Tastes
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Rock Oyster Blended Malt
Blended Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed October 10, 2021 (edited January 6, 2022)Holy sh*t this is delicious. Finally cracked this bottle after many many months slumbering in the vice closet and I am regretting my patience. Nearly exquisite sweet peat. Lemon vanilla salty smoke. Green apple. Cream. Belies the proof. Very much on the sweet end but executed extremely well. Hopefully the rebrand did not affect the component parts in any substantive way.52.0 USD per Bottle -
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed October 8, 2021 (edited January 6, 2022)Very pale in the glass. Honey water. Mostly thin but a little tacky on the glencairn when swirled. The nose is restrained but a tad sharp. Simmered marmalade, cereal grain, and crushed lemongrass. Unusually prominent barley notes. A pervasive floral undercurrent. Oatmeal and blackberries. Uncommon, but neither a plus or minus. Tart and acidic. Flashes sweet but ends more saccharine with a touch of minerality. Somewhere between apricot and tangerine. Granite. Salty in the way only scotch can be. Maybe too salty? Earthy and yeasty barley returns prominently. Lemon curd. Strong vein of flowers again. Coriander. Honey. Allspice. Some cream at the end with echoes of the tangy, saccharine sweetness returning. While I appreciate the 100 proof, I think it’s a little heavy handed when neat. Admittedly can proof down but not up. Reverberates impressively without any ethanol presence, but is just a touch too sharp. Metallic - but, more stainless steel than copper. Verdict is an unusual and tangy malt. Interesting and a bit challenging, but unfortunately not captivating. It feels like it has the backbone of some of my favorite assertive/musty/yeasty distillates, like Glenfarclas or Craigellachie, but hasn’t rounded off that prickliness with age and/or sherry in the way I have come to love. Quality product, no doubt, and iconic if unconventional packaging, but a close miss for my preferences. I understand there is very intentional batch variation, but reviewing my notes vs the critic reviews and distillery tasting notes I think they align pretty solidly. Batch 21/015, dominated by 1st or 2nd fill bourbon casks. I am surprised that this particular profile appears to be so universally appealing (3.8 @ 2k reviews), although the mystique of Islay may yield a slight bias (or my taste buds are 3rd rate - Occam’s razor suggests this may be the case). Continuing through the bottle I'll note it has grown on me, but not enough to rewrite the narrative. Appreciate the concept, distiller philosophy, and transparency. Would drink again, but probably won’t buy of my own accord.48.0 USD per Bottle -
Old Pulteney 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed September 7, 2021 (edited December 3, 2021)Full-flavored and rich, but overall quite gentle, approachable and oh-so-sweet. Honey. Loads of vanilla. Lemon cream. Rich, malty cereal notes, with a silky, creamy mouthfeel. Peaches. Substantial minerality morphs into the much anticipated “characteristic” saltiness but really blends seamlessly with the other flavors. Definitely a dessert dram, and not a world-beater due to a pretty linear flavor profile, but tasty stuff that can be an exceptional value and has an extra couple of dimensions versus nearly all competition at this price point.40.0 USD per Bottle -
Plantation O.F.T.D. Overproof Rum
Navy Rum — Multiple Countries
Reviewed August 26, 2021 (edited May 13, 2022)Bottle-kill review: starting neat in a Glencairn…we’ll see how I finish. On ice? On the floor? In the doghouse? I honestly enjoy the backstory and label. Contrived or otherwise, Gabriel inviting these cocktail/rum gurus to help him develop a new blend (or accidentally doing so on a purely social call) feels very genuine and these are people with a passion for their industry and (most notably) a sense of humor, even when money is on the line, which I respect greatly. Surely colored (as is typical for a dark rum), however the deep brown hue is enticing and makes some bold promises to your tastebuds… but promises are fulfilled, as this stuff is 100% the chief underwriter at the loan office. Nothing new to report here, but your nostrils get slapped with molasses, pineapple rind, rosewater and fusel notes before the ethanol twinge builds, obscuring other scents, and eventually pushes you out of the nosing after 3-5 seconds. Traditional oak vanillas and butterscotch get absorbed seamlessly by the tropical fruit, flowers, and hogo. Really nice and noses nowhere near 138 proof. Palate leads with classic high-ester Jamaican – a sweet wallop of ripe tropical fruit, then the Guyanan molasses washes over, then whoooa! The proof builds quickly and singes the sides of the tongue. Again, 3-5 seconds, tops. Extremely concentrated and sweet. Molasses and oak are driving the bus, but the funky fruit and petrol fumes are blaring over the loudspeakers. Unsurprisingly, the finish lingers forever, tingling the cheeks and tongue with oaky tannins and saccharides and allspice berries drawing saliva and celebrating holidays and hosting a beach-side bonfire all at the same time. This is not a perfect rum. Brought down to everyday proof, it would show a number of warts. But honestly at $25-$30/L this is nearly faultless, and a standout example of what rum is all about. I have used this liter in half-ounce floats and split-rum bases working through the tiki pantheon and it never fails to deliver loads of flavor and unmatchable value. This is not a replacement for 151-proof demerara rum, simply a great bottle that stands on its own merits. Highly recommended. (price adjusted for 750ml basis)19.5 USD per Bottle -
Flor de Caña Gran Reserva 7 Rum
Gold Rum — Nicaragua
