Tastes

The nose is light and possibly young (though not excessively so) with some nice complexity. It has a surprising amount of Sherry presence with some vanilla, giving it a sweet profile. There's maybe something a hint nutty here too that gives it some richness. The palate has more cardboard and waxiness than expected. It's also less fruity and fairly numbing. It isn't terribly sweet. It reminds me a bit of Glenfiddich 14 Bourbon with its general malty character. It definitely tastes like a 12 year scotch. There are a lot of standard scotch flavors in here, but nothing really exciting. This might be about on the level of Highland Park 12, but it's a bit more watery without the smoke and some alcohol stars coming out.

Strong floral notes followed by almonds and macademia. Is this even a scotch? It toys with being a bourbon. There are wood and vanilla present for sure, along with clear caramel and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Smoke and peat are essentially not there. The flavor is rich and robust with wood and nuts, though it does not develop as much as I would have liked. Distiller says there are supposed to be strong fruit notes, but I get little in that area. The flavor is very sweet and it has no flaws. I wish there were a bit more variation from start to finish and that the finish were longer, but it is darned good. I just don't understand it. In a weird comparison, this is definitely better than the Balvenie Caribbean Cask. It's rich with notable fruit and vanilla mixed with some spices (red apples and nutmeg are notable). It's good, but side-by-side the Glenfarclas 25 is definitely better. It also lacks the interest of the Spice Tree, so I can't really recommend this. It may be creamy and fairly sweet, but it's not amazing. Maybe there's a little coconut in the finish, but it doesn't make up for the strong alcohol in the beginning that is mixed with rather subdued flavors. The Glenfarclas 25 is creamier, smoother, and generally more enjoyable. The nose is kind of meaty with one cheese that has been left out too long. The palate has a surprising rye character to it with cinnamon, some maple, and vanilla. It's quite bourbony. There is a bit of that old cheese flavor in here too. There is a nice brown sugar, but the whole thing lacks complexity. The whole thing is muddled. There is even a hint of bananas that gives it a kind of rummy element. It just doesn't come together and there isn't anything about it that is especially good. It's extremely creamy and has just the right amount of spiciness, but it isn't vibrant and interesting. A little cereal is present, but it isn't much (I usually like a tad more than this, but this is a minor point). That rye tartness is disconcerting and tastes wholly out of place. Oh, it turns out that this is blended Grain, so that makes more sense. Cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar make up a lot of this, giving it a bit of an oatmeal cookie taste, especially with that rye tartness giving it a little fruitiness. I'd like less floral flavor in this since it is supposed to be rich and indulgent. The nose has some butterscotch, meat, and cinnamon. The palate is kind of mild with lots of mineral and floral notes mixed with saltiness. The cinnamon comes through, but the rye flavor is more than I would like. It's kind of spicy and has some notions of fresh fruit, but there isn't a great deal of complexity here. The butterscotch makes it in, but it is not as present as I'd like. There's a good amount of vanilla. It's kind of oily but it isn't terribly viscous. The apple does come out more, but so does the alcohol. It's a sipper but it's quite a mediocre one.

