Tastes
-
Spirit Works Straight Rye Finished in Sloe Gin Single Cask #4 Spring 2022 (Lost Lantern)
Rye — California , USA
Reviewed August 16, 2022 (edited August 17, 2022)Rating: 16/23 Sloe gin is contentious stuff, so I'm surprised that anyone would use it for finishing. But I'm also intrigued. N: Spicy with rich herbal character like dill and peppermint. It's fairly rich with a fruity sweetness that must be the sloe gin. Based on the nose, I think that the gin is doing a great job here. It's hard for me to pull out a lot of particular scents, but my overall impression is that this is a very nice decadent rye nose. P: Less fullness and richness than I'd expected comes out at first, but then big rye spices and herbs come in. I get kind of a nice 6 year old MGP vibe. There's some kind of leathery wood too that's really nice. Then the fruity sweetness from the gin starts coming in. It's doing really well, but then the gin bitterness comes crashing in. There's juniper and weird lemon and orange flavors that don't work so well with the rest of the rye palate. F: Unfortunately, the finish continues to be quite bitter. That juniper bitterness is the dominant flavor and I really don't like it. There's definite spice still and some notes of herbs and sweet fruits, but that juniper is really oppressive. - Conclusion - There are a lot of flavors here that I like, but unfortunately the gin really drags this down - though not in the way I'd expected. Pikesville (16/23) is a clear win over this. It definitely has less of a pure rye flavor, but it doesn't have such a jarring note to it. My single barrel bottling of George Dickel 15 (15/23) isn't as bitter as this, though it is more tannic. Still, although the tannins aren't great, they taste more natural. There two are getting fairly close to each other, but I'd go with the Dickel. I think that this is a 13 or 14, though I could imagine a 12 and might be able to be convinced of a very low 15. There's enough really nice here for me to enjoy it at times, but it's also flawed enough that I struggle just as much. I'm leaning toward a 13. Coming back the next day, that bitter flavor is mercifully substantially reduced! There is still a juniper bite and it's more present than I'd like, but this is tasting more like a product that makes sense. There's a lot going on and I'm even getting some nice caramel now. I'm still not a fan of that juniper, but I like this better than I did before for sure. This is getting kind of competitive with Whistlepig PiggyBack (16/23). Color me surprised! It's a bit sweet like a cocktail, but not quite across that line. Pikesville is also no longer the clear winner here. I think that this is going to be yet another 16 rye and another success for Lost Lantern! Honestly, I could even believe that this is a 17. I think that another year in the rye's original cask, rather than that year it spent in the gin cask, would have been good prior to aging it in the sloe gin cask. Thank you, @PBMichiganWolverine , for sharing this one! It's really weird, but it grew on me over the course of my sampling. Definitely still a challenge though. -
Rating: 13/23 N: This starts off with a vegetal presence, though it avoids being too funky. Then the rye spiciness and herbaceousness come in, brining especially dill notes, though also some mint and orange. I might get a mild layer of wood, but not much. The PX is surprisingly muted, though I do get some sweetness from it and I suspect that it is partly to blame for the vegetal smells. P: This is more bitter than I'd expected, with more of a funky bitterness that ties in some fruits and light syrupy flavors. It really is quite bitter. I get some herbaceousness, but it's kind of muddled in with the bitterness. There's definitely that rye spiciness, but the flavors in it aren't very distinct either. There are hints of chocolate, but they're kind of bitter and burnt. F: The herbs and spices finally come out a bit more, along with a bit of lemon, showing off the more delicate flavor lurking here. There's also a bit of bitter wood that isn't excessively bitter like whatever is going on on the palate. - Conclusion - I was worried that the PX finish would be overpowering, but it really isn't. What surprises me is how bitter and flat the profile is here. Unfortunately, this isn't giving me a good impression of Coppersea Distilling. Because of how shockingly bitter and uncomplex this is, I'm putting it significantly behind Lost Lantern's California Spirit Works Rye Sloe Finish (13/23). This is struggling to even be an 11 - and it could be much lower than that. I'm currently contemplating the 7 to 11 range. Most likely, it will be an 8. Coming back the next day, I'm not tasting nearly as much bitterness here and there's a bit more herbal nuance. It's still quite bitter, but not to the degree of being painful. The PX is still suitably restrained. This isn't a great dram, but it's sure tasting a lot better today than it did yesterday. This is at least a 10 now. I'm getting some nice Whistlepig PiggyBack vibes, though it's a bit less nuanced and more of a kick in the face. A bit of Dad's Hat going on here too. I like the Whistlepig substantially more, but this could even be as high as a 15. I'm thinking a 13 though. What a reversal! It just goes to show how big of a factor palate condition can be. I have no idea what changed, but I'm sure glad to have tried this twice. Thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine for sharing this real oddball rye!