Reviewed July 13, 2021 (edited September 5, 2022)Totally reasonable value, and a quality product, but acknowledging those things reminds me that I’m just not a big fan of Spanish-style rums, so take my rating with a grain of salt. At the end of the day, however, just about any quality blended or pot-still rum seems to stand head-and-shoulders above even exemplary examples of this style to my palate. Parts of this are quite good - impressively buttery and creamy, and the taste and aroma deliver loads of toasted marshmallow - but then it just arrives somewhere all too close to dish soap, like the marshmallow toasted over an unrefined kerosene fire. Zero harshness, but ultimately a very monotone experience, and the stylistic similarities to a certain bottom-shelf Bacardi product are inescapable. Overall, no complaints since it was purchased as an aged column still product for mixing. Fits the bill and recommended. For sipping, just make sure you like Spanish-style and you’ll have an affordable "any-day" option.19.0 USD per Bottle -
Kilchoman Machir Bay (2020 Edition)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed April 11, 2021 (edited September 5, 2021)This is quite tasty... Well-crafted. Composed. Quality. Pale yellow. Mezcal nose - smoke, salt, and a touch of vegetation, then buttery biscuit, faint almond, and raw grain. Rich and very sweet to start the taste, evolving quickly to embrace the peat. Smoked whipped cream with sea salt. Deeply pleasing flavors, but simple. A slap of smoke that somehow stays sweet and inviting. Admittedly not a side-by-side, but I'll be darned if this isn't Laphroaig 10's demure and cultured sibling that can get invited to any soiree, is friendly and personable and interesting, but doesn't ruffle any feathers and ultimately maybe isn't quite the life of the party either? Kilchoman is home by midnight while Lap10 is recounting the night's achievements at a diner at 4:30 am. Similar medicinal notes, but even though Lap is quite sweet somehow this tops it, and is even defined by it. Not complaining by any measure, and this bottle will go quite fast I'm sure... just wondering if I had to choose between the two why I'd lean this way.50.0 USD per Bottle -
Extremely light color. Thin. Creamy vanilla syrup with a gentle green apple. Actually quite pleasant, but forgettable and nothing worth seeking out. More like a sweet soda than a whisky. No layers, but probably just fine to introduce a neophyte. Not sure where the brother in law dug this up or for what price. Considering it probably is quite affordable, truly not complaining. I’d drink it, but not on purpose.
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Craigellachie 13 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed April 1, 2021 (edited August 2, 2021)Monstrous highs and lows today - needed to escape and try something new. Tugged foil, popped cork, long pour, and settled in. A solid orangey-gold. May be a touch of colorant. Semi-sweet aspartame, cinnamon, clementine peel, pineapple, and copper on the nose. Vanilla. Gentle floral notes. Quite sniffable. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose. Tart lemon, vanilla, copper, a pleasant sour edge. Creamy. Tangy. Modestly metallic. Interwebs didn't offer much insight, but Spidey Sense shouts of at least a modest component of Oloroso casks. Proof is nice - enough to linger on the tongue but not challenging. Didn't know until a little reading that some version of this distillate likely forms the backbone of Dewar's. Full disclosure #1: I am unapologetic in my relative distaste for Dewar's White Label. I will drink it, and find a handful of redeemable qualities, but may temporarily resent the offerer for their poor taste. Full disclosure #2: This is nearly EVERYTHING good that one can find in Dewar's, and almost NONE of the bad. I will resolutely proclaim the unassailable judgment, kindness, and valor of the offerer. Honestly, pulling on comparables, I feel like this is a skillful balancing act somewhere between Glenfarclas 12 and Springbank 10 - rich, funkadelic character with a heavy body, bold aspartame, dried fruit, proper ABV, and zesty spice. Unexpected, and unequivocally awesome if at a sale price. Half notch above 'farclas 12, and about on par with Springbank 10 (this night, at least - gasp!). Good stuff.53.0 USD per Bottle -
Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential American Single Malt
American Single Malt — Iowa, USA
Reviewed March 28, 2021 (edited October 28, 2021)Red wine finishing is prominent in good and bad ways. This isn’t my ideal single malt, but it presents cleanly and is an enjoyable pour. Well done for an out of the way craft distiller, and will be a clear winner for those that like a spicier profile with those red wine barrel notes. Rich tawny red-gold. Grapey with a pleasant twinge of spice on the nose. A touch sour. Palate builds upon the nose. Grapes that edge toward grappa, persistent cinnamon, red fruit, and the vein of sourness stays. Aspartame. Walnut. Sweet start is overrun by a building spice that lingers. Shares a common hallmark with other CR products. A little young overall but a nice pour if you want a little assertiveness. -
Unexpectedly good. I’d say this is in the style of Tullamore DEW 12 but a big step up in richness and a subtle side of mildewed funk. A buttery shortbread thumbprint cookie with a dollop of raspberry jam, but in whiskey form. Delicious. Deep reddish orange and notably oily. Musty but rich, with gobs of fruit and sugar. Apricot, orange blossom, biscuit, cream. Wow, this belongs in the dessert aisle. Not overly complex, and definitely not challenging... but this is tasty. Very hard not to pour a little bit more when your glass runs low.25.0 USD per Bottle
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