It has some fruit and is smooth. The spice is there, but does not completely dominate. The flavor is slightly creamy, but not so much. The drink had more depth than Glenfiddich 14 Bourbon Barrel, but less richness. It's very good, but keep in mind how cheap Glenfiddich 14 Bourbon Barrel is. This is fruitier drink, which is a reasonable comparison to make for a whiskey, but it is playing a slightly different game. For the price, this is remarkably good. It compares favorably with Compass Box Spice Tree (though it does lose). The orange flowers and richness are good. There is a reasonable amount of depth too. The problem is that there is somewhat too much alcohol flavor present here. Surprisingly, it's a bit less sweet than Glenmorangie The Original, but it also has a bit less of an alcohol flavor and has some more richness. Overall, this is a clear winner over Glenmorangie The Original. Furthermore, I would venture that this is on par with the Compass Box Hedonism, if not actually slightly better. Somehow, this is richer and better than the Compass Box Hedonism. A bit spicy, but otherwise magnificent! The key to its success is a combination of its depth and fullness of flavor. There is a little bit of alcohol here, but the sweetness and spice overwhelm it. The flavor here is well developed and tasty throughout. There is a hint of creaminess too, but not much. It's richer and spicier than the Glenfiddich 14 Bourbon Barrel, but the spice is a tad on the strong side for a Scotch. The flavor is fairly complex and quite drinkable. A bit less mildly mineral alcohol and some more complexity would be great, but this is good as it is. It's surprising that this is better than the Hedonism. The spice goes well with the rye tartness and burn. There's plenty of vanilla and enough wood to form a respectable backing. The bits of cherry and orange are nice and refreshing. There's a bit of cereal, but it's minimal. There's a light brown sugar sweetness, but it isn't excessive. The sea spray is not too strong. The floral notes are kind of mineral and refreshing without being excessive. Some herbal bitterness makes its way in but it avoids being more than an accent to the smoke. It's kind of refreshing and a bit playful, but the flavor is still solid and balanced with minimal alcohol and a nice finish. This is a very good drink though it isn't super excellent. I'd be happy to sip this and the price is good, but there are definitely better options in the price range. The complexity of the Spice Tree outperforms that of Glenfiddich 14 Bourbon Barrel, but the Glenfiddich has better flavors. The nose has some rye tartness mixed with some cinnamon and vanilla that gives it a bourbon character, though it also has a little bit of that dank scotch smell. There's a little red fruit and a little quinoa earthiness, but not too much. The palate is spicy and has some nice sweetness. It's a tad harsh and the rye tartness really does come through. This could pass as a really nice bourbon, though as a scotch it tastes rather young. There's some nice butterscotch and a bit of tangerine, but the complexity is not excellent. The vanilla does eventually come through in a substantial way, but it never overwhelms. This is a really solid start, but it tastes rather young and a tad sharp. Some of the scotch seaside character does come out, but it is not terribly aggressive. There's a little bit of a grassy note with how light this whole thing is. It doesn't have the rich sweet corn and vanilla sweetness of Evan Williams Black, but the flavor carries itself better toward the finish. For this price point, it's possible to do a lot better. I appreciate the richer flavor of Glenfiddich 14, though Glenfiddich 14 also comes with a fair bit of wet wood. I appreciate the good elements here, but that rye punch has too much alcohol and it just kind of overwhelms. It's still certainly a solid sipper though and it does succeed pretty well in its spice goal. It's a tough call between this and Glenfiddich 14. This has less of that underlying wet wood, but it's also lighter with more rye and alcohol. I'd probably give the win just barely to the Glenfiddich 14. This has a little bit of that Green Spot Irish whiskey nectar flavor and oily bitterness to it, but the Spice Tree has less of that bad Irish whiskey flavor and more balance.

The label is unfortunately hideous. The nose, on the other hand, is quite nice. It has standard Scotch elements like mild sea spray with an emphasis on brown sugar, vanilla, and cherry. It smells delightfully rich and indulgent with a nice balance and clear flavors - you know, like the hedonism is supposed to be. The palate is surprisingly herbal with an unfortunate bitterness stepping in. It isn't a nice anise or smokey flavor so much as it is.jist bitter herbs. There's a slight mintiness, but not much. The other flavors are nicely rounded though with plenty of sea spray going on and a full sweetness. It's moderately rich. There are nice plum notes, though they are a bit obscured. With the herbs there just unfortunately something a bit off here. There's not in-your-face alcohol flavor, but those herbs are a real nuisance. There are some very good flavors in here, but there isn't anything amazing and there is that bad backing that can't be escaped. It's fairly creamy (though not to the extent that Compass Box Hedonism is). It also has an exceedingly oily mouthfeel. Unfortunately, it's kind of like the tremendous sweetness was tossed in to counterbalance the bitter herbs and the result is discordant. I could sip this, but I'd prefer not to.

