Tastes

Ok so really like the 10 yr. As a 100% rye WP tastes completely different from the standard MGP 95 profile. This was gifted to me by an awesome co-worker whose hubby is in the liquor biz(much appreciated). Piggyback is obviously a younger version of the vaunted 10 yr and that is not a bad thing. It still carries the wonderful full richness of the 10 but allows for more youthful flavor punch and ethanol heat. This is designed for mixing according to WP but lets face it straight up its still a delight. Notes are similar to my WP10 review with maybe a bit more caramel sweetness and less overall sophistication and complexity but the relation is obvious. Great strategy to put out an affordable entry to draw people into the brand.............84/100..... If you enjoy rye buy this as a budget 10 yr

Another Islay smoky to try. Have read good reviews and been eying this for a while. Poured neat, nose has a bit but not overwhelming smoke. Has peat, black olive and lots of brine with some used pencil eraser shavings. Not picking up much sweetness, maybe some malt and bread notes. Palate is very salty with peat smoke, more olive and thin malt with a touch of vanilla. Finish of parched wood, olive, malt and peat with lingering smoke. I can confirm McLellands is the same juice just much younger. The oily diesel note is there only aged and seasoned. Its more dry and salty than any whisky ive had. Doesn't have the rich malt or sweetness buried in most Islays. Its a different profile for sure, not quite my cup of tea but I like it more as I go through the bottle.....its not bad (its still 12 yr single malt Islay) but at price paid ($44)there are many I prefer..........76/100..........If you like peat smoke, salt and olives this may be in your wheelhouse

11/2018........Had this on flight back to NH from Texas. Choices were this, JD and Dewars white...easy. This is the most flavorful 80proofer ive had. Dark caramel, cinnamon, toasty oak with WT spice. Its similar to WT101 but lacks the oily texture and extra flavor burst power. Still has good finish and is overall a very good bourbon imo. Problem is for a few$ more you can have the superior 101. If you can get it for a deal or prefer a lower proof than by all means this will hit the spot......81/100........Id buy it for around $15-18, any more go 101

God bless the Twin Liquor dollar sale. Picked up some great deals this being one of many. This is a true sherry bomb scotch aged completely in sherry casks not just finished. Non chill-filtered with natural color. Poured neat, nose is wonderful strong and heavy sherry influenced fruits. We're talking cranberry, strawberry, apricot and cherry deep and rich with some background of vanilla and malt. Palate brings blast of sherried fruits again with some malt and light vanilla along with some coffee and wood notes. It is a bit hot so you need to hold it to extract all the flavor. Finish is long with coffee malt and dark fruit drying to wood. Very nice tasty scotch. It could use better mouthfeel and a bit more weight but make no mistake this is delicious. Overall the heat(lack of refinement) and thin texture keep it from elite 90's score but its close.........88/100..........If you like sherry scotch then you should try this

Never had cognac finish so lets see. Poured neat, nose is pretty similar to the 12 but with more depth and weight. It does take longer to open up coming across more reserved. Palate is sweet fruity malt with a tinge of spice, oak and light peat. The flavor is deeper and fuller than the 12 and more refined. Finish is where the cognac shows up with some dry grape notes to accompany the standard malty barrel fade. There is some baking spice as well to round it out. This is a nice easy scotch that many will enjoy myself included. Not a bad value at $50ish for a 14yr either. That being said Im not blown away by this and doubt Id pick up full bottle(got a 50ml) Overall a solid dram without complexity or peat smoke......79/100

I think this stuff is very underrated. Blend with single malt and pot still is not the norm. Writers tears has this as well albeit higher pot still. I snagged this on sale with two glasses for $19.99 . Nose has some complexity with honey, green tea and fresh sunflower. Good legs and nice mouthfeel, flavor is rich with great body and balance(almost scotch like) tasty malt with pot still spice. Finishes smooth, long, savory drying out to oak. A real gem imo kinda like a young budget Redbreast. Think I have to stick to pure pot still , single malts or these type of blends as regular grain blends are not in same ballpark for me. I already returned to get another one of these for backup 84/100 Update : see this now for around $32.....think im gonna try Writers tears

Oct 2018.........Been outta the loop driving to Texas(30+ hours) posting this from the hotel in New Braunfels..........Have wanted to get this for some time. Proof is 86 on my bottle. Poured neat, nose is very interesting. Tropical combo of coconut, kiwi and banana with some vanilla. Time resting brings on some honey and malt. Mouthfeel is somewhat thin at first, improves after bottle is open. Palate is honey, unripe banana, some malt, toffee, oak and smooth coffee note. Traces of the sweet tropical notes from nose. I do get some saltwater salinity surrounding the whole package. Finish is drying wood, light coffee and malt. Its a solid 12yr but I was hoping for a top shelf contender based on ratings. This is in line with Glenmo 10(as stated by Rwayne) and other 10/12 yrs. Paid $38 on sale so value is "ok ..........83/100.......I like it but Loch Lomond 12 yr and Deanston Virgin Oak are superior imo for less $$ .............still, a tasty malt

Was really looking forward to this after reading reviews. Nose is old cardboard soaked in sherry, barrel notes and a resemblance to Beam Black. Palate is..........well lets stop screwin around....... it tastes like a sherry finished Beam Black. Fruity wine notes merged with the standard JBB profile(see JBB review). Finish is a bit drying and oaky with some of the tannic sherry taking over. Your level of enjoyment will come down to: do you like Beam Black...sherry finished bourbon?.....well I do get along with both so its a nice dram imo. Here's the problem. Paid $36 for this.... I can get JBB for under $20 all day and skip the sherry finish and be a happy clam. As much as I liked this I have to pass only due to cost. Still for what it is its well executed and I do actually like it so 80/100.....pull this under $30 and Im in...........yes I really like to use"........"

Saw this on sale for $39.99 so picked it up. Have read mostly positive reviews but my feelings are mixed. The nose is nice and sweet with brown sugar and butterscotch with a tinge of rye spice and oak. Its light, fresh and inviting. Mouthfeel is thin for proof and the 107 makes itself known. Palate has caramel and candied fruits with some more rye and oak. Flavor comes on strong but lacks heavy depth . Finish is dry with fading caramel, rye and plenty of barrel. I enjoy the sweet notes and spicy rye but overall it doesn't hang with the heavyweights imo. I find KC single barrel superior as well as Colonel T, Stagg Jr and I wont even get started on OF1920 again. Don't get me wrong I think this is a very good bourbon but at this price point(40-50+ $) you gotta bring it . Still cant mark down too much as I recognize the quality and truly enjoy the flavor........... 86/100..........very enjoyable but not elite imo... Update: how's this for variance- checked my old NH store site and this went up to $57, conversely saw it at the Twins sale for $33......Twins runs sale again in Feb will probably get another bottle of this at that price

Love peated scotch and saw the high ratings/rankings. Available in 50ml at specs to try before $50 bottle so a couple i grabbed yes I did. My dram is 92.6 proof. Poured neat, noses honey smoke like the innards of a bees nest lit up. Malt, nougat and dusty cardboard. Soft and sweet with a little bit of wood. Palate is sweet malt and honey with rich smooth smoke and oak, wow is that tasty!!. Finishes with drying barrel and some fading malt and smoky honey. The peat is gentle with this scotch but provides some nice smoke accents for the flavors. Not a heavyweight like some other smokies yet very enjoyable. Would like to see it closer to $40 but still worth buying for rotation, its that good........91/100..........Im a sucker for that smoky honey taste. Another delicious peated scotch!