Tastes
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When this whisky hit the market I was immediately interested. I love rye. I'm a scotch fan. The two can work together. A high rye blended scotch made from barley and rye? Sounds like it has potential. Made for cocktails and delivered at 90 proof? Really sounds like it has potential. The reality rarely exceeds the fantasy. On the nose this isn't a particularly remarkable blended scotch. There's a bit of fruitiness and some spice, but nothing that would clue me into the "high rye" design of this mash. Tasted neat this is quite ordinary. There's a bit more spice and longer pepper finish than I'd normally expect from an inexpensive blended scotch. There's a good dose of the sweet, honey and apple main street found in the neighborhood of most malt whiskies. There's very little of the peat and smoke I'd hope to find. There's some there, but its not in a starring role. The rye is a player, but its also not a lead. There is some ginger, a bit of spearmint and a citrus shadow that turns a bit bitter on the finish. I'm a Johnnie Black fan, it's my "go to" for a mixer and a frequent guest in a Rob Roy. What interested me most about this Johnnie Walker release is that its created with cocktails in mind. In fact, one advertisement I keep seeing touts this whisky in a Manhattan (or is it really a Rob Roy?). So that is where I took it. Mixed 2:1 with a Cocchi di Torino vermouth, two shakes of Angostura bitters, a spritz of absinthe from an atomizer across the surface of the finished drink and a maraschino cherry garnish is my typical build. Johnnie Walker High Rye didn't fare as well as its 12 year old brother. Nor as well as Wild Turkey 101 rye. Nor as well as Dewar's Ancestor. Nor as well as... well, you get the picture. This isn't a bad whisky. For the $28.99 I paid at ABC (they're list is $36.99 but I asked them to match price with Total Wine) I have to compare this with other scotch whiskies. Dewar's White Label is less expensive and makes about as good a drink. It has a bit more ethanol, but its an old friend. It's also less present due to the lower proof. Johnnie Black is the same price and has a nice kick of peat that I really enjoy. It's better in a Rob Roy. Naked Malt is a bit more expensive, and its better in every way. Johnnie Walker High Rye isn't a bad whisky, it's a compromised one. It's a good idea executed in an uninspired way. My rating scale holds that most mass market product will follow a bell curve and hence end up around a 2.5 to 3 on the scale. Above 4 is the range of the exceptional. Below 2.0 lies the purgatory of forgettable mediocrity. This expression skates with the pack and not much more.28.99 USD per Bottle
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Jack Daniel's Bonded Tennessee Whiskey
Tennessee Whiskey — Tennessee, USA
Reviewed May 13, 2022 (edited May 26, 2022)I'm on a Jack Daniel roll. Two new releases and I couldn't decide at the liquor store so I got them both. I'm not generally a Jack Black fan. Every now and then a Jack and Coke on a flight or a Gentleman Jack at a restaurant. I love the SBBP, but not enough to chase it right now. The single barrel expression was okay, but nothing that rocked my world. That said, its time to try this new expression. At the very least I appreciate a major distiller expanding its core line in the direction of bottled in bond. The Triple Mash is terrific. What about this? This pour is from a new bottle that's only been open for the day. It was tasted neat from a glencairn after a few minutes rest. The nose is an improvement over Old No. 7. It absolutely has the same DNA. I get that Circus Peanuts banana candy note that's so much a part of the Jack Daniel profile. Also some Werthers, brown sugar, faint barrel char, and light ethanol. The nose isn't particularly potent or remarkable. This whisky has a creamy mouthfeel, a sweet entrance and a peppery presence. Oak, banana bread, caramelized sugar, some slight black pepper, a blush of ginger and a dry nuttiness all make an appearance. The finish is short to moderate with an exhale of banana bread and a mouth coating sweetness. This is classic Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 done right. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm confident this will make the definitive Jack and Coke. It's a fine sipper neat, though not as interesting or satisfying as the Triple Mash. If you like JD, you'll love this. If you're not a fan, you may still like it. It's far more satisfying than its anemic flagship stablemate. It's also richer and bolder than its Gentleman cousin for about the same coin. Either way, this is worth a try even if its not a revelation. Incidentally, I think a natural comparison is Dickel BiB and this. They are both in the mid $30 range. I haven't done a sbs, but I'm definitely a fan of the Dickel and I believe the 13 year release is better than the JD BiB. I recall it having a richer and more complex profile. I'll add notes or do an in-depth comparo at a future time. This doesn't rate as high as the Triple Mash for sure, and I gave that 3.75 stars. If Old No 7 is a 2.5, which is dead average and not necessarily a pejorative on my scale, then this is easily a 3.0. For a permanent addition to the line that is at a very attractive price point, I think it deserves even a bit more respect than that. This is a solid 3.25 and a recommendation to give this new JD a try. It's absolutely competitive at its price point if not a clear champion.32.99 USD per Bottle -
