Tastes

I got a 50ml sample of this with my bottle of Ardbeg 10. Finally decided to break it open and give it a try. *Appearance: Straw colored with just a hint of orangish hue. A swirl yields a few fat slow moving legs. Seems thick and oily. *Nose: The peat presents as smoked meat. A little ash & soot. Savory. Just a hint of the magic marker note that dominates the 10 for me. A little time in the Glencairn and a light swirl rewards you with some fruit/sherry notes in the background. There is a creamy/buttery note as well. There is a definite alcohol sting from the cask proof. *Neat: Thick and Oily, Heavy and Chewy. You get heavy peat/soot and ash on the initial sip. Subsequent sips reveal flavors of vanilla, honey, apple, and sherry. Balanced. No one note dominates. Aggressive slightly sour finish with big, tingly peppery heat and menthol and ash coating the palate. This coating fades from menthol cigarette to cigar smoke. Splash: Doesn't change much at first, but eventually the sherry notes become a little bolder on the nose and palate. Reduces the stinging pepper a bit, as well as muting the menthol. Verdict: A slight step up from the 10, but I can't help thinking that maybe some of the younger whisky in here asserts itself just a tad too much. I definitely didn't think it was $20 better than the 10($75 vs $55). While I like the Ardbeg, I still find myself in the Laphroaig and Bruichladdich camps.

I've tried two bottles in the last several years and just haven't been a fan. Decided with the demise of decently priced, age stated, single barrel bourbons to give it another shot. This is a single barrel product, so your results may vary. *APPEARANCE: pours into the glass a beautiful copper color. A quick swirl leaves an oily coating that takes forever to form slow moving thin legs. *NOSE: Polished Oak. Leather. Dried Apricot. Allspice. Cinnamon. There is a mild Vanilla Sweetness in the background. There is a healthy dose of alcohol until it breathes for a few minutes. After some extended time in the glass a floral note starts to creep in. *NEAT: So much Oak! The Polished Oak/Leather note arrives first. This bottle borders on being overly tannic, but never crosses the line. Mid-Palate gets the sweet notes of Vanilla and Butterscotch. The Medium Length Finish is Slightly Hot with a Peppery tingle leaving a coating of Slightly Bitter Oak (again toeing that overly tannic line) and sweet vanilla. *SPLASH: Brings a Soft Pink Bubblegum note to the front of the nose and palate. It also dials back the Pepper and Heat on the finish. *VERDICT: This is my third bottle of ER10. It's the most Blanton-ish or EH Taylor-like I've had. I had compared my previous bottles to recipes that were made with all the right ingredients, but not the right measurements. This one gets it right, and at a $35 price tag. 4 STARS.

I've been meaning to try this one for a while. It has been discontinued in NC, so I purchased the lone bottle my local ABC store had at a closeout of $25. It pours into the Glencairn a medium straw color. A quick swirl gives the glass an oily coating and forms slow moving legs. *Nose: Interesting. There is a lot going on here. It's definitely Oak Heavy. Vanilla Malt sweetness. Buttery Cake Batter. Fruitiness that hints at it being sherry'd. There is a hint of smoke, but if there is peat here, there's not much. I keep coming back to nose the glass and I pick up something new and interesting every time. Am I really smelling those big Orange Marshmallow Circus Peanuts? Why does it remind me of Root Beer? Am I sampling scotch or rum? Very nice. *Neat: Nice heavy, oily mouthfeel. Huge hit of sweetness. Vanilla Custard, Butterscotch, and Toffee. Very sweet, but not cloying. Again, I could almost swear that something in here spent time in rum barrels. Some Sherry Fruitiness and just the lightest wisp of smoke round it out. There is a slightly sour note on the backend just before the peppery, slightly hot finish. A pleasant Oak and Vanilla coating lingers. *Splash: A little water brings the Fruit notes to the forefront on both the nose and palate, while adding a chocolate note to the finish. *Verdict: Wow. I wish I would've given this a try sooner. It's been a while since I've had a Blended scotch, but I really don't remember enjoying it as much as I enjoyed this one. I may have to see if I can find another bottle or two floating around somewhere before they're all gone.

Virgin 101 7 Year Sampled in a Glencairn, the color is amber tending toward orange. A quick swirl yields skinny, oily and slow-moving legs. *Nose: Dusty Corn, Orange Peel, a Musty/Dusty Oak note with a little alcohol sting. *Neat: Hot and Slightly Bitter on entry with Vanilla Sweetness showing up mid-palate. The Orange Peel note dominates the slightly hot finish with a healthy dose of Cinnamon for good measure. Fairly thick and chewy mouthfeel with a decent Kentucky Hug. Slightly Bitter Oak and Cinnamon coat the palate after a medium length finish. *Splash: Adds an unidentifiable sweetness and a grassy note to the nose. Really helps the palate by making the Vanilla and Cinnamon notes a little more dominant start to finish. Also adds a touch of Chocolate. As an interesting side note, the nose on the empty glass was a dead ringer for Big Red Gum. *Verdict: 7 Year Old, 101 Proof Heaven Hill Whiskey for around $13-$15? Enjoy it while (and if) you can, folks. Put this in a pretty bottle and it could easily pass for a $30-$40 Bourbon. Instead, it's the best $13 Bourbon on the market, by a long shot. Not available everywhere, but if you can find it you will not be disappointed.