-
Copper Fox Bourbon Mash Spirit
White — Virginia, USA
Reviewed August 12, 2022 (edited August 13, 2022)Rating: 12/23 I've only tried Copper Fox's funky, smoky rye before. Taking a weird distillery and trying its white dog seems like a bold move to me, but we'll see. I'm additionally concerned because this white dog is 20% barley and 20% wheat (60% corn). I'm expecting that barley to add weird flavors and the wheat to make it taste less like anything once aged. Plus, the barley was smoked with peachwood, which sounds likely to make it challenging. N: Dusty-musty with sweet squash. The squash isn't too over the top, but it's definitely present and undeniable. Some light graininess works its way in. A touch of faint fruit - maybe cherry and tangerine? It's far less funky than I'd expected. After it's been in the glass a while, I get some light mezcal notes on the nose. P: Wow, this is surprisingly drinkable! It's kind of mellow, with some nice orange and tangerine flavors mixed with restrained vegetal flavors, some slight grain fullness, and a mellow dry grass. There's a bit of a savoriness to it that's maybe in the oyster or morel mushroom range. Maybe I'm getting some smoke in here, but it really isn't much. I'm betting that the peachwood smoke added a lot of that fruitiness. It's probably also responsible for that bitter layer that's helping to cover the squash. OK, it took a while, but I'm definitely tasting proper smoke now. I'm getting a little bit of a mezcal vibe, but it isn't oppressive. It's really just kind of interesting. There's a light brininess as well. The only downside is that it's less sweet and fruity. F: Some lingering burn with savoriness, grain, a bit of dry grass, and something kind of bitter. An occasional hint of rich tangerine. - Conclusion - I bet that this would be great in some sort of cocktail. It's interesting enough to stand out, but it isn't so funky that it's challenging. I'm not blown away by this, but it's much better than I'd expected. Buffalo Trace White Dog Mash #1 (11/23) is funkier (aside from that mezcal flavor here) with more burn. I think that the two are pretty close, but I'm putting this slightly ahead. I could believe a 13 for this, but I'm thinking a 12.23.0 USD per Bottle -
Stranahan's Blue Peak
American Single Malt — Colorado, USA
Reviewed August 12, 2022 (edited August 25, 2022)Rating: 16/23 N: Malty, sweet, ethanol. Hints of the barley and maybe some sort of faint sherry finishing. This doesn't have a lot going on, but what it has is very approachable and decadent, with some really nice boldness and fullness. P: This is smooth and easy-drinking, with just enough going on and some nice sweet character. I also get some of that Westward yeasty funkiness. It doesn't taste all that old, but it doesn't have a youthful alcohol flavor either. Flavor-wise, I get malt with caramel and yeast, with not the boldest of any of those. nose of sherry (I'm thinking oloroso nuttiness and a clear cherry flavor). Overall, this has a nice balance of fruit and yeast with malt, in a way that reminds me of Westward. F: This is pretty clean, but it does have malty flavors with some fruit and light floral character. The key element is that this is clean in the malty dimension. Without obstruction, some of the mature characteristics could develop into some more standard flavors. I feel like that is ambiguous to say, but I'm thinking that the more I sip, the more I wear out my palate. Honestly, I'm trying hard to be generous here. This is tasty, but young and struggling. - Conclusion - Side by side, Westward is more funky and nuanced. This is fruitier and more approachable, but also has more alcohol and less maturity. This is still nice, but it's an immature dram, so it doesn't compete with more mature spirits. Still, it's quite nice. Monkey Shoulder is fine, but it tastes more like alcohol. It also tastes more like alcohol. That's, not good, but not damning. Monkey Shoulder (14/23) is clearly less mature than this, with more alcohol going on. At the same time, this is struggling to meet the quality of Kavalan Distillery Select. At times, I think that this is not much better than the Monkey Shoulder, but this is definitely always better. This is at least a 15. There is not much evidence to suggest that it beats a 16 though. Kavalan Distillery Select #1 (16/23) is more mature and tannic than this is, but it's also a bit more aggressive. I'd take that over this. I think that this is being pushed solidly into the 15 range. With more comparison with other impressions.... This is a 15 or 16, no question. I'm