Tastes
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This is a very unusual bourbon. It is subdued, but in a rich way. It's sort of like how American Single Malts often taste like weaker forms of great Scotches. None of the flavors are very punchy, but wood and chocolate are certainly present along with a faint amount of minerals and a little toffee. The flavor is mildly chewy and although there is some bit of cinnamon here, the spiciness is negligible. Honestly, did Distiller taste the same whiskey? There is definitely vanilla and the rich but sweet and subdued flavor gives it a nice essence of the holidays. There is a fair amount going on, though not a ton. Despite its failings, I would be happy to drink this any day. If the flavors just stood out a bit more, this would be an excellent drink. The sweetness might be a bit much for a lot of people, but I like it. The nose has some notable woody spiciness that mixes well with some bitter rye that is earthy rather than full of minerals. It smells herbal, kind of like McKenna 10. The palate is viscous yet more lightly flavored and smoother than expected. There's a lot of clove. The wood tastes a bit damp, but it isn't overwhelming. The prickly spice is nice without being excessively harsh. The rich woodiness is nice, though it's a bit on the tannic side without tasting a ton like leather (though there is some leather flavor). It would be nice with some more sweetness and red fruit here as well as a bit less numbingness from the clove. Still, there's a decent amount of complexity in here with some rich barrel flavors. This is more of what I expected Garrison Brothers to taste like. It's interesting to drink and is fairly enjoyable, though it isn't an instant classic. It also doesn't stray as far into unknown territory as St. George Breaking & Entering American Whiskey does. It tastes good though not excellent and it has reasonable complexity.30.0 USD per Bottle
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Breaking & Entering American Whiskey
Other Whiskey — USA
Reviewed June 29, 2020 (edited December 30, 2021)There is more richness on the nose here than in Templeton 4, with additional maltiness at the fore. It smells sweet, but still young. Yet it doesn't smell bad. There's a fair amount of complexity here with the maltiness coming through in a light fashion and the sweetness staying present throughout. The sweetness and malty richness do balance in a surprisingly good manner for such a young whiskey though. There are a ton for floral flavors and plenty of vanilla, but this remains drinkable in most circumstances. It's a lightly flavored whiskeys and certainly isn't one of my favorites but it generally tastes good. The flavors usually balance nicely and the palate is light but interesting. The flavor has a decent amount of complexity at the best of times, though at other times it just tastes light. Still. This is an interesting whiskey worth trying. Sure, it lacks the richness of Evan Williams Black, but it also lacks the tart dryness and has more complexity. It's hard to place this whiskey exactly, but I'd place it above Templeton 4 and Evan Williams Black. It lacks the richness and sternness of Jim Beam Black. How does it compare with Woodford Reserve? I'm not sure that it's actually worse than Jim Beam Black, but my palate is wasted.30.0 USD per Bottle -
This is a very interesting gin. This kicks of with mineral notes and some moderate spice before the floral notes take over and dominate. Corriander plays well with the flowers and minerals. There is the faintest hint if caraway as well. These flavors neatly avoid the rancid bread flavor that plagues grappa and other drinks that attempt this balance. Toward the finish, some rich fruit comes in, backed by some botanicals, including some subtle juniper. It is on the rich and sweet side for gin, which is surprising given that it is a rye. If these flavors were prominent in a whiskey, I would be upset, but in this drink they are quite welcome. It's really a matter of framing the drink and the context in which it is consumed. The variety and balance are great. It reminds me a bit of Espolon Blanco in how it subverts it's genre and turns out well despite some questionable elements. It has more subtlety than Beefeater and its flavors are more suitable together. It's definitely quite a bit like grappa, but it's also better. Complaining about grappa at the beginning and middle is fine, but the sweet and rich finish holds its own.27.0 USD per Bottle
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A big, clean juniper flavor dominates here. There is some sweetness to the pine and it is balanced with some richness, but there is no fruit and only a hint of flowers. As it moves toward the finish, some spice comes out with a hint of ginger flavor and plenty of clove. The whole drink is enticingly smooth and creamy. It's very good for anyone wanting its very particular flavor set, but a little bit goes a long way. It's kind of a balance between St. George's Terroir and Dry Rye.25.0 USD per Bottle
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Slightly sweet with prominent lemon and juniper notes and an earthy backing. There is a bit of a spicy burn here that is disappointing. Minerals (perhaps a mix of flowers and anise) hang out behind the citrus and unfortunately the large number of flavors is held back by a few off notes and mismatches. It's interesting, but off-putting. The depth doesn't make up for the clashing notes and occasional rancid taste.27.0 USD per Bottle
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St. George Absinthe Verte
Absinthe — California, USA
