Tastes

The smoke on the nose is not aggressive, but depending on what you’ve been acclimated to it’s either dominant with hints of cinnamon and salt or a nice compliment to green apples that once you find you can’t unfind. The nose makes me think this is what a peated Green Spot would smell like which, for me, sounds perfect. The taste is more subtle than the nose but the same flavors, which makes me wonder how good this would be at a higher proof. It’s good but I think I still prefer Green Spot even though I’m a peat head.

Green apple candy is the only smell I can find. The taste is honey crisp apples, maybe a touch of vanilla, very oily on the palate, but a very swift and clean finish. Not complicated or dense but the nose and initial taste carry the whiskey far enough to be one of my favorite easy drinkers.

The peat leaps out of the glass, it’s not a typical Islay peat though, it’s sharp but also with what I classify as a briny character. Pepper and campfire smoke lead the way on first taste but it gives way to sweet honey. The finish reminds you of the campfire that started the journey. It’s good, but you can tell it’s not their forte, it’s loud and brash without subtlety and depth. That being said, I would drink it any time.

The alcohol bites higher than you would expect for 45% on the nose, but behind that is nice complexity of vanilla, oak spice, honey, caramel, and leather. The taste isn’t too different from the nose but the oak is pretty dominant compared to other bourbons, which is what you would hope and expect from something called Double Oaked. My personal preference leans to more cherry forward bourbons, but this is good.

Mostly malt and apples, maybe a tiny bit of barrel spice. Solid Scotch.

Grassy, maybe a little floral, smoky peat on the nose. The malt is definitely not drowned out by the smoke and instead pairs nicely. Pepper and meaty smoke up front on the taste that fades into a sweet malt at the end. Reminds me a little of Talisker 10 without the salt. Really good. It has the character of the heaviest of peat monsters without the abrasive nature.

Dusty brown sugar with maybe a hint of red apple and cherry on the nose. First taste is very sweet, cherries rush in. The sweet gives way to barrel spice and honey that fades slowly for a nice finish. Not my absolute favorite but not one that I’d ever turn down.

Just from the nose I wouldn’t be able to pick out the smoke, mostly I get wood spice, a mild bourbon and maybe a few rye notes. But as soon as you taste it the smoke comes through. Not an overly meaty peat, but true to the name a campfire smoke. The upfront smoke gives way quickly to a high rye bourbon finish that doesn’t linger long either. If I were to try to introduce a bourbon lover to peaty whiskey, this is what I would choose. Easy to drink and an enjoyable journey through my favorite categories.

Cherries are dominant on the nose with brown sugar and maple syrup hanging back. The 50% alcohol doesn’t burn you even when you dive deep. Surprisingly smooth on the taste, the oak spice is there but not nearly as much as the cherry. Some other dark fruit notes on the finish with the same after taste as a cherry candy. Really good.

Classic Irish butter cookie on the nose. The higher proof isn’t abrasive but it’s also not hiding in the nose or the palate. Up front the taste is full of fruit that shifts into more typical Irish flavors of unmalted barley. If Irish was my thing this seems like it would be the gold standard.