leaning 15. Still, a 16 is very plausible. OK, after much contemplation, I'm getting some generic fruity elements with a high degree of failure. Whoa. This isn't that hard to anticipate, brut it's hard to appreciate and doesn't work for enjoying. Coming back to this for one final comparison, the buttery and yeasty richness really stands out. This is just so decadent and easy to sip. It's definitely not on par with Westward, but it's very competitive with the Kavalan. I could even believe that this is a 17, though I don't really think that it is. For $45, Stranahan's has put out a shockingly good dram. In fact, there's a good chance that if I were choosing a daily single malt, I'd go for this. I think it's just across that line where it goes from sometimes not so appealing to always at least slightly appealing. Very nicely done.45.0 USD per Bottle -
Spirits of French Lick Aquavit
Aquavit — Indiana, USA
Reviewed August 12, 2022 (edited August 14, 2022)Rating: 14/23 This is only my second aquavit ever, but I have some vague impression that I've read good things about this one. I sure hope so, seeing as I have a bottle this time. I'm expecting heavy caraway flavor, but hopefully in a good way. This has no color, so it's one of the unaged ones (I presume). I do like carraway in rye bread, so I can imagine liking this. N: Bitter with alcohol. It's like the whole of rye bread: the pleasant part and the unpleasant part. Then I get the kind of vegetal funkiness and my opinion deteriorates. The alcohol comes out, along with some more salt and minerals. The nose becomes muddled with a sulphuric note that I really wish were absent. P: Caraway for sure. There's a bite, but that's expected for caraway. The alcohol isn't that easy to taste past the caraway, but I do get some typical flavors and sweetness from it. It's clean though. Some hints of coriander, chamomile, and/or vanilla here, but not a ton. There is something funky, vegetal, rotten, skunky, sulphuric, off. It's faint, but it shows up at times and I do notice it. It disappears quickly enough that the rest of the sip is enjoyable, but I don't miss this problem. Most of the time, my feelings on the palate are positive, but sometimes they drift down a bit. It's unfortunate that there's that strong edge here. Aside from that, this is actually quite nice. Though not that interesting. F: Bitter, rye bread, inescapable, hints of sweetness. It's kind of like the finish is sorry that it has to deal with covering up the casualties that the errors in the balance create. It gives me mob movie vibes a bit, actually. Weird. - Conclusion - There's a really nice core here, but it feels like it's being manipulated to produce other profiles in different situations. It's like drinking a marionette. So weird. I certainly don't dislike this, but I'm not about to go around recommending it. I have plenty of gins that easily surpass this (e.g. New Riff Kentucky Wild (17/23)). This isn't me comparing them as gins: this is a comparison of them based on fundamentals of their genres and lack of flaws. The Botanist (16/23) doesn't have as crisp of a profile as this has, but it's definitely cleaner. I don't see how this could beat a 16 at this point. A 15 seems most likely to be the highest possible rating - which is just what I gave Linie Aquavit (15/23). Side by side, the Linie shows more maturity, with woody flavors of vanillins and oak, as well as an increased mellowness. It's sweeter and more balanced. It's sort of like the Linie is a tequila and this is a mezcal. Actually, I'm getting some real burn here. This is harder to drink than the Linie, but it could be worth more because of the clarity it has. Still, I don't think I'd drink this neat again if I didn't have to. That said, I bet that there are some cocktails that this would work great in. Considering the imbalance in Linie though, even after aging, I think that this is likely to remain a nice product, with some fairly uncommon cocktail uses. I thought about a 15, but I just don't think that this makes that rating. The Linie is a 15 and this is much more challenging and in need of refinement in order to be used. This might be a 14. It's bitter and funky, but it's also it's own thing. I'm thinking a 14 or a 15. This is pretty challenging, but it definitely does shout aquavit, so I appreciate it like I do a juniper-heavy gin. OK, big news here - this is great in a martini with Rivata Dry Vermouth! Holy cow. I never saw that coming. Dry vermouth is so hard to pair with anything and I've rarely found a martini that I thought was better than just neat gin. I really like this cocktail, but that doesn't improve my rating here since this isn't a mixer and I...have rules, I guess.32.0 USD per Bottle -
