Tastes

It sure smells like your usual bourbon or Tennessee whiskey. Wood, vanilla, and a little caramel hit the nose. It isn't an interesting nose, but it isn't a bad one either. The palate is on the mild side, but there is sufficient sweetness that is offset by plenty of oak. There's some expected tartness, but the whole thing isn't overly aggressive. It's full of vanilla and is mellow with just a little spice. It's on the sweet side, but how bad is that? There are some notes of apple that add a nice fruitiness and balance the (plentiful) floral notes. It avoids that gross Irish whiskey flavor, though it does have a hint of it. This is a remarkably good whiskey for the price. The molasses flavor makes the sweetness taste a bit more rounded without being cloying. There is some nice smoke flavor in here. It's a remarkably solid bourbon to begin with. It is, unfortunately, a lot weaker and noticably sweeter than most Bourbons out there. That said, it carries it's smoke and bitterness with some tartness and apple throughout, so it never tastes entirely bad, even when it does taste weak. It isn't on par with the really good bourbons, but for the price this is an excellent choice. There are some tart grainy notes mixed with wood, vanilla, cinnamon, some butterscotch, some other floral elements, and a lot of sweetness, possibly including hints of cane sugar. It's a solid mixer, but it isn't a great sipper. This is absolutely on the sweet side with a clear caramel sweetness followed by some wood in your face and some bittersweet chocolate. It might be a little over-oaked, but it still has a clean flavor. It tastes a bit young, but it isn't bad. It wouldn't be a first choice, but it could be drunk. That sweet, young flavor is it's downfall. The almond flavor is nice, but it's lacking a good fruity flavor. There's something sickly cherry about the young flavor unfortunately. This is probabaly a little bit better than High West American Prarie Reserve, but it's not as good a Jim Beam Black. There's a fair bit of stuff going on, but it lands on the sweet and light side. The barrel spice gives it a nice fiery bourbon kick that pairs well with the grainy rye clean flavor.

It smells lightly aged in an almost elegant way, but also in a way that's suggestive of a sweet and incoherent palate. It smells a fair bit like light toasty oak, which is actually pretty nice. There's also something a little leathery with some minerally apples on the nose, yet a hint of formaldehyde and mushroom a la Corralejo Reposado sneaks its way in too. The palate is oily and surprisingly rich with a sweet caramel note a a lot of nuttiness that brings in Walnut without being overwhelming, balancing it with pecan and a hint of almond. The sweetness really lingers in a syrupy way, though it does stay reasonably under control. There's a bit of spice (cinnamon and some clove) that adds burn and there's a little mint in there too. Vanilla is here for sure, but fruit is not very present beyond the mineral apple. There's a bit of something dark and sweet like dates and dried figs in the syrup, but it is hard to pick out. All told, this is weird and not something I particularly like, but it isn't that bad. The alcohol flavor is a bit present and does longer, but beyond that it's just kind of odd. The mushroom flavor does come out a lot more or a quick sip though and it brings a bit of rubber with it. There's a bit of something savory like low-grade roast beef for a brief moment after drinking Corralejo Reposado, but it vanishes quickly. This lacks the freshness, fruitiness, complexity, and definition of Corralejo Reposado and the result is highly inferior. Initially, it seemed like there might be an extra bit of rye influence here dragging this down, but that turned out not to be the case - it's just not that great.

