Tastes

I purchased this on impulse at TW for the princely sum of $18.99. I had no idea which distillery produced it (Heaven Hill), or what its history was (competitor to Wild Turkey 101). I just liked the bottle and it was cheap enough to not care if it turned out to be a... turkey. I've had a few pours from the bottle, but this afternoon decided to sit down with this and the WT101 side by side. Tasted neat from a pair of nice looking shot glasses. After a few minutes rest the FC gives up some sugary caramel. slight ethanol, damp barrel and a hint of dark honey. There's a slight bitterness and a note of old banana peel. In comparison, the WT101 has a more sugary nose that is really not sweeter but equally sweet with a different personality. Its brighter with notes of caramelized sugar, vanilla, baking spice and over-ripe cherries that are starting to sour. The WT smells like a "stronger" drink even though its slightly lower in proof. On the palate the Fighting Cock is slightly creamy with good mouthfeel. It opens with nougat and caramel, dries and shows a bitter turn to the young barrel note and finishes with a confident note of black pepper and ginger. All together a really great showing for a bargain bourbon. The WT101 leans into the cake frosting, vanilla and sugary notes, delivers some fruit and rye elements mid palate and runs towards a nice ginger and pepper finish with a smooth taper to a slightly bitter-sweet close. Its close. Really close. I love the WT101 and its always in my house by the handle. But this Fighting Cock has its charms and is about 15% cheaper than a 750 of the WT. In my market I'm not sure if it is as widely available as WT as honestly I've never looked for it and never noticed. I'll notice in the future. This is a great change of pace and is equal to the bird on the tongue while saving a few bucks. I'm adding a quarter point bias for value as this really balances between a 2.75 for taste and a 3 for price. BTW, I have tried this neat, on ice and in a Manhattan. In the latter this was excellent with Cocchi di Torino sweet vermouth and a couple drops of Angostura bitters. It is a very good mixer bourbon.

Tasted neat from a grappa copita after several minutes of rest. This has a very mild but pleasant nose. I get a wildflower honey, ripe apple flesh, some tart apple skin and a nice lack of ethanol. If one inhales through the mouth and nose some tropical elements emerge, primarily banana and slight kiwi. It's very pleasant and inviting. Not at all challenging, but still entertaining. On the tongue this whiskey offers a bit less of a panoramic experience. Starting with a soft, almost velvety mouthfeel there is a foundation of sweet fermented grain that is accented by vanilla & floral honey. There's a slight citrus note to the back palate with a bitter finish of green banana peel. A soft blush of pepper keeps things from being too soft. This is nice. It's very easy to sip, entertaining but not challenging. It's not complex. It shows all its colors pretty quickly, but it also is very accommodating. Served in a soda highball this was refreshing and well balanced. On ice it's overly tamed, I think. I rate on a bell curve scale. Most production whiskies should score between 2 and 3 with a peak of 2.5. To rate above 3 it would have to show notable value or taste. To rate above 4 is exceptional. I think this is a bit better than average, so it deserves at least a 3. I like this a bit more than Tullamore D.E.W. and I scored that as a 2.5 - right in the middle of the curve. As good as it is, Writer's Tears is also more than twice the price of the Tully. It is an easy sipper, and an okay value. This is tasty neat and adaptable to some cocktail use, but at 80 proof it is a bit spineless. I think for taste this gets a 3.25 balanced against a value of 2.75.

Tasted neat from a grappa copita after several minutes of rest. This is a "sample" from a DTC subscription received as a gift. The nose of this whiskey is very shy. Faint apple skins, cooked cereal, ethanol. On the palate this is peppery and sour simultaneously. There's a bit of dried apple, an echo of jalepeno against a background of cereal. I'm finding it hard to tease out any specific flavors, but more importantly I'm not really encouraged to go searching. This is a pretty unremarkable whiskey. I need to be fair to this one. It reminds me of the Suntory Toki Japanese whiskey. I found that one also a bit on the boring side sipped neat. It was better with soda in a highball and I suspect this may be also, but I'm unlikely to find out as I don't see a bottle in my future.

