Tastes
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Beefeater London Dry Gin (47%)
London Dry Gin — England
Reviewed January 26, 2020 (edited April 20, 2024)Tasted neat in a glencairn. I'm tasting Beefeater next to Boodles, two of my favorite martini gins since sometime in the early 80's. The gins were sampled at room temp and given about 10 minutes to rest after the pour. This is the first time I've done a sbs of these gins... or even thought about it. Visually both the Boodles and the Beefeater were identically clear. Surprising to me, the Beefeater is noticeably more viscous. It has an oily appearance when swirled and there is thick sheeting and legs. The Beefeater gin has a lovely rich aroma that's sweet and fruity. There's citrus, lemon and grapefruit, tart berries, pine needles, It's surprising me with its subtle complexity. By comparison, the Boodles gin comes up a bit shorter. It's sweeter, lighter and less complex. It has a much lighter presence. In audiophile terms, the Beefeater is vacuum tubes to the Boodles' transistors. The Beefeater tastes sweet and has excellent mouthfeel. There's the expected prominent juniper along with candied orange rinds, tart lemon, roasted almonds and a tapered, peppery finish that leaves a nice warmth. The Boodles, as might be expected at this point, is lighter, a little sweeter (like sugared lemon drops) and a little thinner. in mouthfeel and complexity It's a delightful gin, and one that I'll continue to enjoy in an martini. I can see how each of these could be considered "superior" to the other in a martini. The mixed cocktail adds its own variables. Side-by-side, neat and presented without garnish or distraction, the Beefeater is the better liquor. At its price, this is a benchmark product. I like G&T, Negronis and the such, but I simply love a good martini. I'll have to really experiment to see how and which vermouth pairing works best with each of these, and with my wife's and my regular standard-bearer, Bombay Sapphire. That sounds like work I can look forward to!16.99 USD per Bottle -
Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength Bourbon
Bourbon — Ohio, USA
Reviewed January 24, 2020 (edited December 8, 2020)The Horse Soldier line needs to be addressed by the moderators. There are three current offerings; straight, small batch, and single barrel. This is in reference to the Small Batch. There is a separate listing on Distiller for Single Barrel. Small Batch is 47.5 ABV or 95 proof. Putting aside marketing stories and concentrating on the contents, this is an average pour. I keep trying to get excited about it. Today's tasting is with a single large cube in a rocks glass. Even chilled and diluted it's obvious this is a young bourbon. The nose is more sophisticated than Very Old Barton BiB, but a step down from Knob Creek or WT 101. This tastes like a high rye whiskey and with a 60/30/10 mash bill, it is. This reminds me a lot of Old Grand Dad (which I like a lot). All told, this is a bit brash, young and hot but it has a good taste foundation. I'm sure a little more age will elevate it, as will an NCF Single Barrel at full proof. But... This doesn't work on the taste-value matrix. This tastes like an okay $30 bottle, but it sells for more than double that. There is NO WAY I'm selecting this over a KC single barrel at under $50, or OGD114 under $40, or any number of others. Hard pass on another bottle... Maybe have other expressions at a bar, but I don't see Small Batch in my rotation.60.0 USD per Bottle -
Enjoyed neat from a glencairn at a local restaurant. I wasn't able to pay as much attention as I wanted, but I hadn't tried this expression before. There are a few expressions in the Jameson line that I enjoy - I like the Caskmates Stout much more than the IPA (surprising since I like hoppy IPAs), I enjoy the regular Jameson from time to time, and I have a great memory of the 18 year. But generally speaking, Jameson isn't in my rotation and I don't own any bottles. That said... This was an acceptable pour. I recall tasting honey and hay, fresh cut lumber, wet barrel wood, and a slight touch of spice. It wasn't nearly as engrossing as I'd hoped. I recall a bit of ethanol and traces of acetone on the nose, along with honey and grass, but otherwise I wasn't able to divine too much from the aroma. I also remember thinking that it tasted like a stereotypical Irish whiskey; sweet, soft and easy to drink. I don't remember thinking, even for a second, that I couldn't wait to have another. I didn't. I feel like I'm being tough on this one. Maybe my taste buds are off tonight, and because of that possiblity I'll be fair and give this another go. But I'll only commit to a pour at a restaurant. I don't need another forgetable bottle of booze in the cabinet. On my scale, a 2.5 is an acceptable, ordinary, mass market, middle of the bellcurve, bottle. Tullemore DEW is an example of 2.5 Irish whiskey for me (I drink it regularly). This might be a half step up from the Tully, but it didn't hold my attention long enough for me to find out.
