Tastes

Nose - rich oak, butterscotch, powdered sugar, vanilla frosting, marshmallow, cocoa, dusty corn, candy corn, fig, plum, black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, black cherry, sweet floral notes, fruit punch, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - butterscotch, black cherry, candy corn, vanilla bean, mint, plum, black pepper, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, dark chocolate, spicy rich oak, fruit punch, floral notes, marshmallow, moderate to high ethanol burn, finishing medium long with black cherry, rich oak, butterscotch, and spicy pepper flavors. Oh good Lord, this is wonderful. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is from Texas. It’s rich and dense with a beautiful mouthfeel. The European oak maturation has done wonders for the simplicity of corn whiskey. I wouldn’t call it complex, but there’s much more going on here than I would have expected. This easily bests the Santa Fe and New York Distilling bottlings from Lost Lantern, and I can see why this is the only one that’s currently sold out. If it wasn’t, there would already be two in the mail for me. I took Jon’s advice and added a few drops of water to tame the proof a bit. It definitely helps. I think it actually increases the complexity. More of the fruitiness shines through without diminishing the rich caramel and oak backbone. Overall this is excellent, and probably about as good as corn whiskey could ever hope to be. I wish I could buy a bottle for my collection. A huge thank you to @jonwilkinson7309 for providing the sample. This one is special, and a worthy dram to mark the occasion of my 300th review.

Nose - baked apple, clove, allspice, mint, nutmeg, caramel, vanilla frosting, cherry, cranberry, plum, yeast, apple pie, black pepper, ginger, high ethanol burn. Taste - salted caramel, creamy vanilla, baked sour apple, cinnamon, allspice, clove, nutmeg, cocoa, black cherry, ginger, chili pepper, black pepper, spearmint, barrel spice, high alcohol bite, finishing medium long with baked apple, prickly pepper, mint, and baking spice flavors. Wow, this is some hot stuff. The apple brandy finish is present on the nose and palate, but it’s not heavy handed. It has more of a spiced apple pie quality. This is identifiable as a rye on the nose, but it’s indisputable when it hits the tongue. There’s mint, rye and baking spices, and strong pepper notes to negotiate on the palate. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart. As with the the Santa Fe bottling from Lost Lantern, the proof hits really hard. After taking the initial notes, I added a teaspoon of water to the glass to see how that affected it. The heat definitely subsided and more of the caramel and apple notes appeared. In fact, there’s a remembrance of Apple Jacks cereal from my childhood coming into focus. Overall, this is really good, but not great. The youth is again front and center in a way that detracts from the experience and makes me wonder what this would become with a few more years in the barrel. Many thanks to @jonwilkinson7309 for the pour. I’ll probably never encounter another apple brandy finished rye on my review journey.

Nose - candy corn, buttered popcorn, caramel, creamy vanilla, red berry, powdered sugar, mesquite, honey roasted peanut, orange zest, cinnamon, cocoa, nutmeg, yeast, black pepper, anise, hay, light oak, high ethanol burn. Taste - orange, cherry, black pepper, barrel spice, caramel, creamy vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, mesquite, candy corn, mint, peanut, buttered bread, milk chocolate, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with caramel, baking spice, and wood smoke flavors. I thought I poured the wrong sample. I would have sworn I was smelling a corn whiskey if I didn’t know this is undeniably a single malt. The aromas I associate with candy corn and buttered popcorn immediately leapt from the glass. A deeper search yields nice red berry and orange notes along with a host of baking spices and a whiff of wood smoke. It’s not a meaty BBQ smoke, but rather more akin to the smell of a grill at the far corner of the backyard that was used an hour or so ago, but is now cooling down after serving its purpose. The proof hits hard on the palate arrival, but also brings pops of sweet orange and cherry accompanied by buttery, creamy caramel and vanilla along with some smoky chocolate and baking spice notes. The finish is neither short nor long, but brings the palate to a pleasant, albeit slightly youthful and bright, close with some of the same tastes from earlier. I find the mesquite smoke makes its presence known more at this point than earlier in the experience. I’m really excited to kick off this series of Lost Lantern tastings. It’s my first experience with an independent bottler of American spirits and I’m digging their mission, transparency, and respect for the craft. I recommend checking out their website, as there’s a lot of great information along with a detailed analysis of what is contained in each of their bottlings. Overall this is good whiskey, but I think it’s too youthful to receive an extremely high mark. It’s really hot, both on the nose and palate. I feel that the flavors are all very nice, but would be outstanding and much more well integrated with another few years in the barrel. Nonetheless, it’s a pleasure to sample a single cask selection from a relatively small (and previously unknown to me) distillery. A big thank you to @jonwilkinson7309 for providing this sample, as well as the next three I’ll be reviewing from Lost Lantern.

