Tastes

*better with a splash of water added* Flaviar bottle selection 03/2022. This distillery in Evanston, IL just got bought out by Heaven Hill. Color is a nice medium-light amber. Smell is a vanilla and aromas that smell almost like a chocolate chip cookie with a hint of apple-banana. Mouthfeel is very buttery, light, airy, and warm(!)- almost like it’s not even there! Had to double check and make sure my mouth wasn’t numb and I could feel it. Taste is a lot of butterscotch, clove, and caramel with lingering barley flavor. Malty and woody with subtle toffee. Very strange mouthfeel, not a fan of the flavors - too young! *Upon adding a splash of water the aromas and flavors opened up. More of the barley comes through and it starts tasting like the high-barleyed Old Elk Bourbon with younger, greener flavors.

By the third week of the bottle being open, it almost tastes like it oxidized and the flavor changed - it seems lighter and greener/more BARLEY than I remember.

By FAR the best expression of Makers

Wow.. this bottle has really been growing on me. Bursting with vanilla, almond, cherry, and oak. Caramel and maple sugar with rye spice at the end. “Smoky flavors of grain and spice.” Smells of “spring flowers, a touch of black pepper and almonds, mixed with layers of honey and dates”

Had at Lasalle Kitchen and Tavern on date night with McK. Color is medium amber. Smell is delightful - caramel and cherries. Taste is a spicy and buttery caramel with vanillas and butterscotch and a lingering fruity (apple) flavor.

Had at Lasalle Kitchen and Tavern on date night with McK. Color is medium amber. Smell is a lot of caramel. Taste is ethanol hot, but very light, airy, and salty caramel malt flavor. Apricots and hazelnut certainly present with toffee at the end

Bought at Costco. Barrel 7273 (105 proof), distilled Fall 2017, bottled Fall 2021. Color is a nice medium amber. Smell is beautiful vanilla, caramel, oak and rye spice. Taste is a vanilla-forward caramel sweetness followed by a lingering burst of caramel. Cinnamon and clove undertones! Fantastic sipping whiskey!! Tastes a LOT like Makers 46… my guess is they have a similar finishing style

Almost through the bottle. This has been a terrific rye with a lot of mint and pepper spice. More buttery than expected and seems to tame as we let the whiskey sit in the bottle after opening.

Last pour of the bottle I bought. I have really enjoyed this whiskey and even brought it to Rich Troyer’s comeday act last night. Beautiful caramels, chocolate, cherry, sweet and malty notes with sweet barrel char - the flavors are enhanced by quickly rinsing my Glencairn glass with water before introducing the whiskey.

Bought at Blarney Stone in Mishawaka (on the way to Meijer). Color is a beautiful medium amber. Smells like vanilla, chocolate, and dark fruits. Taste is light, a little spicy with vanilla and sweet honeysuckle, then dry oak and char flavors, capped off with some cake and piney notes