Tastes

A gift bottled shared with and from Brendan Conery. Smell is sharp and you g with rye spice aroma and a touch of carmel. Taste is VERY young and green - good whiskey, but tastes like it needs more age. Pretty bad on its own, would prefer in a drink.

Bought a 375 mL bottle at Belmont Bev on Cleveland and Main for $17.99. Nose is not very prominent beyond the ethanol heat - perhaps subtle hints of hay and earthy (mint). Taste: Lots of sweet vanilla, butterscotch, caramel and slight pepper.

Had at Cafe Navarre with McKinley, Bruce, and Maddie. Nose is soft and chocolate-y. Taste is vanilla and char with toasted bread - light with just enough rye spice.

Blind taste test (bought at Martins at Heritage Square on Main and Cleveland on discount). Color is very light. Smell is a powerful punch of bright rye peppercorn but also a hint of that grapefruity barley - perhaps even a hint of popcorn. Smell is a powerful punch of rye peppercorn and black pepper with a hint of mint and younger corn. Taste is a fast, fresh, clean, pretty peppery/sharp spicy rye with some residual soft caramel that fades into a nice, sweet vanilla and oak finish. Upon reveal, dark chocolate notes are noticeable at the end and it is heavily herbal/botanical. A hint of anise/black licorice too.

Blind taste test - bought 50 mL bottles at Belmont Bev on Cleveland and Main St. Color is a lighter amber. Smell is a powerful punch of rye peppercorn and black pepper with a hint of mint and younger corn. Taste is fresh, clean, pretty peppery/sharp spicy with some smoke and a soft caramel. Would try again. Had to have been a high rye whiskey in the barrel

Blind taste test. Smell is an awful grapefruity syrup - later identified as orange peel and barley. Taste is off to a nice barley note with a rounding out of those herbs and orange peel coming through. Very smooth and oily.

Blind taste test - bought 50 mL bottles at Total Wine in Grand Rapids with Kyle. Color is a medium-dark amber. Smell is soft corn with the smallest hint of pepper spice. Taste is vanilla but also mysteriously subtle with a hint of bitter rye peppercorn and a sweet, caramelized leathery finish. Upon reveal, mint, clove, and pepper also present.

Blind taste test. Color is medium amber. Smell is soft but distinct - corn with hint of pepper spice. Taste is bitter rye peppercorn with a sweet, caramelized leathery finish. Upon reveal, the oily mouthfeel is certainly there along with the flavor of dried fruits.

Bling taste test. Color is medium amber. Smell is soft but distinct - corn with hint of pepper spice. Taste is bitter rye peppercorn with a sweet, caramelized leathery finish