35 ($5 less than their bourbon sells for here). I have liked each successive pour more than the last. It definitely will be a repeat buy.

This is one I've wanted to try for a while. Visiting family in Virginia and stopped in a small town ABC and saw it closed out for $26 so I bit. I recently was impressed by my first bottle of Black Bush, so my expectations going in are fairly high. Let's see if it meets them. NOSE: Fairly Light. Cereal Grains & Apple Juice at first. With time it develops Sherry, Tea, Light Oak, and a heavy scent of Flowery Perfume. NEAT: The first sip was almost effervescent. Light and Tingly with a healthy dose of Peppery Spice. Subsequent sips revealed it to be relatively Thin and Fruit Forward. Sweet Apple & Pear. Some Wood and Sherry notes. Bitter Finish with Sherry Notes lingering. Every tasting note listed you really had to work to find with the exception of the bitterness. It was front and center. Splash: A little water really makes the Sherry Notes pop on the nose. Eliminates some of the bitterness, but makes the palate a one note Vanilla affair. VERDICT: This one was a disappointment from the opening of the way too thin and flimsy paper tube to the bitter (pun intended) ending. This did not taste like 10 year old whisky. I much prefer the Black Bush. Hell, even though it's been while since I've had it, I may even prefer the standard White Label. Glad that I bought this at a closeout price and not the regular $40+ that it normally sells for. It will not be a repeat buy.

This is one I haven't had in a while, so I picked up a bottle on sale last week. This whiskey debuted just before the Templeton controversy encouraged lots of NDP's to come clean with their sources. They were very vague about the source of their product, but did give you the percent of rye in the mash bill. It was only very recently that I learned they were blending it with Colorado Single Malt (Stranahan's I assume). Not sure if this was the case from the beginning or a recent development. Let's re-review, shall we? NOSE: At first there is an overwhelming sweet note, but give it a few minutes in the glass and the Rye takes the driver's seat. Savory notes of Rye Bread and Dill. Straw and Old Leather. Very Dry and Dusty Oak. The sweeter vanilla notes are there but in a supporting role. NEAT: The Dry Dusty Oak and Leather transfer to the palate. Harkens back to chewing on the laces of your Baseball Glove between batters on a hot Saturday morning. There is a light Vanilla mid-palate. Not overly complex, but what it does have works very well. The rye is so prominent here that it almost hints at some of the High West offerings, like Double Rye or Campfire (minus the peat). At a slightly under proofed 84, there is no burn and it finishes with a light Oak, Vanilla and Mint coating the palate. SPLASH: A few drops of water really highlight the Dill and Savory Umami Notes on the nose, while bringing some Black Pepper and Black Licorice to the palate. VERDICT: I like this one and definitely see the value of keeping a bottle in my collection at all times. Complex without being complicated if that makes sense. I'm surprised how much the rye notes dominate. It really does drink like a rye. A good pour when you just want to relax and not think too much about what is in your glass.

This finally hit NC. As a fan of all things Cascade Hollow, this has been my most anticipated release this year. Let's see if it lives up to my expectations. It pours into the Glencairn with an amber tending toward orangish hue. After a quick swirl, it takes forever to form small slow moving legs. NOSE: You are immediately hit with Corn and that trademark Flintstone Chewable Vitamin Note, but both of those fade rather quickly to be replaced by Strong Barrel Charred Oak, Vanilla, Sugary Confections like Candy Corn or Marshmallow, and Grilled Fruit (maybe Peach and Pineapple?). The longer it sits the better it gets, eventually picking up a savory note of Smoked Pork. This is a bold nose. The notes aren't subtle, they are definitely in your face. Oddly, if the usual banana note is there, I'm completely missing it. NEAT: Thick and Clingy. Again, Bold is the key word here. Not overly complex at first, dominated by Oak Tannins. Subsequent sips bring notes of Syrupy Fruit (like one of those fruit cocktail cups), those Wet Walnuts that you top ice cream with, Vanilla and more slightly Bitter Oak. Slightly drying finish with just the right amount of heat. It is very clingy and your tongue is coated with the Syrupy Fruit and Charred Oak that hangs on well past the time that you're ready for another sip giving the flavor a building or cumulative effect. The more you drink, the better it gets. Again, the banana note so prevalent in the 12 presents more as fruit cocktail with the extra age. SPLASH: A few drops of water changes the fruit on the nose to Fruity Pebbles Cereal (what is it with Dickel and the Flintstones?). Brings a little more balance to the palate by reducing the Bitter Tannins and accentuating the Sweeter Oak Notes. The Syrupy Fruit Note remains, now joined by a hint of Mint. The nose on the empty glass was amazing. All gooey caramel, burnt sugar and baked apples. VERDICT: A little overwhelming at first, but spend some time with it and man does it deliver. As expected for thirteen years, very oak driven but some water removes the bitter tannins if they do not agree with your palate. The sweet notes combined with the thick clingy character would make this a perfect post dinner pour. All of that for $36. Dickel has hit a homerun with this one, and I'm hoping there are more reasonably priced releases on the way from Cascade Hollow.

