Tastes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. — 3.75/5

Nose: dust and wood with some corn, and what I always think is pecan nuts I get on young bourbons...some people might call that a funk, who knows. Taste: medicinal notes but also some butterscotch. It actually tastes a little older than the nose which seems quite young (and this is less than 2 years I believe) Finish: short, mostly a woody spice This really isn’t bad for a cheap, young bourbon. I’ve definitely had worse. Will be interested to see the older expressions.

Smelling this whisky makes me think of winter holidays as a kid. That might mean something way different to me than you but I’ll try to explain. Rich, potent mix of smoke and grilled meats, earthy notes, hints of sweet bbq meats and citrus. Somewhere back there are wet twigs stuck in the snow. Taste: quite rich rush of even more peat smoke than the nose, but just enough sweet fruits that the smoke doesn’t overwhelm the palate, more smoked meats come in mid palate, hints of floral, mint and even honey. Finish: medium There’s so much going on in this whisky and it reminds me of winter bonfires. I’ve never had the older Peat Monster recipes but this blend is very good, even for a peat novice like myself.

If someone asked me what is an “all-around” scotch whisky that shows off what scotch can do in a glass, it would be the Macallan 12. Nose: all day butterscotch & caramel Taste: more of the same but with hints of citrus, ginger, raisins, and just a touch of smoke Finish: short to medium This is probably my favorite of the mainline 12-year-old single malt bottles from Speyside (and Highlands in general) like Glenfiddich 12, Glenlivet 12, Aberfeldy 12, etc. There’s just enough going on to make you want to explore more Scottish whiskys.

Spice Tree noses almost like a bourbon to me, which I love. Nose: dark, rich fruits, nutmeg, vanilla, butterscotch, oak Taste: very rich and oily, more candied sweetness that gives way to barrel char, spice and what I think is a hint of peat but that could just be from the Dailuane that’s supposedly in this. Finish: medium with a final flourish of honey Bourbon lovers will really like this unless they just hate scotch altogether. One of my favorite blends period. Each note stands out and is easy to find if you’re new to scotch.