Tastes

Picked this up on vacation for my dad (scotch drinker) and I (bourbon drinker), hoping for a good in between. Pretty successful mission. The toast avoids bitter and burnt flavor. Lots of oak and the smoke flavor brings forth tobacco and licorice flavors later. All this is on the back end as the initial taste is modest, yet smooth. Lastly, I get a little citrus at the very end which adds a lot to this experience for me. Overall, not my typical profile, but a great one to share with a scotch drinker.

I love the willett heat. This one is a little harsher than what I expected, but delicious none the less. The nose is full of caramel. The front end is very smooth and still caramel. Then once the heat kicks in, there is lots of leather and coffee. Great lingering warmth.

Super fun spontaneous find. Nose is sweet cream and caramel. Very soft oak. Extremely welcoming. Up front smoothness. I get the caramel from the nose in buckets. I get a little leather and molasses here too. I get a good amount of late burn, which I love, but may get a bit intense for some. The finish is great and long. Still lots of caramel and coffee. I get some tingling like Szechwan peppers. Very impressed and this is a very fun social whiskey. Great first go at this mix!

To be fair, this is not my typical profile and it’s pretty good considering that it isn’t. To me, it’s similar to Johnny dram and makes a good cocktail. Smooth and simple. Vanilla and mild oak. No smoke and really no heat. A little fruity (apricot).

This is a really nice $50 bourbon. It lacks a long finish, but the flavor is great and complex, consistent with 4 grain blend. Pretty sweet overall with modest heat. Buttery caramel and corn up front. Nice oak towards the tail end.

This is the dream bottle. So complex and lovely. Nose is vanilla and oak. Extremely smooth. Get lots of cinnamon and vanilla up front. Oak hangs on throughout the amazing finish this bourbon offers. Really that’s what sets it apart.

Tbh, this was a random pick to complete a flight. Very lucky pick! The heat is tempered by the fruitiness. Loads of vanilla. Super smooth. Heat is slightly lacking for me.

I wish this was easier to find at its normal price point. I get loads of cherry in the nose and especially with the finish. Definitely some oak about half way through. Relatively simple but very profound taste.

I am extremely happy to have found a liquor store nearby that almost always has this in stock so that I can as well. This has always been a top 3 whiskey for me. Nose is sweet and light. Caramel and honey. This pretty potent rye is very smooth. Up front taste of the mineral water used and dill. Dill is the sneaky constant undertone. Moderate oak in the middle along with warm apple cinnamon. Keeping the fall night profile going, it finishes like a toasted marshmallow. Still a favorite!

This will most likely end up as a cocktail bourbon for me. Brown sugar and vanilla nose. I also smell some ethanol and unfortunately I think this is the most significant taste too. Some sweetness throughout. Smokey like a minimal peated scotch. Short finish, but has a nice subtle warmth.