Tastes
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Archie Rose Signature Dry Gin
London Dry Gin — Australia
Reviewed January 8, 2018 (edited November 8, 2018)Nose: Delicate and crisp with a focus on citrus and pine. Slight minerality. Palate: A nice sweet juniper up front with some spicy pepper notes and a brisk texture. It's a delicate and well balanced palate. Finish: Short. Well balanced, and with a light lingering spiciness. Archie Rose uses a core of traditional gin ingredients for the Signature Dry Gin but they also include native Australian botanicals including Dorrigo pepper, lemon myrtle, river mint and blood lime. These are not particularly unusual in taste and generally approximate the aromas of other gins, but they are just different enough to impart individuality. I've tasted this at the distillery in several contexts - neat, over ice, in a G&T made with Fever Tree Premium and in one made with Fever Tree Aromatic. I've also had it at home in G&Ts and cocktails and in all cases it was refreshing and enjoyable. This gin is not produced as a single maceration nor as a one-pass vapor infusion (which is why it can't be called a London Dry gin because use of that term requires the one-pass process). Instead it is compounded from separately produced botanical infusions. Some are cold macerations and others are one-pass distillation runs. For example, they produce a batch of spirit containing only juniper, then one containing only orange peel, then one containing only cardamom, etc. These batches of botanical spirit are then combined as required to produce the gin. In the case of this Signature Dry Gin, which is a core range product, the process creates a pleasant gin that is very well made but also rather average in profile. It is clearly formulated to have appeal to as wide a market as possible, which is good business practice, but it does result in a gin that is rather, well, “generic”. "Above Average" : 80/100 (3 stars)80.0 AUD per Bottle -
* My bottle: Dumped on 9/6/16 from barrel no. 116, warehouse H, rick no. 17. Bottle no. 252" 51.5% abv. Nose: The first impression is oak in many guises - charred barrel, new oak panelling, my grandmother's polished oak dresser. Then leather (a new leather couch) and the aroma of a fine cigar. Arising like a mist from this oaken grove there are aromas of vanilla, apricot liqueur, clove oil and cinnamon. I close my eyes and imagine standing on a wooded hill watching the sunset over rolling fields of wheat at the end of a hot day. Vibrantly autumnal, and surprisingly after a while you realize that it is actually a very cereal-forward nose. (The dry-glass nose is strongly sandalwood). Palate: A woody, dry and almost astringent arrival that is at the very edge of being too forceful, but never quite steps over the line. Exquisite management of the rye component! This is followed by a remarkably measured and complex development with diverse sweet notes seeming to flow into the liquid instead of arising from it. A very cohesive palate that is an absolute joy to taste, and so richly textured it is almost oily. More rich oak, mocha coffee, hazelnuts, pecan nuts, dark warm spices (ginger, cinnamon, clove), liquorice, dried figs and dried apricots, a touch of very dark, strong honey, freshly ground white pepper, menthol, a delightful herby note (mint? sage?) and some faint orange and mango fruit juice hints scurrying about. Finish: Medium-long and multifaceted. First the robust and captivating sweeter flavours from the palate fade to a toffee/caramel finish, then the more subtle notes take over and continue into a much longer finish with a tobacco, liquorice and spice finale. For my first review of 2018 I thought I'd turn to something more upmarket than the somewhat quotidian rums I've been tasting lately, and Blanton's Gold most certainly did not disappoint. Do not add water to this whiskey! It just blurs everything, highlights the spices too much and raises a bitter note in the finish that is undetectable when neat. It ruins the whiskey. Besides which, it is unnecessary. Blanton’s Gold is smooth, cultivated, refined and intended for neat sipping. You know you are drinking something stronger than 80 proof, but at no time is there a trace of burn or pummeling of the nose or tastebuds. Overall - stunning. Poised, magisterial, serene, complex, but approachable. Pour a good sized dram of this and ponder it for at least an hour with no distractions other than some good music. I'd recommend Beethoven or Mahler. Blanton's Original is a very fine dram, but this is outstanding, particularly at what is comparatively a bargain-basement price! It's not just one of the best bourbons I've tasted, it's one of the best whisk(e)ys I've tasted. This is the Springbank 21, the GlenDronach 18 Allardice, or maybe the Dalmore Cigar Malt of bourbons. “Excellent” : 88/100 (4.5 stars)110.0 AUD per Bottle
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Beenleigh Copper Pot Distilled Rum
Gold Rum — Queensland, Australia
