Tastes
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Montelobos Espadín Mezcal Joven
Mezcal Joven — Oaxaca, Mexico
Reviewed January 25, 2020 (edited May 24, 2020)The nose is clean with zero ethanol. Roasted beets, ancho chilis, cane syrup and candied yams. Sagebrush smoke throughout, but doesn’t dominate. The palate explodes with flavor. Grapefruit oils pucker the tongue, a gentle sweetness plays in the background. Roasted bell pepper, copper notes, and peppery fresh radish form the backbone. Pinion woodsmoke wafts throughout the taste. Iodine, smoke and the bite of the radish linger for minutes on the finish. A really well-crafted mezcal for an affordable price. Hard to complain when it’s a good sipper but cheap enough for cocktails.39.0 USD per Bottle -
My first sotol, but i’ve acclimated over the first 20% of the bottle. A semi-impulse buy while browsing for mezcal (thanks high Distiller ratings!). On the nose, a crisp waft of mesquite smoke. Chalk. Lime rind. Yucca? A bit medicinal and antiseptic. Clean and dry. Medium-high viscosity. The flavors flash intensely, and only then begin to evolve. The palate is sharp with unaged spirit, but no harshness... just an electrifying vibrancy. The curtain raises with that same clean and dry (not oily) smoke followed by a brief simple syrup sweetness. Then a huge vegetal, coppery tang puckers the whole mouth with bitter lemon oils drying the cheeks and prevails for minutes, fading ever so slowly while adding limestone alkali. There is an unusual, unsalted meatiness that sets in... not the chewy ham of some Scotches, more of a chickeny flavor - perhaps alligator or rattlesnake. Something that was cooked in unseasoned cast iron, where the metal taste leeches in. The mouth waters throughout from the tanginess and minerality, and just begs you to take another sip. What a challenging and exciting pour. Perhaps moreso than any other spirit I’ve had, this screams of terrior - not just a sensory experience, but transcendental. This stuff damn near teleports you to the Mexican desert, and certainly feels out of place in my current midwestern winter. I can actually see and feel myself in the high desert, the day’s sweat dried into my dusty clothes, with nothing but nature, sky, and solitude for miles and miles. That just feels right. Cheers all. Try some if you haven’t... definitely won’t be for everybody, maybe even me. I’m both enamored and terrified of this stuff.38.0 USD per Bottle
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Clément VSOP Rhum Agricole
Rhum Agricole Vieux — Martinique
Reviewed January 24, 2020 (edited July 23, 2021)The nose is orange blossom, spiced pear, and mostly cereal notes. Very reminiscent of an orange-forward grain whisky (Irish or blended scotch), perhaps Jameson Crested or Compass Box Hedonism as the first to come to mind. Very inviting. The rhum retains its sharp, tangy, and vegetal agricole character, but the barrel notes really transform things into more complex (and familiar) aromas and flavors. Also, those edges round off considerably with a little time in the glass (20-30 minutes). Gently sweet, then the mouth fills with orange peel. Creamy. Still intensely vegetal:, fresh chili, grappa-esque grape must, kaffir lime, and plenty of brassy metallic notes. Some kinship to molasses-based rum is noticeable, but almost more as if you were tasting the rum only through the saccharine notes of diet cola. Nothing similar to contrast it to, but it is quite intriguing and certainly in no way harsh. Will enjoy exploring this further and I imagine this is a quality representative of the style.35.0 USD per Bottle -
Kaiyō Japanese Mizunara Oak Cask Strength
Blended Malt — Japan
Reviewed January 24, 2020 (edited December 12, 2020)Tasted side-by-side with the regular expression. Wow, what a difference it makes going from 43% to 53%. All those intriguing flavors just fill the mouth such that I’d probably never consider purchasing the watered-down version, despite the price jump. The same tangy lemon, sandalwood, orange-blossom honey, and exotic florals pair nicely with a subtle sweetness and drying bitter note. Definitely a touch of salinity. I found myself thirsty for more after every sip. I enjoyed the experience but would have to revisit to decide how I feel versus other options at the price point. Intriguing and worth a taste if you get the chance.93.0 USD per Bottle -
