Tastes

Barrel #15A29: Initially, I get pepper on the nose with a noticeable alcohol astringency. After the initial burn/spice, the nose softens to sweeter notes: lightly floral, sweet honeysuckle, and citrus zest. The nose is a bit more complex than the taste, but the mouthfeel is nice and the finish leaves mint, tobacco, sweetness, and peppery spice on the tongue. This is a nice whiskey, but I think I will stick to less expensive bottles when it comes to Ryes because there are so many bang-for-your-buck bottles on the market. 3.75/5

Rhymes with pickle and tastes like dill. Go figure

Batch #8. $37.99 in OR. The whiskey pours a ruby red hue. After hints of caramel and sweetness on the nose, the port influence becomes immediately apparent. The port comes through even stronger on the taste with a beautiful, rounded sweetness and moderate tartness that lingers nicely on the palate and finishes like a robust red wine. This whiskey is a little hot, but the alcohol burn can be tamed nicely by a drop or two of water. Everything about this whiskey, from the aesthetics to the taste, is enjoyable. I'm looking forward to keeping this one on the shelf and seeing how it opens up. At $38, I am more than pleased with my purchase.

Appears to be the well whiskey of choice throughout Oregon. Could be worse, I suppose.

Wild Turkey 101 is a no frills, every-day kind of bourbon... a go-to... a staple of the industry. 3 stars overall, but 4 when compared to similarly priced bourbons. The extra kick from the higher proof pairs nicely with the sweetness. Always a great bottle to have on hand, whether you're sipping it neat, with some ice, or mixing it in cocktails for your friends.

Pretty bad whiskey, especially considering the $40 price tag. Sloppy, unrefined, and disappointing all around. If you're really dying to try it, spring for a pour at a bar rather than forking out the cash for a bottle. I don't even think I would pay $15 for a bottle.