Trying another Irish Whisky in March, Bushmills Black Bush. Pours into my Glencairn a nice caramel color. NOSE: Enjoyable. Cereal Grains, Crisp Apple, Dark Fruits, Leather, Sherry, Straw and Old Oak. NEAT: Slightly Thick & Oily mouthfeel. Malted Grains, Cocoa, Vanilla, Sherry, Oak. Slightly Bitter on the finish with almost zero burn. Dangerously easy to drink. Leaves a tingly coating of Grain and Sweet Oak. SPLASH: Allows the Sherry notes to dominate the nose. Tuns the palate a more Traditional Vanilla. Helps with the bitterness. Verdict: A definite step-up from the traditional white label and a little better than the Red Bush. A very enjoyable, uncomplicated sipper with just the right amount of sherry influence.

Trying a new (to me) Irish Whiskey this March. Tried Neat in a Glencairn, a quick swirl yields lots of fast moving thin legs. NOSE: When I pop the cork, I am met with the overwhelming fragrance of a super-sweet coffee drink found on the menu at Starbucks. Not sure what kind, but one of those that go for about 8 bucks. In the glass I get Chocolate, Caramel, Honeycomb, and Cereal Grains. NEAT: Mouthfeel is slightly thin, with Notes of Honey, Malt, Milk Chocolate, Vanilla, and Coffee. Dessert-like. You definitely pick up the influence of the Rum Barrels with hints of molasses. Little to no burn, but definitely hotter than its other Irish brethren. The extra proof points are a definite plus. A Slightly Sour note pops up on the finish. It lingers on the palate with a chocolatey sweetness. After a few sips, a black pepper tingle shows up. SPLASH: Gets a creamier mouthfeel and an added Butterscotch note. A Grassy note also shows up. It also helps with the sour note on the finish. VERDICT: I enjoyed this, but at it's $40 regular price, I don't see myself buying it often.

Picked up a 50ml of this to give it a try... APPEARANCE: Pours into my Glencairn a light straw color. A quick swirl yields very slow to form medium size legs. NOSE: Nose starts out nice. Very Grain Forward. Honeycomb, Raisins, Green Apples, Leather and Tea. After a while a distinct Sherry note develops. With more time, it swells and dominates all the other notes. NEAT: Slightly Sweetened Tea. Grain Heavy. Light Vanilla, Honey, Smoke, and a hint of Black Pepper. Very few of the Fruit Notes transfer from the nose. Not much complexity. This is followed by a very Short Bitter finish. No burn with a slight warming sensation on the way down. Coats with a lingering Bitterness, Light Sweetness, and Black Pepper. SPLASH: No noticeable change to the nose. Sweetens the palate somewhat. Brings out a little Sherry. VERDICT: The whole experience was very "Irish-ish". The nose started out very promising, but ended up being dominated by Sherry. Not many of the promising notes from the nose transferred to the palate. Glad that I tried a 50ml instead of purchasing an entire bottle.

Re-visiting this one after not having it for a while. Noticeably lighter in color than the 12 thanks to the lower age and proof. The color of straw with skinny fast moving legs. NOSE: Light and Delicate with Vanilla, Corn, Hazelnut, and Oak. A little time in the glass brings out Cake Batter and Honey. A touch of the Multi-Vitamin note may be there? or my brain is just accustomed to associating it with Dickel Whisky? NEAT: As the Distillr notes suggest, about as straightforward as a whiskey can get. Vanilla Pudding, a little Banana Cream, and a lot of Dusty Oak. Some Honeycomb emerges as well. Almost scotch-like. If the multi-vitamin note is here, it is so light as to not be noticed. It may be that it is more prominent with the added 10 proof points of the No. 12. No burn or harshness on the finish, just a light warming on the way down. The oak note coats the palate and lingers. SPLASH: Brings the Banana Cream note to the nose. The Vanilla and Oak now completely dominate the palate. Whether its the added water or the time spent in the glass, I am starting to get a little of the "Flintstone" vitamin note. VERDICT: Every once in a while you get surprised by a Whisk(e)y. This is one of those times. I have had this in the past, but always bypass it in favor of the No. 12. That may be a mistake. The 12 is better, but for a $15-$18 whiskey, this one is hard to beat. The only one I can think of liking better in this price range is the EW BIB. That's good company. When in the mood for an 80 proofer, this and WT81 should be my choice every time. More than $10 less than Jack Daniel's, but infinitely better.

Decided to do a "Wheater" night last night. OWA, MM Cask Strength, and W12 (not sure how many more pours I can nurse out of my lone 3 year old bottle). This was my least favorite of the three. The notes of vanilla, cinnamon, tangerine, and hay on the nose transfer to the palate. To me though, the current version has gotten too young. The finish was too astringent, hot, and bitter without any oak to balance it. A splash did help by bringing some oak notes forward. Not a good sign now that their MSRP is going up to $50. The bottle I tasted last night was barely a $30 bottle.

9 yo Single Barrel selected for New Hanover County ABC. This is a Single Barrel product so your mileage may vary. APPEARANCE: Pours into the Glencairn a light Amber. A quick swirl leaves an oily coating and forms fat slow moving legs. NOSE: Light, Caramel Corn, Graham Cracker, Tropical Citrus & Coconut, Cinnamon, Light Dusty Oak, with a healthy dose of alcohol. Less banana than I usually get from Whisky that has been through the Lincoln County Process, but it is faintly there. The mineral note usually found in Dickel is either missing or so light that I don't detect it. NEAT: Chocolate Covered Marshmallows, Eggnog, Cinnamon, and Light Oak. Smooth Finish with limited burn. Coats the palate with lingering Oak, Vanilla, and Cinnamon. SPLASH: A few drops of water brightens the nose and gives it a floral quality. Adds a bubblegum sweetness and a little more oak to the palate. A hint of the Flintstone multi-vitamin makes an appearance. VERDICT: Living in an ABC state severely limits access to barrel picks, so I try and pick them up when I see them. I'm a fan of all things Cascade Hollow and this is no exception. I'm going to really enjoy this bottle.