Jack Daniel's Triple Mash
Blended American Whiskey — Tennessee, USA
Reviewed May 13, 2022 (edited June 27, 2022)I'm rarely excited by a new whiskey release. Most of it is overpriced over hyped nonsense. The world doesn't need another anniversary birthday annual antique release with an MSRP that's twice what the whiskey is worth and a price at the liquor store that's 10 times that. That's bullshit. Jack Daniel, the most successful American whiskey on the planet, is not a company I associate with breaking new ground. Yet here we are. This is exciting and the whiskey is worth the excitement. I couldn't wait to get this bottle and it's cousin bottled in bond on my shelf. The nose on this is subtle with elements of corn flakes, dried strawberries like the kind used in kids cereal, caramel, brown sugar, and circus peanuts candy. It is a sweet nose, but not saccharine. There is a definite trace of ethanol. On the palate this has reasonable complexity. A trace of banana from the circus peanut candy, caramelized sugar, charred oak barrel, and cereal grain are all present and playing wonderfully together. There's a bit of spice to this, and a bit of fruit. There's a little bit of heat on a modestly drawn-out finish that ends with a sweet coating of the lips and mouth. Just the slightest touch of bitter from the oak remains at the very end. This is quite well balanced and very easy to drink. It doesn't really hit like a 100 proofer. I suspect this could make a world-class Manhattan or old-fashioned. I will find out. My immediate reaction is that for 38 bucks this is a screaming deal. This is a full-time, permanent line extension at a reasonable price with an outstanding flavor profile made by one of the most successful whiskey companies on God's green little earth. If that doesn't make a whiskey drinker happy then I don't know what does.37.99 USD per Bottle -
As I referenced in my tasting notes for the Hendrix Lunar, here I am with Neptunia to take a look at two of the series. A bit of perspective: I'm not a big G&T fan but enjoy sours, daisies, and especially martinis. I rarely drink a gin neat, but maybe I should reconsider that... This expression tasted neat from a glencairn. A good rest was provided for the pour to settle in. This has floral notes, but overall is quite different from the Lunar. I grew up near the coast in New England and the smells of the grasses in the sand dunes, the brine, saltgrass and marsh elder and that was the immediate association I got when nosing the glass. Maybe I was primed for it by the marketing, but there it was. This gin's nose is green and sweetly floral, slightly piney and tart with a bit of citrus to me. Overall this has a nicely complex aroma. On the tongue this is tart and tough - in a good way. The flavor's foundation is a drier citrus with juniper and spices. Roses, nori, cucumber, and white pepper. This is less sweet on the fade and has a faster finish than the Lunar. In comparison the regular Hendrix expression is a bit softer seeming a bit watery in comparison. Neptunia makes a fine Martini. 4:1 M&R with a single shake of orange bitters, served with a twist should be enough to put a smile on anyone's face. Admittedly I think this gin will come to life with a less oily vermouth, but today was about comparison and not optimization. I like this expression a bit more than the Lunar, but that may change with the day or the mood. They're both very good and different from each other but still clearly derived from the same stock. I'm not at all unhappy both are in my liquor cabinet. I liked both Lunar and Neptunia better than the base expression. I'm not going to be a bit stingy tonight and give this the same 3.75 I gave the Lunar, but if I could split the difference I might. This, to my taste buds, is a bit more interesting. What I'm certain of is that I've enjoyed some really good gin tonight. These Hendrix special releases are coming up aces.38.99 USD per Bottle
