Tastes
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Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon
Bourbon — Texas, USA
Reviewed March 30, 2020 (edited February 15, 2022)They claim it is aged at least two years. Yeah I know that's not much but this is produced from pot stills, non chill filtered and no coloring added. This should lead to a nice oily whiskey which I like. Ive also read many positive reviews and hell it was only $28 at Twins. Poured neat, dark amber color belying its age. Nose has bowling alley, corn muffin, dried cherry and soft wood. Some dusty maple spice sneaks in too. Its got a youthful edge but with good depth. Kinda noses like a wheater to me. Thick weighty mouthfeel from the pot still is very evident and a tactile enjoyment. Creamy velvety texture leads palate of dark cherries with some buttercream icing and baking spice. Has a nuttiness as well. An oily type nut like macadamia along with some salted raw pretzel dough. Not much barrel coming through due to lack of aging. Finishes with lingering sweet cherry, cinnamon and a somewhat scotch-like malt note along with toasted wood. Its hot for proof but it doesn't get in the way. For me, the cons of the youth are easily outweighed by the wonderful characteristics of the pot still flavor delivery. For under $30 this is an easy repurchase imo.........84/100........think of it as Texas Redbreast on the cheap.......This is a new release and not available everywhere yet (TX, CA,FL) but will become a core product. Texas residents I suggest you give it a go!28.0 USD per Bottle -
Ive had this bottle for some time, finally opened to taste. There are many glowing reviews and its rated extremely high on this site. All this is for good reason. What a quality spirit from start to finish, absolutely fantastic! Poured neat, nice sticky legs. Nose has cinnamon with spices, slight rye doughiness and Im getting some bubblegum sweetness. Creamy mouthfeel brings sweet bubblegum and vanilla with more rye dough, cinnamon and strong baking spices. Its thoroughly delicious! Finish is very long with cinnamon and oak along with rye spice. Doesn't have the heavy mint or dill notes of higher rye% whiskey. This is a plus for me as it drinks more like a hybrid bourbon(almost cognac like). Its silky smooth, bursting with flavor and drinkable with no burn even at 90 pf. Outstanding value too at mid $20's. This is the Buffalo Trace of rye, highly recommended !!.........88/100..........easily a permanent fixture in any bar stock25.0 USD per Bottle
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Well I have been wanting to try this for a long time. Finally got a bottle and couldn't be happier. This is same distiller as Irishman Founders Reserve which I enjoy. This has a higher % of pot still which is my goldilocks for Irish(see Redbreast) Poured neat, nose is scotch like with strong malt notes along with lovely sunflower, overripe banana, black tea and some barrel. Deep pulls are rewarding as ethanol is nowhere to be found. Palate is pot still creamy with rich barley malt, clover honey, melted caramel and baking spice seasoned oak. Fantastic flavor delivery unlike most blends. Finish sets it apart. Most Irish are quick and dry, this sustains the palate with honeyed malt and wood, dark caramel all fading to mild drying tannins. This is rock star whisky at price point. Redbreast is better as Im sure many other pure pot stills are but they cost much more. Im here to say this is the best low 30$ Irish whisky out there and I think its underpriced. Its very scotch like imo and thats a good thing. For the money this is a great value and I highly recommend.....88/100 Irish score33.0 USD per Bottle
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Compass Box Great King St Artist's Blend
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed March 15, 2020 (edited July 2, 2023)Well I gotta say Compass Box is great blended scotch. They really have consistent quality and the grain is always refined so it never overpowers and tastes more like single malt. Bonus is non chill filtered and no coloring. Got this for around $35 so value is good as well. Poured neat(maybe 1 drop to open) nose is light fruit and malt with a touch of barrel/char. Smells fresh and balanced. Palate is smooth malt, ripe red apple drizzled with honey and just a flash of peat. Finish is malty barrel, fading dried fruits with char slightly drying. This is not super complex or thought provoking but it is delicious. Easy drinking with rich flavors at a solid price point I certainly recommend. Good for beginners without any real off notes as the lowland grain component is mild. I will be exploring the rest of the Compass line now for sure.......84/100 blend score35.0 USD per Bottle -
Ok so I am NOT a fan of Canadian whiskey. Find them very weak and lacking in flavor.....to quote "brown vodka". I figure maybe I just haven't tried the right one. This CRB seems to have decent reviews and a buddy of mine picked up a bottle so I scored a 100ml from him for review. Poured neat, color looks good enough. Nose is....uh oh where's the nose.......damn canucks. I get some faint spice, a touch of candied corn/maple maybe some distant wood. Kinda smells like ginger ale soaked into a cardboard box. Palate however redeems somewhat. Good flavor delivery of sweet ginger , maple syrup and light toasty oak. Its easy and smooth without the notes of vodka grain swill like many ive had. Finish is flat cola and bitter wood with trailing spice. Overall its a friendly mild dram that is more suited for whiskey novices and mixing. Would I pick up a bottle for myself?......Hell no, but I can see the appeal of Crown with the image and fancy purple bag and such. I will say its the best from Canada Ive had..........62/100.........unfortunately that's not sayin much. I do not think it tastes like JD, would take #7 seven days a week and twice on Sunday over crown30.0 USD per Bottle