Reviewed January 1, 2018 (edited November 9, 2018)Nose: Bright. Nail polish, vinyl, apple, light banana, weak honey. If I try real hard I can almost convince myself there is vanilla. Palate: A soft, slightly fruity arrival with more of a sweet cereal than a molasses or sugar character. Very little development at all - it becomes dryer and some saccharine flavours appear. Weak black tea. Finish: Lingering, the artificial sweetener flavour descends into metallic sourness at the end. Immediately after pouring there is an aroma like solvent and industrial alcohol that is reminiscent of distillation foreshots. Over time as the volatile compounds evaporate it settles down to a generically fruity character. Whilst not actively awful neat, it's just not very nice, and is more like a bottom-shelf supermarket blended whisky than rum. This is unequivocally a mixing spirit and it should not be consumed in its naked state. Drowning it in cola and ice deadens the flavor and produces an acceptable rum-flavoured beverage. I can't agree with the official rating here of 86. I can only image that the exported bottles are of a higher quality than the ones they keep for the domestic market. “Inferior" : 65/100 (1.5 stars)40.0 AUD per Bottle -
Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Rum
Aged Rum — Jamaica
Reviewed December 28, 2017 (edited May 20, 2020)Nose: Heavily oaked molasses, burnt sugar, astringent spice, shoe polish, bitter oils freshly squeezed from an orange skin, rancid walnuts, deep down a light trace of vanilla. It's a fairly big and interesting nose, but not pleasant or compelling. Just interesting. Palate: Initially soft and sweet, it quickly develops into a dry, spicy and slightly tart palate. It's quite rich and full of molasses and raisins. Then as it sits on the tongue, and particularly as you swallow, it suddenly develops a very hot ginger, chilli and dark cocoa burn. It's noisy, busy and more rowdy than high-spirited. Finish: As the boisterous palate subsides it fades away on a raft of astringent, bitter oak tannins, and the final memory is raisins. In addition there is a lingering spicy burn that could be called length, but it's actually just fallout from the hot spice in the development. I didn't like this rum and I’m surprised it is so popular and rates well here – maybe I had a bad bottle? I do like a dry, spicy rum and I’ve enjoyed other Appleton Estate rums I’ve tasted over the years, but this one just didn’t work for me. There is far too much acrid, tannic oak for my palate. It was adequate as a mixer but I was glad to see the bottle finished and I'd not buy it again. “Adequate” : 70/100 (2 stars)83.0 AUD per Bottle -
The Six Isles Blended Malt
Blended Malt — Scotland
Reviewed December 27, 2017 (edited March 12, 2020)Nose: Peat smoke. Bah-boom! straight up, no waiting or discussion - just good quality peat smoke. That slightly sour, fruity, oily smoke that comes from nothing else. But wait .. more appears ... an onshore breeze wafts lots of brine to the nose, along with seaweed and more oiliness, this time citrus oil. Cracking good stuff - aromatic, crisp and clean - even slightly herbal. Palate: An oily arrival with smoke, which builds and builds into a crescendo of peatiness, citrus flavours, light honey and a little brine. Very like the natural culmination of the nose, in fact. A soft, creamy mouthfeel. Finish: Medium/short. Sweet peat smoke rumbling into the darkness. A touch of pepper in the tail. This is a good recommendation for the newcomer on a limited budget who wants to buy a smoky whisky. That's not to say that it's merely a beginner's whisky, but it presents a complete picture of everything you will find in smokey whiskies and does so at an affordable price. For the more experienced whisky drinker it’s still a very enjoyable dram that is ideal for mixing, and is quite acceptable as a sipper. There have been some very nice peat-centric malt blends in the last few years (by Compass Box, Douglas Laing, etc.) and this is another welcome addition, particularly given the very reasonable pricing. I'd even say this is the best affordable peated malt blend you can buy. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)63.0 AUD per Bottle -
Pike Creek Canadian Whisky Finished in Port Wine Barrels
Canadian — Canada
Reviewed December 27, 2017 (edited October 16, 2020)Nose: Wine and typical corn-whiskey aromas, and not much more. Maybe a hint of rye and oak. It's ... soft and inoffensive. Palate: An uninspiring arrival with a little raisin and brown sugar, then turning sharply ginger-spiced and peppery in the development. Some sour bitterness like over-brewed tea that has been watered down, but also a sweetness around the tongue. Not completely unpleasant, but strangely out of step with itself. Finish: Fairly short, with some metallic sugary flavours, but it is a crisp finish. The nose is thin, but not bad, however the palate is not integrated. There is the spicy base of a fairly ordinary whisky in parallel with a thread of wine, but there is no collaboration happening. It’s like two actors on stage at the same time, but performing parts from different plays. An “also ran” whiskey - perfectly drinkable and immediately forgettable - but wildly overpriced for what it is. "Average" : 75/100 (2.5 stars)65.0 AUD per Bottle -
