Tastes
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I'm not a Dewar's fanboy, but I like their stuff just fine. In my mind its the scotch equivalent of Old No. 7. Dependable, consistent and not a bad value. So while I was standing in the local emporium wondering what might entertain my taste buds tonight, this was an easy $25 decision. Right away I can recognize the Dewar's White Label DNA. Classic blended scotch with just a bit more of a grain alcohol edge than I'd like, but not so bad that I'd kick her out for eating crackers in bed. It's the mid palate where I get something interesting. There's a nice agave sweet vegetal note, a bit of non-peat smoke, and an echo of mezcal that remains on the exhale. The finish is so fast as to be nearly a ghost, there's no bite and the SMOOTH moniker is truth in advertising. Nothing about this is offensive if you like scotch whisky and you're not a militant single-malt Ken or Karen. I rate on a simple scale where average, run-of-the-mill product will score according to a bell curve. The majority of offerings should place between 2 and 3 on this scale. Above 4 is the realm of the very best. Below 2 are liquids I prefer to avoid (think Black Velvet). This is solidly average and I'm adding a quarter point for creativity. This is a worthwhile taste and I'll certainly enjoy the bottle. There might even be another in my future.25.99 USD per Bottle
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Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
Modern Gin — Ireland
Reviewed December 30, 2021 (edited May 14, 2022)The reputation precedes this one. I'm a Martini guy. And Negronis. Not a G&T fellow. Rarely have gin neat. Sometimes in White Lady or similar gin-and-juice combination. At the end of the day its really about the right gin for the Martini every time for me. I'll make my preferred Martini gin work in one of those other applications. My reference is Bombay Sapphire. Tasted neat from a glencairn. The neat pour was given a good ten minutes rest before evaluation. Crystal clear to the eye, of course. The first impression from the aroma is stronger than expected anise, sweet citrus, cardamom and unripened fruit. This has a nice gravity to its nose. Very much alive and vivid. There is remarkably little ethanol. Very clean. On the palate the clarity continues with a bias towards sweet and fruit with a liquorice back note always present. It's complex and soft, velvety and very easy to enjoy. At the same time I keep getting interesting complexity on the rather long and fruity finish. I made a 3:1 Martini with Dolin dry vermouth and a dash of Angostura orange bitters. Very impressive! Fruity, sweet, easy to drink while remaining bracing. Brisk. Brittle even (I like them ice cold and up with a lemon twist). Yowza! Clearly above average, this gin deserves a regular place in my rotation. I really like this one. This is a solid 4 star achievement.36.99 USD per Bottle -
Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Voyage 23
Bourbon — USA
Reviewed December 21, 2021 (edited January 6, 2022)To the best of my knowledge I've never tasted a Jefferson's release before this. There is no particular reason for this; the opportunity just never presented itself. While I've been aware of the Ocean series since its inception (and really think the idea is pretty clever) - and I've been aware of the brand for many years - to date I just haven't had any in a glass. This is especially odd since I have an unopened bottle of Voyage 11 in my bar closet. This is from a bottle of Voyage 23 opened about a week ago. I've had a couple of tastes. This review is sampled neat from a glencairn. About 10 minutes was given for the liquor to rest after the pour. The color is lovely. It is a crystalline light burnt-sienna and it shows substantial viscosity on a swirl. This does have a creamy mouthfeel. The nose is Werther's candy, nougat, vanilla, sweet cream and a trace of fresh ginger. There's a blush of white pepper and a bit of ethanol in the mix as well. It's a pleasant nose, but not terribly complex. It actually reminds me of Jack Daniel's single barrel barrel proof only quite a bit tamer. It's like the color drained from the picture and its washed out when compared to the hyper intense profile of the JDSBBP. For the record, this says more about the gigantic aromas of the JD and shouldn't be construed as a hit on the Jefferson's. I think the JDSBBP is pretty amazing and anything that reminds me of it is likely heading in