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Ok so this is a little hot and maybe too youthful but man it packs some flavor for the $$. Poured neat, nose is fruited. Cherry,apple and raspberry lead the way along with bread dough and barrel. Ever smell a vacuum cleaner exhaust after someone put potpourri in it. This has some of that going on too with a dusty floral vibe. The palate hits the fruits again with cherry apple and berry on strong. There is a real nice malt note you just dont find in rye due to this unique mashbill. Wood and sure even some rye spice add to the taste. Its a bit raw and sharp but still a good blast. Finish is raspberry smashed with dry oak and more of that malt sneaking in. Overall I find this very enjoyable especially at the budget price. Of course it could use more ageing and development of the flavors. I do think this is different enough from the other players and such a great value that I will be repurchasing on a regular basis....84/10024.0 USD per Bottle
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Decided to downshift after buying some higher priced whiskeys and head to the bottom shelf. This was on sale for $7.99 , how cheap is that! Bargain if its any good at all. Ive read some horror stories online but wanted to see for myself. Poured neat, thin legs but looks like bourbon in a glass. Nose is Beam like gentle spice and soft grain with wispy dusty oak. Nothing offensive or harsh just have to work to get much out. Thin mouthfeel brings palate of candy corn, spice, cardboard and mild wood with a slight sourness to it. Flavor is subdued leading to short finish of fading corn, spice and dry wood shavings. Reminds me a little of a cut down Beam Black. All that being said this was 8 bucks and I don't think it was made to be pondered over and studied. Im sure it will be fine as a mixer in coke or whatever you like and its much better than Canadian whisky..........67/100...... good value for the money with some dusty spice that grows on you. Nothing special but not rot gut as some web reviews would have you believe8.0 USD per Bottle
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Im a huge fan of RR 10 year bourbon and have read many positive reviews of this rye. Mashbill of 65% rye 23% corn and 12% barley is different from the many 51 and 95 % ryes plus 6yr age statement is nice. Poured neat, golden color and sticky coating of glass. The nose on this is awesome. Rich bubble gum and fruit punch, raw bread dough along with some rye spice including very faint dill. Light wood and some caramel round it all out. At 90 pf no concerns with ethanol so deep pulls are easy and rewarding. Thin mouthfeel with palate of vanilla caramel, rye spice, more dough and gumminess transitioning to white pepper and parched wood. Finishes short with oak, barley, rye spice and fading sweetness ending dry with spicy kick. I like it but not a lot of weight or depth. For those who prefer less sweet with spicy oak this should hit the spot.........83/100........great nose and decent complexity but too dry for A rating imo.... Still quality product well worth the $33 I paid Update: Bottle has been open a while now. Started picking up a lovely licorice note on the nose.33.0 USD per Bottle
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GlenDronach Revival 15 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed February 18, 2020 (edited August 3, 2022)Well I think GD is one of if not the best 12 yr sherried scotches. Along with so many positive reviews made this a splurge I had to have. Poured neat, the nose is.....well its about perfect. Juicy fruits and creamy malt with balanced oak are ever present but in a restrained elegant way. There is no ethanol to speak of so dive right in there. Thick viscous mouthfeel lead palate of said sherry fruits and malt with seasoned oak and a nice twist of dark roast coffee peat. Its so succulent and smooth you question the abv. Finish is long and comforting. Warming with more malt and red fruits(starburst strawberry im going with) . The wood notes gently fade away never turning bitter. Absolutely superb scotch easily worth the $90 I paid.....94/100..........Now I need to talk myself into shelling out for the 18............Hello Alice Im coming, see you soon90.0 USD per Bottle -
Old Grand-Dad Bourbon (80 proof)
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed February 17, 2020 (edited March 7, 2020)Went to NH liquor store for Evan Williams BIB. They didn't have it at Franklin store so I grabbed this instead. I really enjoy the 114 but this is a different animal. Neat it noses rye spice , caramel and seasoned wood. Its light and on the surface. Palate carries a zesty caramel rye with more barrel notes albeit watered down a bit. Finishes with trailing rye and wood drying out. Its a decent 80proofer but nothing special. If you enjoy the profile upgrade to the BIB or 114 for sure. Otherwise just find Evan Williams White Label and get a better bourbon for less $$.............76/10016.0 USD per Bottle
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