Tastes

A hint of smoke mingling with the pear and honey on the nose. A palate of pear, green apple and orange rind. Lots of floral notes. Hibiscus, jasmine, and honeysuckle. A soft, grassy finish. Gentle.

Verdict: Third taste of this bottle to settle the score. Odd, and ultimately not for me. Will look for cocktails to finish this one - maybe a Manhattan? Not terrible and a “quality” whiskey, but this flavor profile is not my favorite. Rich red color. Thin. Hints of cherry sweetness on the nose, but flat. Buttery. Earthy grains. Bittersweet. Mr. Pibb mixed with oatmeal. Aspartame. Spiced cherry tempered by a flat, dusty hay bale. A touch of mint and allspice. Lingering minty spice in the cheeks on the finish.

Verdict: Utterly perplexing and yet undeniably appealing. I’m a fan and I couldn’t tell you why. I anticipate others not to be until proven otherwise. Generally thin with quick legs. A pale yellow hue gives the impression of a light, floral Highlands dram instead of the actual adventure awaiting. Strong, briny peat on the nose. Meaty. Graphite. Funky canned asparagus. Honey. Almost no ethanol. Could smell it for hours without really figuring out the notes my mind is racing to classify. Pleasantly jarring on the palate. Iodine and sweet. Chewy, honey-glazed smoked ham. Burnt sugar. Turkish cake soaked in sugar syrup. Licorice. Hints of charred oak. I feel like I’m grasping at a spinning Rolodex of flavors. Surprisingly, I’m unafraid of going back for another sip - rather, I’m antsy to do so. Confounding. Long but gentle warmth in the top of the throat on the finish. Bread. Iodine. Smoke.

Verdict: A very strange juxtaposition of light, elegant sweetness finishing with persistent spiciness. Ultimately just not for me. Pretty reddish caramel color. Thin, lots of closely spaced legs. Creamy, spiced pear on the nose. Gentle. Demerara sugar. Soft, light, and sweet on the first taste, immediately followed by a strong flash of Big Red cinnamon spice and a hint of anise throughout the back of the mouth. Spice does not fade with subsequent tastes. Finished long with cinnamon and cedar on the tongue and spicy warm burn in the throat.

126.4 Neat. Been open for 6 months. Verdict: Impressive, delicious, challenging, and unique. Reminds of Knob Creek Single Barrel (120 proof), but offers marginally more depth and spice, while asking a bit more patience of the taster likewise. Rich, toasty brown color. Oily and supple. Brown sugar and butterscotch nose. Prominent oak and leather. The palate is predominantly sweet kettle corn, toffee, toasted bread, and cracked pepper oaken astringency. Unavoidably hot without dilution, the flavor is a battle of sweet flavors and alcohol spice. Licorice washes throughout the mouth, and finishes with long and lingering with nutmeg, mace, and the creamy sweetness of a caramel butter cake.

Batch 74, Bottle 18, 3yr9mo Red corn, winter wheat, malted barley. Verdict: A pretty respectable and drinkable offering from a craft distiller, but some unconventional notes on the nose and palate keep this from being a solid keeper. I enjoy it and will finish it, but won’t seek another bottle. A gentle amber with a reddish tint. Thin legs. A yeasty and bold unsweetened oatmeal aroma dominates the nose along with a strong dairy note, like a dollop of yogurt or clotted cream. Very unusual in a bourbon. No ethanol. Very little sugar/toffee. More oatmeal on the palate, but this time with brown sugar and a touch of maple syrup. Still some lactose present. Thin viscosity, but imparts an enjoyable creaminess, like creme brûlée. Some heaven hill-like peanut butter - not sweet enough to be peanut brittle. The finish is long and semi-spicy cherry, like a sugar free Dr. Pepper. Some peanut notes also linger, conflicting with the cherry.

Batch 20, Barrel 36, Bottle 84. 4yr6mo 4-Grain: 68% rye, 8% wheat, 12% malted barley, 12% corn. Verdict: Very smooth, nothing harsh, just doesn’t hit on the flavors. Feels disjointed and lacking. Seems a shame to relegate a craft single barrel to cocktails but probably won’t finish this one as a sipper alone. Light reddish-gold honey color. Relatively thin. Widely-spaced legs. Simple, singular note on the nose, but pleasant. Very sweet honeyed vanilla with a hint of cherry and you get the feeling that it wants to show its fruitful side, but there is an overriding deafening note that I just can’t place. It just smells flat 5 times out of 6, like the higher frequencies have been removed. Unfortunate, as the rest is very nice. Perhaps an uncooked grain, lacking the cereal sweetness. Thin mouthfeel. A similar flatness shows itself immediately on the tongue. Like the flavor of a mouthful of oil... just neutral. Cardboard bland, then slowly replaced with a gentle minty sweetness, like the reside of a recently finished breath mint. Some black pepper and a mild, meaty nut flavor, like an almond or chestnut. A quick sip highlights the mint much more strongly and allows it to enjoyably fill the mouth. The bottle claims a cedar note that I think I can get onboard with. Finish is relatively long and pleasant and may be where this one shines the best, in competition with the (more) delightful but incomplete nose.

114.4 proof 2018 release. A beautiful deep orange color. The legs hide at first, but once they form they slowly grow thick and oily down the sides of the glass. An attractive whiskey. An uncharacteristically rich, creamy, tropical fruit nose. Cherry vanilla cream soda with some un-identifiable exotic spices. A full-fledged fruity assault on the palate. So rich and flavorful. Carries some characteristic pepper and mint rye notes, but those are just the sidebar to the intense flavors. Wow. Rosewater. White grape. Valencia orange rind. Cocoa. Sweet, sweet toasted marshmallow. Juicy Fruit gum overlaid with white peppercorn. Some semblance to a bold brandy or grappa, but so much more spice and character. A creamy, oily mouthfeel. Dazzling pepper on the tongue for a finish with a little tingle in the cheeks and back of the throat. Lasting. Final thoughts = whoa. Buckle up your seatbelts. I think I love it but I need to revisit just to catch my breath. Truly extraordinary - I’ve never had another rye anything like this...

Good balance of sweet and peat. Floral. Quite nice.

Bubbles KCMO store pick sample. Glad I tried before I bought, there had been a lot of love for this bottle and I assumed I’d love it too. Didn’t get full tasting notes, but was far more medicinal than expected, and dominated by wood char. Did not get the overwhelming sweetness that others have mentioned. Perhaps skewed by following a taste of a delightful but sweet finished rye. I’ll need to try again, but for now not on my short list. Also convinced me not to grab the Old Forester 1910 due to comparisons of the style.