This has some tartness and spice on the nose. It may not have a lot, but after drinking bad Canadian whiskey, it sure is a nice relief. The nose has notes of apple and cherry as well. It doesn't smell like much special, but is smells at least thoroughly mixable. The palate has a classic bourbon profile with a bit much brown sugar. There are the usual spices with a bit of a boss toward the light, tart side there's some vanilla, though there's an odd popcorn jelly belly along with it and the two are a bit strong. Interesting though. This isn't particularly good whiskey, but it is mixable. It gradually gets muddled with some ugly elements and isn't quite sippable though. It does taste a bit young, though it's probabaly older tasting than the various entry-level bourbons (e.g. Jim beam White, Hayes Parker). It isn't as rich as Woodford Reserve, though it's flaws aren't as obvious either I suppose. I prefer the Woodford by a clear margin though. Yeah, this is too light and it still shows some of it's sugary youth. Woodford is better. This is more in the league of Evan Williams Black. Compared with Evan Williams Black, this is sweeter and richer. It tastes like it could be younger, but it has a richer flavor. The caramel has a bit of that sickly sweetness, but not too much. It's less dry and light, but it lacks some of the more complex elements. I would place these two on about the same level. Evan Williams Black is more dry and numbing, with and emptier middle to its palate with a bit of minerality. Colonel Lee is sweeter with quite a bit of spice as well. There's less going on here at first, bit some of that scotch barrel presence does come out at points. It needs work, but this would be a great choice for mixing and possibly as a base layer in a blended whiskey. It's great to finally find a drinkable cheap bourbon. This is far from the quality of Jim Beam Black, but it is competitive with Evan Williams Black. Compared with Evan Williams Black, this is sweeter and richer. It tastes like it could be younger, but it has a richer flavor. The caramel has a bit of that sickly sweetness, but not too much. It's less dry and light, but it lacks some of the more complex elements. I would place these two on about the same level. Evan Williams Black is more dry and numbing, with and emptier middle to its palate with a bit of minerality. Colonel Lee is sweeter with quite a bit of spice as well. There's less going on here at first, bit some of that scotch barrel presence does come out at points. It needs work, but this would be a great choice for mixing and possibly as a base layer in a blended whiskey. It's great to finally find a drinkable cheap bourbon. This is far from the quality of Jim Beam Black, but it is competitive with Evan Williams Black. There are some notes of red hots in here, but none of that more aged sweetness. I wonder whether throwing some wood chips in it for a couple of days would cure it of its youth. There's a bit of sulfur too, but it's under control. In some situations, that youth does become a bit overwhelming, but on the whole it is quite manageable. A high proof version of this aged for a while longer could be really good. This doesn't have the interesting fruity notes of Woodford Reserve and it isn't as spicy either, but it is also less harsh and has less alcohol. The Woodford Reserve is better though.

It smells spicy like paprika. The flavor is really full and robust. There's plenty of spice, but it isn't overly pronounced. It's very rich with some interesting earthiness that mixes well with the cocoa. There's a lot of vanilla and some burnt sugar. There's a large dose of kind of generic fruit. The flavors here are quite good. The vanilla lingers on the finish, adding some needed sweetness. There's quite a bit of vanilla, but it is well balanced. The herbal note is a bit odd but not wholly unlikable. This is a really impressive bourbon. With water added, more fruit and toffee come out on the nose. More rye comes out with water added, but it still doesn't overwhelm. The spice becomes more piercing with sharp pepper and clove bites. It becomes more bitter as well with the water. The bitterness tastes like wood with some herbal and orange juice notes. It's quite harsh with the water, actually, and it's also a bit more floral. I'm not as thrilled by this when water is added, but it is still quite complex and tasty despite the intense harshness. It's a great bourbon. I like the minimal tartness, though I'd actually prefer a little less. I really wish that the spiciness were less challenging, but I love the richness and complexity. The notes are all quite good too. There's a lot more maple once the water opens it up, but the spice and wood are still there. This isn't exceptionally sweet, but it is balanced.

