Tastes

It’s surprisingly rich in flavor for what it is. Not very complex, it tastes of lightly charred oak and caramel.

Nose offers peat smoke and cayenne spice. This whisky is the perfect balance between smoky, sweet and smooth. Black pepper, cherry and smoke mesh together seamlessly, and there are layers of complexity that I still can’t quite quantify. This is art. I give it a 4.9/5.

This is the perfect blend of smoky brine and tawny port and corn whiskey. Rich, deep and complex. Got a sample out of the barrel at the distillery and it was incredible. I know it’ll be proofed down a little bit when I buy a bottle in May, but I’m really looking forward to it.

Edit: The version I own is a 16 month, and it’s that one that I gave a 4.25. I’m having a 26 month now and it’s more rich, more dense in mouthfeel, and the chocolate, coffee and berries come together better. The only way to say it is it’s more mature and put together. More well-rounded. And the finish is longer too. It’s all-around better, so I’ll move up this taste to 4.5 and I’ll anticipate the BIB being a 5+ when it gets here if it can build on this. Rich, dense, dark berries and dark chocolate. Full flavor and lingering finish. Would have got a bottle at the distillery if they didn’t have two others that were absolutely out-of-this-world.

Dense and fruity. The viscosity of the wine is evident, and the oils help the finish play on. I’d compare it to other wine-finished Glenmorangies in terms of richness, oiliness and fruitiness. The red fruit coats the tongue, but the balance of earthiness, malt and fruit is lacking compared to others like the Companta or Tayne.

Second taste edit: peach and stone fruit, minty herbaciousness. Better than I remember, but 4.25 is a good place for it to stay put. The bourbon character is pronounced, and the barley shines. It’s a high proof for Glenmorangie, but they throw a catchable ball, that’s for sure. Peaches and cream are forward, wrapped in a lingering earthiness characteristic of the distillery. Other than that, maybe some light citrus, but not a ton of complexity. It’s a pleasant dram that drinks smoother than the proof and plates its few notes well.

Rich bourbon. It’s got the characteristic flavors of vanilla, caramel, oak spice and brown sugar, but it’s richer than most bourbons and it doesn’t taste artificial. The vanilla is more like an oaky vanillin than an artificially sweetened vanilla candy. Vanillin and oak spice are dominant, and the mouthfeel is rich and lingering. If I had one complaint, it drinks a little hotter than it is.

On the nose, molasses and oak spice. The palate is RICH and complex. This is a perfect proof, definitely better than the Jr. Orange blossom honey is up front. Cherry compote-drizzled moist Mexican vanilla pound cake follows, and the oak is a close friend throughout. It’s light on char, heavy on spice and nutty notes, and that’s just fine with me. The finish lingered for over a minute and a half, and at full strength. It wasn’t like “This is reminiscent of what I just drank,” it was as if I were holding the bourbon in my mouth. Rich, deep, complex. Awesome bourbon, meets the hype.

This a solid Tennessee whiskey. And for only $30 retail, worth the price of entry. On the nose, corn and char. The palate sings the same song, but it’s more of a spicy toasted marshmallow with peanut brittle. The richness of the mouthfeel is immediately evident, and the finish is moderately long.

Classic Speyside scotch. Smooth. Butterscotch. Ambiguous nose.