Belvedere Single Estate Rye: Lake Bartężek
Unflavored Vodka — Poland
Reviewed August 12, 2022 (edited August 16, 2024)Rating: 19/23 I hear that this is a good vodka with some interesting character. I've had a couple of stinkers lately, so I'm hoping that this will be a bit of a relief. N: Mild alcohol lets some grain, a bit of lemon, and some restrained earthiness through. This isn't enjoyable all on its own, but it does bode well for the palate. P: Smooth and sweet, with some earthiness and spice that just barely avoids being harsh. It's a tad full. It's an easy-drinking vodka with some bit of nuance. Definitely works as a sipper. I do wish that the spice were a bit reduced though because the more I sip, the more it gets a little harsh. F: Yeah, there's not much of a finish here. It's tasty, but quickly forgettable. It's kind of sweet and watery with bits of earth and grain. Nice, but on the subtle side. - Conclusion - Honestly, I would have guessed that this was wheat, potato, or some sort of grain blend (the last being the most likely). Rye was far from my mind. This is a fascinating one. I really didn't expect this from a rye vodka, but I love it. Wheatley (14/23) is much harsher with a more bitter, funky, and less enjoyable flavor. There's definitely at least a 2 point gap between these two. This isn't blowing my mind, but it sure is a really nice vodka. Chopin Wheat (17/23) shows more grain, but also more bitterness. It still has some nice, clean, watery sweetness. The two are fairly close, but this tastes a bit more balanced and lacks that slightly off-putting bitterness. I think that the winner is clearly this, by a 1-2 point margin. Possibly even 3 points. If I had to choose now, I'd go with a 19. Yeah, I'm going with that. What a delightful vodka!32.0 USD per Bottle -
New Riff Kentucky Wild Gin
Modern Gin — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed August 12, 2022 (edited August 13, 2022)Rating: 17/23 This gin is really vague about what it tastes like, but I figured the price was low enough and I needed a new gin. N: Nice juniper with a bit of a more vegetal, slightly savory root scent, as well as hints of lemon, chamomile, and licorice. Overall, it's a nice, standard dry gin profile. P: Ooh, this is pretty nice. There's a clean juniper layer that makes itself known, but isn't overwhelming. There's also some restrained prickly spiciness like a mix of white and black pepper, along with some light oiliness that brings in various herbal and vegetal complexities (much more herbal than vegetal though). It's sweet, but not overly so. Hints of lemon rind here and there. It's very nicely balanced, with good flavors and really solid complexity, all while maintaining a clean, slightly crisp profile. There's a light mustiness here as well that reminds me of Sipsmith, but in a good way (none of the fishiness). F: Clean and smooth with lingering oiliness, herbs, lemon, and mild spices. - Conclusion - This is very elegantly crafted. It's good competition for The Botanist (16/23), but I think that this is actually the better of the two. The Botanist just lacks the nuance that this has. I'm convinced that this is at least a 16, but more likely a 17 or perhaps 18. The gap isn't enormous, but it certainly is there. Monkey 47 (18/23) definitely beats this. The gap between this and the Monkey is about the same as the gap between this and the Botanist, actually. I thought that I had the Monkey up at a 19, but apparently I didn't. I think it might deserve that though. I'm down to a 17 or 18 for this. I'm going with a 17, which is frankly a great score. I'm so glad that I picked this up on a whim. I'd expected some slightly underwhelming gin that was skating by by being a bit unique and calling itself "craft", but that is absolutely not what I got here. This is a great find and I will probably be my staple if I can find more for around $25.25.0 USD per Bottle -
Trader Joe's Kentucky Bourbon Straight Whiskey