This is very fruit-forward. Some sort of odd rice vinegar comes through, making the fruit taste a little pickled, but that's actually pretty nice. It's about as rich as Pikesville 6, but is a bit more complex and has a bit more alcohol flavor to it (the latter characteristic being disappointing since this is actually lower proof). There are cereal notes with some mint and almonds or maybe marzipan hanging out at the beginning. Rye shows up for sure and unfortunately exacerbates the alcohol, but is otherwise a reasonable backing. Barrel flavor lurks in the background, but it doesn't overwhelm. It's a nice complex and rich rye. It tastes more like a rye than Pikesville 6, which is great if you want rye but I don't like as much. There's some spiciness going on for sure and it carries mostly the standard cinnamon but might have a little clove and nutmeg. It's definitely spicy and tart with some other flavors adding to its complexity. The complexity is enjoyable, but there aren't any of those flavors that wow me. There is a bit more mineral than I would like, but it isn't too bad considering the richness and complexity. Still, I think I'd prefer to sip Pikesville 6.

The nose reveals that this is not a sweet bourbon. This is an interesting mix between a rye and a bourbon that comes with some notable but not overpowering tobacco notes. It reminds me of Maker's 46 mixed with Pendleton 1910, but with more depth so that the individual flavors can be picked up on. For a bourbon, it is surprisingly bitter, though it is important to keep the ABV in mind. Vanilla, wood, rye, and some floor polish are the first flavors to show up. While the finish maintains the floor polish, fortunately it lets a bit of sweetness in. I wish that the flavor developed more and were less oily, but it is fairly deep, which I appreciate. Jim Beam Black is smoother and sweeter, but also has a weird, unappealing undertone. Tart, bitter flavors hit first, bringing a heavy wood presence. There is some oil there and a hit of something rancid flits through. Sweetness is minimal. There is not much fruit in here, though there is a little vanilla and some red fruit shows up with the toffee, so it does not have the bourbon character that I enjoy. That said, the finish is mostly clean, which bumps it up a couple if points. This has more depth and balance than the Jack Daniel's Single Barrel does, but I still do not love it. I appreciate its technical feats, but it is not for me and I must acknowledge it's failings as well. You can immediately taste the corn in this one and if you drink it for long enough, toffee eventually comes through near the beginning before giving way to rye and cinnamon. Again, points for technical success. It isn't for me though. The combination of spice, salt, and tartness makes this aggressive but deep. Corn, rye, orange, and mild apple can be detected. But OMG so much cinnamon! The depth is admirable, but you have to fight to experience it. If you drink this for long enough, the subtlety starts to come through and it is quite good. Unfortunately, "long enough" is a long time. The beginning eventually divulges chocolate notes and the depth comes out, though the spicy cinnamon is still a bit much. Deep and delicious once you get into it, but kind of miserable up until then. This bitter rye flavor is a bit much, but this is an all-around balanced bourbon. Nice work. The flavor is full with lots of vanilla and a spicy kick. Nutty with a slightly rancid taste from the rye, but it's good once the flavors can be separated out. This is quite comparable to the Single Barrel. It's rich and robust with some complexity. There's less cherry and more toffee here and I kind of like that better. This is sweet but still spicy and rounded. For the money, there is no question that this is better than the single barrel. There is some mild rye, but there is also some milk chocolate with some interesting malt. The spices include cinnamon and are well moderated. The vanilla is there and plentiful without bringing in an overwhelming floral or mineral flavor. The backing is rich and enjoyable. This tends toward the sweet side, but it is still well in balance. The flavor on the finish is great. This whiskey has no off notes. For a daily sipper, this is a great choice with a very reasonable price tag. It's really a toss-up between this and the Single Barrel, so you might as well go with this. This is one of those kind of cinnamony drinks, but it isn't so spicy as to be a big problem. There are some.nice bits of plum and dark cherry in the palate too. This is really quite good and I'd happily sip it any day. It isn't a drink for novices though. Some cereal jumps out at points. The complexity gradually shows its face. Occasionally, a little alcohol bares its ugly head, but it is so minimal that it isn't worth considering. This is delightful to sip and very modestly priced. Why wait the extra 7.5 years for the single barrel? The nose has a woody boldness with rye, nuts, butterscotch, and a bit of fruit. It smells like a rich, quintassential bourbon with a fair amount of depth to it and some nice richness and balance. The nose is immediately very appealing. The palate is unfortunately not as rich, but it is quite nice with sweetness of toffee mixed with sweet cherries, nuttiness that isn't too bitter and oily. This isn't everything that I want in a bourbon, but for the price this is a really good choice. It's comparable to Eagle Rare in quality and value for the money, but it is richer, woodier, and smokier. Unsurprisingly, there are some mineral rye notes, but they fit right in with the big smoke and rich oils. The flavor is reminiscent of Stagg Jr, but less expensive and not as high proof. There might even be a little bit more complexity in here. That toffee flavor really works out well in here and everything is in a really nice balance. For the money, this is a terrific choice. Even at higher price, this is excellent. Bourbon should be like this. Another tasting (at least) is necessary before settling on this statement, but this seems like the Springbank 10 of bourbon. It isn't as interestingly unique as St. George B&E Bourbon, but it is better in its balance an execution as a bourbon. While not the best bourbon of all time, this is an exemplar of rich bourbon. It also beats Willet Pot Still in all dimensions except for being interesting. This is really good.

