Tastes

This is a great whiskey to show how different whiskey can be. Even someone who does not drink whiskey can pick up the not so subtle nose of a burning tire fire. The taste starts out with sweet then immediately into a smoked gouda cheese. The smokey flavor goes from gouda to a meaty smoke, like the after taste of an oily smoked brisket. It is an intense experience but there is no alcohol burn or allspice/pepper flavor. The intensity is mostly from the oily and smokey nature of the whiskey. It is not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you are tired of brown sugar, cinnamon, honey, and pepper spice you get from bourbon/rye, then this is a great whiskey to change it up. I did not give this whiskey a five because I know this whiskey could be more complex. But for a 50 dollar whiskey it is a great introduction to Islay without breaking the bank.

C919 Starts with a sweet caramel and turns into brown sugar. Then turns to oak barrel heat. The high proof is felt in the deep throat as a steady burn in the long finish. It’s a little oily and goes down as smooth as a 138 proof whiskey could go down.

Sweet start, obvious caramel flavor that waxes and wanes. For 111 proof goes down incredibly smooth to the point I feel like it is 80 proof. When adding water/ice the flavor it is diluted too much and loses it’s caramel roller coaster. Would be a great bourbon for those who love sweet or educating non-whiskey drinkers about picking up a note of something they have already experienced without having a well developed whiskey pallet.