Tasting note #200! Still considering if I should be proud of the milestone. Oh well, let’s not judge haha. Brief store sampling. My first taste of Mizunara-aged spirit. Very thin on the palate. Subtle flavors that take time to blossom. Recognizably different than most whiskies. Gentle sweetness. Tart and tangy lemon peel. Sandalwood. Unusual florals... say orchids. A hint of pleasant bitterness. Intriguing and tasty, but the flavors are fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying. I want more (I reference you to my cask strength review).53.0 USD per Bottle
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High West A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 6 (All Scenes)
Rye — (bottled in) Utah, USA
Reviewed January 5, 2020 (edited January 24, 2020)Act 6 Scene 5. Bottle has been open for 10 months or so now, about at the halfway mark so I thought I’d finally jot some tasting notes. A deeply red, attractive bronze. Slightly viscous, but not too oily. Bubblegum nose, some dry white grape and pear. Simultaneously rich and crisply mineral. A brief snap of ethanol spice concludes each (and every) nosing. Doesn’t singe or force you away, just makes its presence known. Opens the palate mouth-fillingly sweet, then buttery, then the bubblegum and grape must assert themselves. Tingles build gently on the sides of the tongue and cheeks, then flash through the back of the mouth on the finish. Fresh chilis and lemon Starburst linger on. Some bitter chocolate. Nutmeg. Orange rind. Definitely herbal notes - both floral marjoram and peppery basil come to mind. I really, really like this, even though some parts feel a smidge disjointed. Shares some kinship with Willet rye. The barrel finishing is well-executed and complimentary. Quite complex and hard to decipher everything thats going on. I think the core notes have been consistent throughout the bottle, but otherwise my perceptions have varied widely each time. I honestly wasn’t much of a fan for the first tasting or two. I have grown to enjoy this quite a bit, although I missed the much venerated first few acts and thus don’t know how much better it could be. Thankfully respectable opinions indicate that act 7 may yet be an upgrade, so I’m thankful I have an a7s5 bottle in hand.100.0 USD per Bottle -
Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot "B" 12 Year
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed January 4, 2020 (edited February 14, 2021)Figured I was due to give this one a try while still available for the year. Thin in the glass. Strongly lactose nose, some gentle baking spice. The palate is very pleasant. Again, lots of creamy lactose, now with menthol. Nutmeg and baked apples. Hint of cinnamon. More spicy than anticipated, but dominated by creamy dairy and cereal grain notes. Not much mouthfeel, but not unexpected at 90 proof. Shares a lot more notes with the VWFR 13-year rye than I’d have expected (from my recollection). I’d certainly drink this at any opportunity, but not worth chasing or paying secondary when you consider what else you could buy for that same money. -
Bittermens 'Elemakule Tiki Bitters
Non-Potable Bitters — USA
Reviewed December 30, 2019 (edited January 19, 2024)Swapped this into a tiki-themed daiquiri riff (rum, lime, Falernum, simple) after tasting the original version’s 3 dashes of Angostura, and it was a phenomenal upgrade. Excited to try in any other Caribbean/Polynesian-inspired cocktail that doesn’t already have a dominant spice component. -
Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed December 22, 2019 (edited December 24, 2019)Lots of mint and menthol. Chocolate notes. Pleasant spice alongside it with some oak and barrel char. Quintessential, to me, Willet grape must/pomace/grappa and bubblegum also appear (that I get truckloads of in their wild and delightful 4-year rye). In bourbon form, a bit disjointed and not particularly impressive, but certainly drinkable and a quality spirit. A bit “off-kilter” from mainstream, sweet/vanilla bourbons, but that could be good or bad depending on your preferences or expectations. For the slightly adventurous.11.0 USD per Pour -
2019. Very smooth and sweet. Classic bourbon vanilla and toffee. Totally delicious palate, but relatively thin and one-dimensional. Negligible finish. To me, it’s a direct competitor to Elijah Craig. Ultimately, that means it’s an extremely respectable bourbon, delicious, and a great value for the money at $24. Potentially worth up to $35 or $40 on its merits (tasted blind) depending on your palate. Might be worth up to $100 based on the label and scarcity economics. Not worth whatever in the world $300+ it costs on secondary. Do your part and ignore it if overpriced. Otherwise: great stuff, Buffalo Trace. Thanks for making great bourbon!
Results 111-120 of 309 Reviews