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Hit the local liquor store today and bought a few things. Amongst them was a bottle of Hendrix Lunar and Hendrix Neptunia. I'll be comparing both to the stock Hendrix expression and to gin in general. For the record, I don't really drink G&T. Gin and juice? Yes (fresh squeezed, always). Gin Martinis? Absolutely, they are like life's blood in my household. My wife and I enjoy a Martini most days (although I'm happy to play with a Rob Roy or Manhattan variant as well). Gin neat? Never unless it's a tasting. Gin on the rocks? Sure, from time to time. That said... This expression tasted neat from a glencairn. A good rest was provided for the pour to settle in. This is flowery on the nose. It is redolent of a mixed bouquet straight from a really good florist. The flowers are anchored by an alcohol-based perfume, although the raw impact of the ethanol is tamed quite a bit. I get lavender and rose hips, chamomile and traces of bergamot. It suggests a potpourri candy bar, with a foundation of sweetness holding together a complex mixture of flowers and spices. Compared to the standard Hendrix expression, this is at once more potently packed with fragrance and is significantly more complex. Hendrix smells like a sweet London Dry, the Lunar smells like a lush summer garden at night. Very impressive if you're into that sort of thing (and fortunately I am). On the palate this remains complex but the profile turns towards a greener note with cucumber skins riding on top of a faint, sweet green pepper note. Citrus is strongly present without overpowering the profile. The juniper is far enough forward to satisfy a Martini enthusiast without the gin getting lost in the vermouth. It's a sweet sipper, with just a slight note of black pepper and a soft fade into something that reminds me of cilantro or fresh cut parsley. The finish is sweet, warm and clean. In a Martini (4:1) using Martini & Rossi dry (not my favorite, but my wife's favorite and a household staple) the vegetal elements come forward a bit more. It tastes of garden plants, cut flowers, juniper and honeysuckle. Quite complex and refreshing, if not as bracing as something like a Citadelle or Bombay Sapphire (our house standard). This makes a fine Martini! This is a semi-stop sweeter than the standard expression and misses the slightly sour notes I sometimes get from bog standard Hendrix. The ethanol is pushed back a bit as well, making this creamier, smoother and more approachable. Nicely done! This is a really good gin. For under $40 its a reasonable value and I think its a better Martini gin than Nolet's Silver gin, for example. I'll say it's very competitive with Drumshanbo Irish Gunpowder, but different enough that a gin-head will likely want both (I do). This is clearly a very good product, well above average. Not Monkey 47 good, but not embarrassed by that comparison either. I like this a lot. I'm going to pursue these Hendrix special releases. They're on a roll and they're inexpensive and readily available (in my market). If, on a 5 point scale an average mass market release is a 2.5 (Tanqueray, Gordons), then this deserves a full point or more bump. But it's not quite to the level of extraordinary (4.0). I gave Citadelle a 3.5 (great value for a juniper-forward London Dry), and this is a touch better if quite a bit different. It diverges from the expected path and delivers a unique experience for the enthusiast. I'm giving this a generous 3.75 but I think maybe the Neptunia bests it, so it might be the three drinks I've had making me feel magnanimous. So be it. 3.75 it is.34.99 USD per Bottle
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Koval Single Barrel Millet Whiskey
Other Whiskey — Illinois, USA
Reviewed March 21, 2022 (edited August 3, 2023)This is a very interesting bottle that I likely never would have purchased on my own. I was gifted a membership into the Craft Whisky Club. This bottle is a private cask selection from the club and is offered at 110 proof. This is a unique, 100% millet grain whisky aged in small 30L casks. My bottle has been open for a couple weeks and this sample was tasted neat after resting the pour for a few minutes. The pour is a cherrywood color with good sheeting and many small tears running into the bowl of the glass. This is nicely viscous and has a good mouthfeel. On the nose this has a bit of ethanol, barrel wood, vanilla and burnt sugar. Its a bit sharp but not overly so. There's moderate complexity, with graham cracker, cracked pepper, and a sweet nuttiness emerging after a few moments. On the palate this oily dram hits sweet with a deep flavor of seeds as in a seeded almond cracker. This is followed by a flare of black pepper, sweet caramel, burnt sugar, light bitter oak and a touch of paprika. The finish is short and the dram leaves a slightly sweet and sour note with a bit of ethanol heat on the roof of the mouth and in the back of the throat. This is a really interesting whisky. A drop of water dials