I remember thinking that the Original Rebel Yell had some potential, but was way under proofed. More of a "Rebel Whisper" if you will. After hearing about the release of the 100 proof edition I vowed to pick it up when I saw it. Let's see if the extra 20 proof points change this one to a true Rebel Yell. NOSE: Immediately notice the darker orangish hue that this one has over its 80 proof sibling. The nose is slightly hot with Cinnamon, Cherry, Straw, and Oak. There was a floral note for a bit, but it dissipated quickly. Despite the big alcohol note, the nose is good. NEAT: Enters sweet with Burnt Sugar, Butterscotch, Vanilla, Cherry, Cinnamon and a surprisingly healthy dose of Oak. Lightly Astringent and Slightly Hot on the medium length finish, but not out of line for a 100 proof pour. Unlike the 80 proof version, you know you just took a drink of bourbon. That surprising Oak (SO MUCH OAK) coats the palate and lingers along with a light sweetness and a touch of a grassiness. Very good. SPLASH: A few drops of water oddly gives the nose a savory character. Think the smell you get when you walk in from work and The Woman to Whom You're Related by Marriage has a roast in the oven. Cuts down the astringency on the palate and brings the Cherry Cola note to the front. As I'm typing this review, I am enjoying a pour of this over a large chunk of ice and man is it good. VERDICT: I'll start my verdict with a direct quote from my review of Original RY..."I described Four Roses Yellow Label as "light without being weak". Unfortunately the Rebel Yell is both Light AND Weak. With a name like Rebel Yell you would expect some bite or burn. Some harshness and character. I really feel this one is WAAAAAY under proofed. I'd love to see it at 86-90"...I was right, as the added proof makes this one an Oak Bomb and puts some Oooomph in the finish. And Kudos to LuxCo for doing it for about 20 bucks. My two favorite new American Whiskies this year (this one and the OldFo Rye) are both around $20. To me, this bodes well for budget conscious buyers in the near future. This is a solid 3 3/4 Stars, but the fact that it drinks way above its $20 price tag gets it to a 4.

My local ABC store guy let me know when he got this one in last summer (I think I paid $40?). I opened and sampled it fairly quickly and don't remember much other than I wasn't very impressed. It got pushed to the back of the cabinet and I never reviewed it. Sat down yesterday after mowing the lawn and rectified that situation. NOSE: A typical Weller nose of Brown Sugar, Pralines, Salted Buttery Caramel, Polished Oak, Leather, and Hay. More time in the glass and some of the saltier notes become dominant. However, there is a big shot of alcohol sting that really throws it off. NEAT: Thinnish mouthfeel. Tons of Oak, backed by Vanilla, and Poppycock Toffee Popcorn. Just the right amount of Heat. It finishes with a decent Kentucky Hug that leaves an Oak Tanin and Vanilla coating, but there is an astringency throughout that mars the overall experience somewhat. SPLASH: A few drops of water saves this one. Gives the nose a Cherry Cola and Maple Syrup vibe, and gets rid of the alcohol sting. The mouthfeel becomes creamier and gets the cherry note as well. Now this is how I remember a Weller tasting! Completely eliminates the offensive astringency while leaving the oak. Amazing what a difference a few drops of water makes here. VERDICT: Maybe there's a reason Distillers don't let their customers "craft their bourbon". Pulling all the barrels for this one from the top floors may seem like a good idea to most, but I really think it caused the offending astringent note here. I was definitely disappointed in CYPB until I added a few drops of water. It really opened it up and improved the pour. The only other bourbon that I can remember benefitting this much from a splash was Rebel Yell 10. Ironically, another wheated Mashbill. 3.75 Neat, but 4.25 with a Splash. I'll average them for a 4.

Aberfeldy 12 NOSE: Honeycomb, Vanilla Icing, Ginger, Apple, Orange Creamsicle, Lemon Peel, Musty Wood Spice, and a little Tartness. Very nice! NEAT: Oak, Vanilla, Sweet Cream, Ginger. Thinnish, but almost effervescent. A whisper of smoke on the finish, but the longer I sip it it develops an astringent note on the finish. Coats the palate with a light smoky vanilla. Almost a creme brûlée. SPLASH: A few drops of water changes the creamsicle note to orange oil. Gives the palate a sour note. Much preferable neat. VERDICT: This one was the opposite the Glenfiddich 12 for me. That one got better the longer it was in the glass. This one started out better, but became astringent with time in the glass. Still not a bad Single Malt for around $40.

Finally trying the base OGD. The OGD114 is one of my favorite whiskies on the planet, but I find the Bonded just "OK". Let's see what I think of this one. NOSE: Orange Peel, Cedar, Straw, Old Oak, and maybe a hint of a Floral note. The more time it spends in the glass, the more the Cedar note takes charge. NEAT: Thin, muted delicate flavors. The Orange Peel from the nose. Vanilla, Cinnamon, Leather and Oak. Pleasantly Spicy. Not much of a Kentucky Hug but there is a pleasant finish with Orange and Oak coating. The more you sip the more the Oak accumulates on the palate, positively affecting subsequent sips. SPLASH: Gives and almost Maple note to the nose and the palate becomes pure Maple Syrup. Tames what little spiciness there is. A large cube of ice kills this one completely. Drink it neat, folks. VERDICT: I like this. I hate I waited so long to try it. It would be a solid 3.75 from me but I feel it is overpriced (Just shy of $20 here, though it was on sale for $17) and does not stand up to ice and that is how I consume a lot of cheaper bourbons...glass in hand at the grill. I'd still say that if you were in the mood for an 80 proofer, you could do a lot worse.