Tastes
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La Luna Cupreata Mezcal
Mezcal Joven — Michoacan, Mexico
Reviewed December 5, 2020 (edited November 25, 2021)Note - my bottle is labeled at 46.12% ABV, which differs from the Distiller entry. Nearly clear. A nice weight when swirled. Immediate cream and vanilla on the nose, which is a departure from my expectations for mezcal - almost vanilla pudding. Little to no smoke. Cooked carrots come in around the edges, but don't dominate - vegetal notes play only a supporting role. I'm put off balance by this, but I'm not sure if its a feature of the cupreata agave or La Luna's house style. Not bad by any measure, just different. Quality all around. No ethanol despite the respectable proof. Cream again initiates the taste, with a lovely, thick mouthfeel. Mild, with only gentle sweetness... just incredible viscosity for a spell, then minerality builds and washes the palate. A twinge of metallic influence, copper lingers throughout the finish. The vanilla cream carries throughout, and couples with the viscosity to evoke pudding yet again. Char flashes before the finish, but not the smoky flavors I'm used to. Salty. Chalky, yet carries well-moderated sweetness. Bell pepper. Jasmine. Honey water. Honestly, all the components of this are extremely compelling in isolation, but I can't escape the feeling that they don't ultimately compliment one another as well as I wish they did. This leaves the final result merely as the sum of the parts, or perhaps a little less. Admittedly this is a first taste / neck pour. It is clearly a competently crafted product, but I'll have to re-evaluate throughout the bottle to see if this one grows on me. Either way, it is very affordable for a quality product if the notes appeal to you. No regrets whatsoever for the price tag. Update: plays much better in a mezcal mule than expected, admittedly with a sweet ginger beer (Gosling’s) that likes the vanilla.30.0 USD per Bottle -
Pierre Ferrand Ambre Cognac
Cognac — Grande Champagne, France
Reviewed November 28, 2020 (edited October 19, 2021)A medium orange-y yellow… marigold? Bright and fresh on the nose – quite floral. Honeysuckle. Melon. Rosewater. Clementine. Pear. A tickle of proof-spice, and pleasant weight in the glass with modest legs. Opens the palate with sweetness. Simple syrup transitions quickly to marshmallow, then finds its footing with marzipan, golden raisin, poached pears, light orange blossom honey, and finally just a hint of that classic cognac drying oak. Barrel influence is minor at most. The somewhat thick mouthfeel disperses quickly, and I’d assume is largely from the dosage. The aspartame and allspice finish is enjoyable and lingers nicely despite the negligible oak influence. Overall, a simple but approachable pour that seems to punch above it’s weight. Not going to win any awards for complexity, it opens the door to an enjoyable “flagship” cognac experience at a much lower price point than the major producers.48.0 USD per Bottle -
Oban Little Bay
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed November 13, 2020 (edited March 19, 2021)Deep orangey-brown. Watery, but with a few late-forming legs. Oranges. Grape skins. Toasted sugar and a persistent tickle of proof spice. Pretty dry on the nose. Oak, but no char. A bit of soap. Interesting, but not notably enticing. Just balance all day on the palate. Really impressive balance. I like this. Eminently drinkable. Gentle sweetness. Strong sherry profile. Peat influence is direct and persistent, but moderated. Nicely tempered with a pleasant drying astringency. Citrus oil. Hint of salt. For a budget malt, I'm enthused about this. The primary knock is just that it is ultra-thin. Really, truly, very thin; with a brief finish. I suppose this shouldn’t be surprising for a small-cask NAS – lots of flavor, just lacking the maturity and concentration that often comes from a longer aging. This is not challenging or award-worthy, but man it sure checks a lot of boxes. Good product, and I’m a fan. Only side note is that I've seen this price all over the place - from a high watermark of ~$70 USD down all the way to $35. No idea why it's so variable, but its a knockout below $45.40.0 USD per Bottle -