the right direction. There is a bit more rye and pepper in the taste profile than there is in the aroma. There's also a bloom of brine, vanilla, caramel, burnt sugar, and fresh wood. The mid palate brings the nougat, a bit of sweetness, slight nuttiness, slight baking spice and black pepper. The finish is of medium length and low intensity with a slight warmth in the back of the throat, some oak bitterness, sweetness coating the mouth and a slight tingle in the lips. This is a very nice bourbon. I can absolutely see this being stellar in an Old Fashioned. It's modestly complex, interesting and without any significant flaws. It's a bit saltier than a lot of bourbons I've had, almost reflecting what I get from some coastal scotch whiskey. Tasty and satisfying. It's not a revelation and doesn't achieve new heights, however. The proof is okay, but I'm almost always of the opinion that excellence is exclusively found in over 100 proof in bourbons. The flavor profile is pleasing, but not exceptional. This is a good bourbon, full stop. Now the price. $80+ is a lot for this. Yes, the story is interesting. Yes, each "voyage" will be unique. Perhaps the best part of this whiskey is examining its path across the oceans while enjoying it in the glass. Jefferson's publishes a journey map for this expression -https://jeffersonsbourbon.com/jeffersons-ocean-voyage-23/ Still, we must accept that there are better drams for a third less cash and superior offers for the same money. This is above average, but it's not quite to the level to make it into my permanent rotation, which is generally above 4.0 in my grading system. It's a nice dram and a wonderful gift that I'll certainly enjoy.89.99 USD per Bottle -
It's time to revisit this. The first (only) time I've tried it was at an upscale hotel bar and it was in a Martini. It was superb, but I'm here to find out if my memory of this cocktail was skewed by the beautiful scenery, the beachside location or the great company. Tasted here neat from the bottle in a bucket glass after a few minutes rest. The nose is melted raspberry sorbet, strong floral scents (of which rose is an element), liquorice, cardamom and slight juniper. It's quite a complex, interesting and surprising. Really a lot going on here, some of its not so subtle. That said, I don't find anything off putting or unagreeable even if it isn't at all the smells I associate with gin. There is a very slight sweetness to this. On the palate I'm getting the raspberry and peach comes out on the exhale. I didn't really get the peach up front on the nose, but it's there on the swallow. There's slight juniper - one would be remiss to suggest there's anything of pine here. This is a soft gin. There is a LOT of floral notes, some tart spices flash through and I have a hard time picking them apart. Cardamom, anise, perhaps a touch of turmeric as well. This is a very complex gin even as it doesn't present as a challenging drink. This is easy to enjoy neat. Let's add a chip of ice and see where that brings us. As expected, the nose is mightily subdued by the cold. On the tongue the sweetness edge is dulled, the flowers wilt a bit, the raspberry and peach tone down the rhetoric. Much more gin-like. I'm not a big G&T drinker. Every now and then, sure. Sounds great. But for the most part I'm a Martini and Negroni type of tippler. I haven't had this in a Negroni, but I'm thinking it would do REALLY well in one made with Aperol (strawberry infused?) instead of Campari. This is really quite tasty. Above the ordinary for sure. It's not in Monkey 47 territory, but what is? Recommended for those times when you'd like something different but not too challenging, complex and deep but not too demanding. Flexible, tasty, affordable... what's not to like?39.99 USD per Bottle
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I can't believe I haven't reviewed this. This pour is from the last quarter of a bottle that's been open for a couple months. This is my second bottle. Let's avoid the suspense, I like it a lot. This review from a sample tasted neat from a glencairn. The pour is a pale rusty orange and a swirl reveals significant sheeting and several small tears running back into the bowl. This is a nicely viscous pour even at room temperature and has a silky mouthfeel. The nose is slight lavender, slight sweet pine like you might get from a fresh Christmas tree, fresh sawn wood, a bit of over ripe cantaloupe, all against a slight haze of juniper. The nose is sweet and complex