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed August 12, 2022 (edited August 13, 2022)Rating: 11/23 I read about a great Trader Joe's bourbon, so I went on over to grab a bottle. Disappointingly, they had this, which is not the lauded cask strength Barton's, but it was cheap and I needed a new mixer, so I figured I'd give this a shot. N: Kind of sweet and spicy. I'm getting some Barton's and Buffalo Trace, with cinnamon, light caramel, tangerine, orange, green banana, a touch of vanilla. A bit of wood with mild tannins that give a bit of maturity. Some minerality as well, though it doesn't really make this seem lighter. Nicely, there's no alcohol smell or challenging youthfulness. Continuing on, I am getting a little bit of licorice from this now. Overall, this is a bit on the light side, but it has decent complexity with no bad smells and it smells older than it probably is (I'd probably guess around 8 years). P: This is spicier than the nose suggested. It's a bit challenging, but it isn't excessive. Fortunately, the spiciness isn't harsh and it has some clear cinnamon and ginger flavor to it, so it doesn't just burn. As the palate moves on, the spiciness gives way to green banana, tangerine, and creme brulee. Really nice, actually. There's a bit of wood going on throughout, but it's quite restrained. I wish that the wood were more noticeable, but I'm glad that it's not obtrusive. Overall, the palate is on the sweet side, but it's restrained. F: Lingering spice and burn with faint wood and hints of tangerine, but creme brulee and green banana take the center stage. This is more decadent than most of the palate and it's quite enjoyable. I might like this part of the dram the best. - Conclusion - This Trader Joe's bourbon is really good and I get a lot of the nice flavors that were mentioned in the review of the other Trader Joe's bourbon, which I'd assumed was completely different, but I think might have just been bottled at cask strength. As much as I enjoy the flavors here, I do need to admit that it doesn't fully cohere. The balance is a bit off and there's a flat area in the middle of the profile crying out for more nuance. I'd also like that spiciness dialed back a little bit. And it really is a bit too on the light side overall. For $17 though, this is not a bad buy at all. And I think it's going to be a good mixer. Russell's Reserve 10 (15-16/23) is fuller and bolder with significantly more interesting (and challenging) flavors and nuance. I'd say that that Russell's is at least a couple of steps up from this. I don't think that this could be better than a 13, though I wouldn't put it below an 11 either. Coming back to this, I don't think that it's a 13 anymore. I'm thinking 11 or 12. I'm getting a bit more youthfulness now, though no bad flavors. This is fairly close in quality to Rabbit Hole Cavehill (10/23, but now with a lot more air), they're light youthful, but in different ways. The Rabbit Hole has a nicer, richer flavor, with kind of a honeyed vibe, but it burns so much. I'm getting some kind of Ancient Age vibes off of this now, though I'm inclined to think that this is better. I think I'm going with an 11 here. This isn't something I'd really enjoy sipping all that much, but I could mix it and it's certainly not bad.17.0 USD per Bottle -
Rating: 19/23 N: Interesting spicy and sweet, with some clear herbal characteristics. It's bitter and slightly oily with a nice rootiness that isn't overly vegetal. There's some nice nuance and fullness to this nose. It's nothing amazing, but I do like it. P: There's a nice, fairly full gin profile with some cinnamon and maybe orris root. There'sa nice balance of spice and bitter herbs with a fullness that is sweet, but not at all sickly. This is a really nice profile. It's odd for a gin, but not that far out there, but it's tasty and balanced with some nice richness and fullness. This is a rich, full, balanced hint of decadence here. It's a bit different from a regular dry gin for sure, but it's a nice variation that is decadent and not totally out of line like numerous others I could name. F: Bitter, herbal, roots cinnamon and some other spices lingering. It's bold and long-lasting. It's tasty and balanced with a nice longness. - Conclusion - The more I go on, the less dry this seems, but the more decadent and balanced it comes across. There's a lot going on here and I really like it. It won't be the most traditional gin by any means, nor will it be the most interesting, but it's a nice variation that kind of fits into either camp. And it's very well executed. This is easily a 15 and I suspect that it is higher. Coming back to this, I'm amazed by the complexity and balance. This is a very weird gin profile, yet it isn't at all jarring. I thought that the low proof would be a problem, but the flavor is rich enough that it really isn't. Now I'm wondering how I could go as low as a 15. This is great. It's at least a 16 and I can imagine an 18. A 19? Well, Ransom Old Tom Gin (19/23) is sweeter with a bit of vanillin and oak to it, but