back the pepper and brings forward a bit more of the sweetness, accompanied by a pleasing bitterness that contrasts with a touch of wildflower honey and that baked seed flavor. There's moderate complexity both with and without a drop of water. An ice cube dials things back even more. I like this. I don't love it, but I like it and its unique and interesting. I haven't had much like it but its not so far off the beaten path that it would be a stranger to a rye or lowland scotch whisky fan. It's not like a "traditional" American malt, whatever that may be. I didn't know what to expect and I got something that's a bit unique. I'm not sure if I'd buy another bottle, but this sure makes me want to try the other expressions Koval has created. I like this, it will take a little more time for me to love it but I'm certainly not hating on it and I'm going to enjoy every drop. I have to think this might make a killer Old Fashioned. Maybe with something like a fig or date syrup? I'll be experimenting. I rate on a scale where a competently made product should map to a bell curve. The majority of whiskies should center at 2.5, with really good expressions heading above 3.0 and exceptional expressions above 4.0. This is above average with a additional merit for uniqueness and execution. -
Been enjoying this expression for some time but I just noticed that I've never recorded tasting notes, so here we go for review 201. Tasted neat from a glencairn after several minutes rest. The nose isn't extraordinary in any way, but it has all the right notes. There's a bit of barrel char, some caramel, a bit of mint and notes of dark rye bread. With a little exploration I can pull out some evergreen and dill. There's a noticeable touch of ethanol but it isn't offensive to me. On the palate this is nicely spicy, good depth of rye notes, dill, menthol, caramel, leather, barrel char, wet oak, and a bit of demerara sugar. The mouthfeel is nicely silky and slightly rich - almost an oiliness that I really like when sipping neat. The finish is moderate and sweet with just a touch of sourness to the fade. There is a slight warmth of ginger that remains on the back of the tongue and in the throat. This is hearty and really expresses itself almost like a high-rye bourbon and less like a true rye whiskey, but the fruitiness and vegatal elements of the rye remain. To me this is a bit tamer than Joseph Magnus straight bourbon whiskey with a little less mint and a tamer profile. For me the Magnus is a bit rambunctious as a sipper, but it make a KILLER Manhattan. Speaking of Manhattans, that is why I keep Wild Turkey 101 Rye in my cabinet pretty much all the time. It's my go-to Manhattan pour. Any mixed drink, actually. I like this better than Rittenhouse for about the same money. I find the Rittenhouse has a more complex midrange and top notes, but is thinner in its foundation. I think the Wild Turkey rye is better balanced. While I enjoy this rye neat, its not my daily. For a little taste of rye with my black coffee (a Sunday morning ritual), I prefer Jack Daniel's Rye. At 90 proof it doesn't offer the horsepower of the WT101R, but its fruitier and a bit more delicate and complex on the palate. I don't like the JD in a cocktail and rarely on the rocks - its my neat sipper. It can get lost easily in the mix. For mixing cocktails and such I'll take the WT101R for my well rye and keep the New Riff, Sagamore Spirit, JD Single Barrel and WTRBR for serious sipping or special concoctions. I gave the JD rye a 2.75 score and that might have been just a touch stingy, but it's kind of a one trick pony for me. 2.5 is smack dab in the "average" range. This is a bit better and a good value. I think it deserves a 3. This is a solid rye and a great choice for any cocktail, on ice or neat. It's just a good product at a good price (yes, I might be a Wild Turkey fan boy but I'm not apologizing).24.99 USD per Bottle
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Angel's Envy Rye Finished in Caribbean Rum Casks
Rye — USA
Reviewed March 11, 2022 (edited April 20, 2022)For tasting number 200 I wanted something special. A known quantity that I haven't had but could be certain I liked. I found it when a dear friend said this was a butterscotch bomb. Done, I'll buy one! On the nose this is precisely that. It's a butterscotch bomb. There's also a good dollop of cinnamon toast cereal, and very faint spice. Dessert in a glencairn! This tastes like a liquid candy bar. No. Not a candy bar. An intoxicating liquid butterscotch ice cream sundae! This isn't a traditional rye whiskey at all. It even goes a bit beyond just being finished and into the world of being uniquely flavored. This isn't a rye I'd suggest using to make any kind of a mixed drink that I can think of. This is definitely a cordial with a higher proof that you enjoy neat or maybe on a large piece of ice, if that's your thing. Me, I'm a happy butterscotch fan. This is absolutely delicious in my opinion but it is definitely not a traditional rye and it has to lose a little bit of points for that. That said this is clearly something I'm going to have around for a while. Really liked it.89.99 USD per Bottle -