with no off-putting ethanol or chemical elements. Its an inviting aroma and easy to approach. On the palate this is woody, sweet, floral, cardamom, wildflower honey, slight black pepper, a bit of juniper. It's a complex quaff. This is a very interesting gin for a whiskey drinker. Beyond drinking neat or on the rocks. I'm blown away by this gin in cocktails. A Bees Knees with a ginger-honey syrup and fresh squeezed lemon juice is worth buying the bottle for alone. It's a near perfect cocktail. Use this anywhere a cocktail calls for Old Tom or Genever. It's not amenable to tonic, in my opinion. It makes a better ginger highball. It's quite delicious in a Martinez if your jam is something a bit richer and sweeter. Very original, very tasty and just a bit expensive, this rises above the ordinary.54.99 USD per Bottle
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Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
Fruit Liqueurs — Veneto, Italy
Reviewed December 2, 2021 (edited April 16, 2022)Playing with liqueurs a bit, trying to devine a barrel-aged Manhattan variation and my studies brought me to a recipe where the author mentioned he thought that Luxardo maraschino has a "powerful flavor." Since in the past I haven't had that impression I decided to do a neat tasting. This from a small snifter... The nose reminds me of dried cherry pits - there's very little actually cherry fruit aroma but instead a strong, bitter woody thing in a sweet, ephemeral envelope. It's not at all strong and I wouldn't expect a huge impact in a cocktail from the nose. Taste is sweet, some cherry but more fresh, bitter seed and wood. There's a touch of nuttiness and a lovely lingering sweetness, but it's not a "powerful" flavor per se. That said, I can see how this ingrains itself into the fabric of a mixed drink to add some mid-octave richness and a bit of lower-midrange resonance. More cherry comes out on the finish, but its never forward or artificial and there's no "brightness" to this. It's silky, sweet, complex and tasty. I'm even getting just the slightest ghost of menthol or even camphor, but its fleeting. This expression is a maybe on its own when served in a pony or on ice as a digestivo or dessert pairing. It works with soda and gin or vodka as a long drink. For my purposes I find it to be a nice addition to a Manhattan, technically turning that drink into a Red Hook. Recommended as an addition to any well rounded bar collection and a good partner for many whisky and gin experiments. -
I enjoy Islays, including many of Ardbeg's expressions. This one isn't my favorite. Purchased on a lark (along with a bunch of other bottles, nearly all of which are a grand bit richer in nature) I tasted this neat from a glencairn. This is a neck pour and my first exposure to this expression. Essentially I wanted to know what an Ardbeg entry level scotch whisky tastes like. Here's the short of it; it's good but it's weak and watered down. This is Ardbeg light. There's a bit of smoke, not too much iodine, a little bit of malt, some sweetness, and a complete lack of complexity. This tastes like a $40 bottle of scotch with a $60 price tag. I use a simple scale where a 5 is representative of a perfect expression and a 1 is indicative of a wholly substandard product. Statistical distribution tells us that the majority of liquid should score somewhere around a 2.5. This is as average as anything Ardbeg will ever make... I hope.56.99 USD per Bottle
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George Dickel 15 Year Tennessee Single Barrel
Tennessee Whiskey — Tennessee, USA
Reviewed November 20, 2021 (edited January 5, 2022)I'm a fan of the Dickel BiB, and I enjoy the Barrel Select. All in all I find their whisky to be approachable, flavorful and a good value. This is my first taste of the 15 year single barrel. My bottle is identified as bottle 210, but I don't see any obvious reference to the barrel itself, which is fine. I don't put much value in looking for a specific barrel and, to be honest, I find listings here of specific barrels to be counterproductive to creating a community review. That said... This bottle's been open for a month or so and it's down about 1/3. This review is based on a neat pour in a glencairn. The color of this bourbon is polished walnut and a swirl shows good sheeting with many small legs running to the bowl. On the nose the contribution of wood is obvious. Wet oak, barrel char, baker's chocolate, caramelized sugar and slight vanilla