This tastes a lot like the Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch. The wood and spice might be a bit reduced, but there is still some oil and a rancid flavor persists near the end. There is some sweetness, but bitterness and tartness are strong. The rye is clearly present, making this like a more sophisticated rye whiskey that I don't really love. I appreciate the depth and fullness of the flavor, but it's kind of a trial to drink. If at least the cinnamon were less extreme, this would be somewhat more palatable. It is better than the Small Batch though, if only slightly. Several months later, this smells rich and somewhat fruity but understated. It's less robust and in-your-face than the barrel proof is, but it has a nice amount of woody richness and some balanced fruitiness. There is some notable spice, but it is under control. The flavor is not terribly complex, but it is rich and good. This is a great choice for a sipper. There's some cherry and pepper and clove and smoke (I guess). There's almond and hazelnut adding subtle richness in the background. Everything is in a very nice balance. It's sweet enough but not overwhelmingly so. The corn is present and keeps everything under control. There's some cocoa in here, but this isn't one of those uber chocolatey whiskies. It's a great drink though and is well worth sipping with its cherry, smoke, hint of tobacco, cinnamon, pepper, clove, toffee, nuts, mild tangerine, and vanilla backing. There's a hint of anise, but it's very under control.

The nose is spicy and oily with some herbal notes and hint of licorice. The nose also has plentiful rich vanilla and hints of almond as well as something meatier like gochujang pork. The palate is rich and oily with a prickly spiciness that doesn't overwhelm. The richness has a bit too much bitterness and oiliness, but sweet vanilla and toasted almond come in, giving it a hedonistic flavor. It's sweet, but also has a strong bitterness the mixes licorice with gochujang pork a bit - the age and char definitely come through. While the char doesn't overwhelm, it is a bit more present than I'd like and the flavor despite being well rounded isn't incredibly deep and complex. It has a faint allusion to fruit and floral elements, but those characteristics are barely present. Smoke is quite strong here, as is oil and some tartness (the sweetness is much stronger though). The harshness of the spiciness and the high proof gradually builds up and borders on becoming overwhelming, but with some water it is well under control. The viscosity is really incredible. This is a terrific bourbon, though it lacks complexity and has some flaws. It tastes like a much older version of a standard bourbon. Unlike with Corsair Grainiac, the various grains don't stand out here with added complexity. It's very tasty and the bitterness and smoke eventually die down, though the pepper stays there with a bit of a tart kick. It's full and rich with a lot of nice sweet vanilla. This is a bourbon for manly men. The odd gochujang flavor continues to come through, though it never is overwhelming. It's very good and I'd put it about on par with Booker's and Belle Meade Cask Strength, though the odd flavors push it down a bit. Belle Meade Cask Strength is probably the closer comparison - spicy and not quite as good. As good as it is though, the price is really hard to justify.