Glenfarclas 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed October 30, 2020 (edited March 19, 2021)Simplistic packaging with a very classic vibe - almost looks hand-labeled - but the foil is pleasing and substantive, plus some “we did it ourselves” authenticity. Relatively pale yellow with a faint orange hue. Thin weight, but eventually develops some nice cascading legs. The nose is a bit harsh and doesn’t generate much appeal for me. Some jasmine tea and butter, but generally hot. Deadened grains. Unusual toasted notes are prominent. Sweetness and barley grain. Cream. Apricot and honeydew. Flower petals and a gentle red table grape flavor. A spiced zing. The Oloroso is immediately recognizable and carries the palate. Starts tentative with an evasive Irish-ish profile, but builds quickly and the finish lingers satisfyingly. Overall pleasant with a few standout characteristics. Musty and a bit different that the usual offerings which adds a touch of complexity and interest. A compelling option, but not worth its typical >$50 price tag IMO. Recommended when available at a discount.45.0 USD per Bottle -
Glen Garioch 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed October 30, 2020 (edited May 27, 2021)Attractive bottle and label. A pleasant golden orange. Oily and leggy. Sharp orange rind, grain, and lactose define the nose. Spiced and strong. Tart and tangy. Creamy. Grainy. Simple sweetness that blends seamlessly into a zesty citrus and floral notes. Vanilla. Pear. Salt. Ginger. The elevated proof keeps the palate on edge and extends the finish well beyond many peers. A well-executed balance of casks keep the sherry profile clear but in moderation. Really just an elegantly-made sherried Highland whisky that remains crisp, bold, and clean in presentation. I have very much enjoyed this bottle and would recommend to others although I usually see it >$55 which isn’t quite as good value.48.0 USD per Bottle -
Count me surprised! Actually pretty nice. Crisp and bright nose that carries over to the palate. Really thick body which I’m totally surprised by, given the low age and “light” speyside nature. Not overly sweet, more tart than anything. Butter. Crisp apple. Grain. Lemon zest. Main drawback is it finishes a bit metallic. But for an age-stated single malt, this is pretty. darn. good. for the price. For $29 it was really easy to take a flier on. Even the mass-market mainstream Glens are $35-$40.29.0 USD per Bottle
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Templeton Rye Maple Cask Finish
Rye — Indiana (Bottled in Iowa), USA
Reviewed September 21, 2020 (edited March 21, 2021)Neat. Tumbler. Bottle is nearing retirement. Medium yellow-orange and a modestly oily appearance on the swirl. A crisp, bright aroma that permits very long nosings - oak, vanilla, and bell pepper. Dusty grain - rye and oats. The maple syrup is reticent until you wonder where its hiding, then BAM! There it is, front and center - thanks brain. Corn flakes. Definitely can see the reviewer's black tea and toasted pie crust components. Pretty clean and cohesive, but takes unreasonable effort to suss out the extra dimensions. Thin. Initial taste is sweet simple syrup - then the maple notes come back much more clearly on the tongue. Transitions quickly to a drying, vegetal, rye spice. Ethanol fumes are pervasive - oddly so since you can sniff this for weeks. It must behave quite differently once it has breached the fortress and can assault the sinuses from within. Nice and tingly afterward with oak astringency and lingering chocolate notes, more rye, cooked carrots, and pepper. There is appeal there, but the spice and fumes attack as much as they entice. Some promise to the formula, but ultimately more aggressive than would be preferred. Notably, does not seem showcase the cinnamon+Angostura/gentian profile (i.e. flavoring) typical of the standard releases, but perhaps it's there and just masked in the finishing. Okay, a second pour to conclude tasting notes means the bottle got fast-tracked and took the severance package. Honestly I used this mostly for Manhattans where the sweetness plus mule kick of fumes and rye played a bit better than most 51%ers do to my palate. Not terrible, but also not great. For the price, no regrets taking a flier on it, but nothing I will miss on the shelf now that it's gone. That's the definition of a 3-star rating to me.30.0 USD per Bottle -
Wild Turkey Bourbon 101