NOTE: This review is based on the 40%abv version that is distributed in Australia and other international markets, and not the US 45%abv expression. Nose: Sweet and spicy with a little oak. It's quite soft and relaxed but not at all sickly-sweet. There's an orange peel note and some cinnamon, but vanilla takes centre stage. Palate: The arrival is quite spicy and hot, fruity (orange zest) and developing into oaky tannins, tobacco and more spice. Finish: Medium, grainy, oaky, a little harsh. This is one of the cheapest reasonable bourbons you can buy in Australia and I'd equate it with Ballantines Finest or Bells in the scotch world. An everyday whiskey that is affordable enough to keep permanently stocked as a mixer, in which capacity it works admirably. Just barely acceptable as a sipping whiskey, if you're desperate. From what I can gather looking at reviews here and elsewhere there is not a massive difference in the profile of the 40% and 45% versions, but I have to wonder - why do they do that to us? It's the same in many cases - our Buffalo Trace is only 40%, same for Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Rye, and many others. Thanks to KT66 for the tasting samples. "Average" : 77/100 (2.5 stars)46.0 AUD per Bottle
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Ron Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum
Aged Rum — Venezuela
Reviewed December 23, 2017 (edited October 21, 2024)Nose: Raisins, plums, dark cherries, marsala wine, PX sherry, Manuka honey and orange curacao. Palate: The arrival is like being lashed with honey-soaked velvet whips, and as the sugar dissolves your teeth you taste dates coated in agave syrup, cinnamon and cloves. It’s warm on the development, but never verging into spicy heat. Brown sugar, maple syrup, Port wine, PX sherry, moscato wine – it’s thick, viscous and palate coating and there’s an underpinning coffee note that is very nice. Finish: A long, intensely sweet finish that oozes away into the sunset, studded with raisins. This is a difficult one to rate. It’s without doubt the sweetest most marsala-like rum I've ever tasted and to be honest I don't know if I like it or not. I prefer a dry, less syrupy rum for sipping so this is outside my comfort zone for that purpose and I can’t imagine using it as a mixer either. However a small glass taken as an alternative to a sweet sherry or dessert wine after dinner can be delightful. That is my preferred way to use it - as an alternative liqueur rather than as a rum per se - and in that context it is a good rum. “Good" : 84/100 (3.75 stars)75.0 AUD per Bottle -
Rhum Barbancourt 5 Star 8 Year
Rhum Agricole Vieux — Haiti
Reviewed December 23, 2017 (edited July 18, 2022)Nose: Some lovely gentle oak to start with and as the Distiller summary note says, "woody" is the key here. Some caramel and if it was a whisky I'd even say vegetal or mineral notes - it's not unlike a whisky "maritime" style nose. Palate: Sweet and punchy, with a warm arrival that turns spicy with ginger and hot cinnamon and lingers right through into the finish. Some typical agricole grassy notes appear in the development. There's a little bit of orange oil or bitter marmalade and sour nuttiness (Brazil nut? walnuts?) and complex herbal sugars along with an ashy component. Finish: Medium/short. The sweetness of the palate fades into a dry and spicy finish with some tannin and lingering bitter chocolate. A good sipping rum, not the deepest experience but more than just a mixing spirit - it's certainly a rum that could change your mind if you're not typically a fan of rhums agricole. Very enjoyable but lacking the complexity that would earn it 4 stars. "Good" : 84/100 (3.75 stars)95.0 AUD per Bottle -
Angostura 1919 Rum
Aged Rum — Trinidad & Tobago
Reviewed December 23, 2017 (edited October 21, 2024)Nose: French vanilla ice-cream, cherry cola, ginger, caramel, honeysuckle, orange blossom water and coconut. It's somewhat reminiscent of some bourbons. (PS - the dry glass is surprisingly smoky). Palate: A very sweet arrival but not the heavy sweetness of molasses, much softer and lighter. It may still be overpoweringly sugary for some palates - sort of like suffocating in cotton candy. It turns spicy around the tongue as it develops with cinnamon and orange peel and then becomes relaxed and warming. Finish: Vanilla, vanilla, vanilla ... spices and a bit of cocoa filigree throughout the fairly short but pleasant finish. Some orange again in the aftertaste. What a fun rum - this is a hippy chick, dancing in white muslin at Perissa beach on Santorini (sigh, I wonder where she is now). It’s not a profound experience by any stretch of the imagination, and I can absolutely get how some people would find it almost undrinkably sweet and vanilla-heavy (seriously, it's almost like vanilla essence has been added). However sometimes a light-hearted candy-cane spirit can be most enjoyable. It's smooth, incredibly sweet but not heavy, just spicy enough to be interesting, has no burn at all and a silky and beguiling texture. Some rums are light and purely for mixing. Others are serious, demand attention and need to be taken in small doses or with a cigar to balance their heft, but this one can be enjoyed at any time (as long as you have a sweet tooth). Think of it as a light vanilla-flavoured rum liqueur and you're getting the picture. “Average” : 78/100 (2.75 stars)70.0 AUD per Bottle
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