this has some really nice mellowness and balance. Honestly, this is really impressing me. There's no way that this is below a 17. I'm seriously impressed. I'm thinking an 18 or a 19 and I can actually imagine a 20. A 21? I don't think so. Still, these are incredibly high ratings for a gin. I'm frankly shocked considering the low proof. This is competitive with Monkey 47 (18/23). That is to say that this is vying for the title of best gin I've ever tried. This, Monkey, and Ransom. Dang. I really didn't expect this, but I'm so stoked that it's such an amazing sleeper. I'm thinking that the Monkey is a bit better, but I've been thinking that I underrated it and it should have been a 19 for a while now. So, I think that this is better than the Ransom, but not quite as good as the Monkey. That conclusion just screams 19, so I'm going with a 19. What a brilliant gin! After a bit more side-by-siding, the three all seem quite close. It's a really tough call. I guess a 19 for all of them really makes sense. I look forward to the day I find a gin clearly better than them and worthy of at least a 20. This is just so mellow and decadent and interesting. I love it. Oh, wow - that last sip tasted better than Monkey. Could this actually be a 20? I think I'm jumping the gun on that, but I definitely need to re-review this at some point. This is simply amazing. What a find! If I had to rate my top three now, I'd go: 1. Valentine Distilling Liberator Gin 2. Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin 3. Ransom Old Tom Gin This is frankly a shocking outcome. Maybe this should be a 20. Maybe even a 21? I doubt the latter, but the former is seeming increasingly likely. Latest side by sides put New Riff Kentucky Wild Gin behind this, though the New Riff is clearly still a great gin. I'm sticking with a 19 for now, but I might change that on my next tasting.30.0 USD per Bottle
-
Rating: 15/23 I recently had 2 really good craft gins in a row, so I'm hoping that this will be a third. N: Lemon heads, a faint floral touch, very faint herbal bitterness. Mostly the lemon heads though. A bit excessive in that direction, but the herbal character makes it smell more like sophisticated lemon heads I guess. Actually, it;'s getting a bit more herbal and even a hint vegetal over time. Still mostly lemon heads though. P: Some nice oil with lemon zest and some prickly spices. Some herbal bitterness. Not a whole lot, but definitely some. I get some touches of baking spices, but not a lot. There is a bit of that Uncle Val's Botanical off-balanced, aggressive, floral, fake sweetness. It isn't too strong though, so it comes across as one aspect of a greater profile. still, that Uncle Val's profile is there and it's a bit off-putting. This is much more interesting though. F: That Uncle Val's jarring flavor lingers a bit as the sweetness lingers and the more complex flavors fade. I'm not a big fan of this finish. There is some stuff goin on here, but it isn't particularly enjoyable. - Conclusion - This is fine, but I'm not that impressed by it. It's certainly better than Uncle Val's Botanical (10/23) though. New Riff Kentucky Wild Gin (17/23) is drier with more minerals, but it's just so much cleaner and more enjoyable. It's clearly the winner here. I'd say that this is closer to the New Riff than to the Uncle Val's, so this is at minimum a 14. It doesn't taste like a full 3 point gap though, so I'm thinking a 15. It could be a 16, but I'm not quite confident enough to go there. I can imagine it, but there's just a bit too much brashness. Eh, this might actually be a 16. I like the richness and variety of flavor here, whereas the New Riff is more traditional. Sometimes a profile like this is fun. Reading the back i'm definitely tasting that cucumber. Plus some other funky flavors. I like the direction that this is goin, but it's a bit rougher than The Botanist (16/23). Yeah, this is a 15 or 16. I will say that the reduced sweetness and floral flavor here make this more suited to a martini than The Botanist. In that context, this is the clear winner. This just has a cleaner profile somehow. Overall, the two are close. This is more aggressive and odd, whereas The Botanist is more muddled and vegetal. On its own, this is kind of challenging, but it works really well as a martini. The Botanist might be slightly better in martinis, but that's a slight advantage, if any. They're quite close. Sometimes I think that this is better in a martini, but I never think that this is better neat. So this is a 15 or 16.32.0 USD per Bottle
Results 131-140 of 1462 Reviews