are all present. The nose is not indicative of a sweet dram, nor a spicy one. Instead it speaks of years in a barrel. On the palate this is a lovely and delicate measure. Its dry, slightly spicy and moderately complex. The wood - again - is in the forefront. To me that is what this expression brings to the party. This is a lesson in aging bourbon. I would almost say this is over aged. It stands right at the line of being over oaked without going over. As a sipper this is absolutely best enjoyed neat. Ice or water do nothing to improve the profile, in my opinion. There's a bit of ginger spice, light vanilla and a clean mid-palate that leads to a quick fade and a lasting trail that echoes bitter wood, slightly sour mash, and a very light pepper spice. I think this whisky could be an absolute monster when used as a flavoring agent. As an experiment I enjoyed a 50/50 pour of the 11 year Bottled in Bond and this 15 year single barrel. Wow! As a blending element this needs a lot more exploration. Both whiskies in my experiment were bettered by the blend. This bottle brings the age to other distillates that might bring the fruit or frosting. It's a bit difficult for me to give this a rating. On its own as a plain sipper its better than average but not exceptional. I rate on a 5 point scale where a 1 is unpalatable and a 5 is a perfect expression. Most offerings follow a bell curve and end up between 2 and 3. Much of what I write about is between a 3 and a 4.5 because I try to avoid buying the stinkers in the first place. This isn't a 4 on its own, but it's mighty close. What this whisky really is is a master class on when to empty a barrel. It's wonderfully balanced, but lacking that last bit of sparkle because of the low proof. I'd love to taste this at cask strength, but it may be too oaky in that condition. It's definitely the oldest tasting Tennessee whisky I want to drink. 3.75 and recommended as a great research investment before you wander off trying to buy a 20+ year old unicorn bottle for big bucks.59.0 USD per Bottle -
Galliano L'Autentico
Herbal/Spice Liqueurs — Piemonte, Italy
Reviewed November 11, 2021 (edited October 27, 2022)Tasting through my amaro cabinet and revisiting some classics. This is one that was hard to escape in the 80's. Harvey Wallbanger anyone? Always a flavoring agent, this isn't something to be drunk neat (at least not twice). And yet here I am... Ick. Sweet. Primarily the flavor is fennel and anise, sugary bad vanilla, and something that tastes like weak furniture polish. This is truly disgusting. That said, a splash in a highball can be an interesting flavoring element. But just a drop, because you really don't want to taste this by itself. Everything has its place. Galliano's place isn't in a glencairn. -
I'd run out of my favorite Monkey 47 and my second favorite The Botanist, so off to Total Wine I went. While I was perusing the reviews and looking at the selection I noticed that this gin has some pretty positive ink and a very attractive price. Life's too short to wonder about such things, so a bottle went into the cart for an up-close and personal interview. Tasted neat from a glencairn - it's not my normal gin format but it is a fair way to establish just what this is before I introduce it to vermouth and bitters. Fragrant juniper and sweet florals greet the intruding nose, but there's really no ethanol or (thankfully) acetone to spoil the impact. Too often I find a promising gin compromised by a lackluster GNS base. This seems to have a certain measure of quality right from the start. There's a bit more evergreen than I find in Bombay Sapphire (my bar staple), but they are closer in fragrance than one might guess. The Bombay's nose is a bit sweeter and lighter, the Citadelle's richer and "greener". On the palate this is superbly balanced, slightly bitter, vegetal and with a forward juniper presence. It avoids sweetness, being just slightly less sweet than the Bombay Sapphire and a bit richer. The overall palate leans towards spices; anise, juniper, pine, cardamom fennel and coriander. I don't get too much of the citrus in this pour. The finish is clean, the mouthfeel rich. It's not as insanely complex as Monkey 47 (what is?), nor is it as deeply herbaceous as The Botanist. It is quite nice and is certainly competitive with my long-term regular Bombay. I can't wait to try this in a Martini. This is a fine pour for the price, absolutely.27.99 USD per Bottle
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