Reviewed June 29, 2020 (edited September 22, 2023)The nose is lemon, juniper, and cedar. The nose reminds me of daytime in the woods on a camping trip. It's quite nice win its own way, but it isn't normally want I would go for in a drink. The palate is pretty harsh and aggressive. There's a lot of spice and some strong bitterness. There is that absinthe sweetness, but like fernet, it is hard to appreciate. The bitterness is long and some numbing elements coming through with it. The complexity is nice and the flavors are appropriate and land well. The finish has a nice, mild herbal element. There's some chamomile flavor here that reminds me of modern gin in a good way and tastes quite good. This is a less sweet absinthe, but it has good flavors and balance for an herbal drink. I would like it to be less numbing, but it does a good job of balancing it's flavors. It isn't as good as Monkey 37 gin, but it's solid. There are some nice floral notes that add a mild rose perfume element to this drink, with a bit of a more bitter, subdued aspect. With water, the initial harshness is decreased, but it does come out more. The bitterness is also more pronounced and so is the chamomile. With enough water added, it goes from smelling like the woods to smelling like the sea. It's a nice shift that still exudes a feeling of relaxing vacation. The palate becomes increasingly bitter with added water. It's solid, but the flavor does go downhill. With a large amount of water added, the flavor becomes bitter with no balance from the sweet side, much like fernet. There is still plenty of chamomile, which suggests lemon peel and other herbs. It isn't excruciatingly bitter, but it is terribly numbing. The nose is delightfully complex, though not does smell like the pool. The harshness and spiciness are really what interfere with the palate at this point (though that is some pretty strong interference). I'm glad that that bit of lemon stays around to pull the chamomile notes in, but the overwhelming sense of this drink is increasingly conflicted as the water increases. Despite the really nice chamomile elements of modern gin here, Mata Hari tastes better as water is added and is not as absurdly numbing. This is a solid absinthe and I appreciate how it doesn't resort to excessive sweetness, but the flavor veers from solid and balanced to too bitter, harsh, and lacking in delightful notes. Even when it's 70% water, the bitterness and harshness remain. This just doesn't work with water, unfortunately. Without water though, it earns its 13. With it, it's a painful experience that pushes down to a 5 at times. I do not recommend this absinthe, though I do appreciate its good elements.48.0 USD per Bottle -
Hazelburn 13 Year Oloroso Cask Matured
Single Malt — Campbeltown, Scotland
Reviewed June 29, 2020 (edited March 27, 2022)The nose is rich and smoky with a playfully sweet element and nice notes of barrel spice, as well as a robust nutty toffee aroma and hints of dried rich apricot. The palate is smokier with more apricot than the nose suggests, but it's rich in a tasty way. Some gross bread unfortunately makes its way in at the back, but it doesn't ruin this drink. It does add some grassier flavor though and dry it a bit. Upon further sipping, the grass comes out more and it goes from being delightful to having an agitating citrusy grass presence that even includes a tiny hint of spearmint. It's solid for sure, but it tanks a terrific potential. Grassier, citrusier notes do start coming out on the nose, but they are less prevalent than those on the palate. Ultimately, this is interesting and worth trying with a fair bit of complexity, but it's not a great drink on its own.108.0 USD per Bottle -
It smells rich and meaty with plenty of smoke and meat and salt. The palate is not as rich as expected but it is quite smooth. Unfortunately, there is that awful combination of mineral and whatever else that produces gross bread. This is not enjoyable to drink. The nose is a bit like jerky but he body is less palatable. There is a hint of barbeque sauce hidden in here with a balance of sweet, tart, salty, and savory. The flavor is also just not rich enough. I much prefer the regular Longrow. There is something nice and creamy in here but the smoke and peat are definitely too much since they create that gross bread flavor. It has just the right amount of spice and the cream suggests oiliness. It's kind of rich but not terribly so and the rest of the flavors are kind of there across the board in a way that is balances and makes it a bit richer, but not in a way that makes it terribly complex. The bit of creme brulee is really the saving grace that is so delicious that it raises this up a few points. I could sip this, but it is severely disappointing for the price.178.0 USD per Bottle
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This isn't as in-your-face as the "peated" label might imply. It's quite sweet with a rich caramel backing. There's definitely a lot of iodine, but the flavor isn't terribly strong. There are several flavors going on here, giving it a nice amount of complexity. The smoke and peat mix with orange, burnt caramel, and sea spray. This borders on gross bread, but barely avoids that fate. The finish is smoky with elements of the sea. It's a good drink and is well worth sipping. The contrast is surprising, but the flavors balance well. The mix.of smoke and sweetness is delightful. It's comparable to Springbank 10 on terms of how mild it is, but it as definitely more aggressively smokey. A larger swig beings out more of the creaminess, making this very tasty. Adding the tastiness and complexity together, this is a terrific whiskey that rivals much more expensive ones. It needs a bit of refinement to become a masterpiece, but this is a terrific whiskey. For the price, especially, this is an amazing product.54.0 USD per Bottle
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Springbank 18 Year
Single Malt — Campbeltown, Scotland
Reviewed June 29, 2020 (edited April 13, 2022)It smells fairly rich and quite fruity with the usual salt and mineral notes. This is surprisingly mild. There is a little spice but there is also a lot of mineral. Peat and smoke make a prominent appearance, but the fruit stands out too. There is some cherry, raisin, and orange. This is a big disappointment considering how good the younger expressions are. The richness is there but the fullness is a bit lacking. There is absolutely no gross bitter alcohol note to be found but there is also nothing rich and delightful here. The flavors are broadly solid but they aren't delightful. There is way too much salt and mineral, but the fruitiness keeps this in sippable territory. The flavor gets a bit off at times but it is still somewhat better than Green Spot. Honestly, it tastes like a Peated Irish whiskey. This is absolutely not worth the price.175.0 USD per Bottle
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