This is the second tasting (from Flintcreek Cattle Co, not from Las Vegas (I'm not sure where that one went but I'll add it back to this review even though it is a single barrel release as soon as I find it)). This is coming right after E.H. Taylor Four Grain. The nose is milder, fruitier, and more floral. It smells less oily and more elegant. There is some cinnamon spice on the nose and also some vanilla (not as much as E.H. Taylor Four Grain though), but the oiliness is much reduced. It also has some nice toasted almond on the nose that is reminiscent of Booker's Shiny Barrel at a lower proof. There are some herbal bell pepper scents too. The nose is interestingly complex and swirling. The palate is oily, but not as much as E.H. Taylor Four Grain. It's interesting and more complex with promenant wood, but a younger character a la Booker's without the cask strength. The complexity really rushes out. The finish is nice with vanilla and a bit of toasted almond, like a marzipan. The woodiness isn't overwhelming and while there is some bitter smoke, it doesn't come with those deep bitter notes that linger and can cripple a drink (see E.H. Taylor Four Grain). This is sort of to E.H. Taylor Four Grain as Wild Turkey Jewbillee is to Stagg Jr. This is more complex with lighter notes that make it seem more immature, but also are better executed and show a finesse of craftsmanship. Some tartness and minerality come through, but they are minimal and balances, informing the drinker that this is bourbon more than they shout "rye" and "young". I would be very interested to try an older version of this, but I can thoroughly respect the distiller's decision to bottle it at whatever age it is. There's a definite traditional vibe going on here that would put this right at home at Thanksgiving. There isn't much that suggests licorice. It's more like Evan Williams kicked up a few notches than it is like Jim Beam Black. I'd prefer this to E.H. Taylor Four Grain on most occasions due to its complexity, balance, and skill of execution. It's subtle and continually interesting. It gives Wild Turkey Jewbillee a run for its money. This is super easy to sip. Its rye presence is felt, but it's rounded and complex. Sure, it tastes young, but it also tastes refined. Cinnamon, vanilla, caramel (the good kind), wood, apple, mild cherry, some mineral that isn't overwhelming and blends with the light fruit and floral flavors. There's some nice smoke in the richness that isn't obtrusive and the spiciness is felt and tasty without being harsh and overwhelming. There's eventually a bit of clover, but it's mild and subtlely enjoyable.

The 8 year statement is impressive and confusing for what is obviously such a low-end whiskey. There's some earth on the nose with a bit of vegetation and a waft of mushroom. It's a light nose though. The palate is richer than that of the regular Ellington, though this means that it lets the gross caramel show through more, along with a new mushroom flavor. It tastes substantially more artificial than the regular Ellington does. The mushroom is interesting and there's a bit more tingling spice here, but the flavor is still simplistic and it doesn't come together. This is a hard one to drink. I think I'd rather have the regular Ellington. There is a bit of something rich in here that hints at honey and orange zest, but there's far too little and it doesn't overcome the gross flavors. In direct comparison, there is more going on here than in the regular Ellington, with some more appealing richness I suppose. Still though, it's not very good; that says more about my overrating the regular Ellington upon first taste than it does about me underrating this. There's more richness and character here than in the regular Ellington. It almost doesn't taste like paint thinner. It's a big improvement over regular Ellington, though it's still awful. It's quite different from black velvet, and while this does taste worse, I do appreciate its complexity. There's a bit of a rum flavor in here with some smoke like fireworks and sweetness. This has substantially more character than Black Velvet does.

The nose is almost imperceptibly light with a bit of alcohol. From The nose, I could be convinced that this is vodka. The palate is light with a sort of chamomile flavor that frankly isn't bad, but is far from what I expect of a North American whiskey. The alcohol makes it through and the flavor is astoundingly light. A bigger sip reveals a lot more alcohol though. The alcohol and a bit of chamomile with hay are really the only flavors. It doesn't taste awful, but it's sort of the Coors of whiskey with very little going on a super light flavor. The finish is minimal with a tad more bitterness than I'd like, but it's acceptable. This tastes like a mix of some gin and lightly barrel-aged vodka. It's not awful, but those looking for whiskey should look elsewhere. There's a bit of a sickly sweet caramel taste in here that gradually grows. The chamomile fights it somewhat, but it is definitely present. Despite the light color, this is somehow less rich than it appears. Could this be mostly wheat? Right after tasting the Ellington Reserve, the sweetness here becomes more pronounced, like that of a bad aged rum. It doesn't taste as good as it did before. It's funny: now this tastes more like mushroom than the Ellington Reserve does. This is awful. It isn't as good as Ellington Reserve or black velvet.