Nose - mellow peat, creamy vanilla, caramelized apple and pear, milk chocolate, brown sugar, brine, honey, old book, coconut, toffee, black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, rich maltiness, peach, orange, lemon, grass, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - smoked meat, mellow peat, toffee, coffee, milk chocolate, baked apple, apple pie, nutmeg, coconut, rich vanilla, honey, cinnamon, apricot, lemon and orange zest, mint, chili pepper, ginger, wet grass, moderate alcohol bite, finishing long with mellow peat, rich malt, and chocolate, and citrus flavors. The age comes through beautifully on this. The balance between smoke and fruit is amazing. The grain character is maintained but it’s deeply rich and velvety. I think the Clynelish fruitiness is slightly more pronounced on the nose, while the Caol Ila smoked meatiness presents more strongly on the palate. Tobias & The Angel is my first experience with whiskey this old. I’ve heard that the Islay footprint changes dramatically as time in the barrel progresses, but hadn’t experienced it until now. The peat is so mellow, almost milky. What a wonderful transformation from its boisterous, fiery youth. This is fantastic whiskey, and easily among the best I’ve ever tasted. As you might expect with a blend that contains 30+ year old components, this isn’t cheap. It looks like you can grab a bottle of it now for north of $600. At that price, I can’t say there’s any value to be found here. However if the budget permits, it’s difficult to imagine anyone being disappointed by this. I know I’m not. It’s a complete stunner, and my score reflects that. A huge thank you to @pkingmartin for providing the sample. This is the type of experience that makes me rethink the rest of my whiskey ratings. This completes my Compass Box review series, and what a great way to wrap it up. Next, I’ll be heading back home to review a set of four Lost Lantern offerings.

Nose - strong peat, iodine, smoked meat, menthol, sunscreen, chalk, mint, black pepper, ash, mellow oak, lemon, coconut, old book, tar, leather, apple skin, vanilla, toffee, grass, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - iodine, menthol, smoked meat, strong peat, brine, apple, grass, lemon zest, salted caramel, cocoa, anise, rubber, pear, leather, spicy oak, chili pepper, vanilla, high alcohol bite, finishing medium long with menthol, citrus zest, iodine, and chili pepper flavors. This is some powerful stuff. The Ardbeg and Caol Ila footprints are front and center. I can’t find an age statement on the components, but I’m guessing there’s some young stock included, as the peat is potent and acrid. The nose is all menthol, smoked meat, and iodine. The Clynelish makes an appearance in the palate, with that characteristic waxy fruitiness, but it’s very much in the background. This is great whiskey. However, the menthol notes are extremely powerful, making it rather difficult to identify some of the more nuanced aromas and flavors. It’s very reminiscent of having Vicks VapoRub on my chest when I was sick as a child. I know this note comes from the high proof Ardbeg, as I’ve smelled it before, but I wish it were less pronounced here. Nonetheless, it’s hard to complain too much about this. I would always be happy to have a glass. As usual, a big thank you to @jonwilkinson7309 for providing the sample.

Nose - sweet peat, smoked meat, pear, baked apple, apricot, cinnamon, honey, toffee, creamy vanilla, coconut, waxy lemon, sweet floral notes, cocoa, fig, orange zest, hay, light oak, black pepper, strawberry, mint, oat, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - smoked meat, sweet peat, orange zest, ginger, chili pepper, cinnamon, black pepper, waxy lemon, milk chocolate, apple, pear, honey, toffee, mint, coconut, creamy vanilla, oat, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium long with meaty peat, citrus zest, toffee, and pepper flavors. The nose is a beautiful combination of sweet smoke and creamy, fruity toffee. Everything is very well integrated with a rich, not grainy, maltiness. The palate is similar, but the arrival hits with a flash of deep, smoky citrus and tingly pepper before mellowing with a creamy, oats and honey vibe. The finish fades slowly with the dominant flavors lingering pleasantly for at least a minute. Now this is a good blend. It’s easy to tell there’s some age on the components. I can’t say whether it’s better than the sum of its parts, but the characteristic smoky, meaty Caol Ila and fruity, waxy Clynelish both shine through nicely. Unfortunately, this lives up to its name and the prices have transcended into secondary market insanity. I would absolutely buy this at the original $125 retail price. Definitely not at today’s prices. Another big thank you to @jonwilkinson7309 for providing the sample. This one is really nicely done.

