Tastes
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Wild Turkey Bourbon 101
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed February 18, 2022 (edited February 21, 2022)There is no better all-around bourbon that can be enjoyed neat, rocks, or cocktail, and go head-to-head with just about any bourbon out there than Wild Turkey 101. I keep coming back to this one over the years because it’s so consistent. While everyone is scouring shelves and secondary markets and arguing online, I’ll be over here sipping a classic. Nose: candy corn and vanilla frosting, just the right amount of barrel oak Taste: citrus and baking spices Finish: Medium, just enough proof to show off what this mash from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky can do. Cheers.26.0 USD per Bottle -
Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed February 17, 2022 (edited March 17, 2022)This is my 250th review. I was always a fan of the low-priced black label and small batch bottles from Evan Williams. Great classic bourbon sipper. This new small batch is even better and it’s quickly becoming my favorite Evan Williams. Nose: candy corn, vanilla, rye mint Taste: vanilla baking spices and brown sugar Finish: short, with more corn Simple and smooth. Just easy to enjoy.26.0 USD per Bottle -
WhistlePig Old World Cask Finish Rye 12 Year
Rye — Indiana (bottled in Vermont), USA
Reviewed February 17, 2022 (edited July 25, 2022) -
Dewar's Double Double 21 Year
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed November 26, 2021 (edited February 22, 2022)Maybe because I come from a bourbon world where anything with a little age on it shoots up in price and you can’t find it anywhere but this little 1/2 of a fifth Dewar’s 21-year-old is a steal at $50. And while many just see Dewar’s as the bottom-shelf scotch, I was pleasantly surprised at this dram. Nose: dessert scents like cinnamon, toffee and cherries, also hints of citrus and wood Taste: more dessert (bourbon lovers would appreciate this) including caramel, nutmeg, vanilla, dusty corn and musty barley at the end Finish: medium but one-dimensional Approachable way to explore an older scotch. Interested to try their 27-year of this same line.50.0 USD per Bottle -
Starlight Carl T. Huber's Signature Bourbon
Bourbon — Indiana, USA
Reviewed November 19, 2021 (edited April 26, 2022)Some bourbon friends of mine don’t like this whiskey. I do. It’s one of the few craft whiskeys I’ve had outside of Kentucky that doesn’t taste like young cough medicine and oak. Noses a bit like a wheater (it’s in one of the mashbills) — cherries, oak, leather Taste: kind of brittle, quite sweet, hints of nutmeg and other baking slices Finish: medium At four years I’d say it’s a pretty good mindless sipper. It’s not bad at all. I’d like to try some of their barrel picks and finished whiskeys.55.0 USD per Bottle -
Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt
Blended Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed November 6, 2021 (edited November 19, 2021)One of the absolute best values on the shelf. For a scotch rookie or a seasoned whiskey lover, there’s not a lot wrong with Monkey Shoulder. It won’t knock your socks off but it’s just damned easy to enjoy in about any setting. I like to keep a bottle on hand always. Nose: honey and musty barley, hints of butterscotch and citrus Taste: spicy oak and candied vanilla Finish: short but who cares because it’s inexpensive, available everywhere, so there’s always another pour waiting.37.0 USD per Bottle -
Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel Select
Rye — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed January 15, 2021 (edited November 19, 2021)This is a barrel pick from The Frankfort Bourbon Society in Kentucky. Age: 6 years Barrel date: 11/18/2013 Pick date: 11/21/2019 Warehouse: W-L Floor: 04 Rick: 027 Proof: 115 Nose: quite delicate for a rye, hardly any ethanol at all. Hints of honeydew, banana, and butterscotch. Noses a bit more like a bourbon than a rye, but rye lovers probably wouldn’t be fooled. Taste: you definitely know you’re drinking a rye. Peppercorns and floral notes, with a little spearmint. Finish: medium. A different rye for my taste. My favorite rye for instance is Willett 4-year. This may appeal to those looking for an older rye that won’t break the bank if you can find a barrel pick. -
Glenlivet 12 Year Double Oak
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed December 23, 2020 (edited November 19, 2021)When I want a whisky to enjoy and not have to think much about it, I reach for something like a Glenlivet 12. So consistent, so reliable. Nose: some of the best overall notes Speyside has to offer — cereal, vanilla, apples, honey, hints of butterscotch and oak Taste: more honey, vanilla and some malty barrel spices. Finish: lasts a little longer than Glenfiddich 12. The flavor profile overall is a tick above Glenfiddich too, but to many they’re very similar.39.0 USD per Bottle -
It’s been awhile since I had this rye and despite its allocation I never thought it was worth the hunt or the markups. It’s a decent daily sipper if rye is your thing. Nose: dusty cherry and apple, hint of tobacco leaf Taste: barrel spices, vanilla, hints of citrus and eucalyptus Finish: short, mainly additional rye spices but it fades quickly This gets marked up due to its relationship to Buffalo Trace’s Thomas Handy rye. It’s good but not great. Wild Turkey, Willet, Woodford/Old Forrester, Pikesville all have ryes just as good if not better and are way easier to find. Don’t pay more than SRP for “Baby Saz.” This is also great in a cocktail.50.0 USD per Bottle
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Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed December 4, 2020 (edited November 19, 2021)While this noses a bit like the other Brown Foreman bourbons, it’s really an aside from Woodford Reserve and Old Forester. I don’t think it’s all that similar and I believe it’s a different mashbill altogether. Nose: vanilla, banana, oak, hint of leather Taste: spicy nutmeg notes and there’s a hint of a vegetal note I can’t quite pick out Finish: short...despite some spice it leaves quickly Nothing stands out with this bourbon that would make me come back to it. Let’s see what Sazerac makes of the brand when they take over. UPDATE: (December 18, 2020) I usually love 100-proof bourbons. It’s a good balance of proof and flavor. But this one for whatever reason faired better proofed down to 90 or a little below. Really brings out some floral notes and rich fruits but keeps the spice. — 3.75/527.0 USD per Bottle
Results 41-50 of 291 Reviews