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Evan Williams White Label Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed January 19, 2020 (edited February 11, 2020)This is the first time I've had the BiB. I've had the EWSB quite a bit, and wrote about it here - https://bourbonsippers.com/three-affordable-single-barrel-bourbons-you-should-try/ This was tasted neat in a glencairn. The bourbon was allowed to rest after the pour for about 10 minutes. There is a good amount of sheeting and thick legs when the glass is twirled. The nose is spicy with barrel char and wood, vanilla, ethanol and a touch of menthol in the background. There's not a lot of subtlety, but there's also nothing to complain about. It smells like a solid bourbon should smell. Nothing is jumping out, good or bad. Tasted neat the vanilla predominates, with elements of sweet corn and black pepper moving into the back of the mouth. The finish is moderate in length and spicy with a touch of heat. The alcohol is evident. It's a tasty sip, if maybe a bit brash and bright. Under close scrutiny there's a slight sour note. Maybe slight citrus/lemon behind stronger hints of orchard fruits. Sour might not be as accurate as "tart", but its there. Finally there's a good dash of cinnamon and a sweet coat is left on the taste buds. A few drops of water doesn't substantially impact the nose. It remains sweet, spicy, and clearly unsophisticated . The water does tone down the fire and amp up the sweet fruity elements, though. A bit of a nutty, almond character comes out and plays with the vanila and menthol. This is a bourbon drinker's bourbon, through and through. I didn't have it on the rocks, but that's how I love both EWSB and Jim Beam Bottled-in-Bond. Casual, on a clear ice cube and enjoyed without reservation! I like this a lot and, for the money, this is a killer whiskey. I think the single barrel provides a more technicolor take on the basic personality of this Heaven Hill whiskey, and it remains my preference. This Bottled-in-Bond expression is a damned fine value at $17 and is a tasty and a righteous bourbon. I've got more than a few bottles that cost double, triple, and even four times the cost of this that aren't as good. If you like the Heaven Hill profile, you'll like this whiskey. If you like high rye whiskey with a bit of spice, you'll like this whiskey. If you like honest value and a product that delivers exactly what's promised, you'll like this whiskey. Highly recommended as a cost-concious daily drinker or cocktail mixer.16.99 USD per Bottle -
Not my first taste, but my first recorded here. Tasted neat in a Glencairn. The nose is thrilling! Butterscotch and smoke, brine and ocean, iodine and oak are all evident. I could spend an hour with my nose in this glass! On the tongue this is a joyful dram for those who like an Islay whisky. There is that sweet butterscotch and more. I get vanilla, burning rubber (sounds bad, tastes great), seaweed and brine, smoke and peat, grain, iodine, Band-Aids, umame, barrel oak and white pepper. A drop or two (literally) of water amplifies the florals and emphasizes the sweet. The finish is where this fine drink falls oh so slightly short. It holds and hangs, but it seems as though it's a steep initial drop instead of a slow taper. I'm nitpicking, of course. All I'm saying is that this, the prettiest gal at the bar, is wearing flats when heals would have elevated her to legendary status. I feel bad even bringing it up. Yes, yes, yes. Please fill my glass again! I am smitten!🤗
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Bernheim 7 Year Original Wheat Whiskey
Wheat Whiskey — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed January 13, 2020 (edited May 4, 2020)Pour is brassy. Some legs and sheeting. I'm not impressed with the nose. A bit thin. Hot. A touch of acetone over a sweet note. Tastes like grass. Dry, brown, autumn grass. It's not unpleasant though. Notes of dry corn husks, and a dusty September field. Not my jam. -
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey
Tennessee Whiskey — Tennessee, USA
Reviewed January 13, 2020 (edited May 12, 2020)Other than Old No. 7 and Gentleman Jack, I have not had any of the Jack Daniels expressions. So this is new to me. The pour is a beautiful dark walnut color. There is some sheeting on the whorl but not much in legs. On the nose immediately I get sweet cream & vanilla, slight oak and a sweet tropical note. There's a definite flirtation with Werther's candy! This barrel is 131.9 proof! It doesn't drink anywhere near its heat. It's full-bodied and explosive in flavor. Lots of sweet butterscotch! There's almost no pepper on the finish but you definitely can tell that this is a high-octane whiskey. Lovely fade! I think I like this a lot more than I should... -
Tanqueray London Dry Gin (47.3%)
London Dry Gin — Scotland
Reviewed January 9, 2020 (edited April 18, 2020)Tasted neat from a Glencairn. Naturally I have had this many times in many cocktails. This is my first recorded taste. On the nose this is piney juniper, liquorice and citrus notes. It's well perfumed. Tasted neat this is sweet, definite notes of licorice and the juniper is well forward. There is almost an oily viscosity to the mouth feel. I like tanqueray neat more than I like it in a traditional London dry martini. I have yet to find a vermouth that really works with the tanqueray for me. I have never tried this in a negroni, but I'm not hopeful. I find it mixes better in a drink like a Tom Collins. With tonic there is the same kind of symbiosis that you find with Jack Daniels and Coke. Both of them are improved by the presence of the other. It's simply delightful, especially when served with a hunk of fresh lime in a tall glass of clear ice. -
Boodles British London Dry Gin (45.2%)
London Dry Gin — England
Reviewed January 7, 2020 (edited June 22, 2024)Boodles has been a long-term friend of mine. I've had this as my "go to" martini gin for at least 3 decades. It's the only way I drink it (the Boodles, not the martini) - mixed 3:1 with (typically) Dolan's or Noilly Pratt (sometimes Martini & Rossi, but that's my least favorite) Today I'm drinking a martini up with Nolan's, garnished with an olive. This has a bracing freshness, juniper forward, somewhat briny (no, I didn't make this "dirty") and with subtle sweet notes in the tail. Boodles is a solid gin that makes for a classic martini in proportions of 3:1 and higher. I like this is in a classic Direct Martini when I want something that gets the job done in one step, using freezer gin, a frozen Nick & Nora, and just a few drops of vermouth on the top (chilled, of course) and garnished with a lemon zest. Boodles isn't the best gin I've ever had, but I'll take it over many other mainstream brands such as Tanqueray, Fords, Gordon's, etc... I think I like it better than Beefeater, and maybe as much as Bombay Sapphire - but it doesn't rise quite to the level of The Botanist or Sipsmith.20.0 USD per Bottle -
Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength Bourbon
Bourbon — Ohio, USA
Reviewed January 4, 2020 (edited October 27, 2020)This whiskey pours a light amber and shows thin sheeting with quick, thin legs on the swirl. The nose offers up fresh cut wood, slight vanilla and ethanol notes. The flavor is thin, subtle and grain & wood oriented. There's not a lot of fruit, sweetness, or complexity. It's actually kind of boring.
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