Nose - creamy vanilla, oat, butter cookie, lime zest, floral notes, toffee, cereal grain, apple, pear, nutmeg, dusty corn, coconut, cinnamon, sweet oak, subtle banana, white pepper, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - toffee, creamy vanilla, cinnamon, nutmegs, floral notes, cereal grain, oat, honey, lemon and lime zest, brown sugar, toasted coconut, apple, banana, butter cookie, black pepper, ginger, mint, chili pepper, sweet corn, fresh oak, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium short with toffee, cereal grain, citrus zest, and chili pepper flavors. The nose is very delicate. A little fruity, a little spicy, a little vanilla-y, a little grainy. The palate is similar with the addition of more oak and prickly pepper notes. The aromas and flavors can be found, but they’re rather elusive. It took much longer than usual for me to pull out the notes. I don’t think the name Hedonism matches the experience. Something like Subtlety or maybe even Elegance seems more fitting. I think it’s better than the entry level Compass Box expressions, but it’s still rather grainy and a bit sour, with an unfortunately short finish. I’m split on this one. I think it rates right between a 3.5 and a 4.0 for me. Since this is $100 a bottle at the local stores, I’m going with the lower rating. However, I can see why many reviewers score this very highly. There are sophistication and beauty in the nuance. In the future, I’d like to try some of the other variations of Hedonism that contain older stock. Many thanks to @jonwilkinson7309 for providing the sample. This is one I’ve wanted to taste for a long time, but never had the opportunity until now.

Nose - sweet peat, strawberry, plum, apple, fig, bacon, brine, orange zest, honey, vanilla, bitter herbal notes, dry oak, flint, black pepper, clove, tobacco, leather, smoked fish, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - baked apple, pear, honey, creamy vanilla, black pepper, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, salted meat, sweet peat, plum, fig, flint, strawberry, tannic oak, leather, tobacco, dry herbal notes, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with smoked meat, sherried fruit, and black pepper flavors. The biggest difference between this and the standard Glasgow Blend is the alcohol content. At 98 proof, the aromas and flavors are cranked up, but they’re not largely different. If anything, there are slightly more sherry notes and less smokiness than on the original, which makes sense as I understand that aside from the proof, the only real difference is that the components of the blend have been aged for an additional eight months in an ex-sherry marrying cask. There is also a small, unwelcome addition of sulphur, but it’s not too distracting. Overall, I like the standard bottling a bit more than this one. As my main use will be for mixing, I’d prefer to stick with the original and save $10 or so. It’s a decent blend, but the there’s less value to be found here.

Nose - baked apple, raisin, fig, plum, sweet peat, brine, honey, pear, ash, vanilla, molasses, brown sugar, dry herbal notes, nutmeg, orange zest, tobacco, cherry, black pepper, smoked meat, chocolate, deep oak, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - sweet peat, salt cured meat, honey, creamy vanilla, baked apple, orange and lemon zest, raisin, plum, pear, black cherry, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, sweet oak, dark chocolate, black pepper, leather, tobacco, ginger, brown sugar, chocolate chip cookie, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium long with sweet peat, dark fruit, black pepper, and salted smoked meat flavors. This is very well blended. The smoky, meaty, briny attributes are balanced nicely with sherried fruit, baking spices, and chocolate notes. The youthfulness is present, but it’s not overly bright or harsh. Interestingly, I’m left with a numb sensation in my mouth after the finish completes. I’m not sure if it’s just me today, or whether there’s something in the blend encouraging that. It’s not unpleasant, but worth noting. This isn’t fantastic, but I like it more than the Artist’s Blend. There’s some slight bitterness in the finish, but I don’t find it as off putting as with its counterpart. I wouldn’t stock this as a sipper, but would have no problem sipping this if it was presented to me. For the price, this is a solid option.

Nose - apple, pear, honey, vanilla, floral notes, lemon zest, powdered sugar, hay, orange blossom, buttered bread, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - apple skin, honey, creamy vanilla, pear, black pepper, floral notes, lemon and orange zest, ginger, mint, bitter herbal notes, butter, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with apple, black pepper, bitter herbal, and tannic apple skin flavors. I wanted to like this more, given the glowing reviews I’ve read about it. Artist’s Blend is light, fruity, and floral on the nose. The palate is similar, but more pepper and bitter herbal notes appear. I think this is sippable, but it’s not a sipper. It’s not sulphuric, meaty, or industrial like some of the cheap blended scotches, but those apple skin tannins and bitter herbal notes become rather unpleasant the more I work through the dram. As a mixer, this performs nicely. However, I’m not sure it’s worth paying $40 a bottle for this when Dewar’s and some of the other usual suspects can be had for half the price. This is absolutely better than Dewar’s and I’d much rather sip it, but I know I’m never going to use this as a sipper. I haven’t performed the comparison yet, but in the realm of cocktails, I wonder whether it’s worth paying the premium for this over something like Dewar’s. Maybe some of you blended scotch cocktail experts out there can tell me I’m crazy and using that Dewar’s swill is tantamount to sacrilege. Is the quality of mixed drinks this will produce worth paying twice the price to achieve it?