Tastes
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Stagg Jr Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch 1
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed December 29, 2018 (edited February 23, 2019)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.50.0 USD per Bottle -
Wigle Single Barrel Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Pennsylvania, USA
Reviewed December 27, 2018 (edited February 3, 2019)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.65.0 USD per Bottle -
Wigle Single Barrel Straight Rye
Rye — Pennsylvania, USA
Reviewed December 27, 2018 (edited March 31, 2019)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.65.0 USD per Bottle -
Willett Family Estate Small Batch Rye 4 Year
Rye — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed December 19, 2018 (edited January 2, 2022)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...50.0 USD per Bottle -
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Single Barrel
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed November 15, 2018 (edited February 3, 2019)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.50.0 USD per Bottle -
Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon 90 Proof
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed November 15, 2018 (edited February 3, 2019)Bubbles KCMO store pick. Medium caramel color. Somewhat thin, but leaves narrow legs on the glass that linger after a swirl. The nose is clean and minty. Some raw sugar cane and sweet white cake or frosted sugar cookies. Creamy cherry-vanilla cola on the palate. It tastes like a 50-50 blend between the gentle caramel sweetness of Buffalo Trace and spiced cherry flavor of Old Forester Signature (but without the young burn). A gentle peppered spice lingers quite a while on the finish, with residual sweetness on the tongue. Truly this is head and shoulders above Old Forester Signature, which is still quite the respectable value. Not sure how this particular store pick varies from the generic single barrel selections, but it’s a surefire winner for $30. I have typically seen the single barrel for upwards of $40 in the past.30.0 USD per Bottle -
Whoa. Really really incredible stuff. Love this and it will not be my last bottle. Herbal, slightly medicinal nose. Marjarom, mint, and vanilla. Little to no ethanol, a surprise at 110 proof. Pleasant and clean. Medium body with noticeable legs. A rich, reddish amber. Gently sweet on the tongue, then cherries, peppercorn, and mint flash across the palate. Classic herbal rye notes prevail with a long, gently spicy finish. Quite well balanced and smooth, it gives no hint of the proof. Approachable and wonderful neat.50.0 USD per Bottle
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Medium-light amber with a reddish hue. Watery with thin legs. Cherry syrup and citrus peel on the nose. A hint of unripened pear. Cinnamon and cherries dominate the palate. Thin body. A gentle spice lingers on the finish. Hints of nutmeg and allspice. A bit astringent like a less sweet mulled cider or wine. Uniquely flavored for a bourbon. Don’t love it, don’t hate it.
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Smooth Ambler Old Scout American Whiskey
Blended — USA
Reviewed September 20, 2018 (edited August 29, 2019)2.3/5.0. Light and sweet but a bit rougher than expected. Primarily minty notes. Light honey water coloring and very thin... like simple syrup made with raw sugar. On the nose is minty ethanol, with a hint of vanilla cookie sweetness. The palate immediately offers candied peanuts, transitioning quickly to mint julep flavors, then to some vanilla hard candies. Very very thin body with a quick and sweet but astringent finish.29.0 USD per Bottle
Results 181-190 of 305 Reviews