Tastes

The nose is candy sweet, bandage. Taken neat, it's not as sweet as bourbon - but the finish is not dry. Good! Adding a teaspoon of water doesn't necessarily mute the initial nose by much. But the palate is not as cohesive - and a little thin - when compared to a similar-ABV bourbon. This is where the banana note - characteristic of JD - is picked up. Not much of a hit, but not much of a miss either. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

The first thing that hit me on the nose: cherry. Following it was oak and cinnamon candy. The mouthfeel is on the light side for a 45% ABV, even as the palate delivers a prominent cherry coke flavor... notes of red fruit-flavored gum... the nose is more cohesive after a sip or two - melding into cherry candy cane. At other times, the palate reveals a prominent cinnamon candy note even as the cherry coke flavor travels along with it, though playing a supporting role. The Eagle Rare's shared DNA with the sweeter releases of Stagg Jr. is apparent. Spice is in the finish, but is far from being the star of the show. This is actually a very good bargain for the $45 I paid - as I am reminded of more mature and pricier bourbons - namely Stagg and Calumet Farm 15 Yr - while drinking this. Adding an extra 1/4 point for value. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

A very sweet bourbon nose. The palate proves it to be a less so, with a pronounced maltiness that turns into oak on the finish. The finish has a zap of sweetness followed by a long, spicy zing. Slightly numbing! I'm definitely feeling the 50% ABV. Adding water highlights the sweet characteristics which swirl around the oak, finishing with an undefined zinging heat. This could be an awesome dram for a cold weather climate. But in sunny California, I won't be buying a full bottle of this anytime soon. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Drinking it neat, the rye spice is evident. In following sips, the spice takes a back seat as vanilla gets on stage. Rye spice returns to the finish, where gobsmacking cherry, orange, and vanilla notes swirl in to wrap it up. Then a pleasant, woody oak at the end. With a couple of teaspoons of water, the sweetness is diluted but lengthens into a lightly spicy finish. When adding water, the finish is where the flavor is at. It ends oak dry - as is typical of bourbons - but it keeps me smacking away at the oak, spice, and lingering sweetness. This is a budget bourbon that punches above it's price point. And it can be found everywhere. Yep, the juice is sourced from MGP and, sure, the bottle includes marketing nonsense about a long running family tradition. But for bottling a great everyday sipper - Builleit knows what they are doing. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

The corn sweetness melds well with the oak, lending a malt-like quality to the palate. The malt-like character continues, as sweetness leads to wood spice. The finish is less than memorable. Be that as it may, I'll probably buy this once a year just to have a cool-looking bottle on the bourbon shelf. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Palate is corn sweet with subdued cinnamon and rye spice. Very smooth for a 50% ABV. The more you chew - and you'll want to because of the viscosity - the drier it gets on the mouth. Long oak finish with sweet spice. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Bold bourbon flavors make this the most mouth-watering whiskey I've ever had. There's more oak then I'm accustomed to. (But I've heard that that is in line with what to expect from Wild Turkey.) I added water, and regretted it instantly. Water does away with the viscosity - my favorite part - and leaves the mouth bone dry. Overall, a surprisingly different arrival and a memorable finish. I'm going to let this sit in the bottle for a while and let it oxidize. It may get better.

What could be better than bourbon? Spirit aged in ex-bourbon barrels. But then, legally, it can't be called bourbon. Whatever. Kudos to Michter's for this delightful sipper. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Unpleasant, artificial aroma. Palate with honey melon up front, before a wave of sherry-like raisin juice floods the palate. Tastes intensely sweet, but artificially so. Finish can linger with spice, ginger, or bitter chocolate. A half-teaspoon of water muddles the initial melon flavors, but highlights the port notes. Water in this Taiwanese whisky isn't a good move. While excelling in sweetness, the artificial-like quality of the experience makes this a one time purchase. I am sorry, Kavalan, I wanted to adore you. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

The nose is raisins and toffee. On the palate: sherry notes balanced by honey - and also the oak, coming across as shortbread. The shortbread continues very briefly on the mid-palate, before the finish when the oak gets slightly bitter. The baking spices then make an understated appearance. The spice does intensify into a warming sensation if you quaff away back to back sips. But it's mellow and held back by the low 40% ABV. Like all good ex-sherry casked whiskies, this makes for a great cold weather drink, but it can be perfectly agreeable during the warmer months as well. The Redbreast 12 is a standard among sherried whiskies. With a friendlier palate than another standard, the Macallan 12 Sherry Oak, this is a reliable dram for a movie or happy hour event. It's a whiskey that doesn't take you on much of a journey. You don't have to spend a lot of time picking at it's nuances. It's good and simple. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."