Tasted neat from a grappa copita after several minutes rest. This is s a "sample" from a DTC subscription service received as a gift.. On the nose this whiskey has an immediate presence. I got notes of cedar and mothballs, green apple skin, and grape jelly. Quite a lot going on and its good. Mouthfeel of this is acceptably rich, but not up to the hints it gave on a swirl. On the palate this is young and spicy. Cedar, menthol, wood tannin all appear early. The flavor is drying and finishes with a slight tartness that hints at bitter lemon pith. There's a sweet note that rides above all of this, holding it together. This is an interesting whiskey,, but like Lot 40 I think this will be a love it or hate it pour. I like it and I'd definitely have another pour but I don't think it's ultimately good enough to make it to regular rotation.

Tasted neat from a grappa copita after several minutes rest. This is a "sample" from DTC service received as a gift. The nose is grassy, with notes of burnt caramel, honey and fresh sawn wood. All togerher this presents a very faint and delicate nose. The flavor is richer than the aroma. Brach's butterscotch hard candy, cedar wood, and slight menthol. The finish is short and drying. Overall a nice malt whiskey. A bit thin and not particularly complex but well balanced and satisfying.

I've had this bottle for a while, it's on its last few ounces. I'll start right out, it's very good. On the nose there's a good measure of wood (as expected), sweet vanilla, cinnamon toast crunch cereal, cherry, dill and slight menthol. The flavor is rich, complex and spicy with cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, burnt sugar and more. There's heat, but its balanced. There's sweetness, but its foundational and not out of place. Compared to Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye this is a bit richer, slightly less spicy, and delivers more of the barrel notes. It has a bit more of the cedar or evergreen element that I get from Lot 40 and Whistle Pig than the WTRBR offers up, but in neither expression is this a major note. Overall I love this rye. It's a solid choice for the price for sipping neat and it makes for a very complex and suave Manhattan. Recommended.

I've heard much about the potential of Kirkland liquors and I've had their XO cognac, which I found to be good but not great. Walking through the local Costco yesterday and I noted this bottle boasted a 50% ABV. That's serious for a scotch and I immediately found this bottle interesting enough to grab one. Tasted neat from a NEAT tasting glass last night for the first time. The nose is restrained. There is the expected iodine, peat, slight honeysuckle and a trace of salty or marshy elements. It's all pretty toned down, though. On the taste buds this is slightly sweet, slightly smokey and peaty but not over the top. Actually it reminds me of a slightly less nuanced version of a Signatory 8yr Caol Ila I had. Creamy, nicely flavored but lacking in ultimate complexity, slightly hot with a pepper finish. I like this better than Ardbeg Wee Beastie - it's not nearly as peaty but it does hold its own. It's better integrated, imho. Ardbeg 10, Lagavulin 8, Laphroaig 10, Caol Ila 12 are all easily better. They are also all about twice the price. My real interest in this bottle is for cocktails. I'm thinking Drunk Uncles and Rob Roys over the holiday season. I think this might be perfect for that application. I'll let you know... Regardless of ultimate rating know that this is a screaming deal. $37 for a very respectable 100 proof Islay scotch single malt whisky is a winner every day in my book. Recommended!

This is not even close to my first taste of this. Many years ago I ran into a deal at a liquor store. They had put pretty much all of the Forty Creek product at 50% off. Confederation oak at $38, and this pot still reserve for I think $12. I bought as much as I could. This is one of the last two bottles out of the case of this expression I purchased. Tasted neat here and given a few moments rest after the pour. On the nose this is faint honey, butter, toasted bread, and a bit of sweet vanilla. On the palate it follows through with the promise made by its aromas and adds a light dusting of ginger and white pepper. The finish is short, clean, and with a hint of rye spice. This is very enjoyable, and has been a regular staple with soda, or ginger ale, as a long drink for me. Equally nice over some ice cubes for a casual sip, especially in the summer heat when I would like something less challenging. I have not tried this in either a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, and that's on me. I think it would be a pretty good cocktail mixer when looking for something that approaches whiskey from its sweet and easy side. 43% ABV isn't going to make it crush, but I'm sure it'll show nicely. Recommended as a solid budget Canadian whiskey choice.