New Riff 4 Year Single Barrel Rye
Rye — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed March 1, 2022 (edited August 15, 2022)This bottle was a gift from a friend, I've been to the New Riff distillery in KY many times. I lived quite close to there and enjoyed their product when they were 8-Ball Brewing and making beer for the bar inside Party Source. I've not tasted NR rye before this. The pour is a polished walnut. A swirl shows slow, thick legs running down the side of the glencairn. This bottle has been open for a few weeks, but I've managed to control myself to only a few tastes. On the nose this is rye bread and vanilla, maple syrup and cinnamon. Slight mint appears as a ghostly echo. There's a bit of barrel char and some cedar plank hinting at a younger age, but the nose is remarkably well formed and smoothly rounded. On the palate this is a bit sharper and spicier than the Sagamore Double Oak. There is a note of toasted almond, maple, baking spices, slight ginger, a bit of mint and a trace of dill weed. Alcohol is present, you won't mistake this for a 90 proof wannabe but it is in the right proportion. This is a really good rye. Its just not as good as the Sagamore Double Oak as a neat drinker, nor as boldly versatile as Wild Turkey Rare Breed rye, which I prefer for Manhattans and the like. I like this rye a lot, but it's not readily available in my area and I think (think!) its the same price as the Sagamore Spirit. Regardless, there is competition for this one from quite a few directions. I'm loving every sip and I'd likely buy another bottle if it were available and under $60 retail. That said, it's not a world beater by any definition of the term. Good. Very good. Just not great. Maybe after a few more years in the barrel.. -
Sagamore Spirit 'Sagamore Reserve' Double Oak Rye (2017 Limited Edition Release)
Rye — (bottled in) Maryland, USA
Reviewed February 19, 2022 (edited August 17, 2022)I'm on a rye tear for the last couple of months and its not slowing down. I've saved three of the best I've had recently for my run-up to 200 tasting entries. The shear breadth of flavor palette possible with rye distillate is pretty astonishing. I love the sweet, fruity versions (Jack Daniel Single Barrel), the impeccably balanced "amplified bourbon" ryes (Pikesville), the complex boreal woodsy ryes (Whistle Pig, Lot 40), and the sophisticated bon vivant ryes (Dad's Hat, High West). Neat in a shot glass with a black coffee back or as the foundation of a dry Manhattan, rye is a treat in so many ways. I've only had one taste of Sagamore Spirit before, courtesy of a friend at Bourbon Sippers blog and that was of a barrel pick from a liquor store in central FL. It was the single most unique rye I've tasted, being almost shockingly technicolor and flavorful I couldn't resist adding this, a core expression for Sagamore Spirit, to my shopping cart on my last outing. Double Oak is finished in "toasted wave stave barrels" for an additional 18 months. According to the company, this "imparts... delightful caramel, toffee, hazelnut, and toasted coconut" notes to the release. I tasted this neat from a glencairn after a good rest. This bottle has been open for about two weeks. I have to say this is one bottle that freaked me out. The taste profile of my first couple pours was overwhelmingly cedar and fruitcake, taking it beyond even Lot 40's profile. After a while the profile seemed to mellow quite a bit and a deeper, sweeter and more complex profile emerged. I'm not sure if it was my palate or the bottle really changed, but I'd recommend giving this one a bit of time before making up your mind. The nose is Snicker's Bar, shredded coconut, milk chocolate, cherry syrup, fruitcake, and slight conifer forest floor. There's very little ethanol, this is very approachable and quite complex. The aromas I'm getting are well above average - very good. On the taste buds this is a bit dryer than the nose would lead you to believe. It has a lovely bit of spiciness, a nice warmth. Ginger and white pepper layered on cedar and walnuts. The cherry and some dark rye bread notes come along at mid palate. The finish is moderately long and nicely fades to a sweet echo. This is very accomplished. I have a rather simple scoring system that follows a bell curve. Average product scores in the 2.5 range. Excellence lies above 4. This is excellent in flavor and is a very good value. Recommended.54.99 USD per Bottle
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