Tastes

I am really loving Elijah Craig Small Batch. The nose is molasses, and that wonderful charred oak. I am getting a touch of Elmer's glue from a squeeze bottle. Mild ash from a vanilla tobacco. With a droplet I get definite maple. The oaky char hits the sides of the tongue, along with a mild burn. There is a smoldering and burnt out fireworks taste that adds such a lovely, ashy quality. The heat acts as a welcome counterpoint to the flavor, and not a barrier. The spicy wood and citrus rind/peel adds a spiky little second wave; orange rind absolutely hangs out in the finish. The body is full and chewy. It's gives you a little smoke early on, before rewarding you with a spicy finish.

Vanilla bean in the nose, followed by some of that corn and a peanut component. I have been picking up on a lot of peanut in Bourbons lately, and I don't know if that's an actual flavor or if my taste buds aren't working. The taste is mild corn that is quickly overshadowed by the charred oak. Just a hint of spicy orange peel and potpourri, another flavor I keep pulling. There is a little heat on the middle of the tongue but it's quite bearable. A droplet or water makes all of this bloom like a crystalizing snowflake. The finish is molasses, vanilla bean, and that charred wood; you can almost taste each individual ash speck. The char is the game-changer in this one.

This might have the most heat of any Scotch I've had thus far. The nose is a huge fusel burn, rubbing alcohol at first. It is followed by a second wave of butterscotch and salt. The taste is another huge burn in the middle of the palate. Some tobacco ash, charcoal, leather. The peat that does exist manifests itself as dry ash. The finish is buttery, with a slick feel on the back end. On the lips, there is a an ashy, smoky component, like smoldering embers. The burn never really goes away. Coffee grounds at the tail end. It's not an incredibly complex Scotch, but it's dependable, pleasant, and extremely properly priced.

A 200 ml bottle in a three-pack. The nose is fusel alcohol, blacktop tar, charcoal and leather furniture. The peat is definitely a factor, with just a wisp of salty Butterscotch. Definitely a medicinal/band-aid soft plastic component. A hint of dark berry. Flowery perfume second wave in the nose. The aroma of this is crazy complex. The taste is earthy peat, like a black soil mouthwash. In the way down the gullet you get hot coals and campfire soot. A black peppery character hits the sides of the tongue, followed by more charcoal ashes. There is definitely an element of "babysick" as the Scottish call it. There is some softer, sweeter secondary notes: butterscotch, caramel, a touch of plum. The finish is ashes: charcoal briquettes, campfire residue. There is a puckery, tannic element if you sit with it for long enough. Caol Ila is an absolute joy to drink.

There is a peanut nose and taste that just dominates. Sweet molasses and corn syrup. The burn and char are pretty solid and offset the sweetness. The finish has a metallic and tannin/puckery ending. There is a spicy little spark at the finish. A very good value for your cabinet.

Neat, from a tumbler: Cereal grains in the nose: more cereal barley than corn. Surprisingly little burn, more like metal shavings. The burn does come through in the first sip, as does the corn. Some fruit rind and spiciness: cinnamon and clove. There is an inky saltiness on the lips; the rock salt actually comes through full force in the second wave. The finish is cinnamon spices, with a hint of pencil shavings. And that salt just don't quit. A tinge of finished wood but the salt and spices are the underground star of this one.

This just jumped into the top spot of my favorite Bourbons, despite my limited track record in the genre. The nose is burnt corn, molasses, toffee, and ashy wood. Incredibly balanced between mildly sweet and smoky. The front palate is major charred wood; beautiful and ashy. Followed by caramel, vanilla, molasses, freshly cut tobacco. Spicy orange rind and spices. The finish is leather, oak, licorice root, black tea. It's a richly dark and ashy finish which I find really satisfying. It leaves a smoky finish that sits dryly upon the back palate.

Nose is smoky firework remnants. Fusel ethanol burn, gasoline but also a medicinal plastic. Just a hint of royal blue ink from a ball-point pen. Taste is Cigarette ash, cigar box, sandalwood, all the finest woods and spent tobacco. Cinnamon and clove on the back end, spicy. It contains the Platonic ideal of what peat should be. The finish is the taste you get in your mouth after the grand finale on the Fourth of July. (We will someday tell kids what that was.) The whole operation is just a muddy, smoky mess and I am loving every damn sip of it.

The nose is smoldering candle smoke, with a hint of soft rubber. Blacktop tar. There is a medicinal quality in the aroma; band-aid. The flavor is mildly smoky, not quite bonfire but dry tobacco. Spicy dried fruit and leather. Boggy moss but the peat is not all that apparent. The finish is more light smoke. White pepper and a hint of sea salt. The peat comes out a tad as it lingers. A solid value.

The nose is a huge fiery burn of gasoline and rubbing alcohol. Singes those nose hairs. It's called 114 for a reason. Straight up, all other aromas fade to the background, although some corn and a little potpourri comes out. If you pour a drop of water in there, the burn only slightly subsides, but the spices emerge. The first taste is just a burn, pure and simple. As it mellows, cinnamon and dusty brown sugar come out. It's a good combo of sweet and spicy. There are autumnal spices like nutmeg, and cinnamon powder. If you add a droplet, some tobacco, leather and vanilla bust out. The finish is hot, as expected; the burn stays on the lips. Dry Cinnamon powder, nutmeg, dried leaves. Mellows off into a toffee and cut tobacco. This is a deceptively complex whiskey that rewards you for spending time with it.