This tastes like a rye. There is some sweetness, a bit of apple, and some sweetness. There is a ton of spice and quite a bit of wood in here. The flavor is full like the Glenmorangie 18, but also like the Glenmorangie 18, it is fairly one note. This is quite good and I could drink it often, but I don't love it. It smells alcoholic with some wood and a little spice. The flavor is kind of bitter like barrel with lots of cinnamon. There's a strong bitter herbal flavor that I am not a fan of. There's a rounded nature here, but the bitter herbal flavor gets in the way. There is definitely vanilla too. The flavor is a bit too bitter for my taste but I do appreciate that caramel backing. It's very drying. There are some good flavors but the balance is a bit off. Watered, the drying bitterness takes over. There is mineral, anise, plum, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, leather, and ash. From the ash, I can discern smoke and salt. It's a bit much. This drink isn't bad, but it is exceedingly bitter. I think Elijah Craig needs some work. I enjoy the richness, but it really kind of tastes fake. The finish is nice though, pushing this just up past the regular Elijah Craig. Wow, this has quite a rich nose with sweet butterscotch and vanilla wafting out alongside some wood that smells like it was left outside in the elements to acquire some nuanced notes of spice and herbs. Still, it doesn't smell terribly harsh, instead leaving a smooth and balanced impression with minor rough hints here and there. There are some toasty notes on the nose too that remind me of Booker's Shiny Barrel. The palate is lighter and fruitier than I expected with lots of bright cherry and red apple coming through. The alcohol is quite present and there is some bitterness form the barrel, but it disappointingly hangs out in the back, not providing the complexity of Wild Turkey Jewbillee with its fruitiness. The notes it has aren't bad, but it seems lacking and has too much alcohol. At full strength, I prefer the regular Elijah Craig, though this is definitely sippable. It's a big disappointment after the awesome nose. With some water added, more wood and spice come out, filling in the flavor. It starts to taste more like Booker's Kitchen Table, though its flavor doesn't come together quite as well. The continued red fruit is kind of nice, but it also kind of exacerbates the alcohol. Watered down substantially, more of the spices come out and balance the fruit. It certainly has more impact than the regular Elijah Craig does, but it feels like it's just out-shouting it. It's richer and more bitter, though not inherently better. That said, it sure does taste good and some some eventual depth when water is added. Like, quite a bit of water. It's a bit annoyingly numbing. The flavor is ultimately pretty good with a lot of water and the complexity improves, but the alcohol still comes through quite a bit and it's too numbing. It just doesn't quite all fit together, though I would sip it. It gets a 15 to a 16 for its richness, but it really lacks the subtlely and complexity of the regular Elijah Craig. Yeah, there are some hints of really nice notes in here, but the alcohol just comes in screaming.

16: The nose is sweet with plenty of caramel. The palate is sweet and tasty too with a bit of wood mixed with smoke, cinnamon, bitter herbs, caramel, cherry, mineral, and anise. The balance comes out more on subsequent sips and the complexity becomes apparent. I wish that there were less skunkiness though. On the finish, everything starts blending together. The mineral is a bit strong, but the flavors are toward the good side and mostly balance. The mineral is too strong, the richness is underpronounced, and the skunk is a little much. Still, I'd be happy to sip this. The spice isn't too strong but cinnamon is present. Some alcohol flavor eventually shows up and it tastes surprisingly like vodka, seriously dragging this down. This drink is sippable and would be a great mixer, but it needs a lot of work. It's hard to believe that this was aged 8-12 years. It smells smoky with a little fruitiness and plenty of alcohol harshness. Still, the nose has something going on. The palate has a lot of herbal flavor with some spicy tingle, licorice, and brief hints of red fruit. This tastes somewhere between Jim Beam Black and Belle Meade Cask Strength. It's really good! The mouthfeel is nice and full. The flavor is sweet in a way that blends seemlessly into the barrel. There are some more tart rye type notes, but they are far from overwhelming. Smoke is a player for sure, but it doesn't dominate either. The oiliness that is present isn't gross either. The flavors balance but not in a way that tastes monotone. It has some nice vanilla balancing it without making it taste particularly floral.