Tastes

Sample from the generous Soonershrink. This is a whiskey that is tough to gauge off a limited tasting as there seems to be a lot going on and I would imagine subsequent tastes would reveal more layers. That said I was impressed by this. Nose is a bit restrained for proof but does come in with candied sweet notes alongside rye spice and oak. Kinda like a rum finished WhistlePig. The apricot arrives on the palate and combines nicely with the rye spices. Melted sugar and oak tannins there as well. Good finish of flavor memories and non drying wood. I would need some time with a bottle to make a full assessment but this is worth your while if you are a rye lover...........86/100

Another Sooner sample. This is a bit different. Nose has celery, playdough, some orange pekoe tea leaves with a mandarin sweetness. Palate carries the sweet notes but adds some oak and mild herbal rye spice. Finish fades the palate to green barrel dryness. This is interesting but tastes a little artificial. I like the Aussie spin but doubt I would buy this if I saw it......70/100

I loved the standard single malt so was eager to try this. Thanks to Soonershrinks sample here we go. Nose is a wooden crate of apples, sweet potato, some cardboard and spicy oak. Peat or peat smoke is very reserved. If you rest it you can pull some earth and wispy smoke. Palate is smashed apples and malt with a thick resinous smoke surrounding not on top of. The Indian spice from the original is there but in the background. Finish is long and smooth with the fruity malt and smoked barrel transitioning to a nutty spice note. This is good stuff but I like the purity of the Indian flavors in the standard SM a bit more. The Scottish peated variety mutes that a little. Not enough to drop score too much as this stands tall and Im ready to explore the entire Amrut line.....86/100

This one seems to be polarizing. Im finding it to be decent but expected more from a 13yr bourbon. Its got some thin caramel and coconut milk with a heavy handed barrel influence. I do get a bit of Dickel flair with smoky vanilla and hint of flintstone. Dries out to bitter tannins on the too quick finish. Overall over-oaked and lacking deep bold flavors you hope for at price point. Honestly grab some Dickel BIB or even #12 if you like this profile. You'll get a better whiskey and save some $$ at the same time.......74/100.....not bad but way overpriced for what you get....another thanks to sooner for sample

Not sure how different this is to the standard release but my sample(thanks SS) is very good. The mesquite smoke while not Islay like has a great bbq smoker style and enhances the sweet malt and toasty oak. Its a very smoky affair and I like it all the more for it. This is better than Brimstone as Sooner stated which for me is due to single malt vs corn whiskey. I am going to look for this or the standard Dorado to enjoy a full bottle. Nice job from this Tucson AZ distillery.....86/100

The 12 yr is one of the better underrated malts imo so have been wanting this one for a good while. Nose is flaky apple pastry, gumdrops and rich malt with toasted oak. Succulent buttery malt on the palate with some fried dough and a blast of foamy Belgian lager. Finishes with honeyed malt and lasting sweet oak slightly drying. The beer like lager notes endure as well. This is not complex its just a hearty well constructed malt bomb with lager/ale overtones. Reminds me of Leffe Blond Abbey. Good clean single malt and solid value for an 18 yr.....90/100.....The 12yr holds it own though and I would probably take that with $$ factored in. Regardless Im a Deanston fan and recommend the entire line if you prefer a malt heavy profile

Another sample from SoonerS this is from his home state. Gotta say I really like this with plenty of maple on the nose, dusty cornbread with gentle oak. Palate is maple flavored oatmeal and caramel with some baking spice. Nice and rich with a clean finish of sweet fading barrel. Hints of leather and some hay throughout. This really reminds me of Balcones Pot Still Bourbon so I looked it up and that is a 4 grain mash as well. Coincidence? Perhaps but this is contract distilled in Texas(with OK ingredients) so maybe Balcones is the partner. Then they age it longer and re-barrel. No matter, if I saw this in Texas for a decent price I would grab it its tasty bourbon....85/100

Totally into the Indian single malts so figured give this one a go. Nose is candied fruits with soy sauce and light oak. Palate brings some good full malt, fruit with a tropical flair and grandma's chop suey. Barrell tannins pop in at back end along side some cool menthol. Finish lasts with the salty fruity notes blending into dry bamboo with a mild char. Unique and tasty Im liking this but it takes a backseat to the Indian malts. Still well worth a look if you are adventurous......82/100.......This was intro level Im curious how much better higher end offerings are

Huge shout out to my generous northern neighbor from OKC for providing this and many other samples for my tasting/reviewing pleasure. The proof is well evident on the nose but a couple drops takes care of that. On first intake Im getting maple glazed donut, liquid coffee mate and the crumbs at the bottom of the tortilla chip bag(corn dust with salt). There's a bit of a varnish note with some raw vanilla dropped in to sweeten the scent. Oak is light and restrained. Palate is rich and vibrant with the cask strength flexing its muscle. Oily vanilla creme leads the way alongside rock candy and cow tales. Its a sweet and loud affair as the ethanol while integrated is very present. Tannins and oak again are at a minimum with just a toasty bump. Finishes with the fading confections and at last some barrel moderating to dry green oak. Im finding this quite enjoyable and pretty sure working a whole bottle wouldnt change my opinion too much. That said it is kind of a one note whiskey and many will struggle with the proof......86/100.....I still think the single malt line is Balcones wheelhouse but will be trying some more of their bourbons soon. Thanks again Sooner!