Tastes

Nose is syrupy heat. Palate is punch you in the face oily spicy cinnamon. Not your sweet corn bourbon (which I do like ala Four Roses small batch). This is a great ABV solid high Rye experience.

Finally made my way to this classic. The nose is kind of dry and sour and hot. But, the palate is phenomenal. Really complex and long finish. Get a little something different with each sip. Definitely, brine which I love as an oyster fanatic from southern Louisiana. Then, fruit, slight spice, slight peat, kippers? Like others have said...I think I get that. Yes. A great mix of savory and sweet and salty. Almost a chocolate finish...maybe that’s the lingering peat. I don’t know. It has phenomenal balance. And I love the ABV. Splendid.

Okay. Finally getting around to this review. When I first cracked the bottle I was disappointed. Halfway through the bottle it lands at a 3 for me. Definitely wouldn’t turn it down. I get a strange nose. Not much peat. It’s more of a sweet and sour damp wood. Maybe some apple on the nose, yes. On the palate borderline thin, but not off putting. The palate is a little boring to me. But, not unpleasant. Blast of spice then in too briefly comes the apple (not sour like the nose) then quickly fading into a damp wood, slight peat and more spice leaving a vaguely reminiscent sense of chocolate. This dram was with just a very slight dash of water FYI. Just my two cents.

Opened a bottle of Caol Ila 12 for the first time and I was disappointed. I’ll revisit later. In the meantime, went back to the last of my bottle of Caskmates. It’s oily on the palate. I like what the finish has done to cut the sweetness. It also creates an interesting dry hoppy finish. It’s like a dry white wine...the dry white wine of whisky. I think it’s very enjoyable.

Four stars because it’s a great drink on the rocks. Smooth, but way more interesting than regular crown. Faint smoke maple vanilla sweetness that is classically Crown smooth.

I get a caramel salty smoke on the nose. Nice balance on the palate of sweet and peat. Great finish. Lovely. A unique change of pace from Laphroaig and Ardbeg, but great.

I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to try Bowmore. As much as I love Laphroaig and Ardbeg (I’m not a huge fan of Lagavulin), this is definitely a delicious change of pace. The nose I found very complex and appeasing. I got notes of chocolate, brine, pear, and a subtle sweet peat. The palate is not quite as complex but it has all of the flavors on the nose with a medium finish. Loved it. Can’t wait to try the older expressions and any that may have a higher ABV. I give it five stars for being an amazing 12 year at its price point.

This is such an odd Whisky. I get that it’s basically a bourbon that can’t be called a bourbon because it’s aged in used casks. I’m actually surprised it has so much flavor. I didn’t expect any spice and yet on the back end it has what I would describe as a muted cinnamon combined more with a medium heat that builds in the back of the throat and into the nasal cavity. It’s immediate start on the palate is very creamy with a prominent sweetness. A thick syrupy sweetness. Almost like drinking a bourbon cocktail with simple syrup. I appreciate the creative expression being attempted here. And, while I’m sure some will love it, it’s a little too sweet for me. I think it would make a good after dinner drink. But, I can’t see having more than a dram at a time. If I were to score it as a bourbon or whisky it would only get two stars. But, I’ll make it three because I think there is a time and place where this can be enjoyable. It Just doesn’t seem like a bourbon or a whisky to me. It’s more like a liquor. A strange opinion to some I’m sure. But, just my humble ramblings.

2009 Barrel 966. Nose - brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon?; Palate - I’m getting more of a Rye forward taste. Not thin, but also not heavily oily or coating . . . Medium. On my second sip I’m getting some traditional corn bourbon sweetness on the front end. Starts a little dry but a nice finish. Some spice. Some oak, yes, that threatens a bitter taste but no. My rating is 3.5. I’ve rounded up to 4 because of the price.