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed September 11, 2020 (edited August 20, 2021)Neat. Glencairn. A crystal clear yellow-orange, nearly ochre color, with modest viscosity. Noticeably leggy. Not unexpected, but consistently “proofy” on the nose. Some toffee, vanilla, and oak are discernible around the edges. Maybe a touch of jasmine tea. OK, but not a strength. The palate, however… yum. Buttery sweet right off the bat, morphing into salted caramel, cinnamon, then finally some mild oak astringency. Tangy apricot. Vanilla. Dusty hay. Corn syrup. Really just flat out drinkable. A couple fumes may tease one’s sensitivities, but certainly not unpleasant – only a bit brash. Mouthfeel isn't especially remarkable and finish is simple, but I dislike nothing here. A clear VFM rockstar, despite Turkey products being hit or miss to my preferences. A bit on the sweet side and not overly complex, but I'd be surprised if a lot of folks wouldn't pick this more often than not in a blind tasting vs. the latest overpriced boutique bourbon. Universally obtainable and not a sexy choice because you probably took shots of it in college, this deserves consideration as your house bourbon served to guests from a decanter to bypass preconceived notions. Sippable neat, on ice, or in a cocktail. A handle of this would disappear mighty quick shared around a campfire. Thanks to the Russells for a deliciously unpretentious and affordable pour.14.0 USD per Bottle -
Duckett Blue Rum
Other Sugarcane — Franklin County, Missouri, USA
Reviewed August 10, 2020 (edited August 14, 2020)Small startup distillery outside St. Louis. Strong focus on a craft approach and authenticity, no additives, everything done onsite - fermentation through bottling. Agricole-style reportedly using fresh cane and occasionally even dunder (perhaps not universally). Easy to get behind that level of commitment and business model. Unaged. 100 proof. Batch 007, 2019 bottling. A unique bottle shape with a sturdy look and attractive labels, albeit not particularly conveying "rhum" visually. A few re-directed photons shy of being totally vodka clear. Thin body with lots of thin legs. A "proofy" nosing experience with plenty of ethanol to spice the nostrils amplified by some punchy Agricole zest. Not harsh, but the nose is a detractor when sipped neat. I think a number of elements add up to a less than aromatic combination: a tropical fruit undertone of pineapple and papaya, jasmine flowers, bell pepper and cut vegetation that takes an unwelcome turn into flat and musty cereal grain with a few rubbing alcohol notes. Hopefully something that can be improved along the way for a distiller still honing their craft. Hints of sweetness up front on the tongue, then white pepper tingles the sides and cheeks. Creamy. Minerality and yellow squash gives way to resonating coppery notes that dry the mouth and aggressively draw saliva. Absolutely a fresh cane style untempered by the lack of aging. There is a lot to like on the palate, and the sweetness becomes more prominent with subsequent sips and teases an ethereal kinship with Scottish grain whiskies. Honeysuckle. White grappa. Honeydew. Pencil wood. Not a glowing review, but a hopeful one. I think there is huge potential here, and they really have no business doing this well at an extremely assertive spirit that wouldn't surprise me if it took generations to truly get dialed in. Don't know how often I'll sip this, but I think it has the flavor and oomph to shine in a handful of cocktails, and I'll be keeping my eye on Nobleton's House in the future and not afraid to try something new from them.25.0 USD per Bottle -
St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
Herbal/Spice Liqueurs — Austria
Reviewed August 10, 2020 (edited August 14, 2020)Rating is subjective without a comparison, but this is the "name brand" and even just 1/4 oz of this is a flat knockout in a tiki cocktail. So much delicious flavor. Neat, a tiny nip fills the mouth and quickly dwarfs the sweet introduction, drying the tongue and cheeks with astringency and baking spice, even adventuring timidly into the nasal reaches. Allspice (duh) that invites thoughts of clove and molasses - approaching, but not quite, black strap. Perhaps this won't be for some folks, but, um, sign me up. Not terribly pricey and a 750ml will last forever. Equally at home most everywhere its buddy Angostura might show up.27.0 USD per Bottle
Results 61-70 of 305 Reviews