Tastes

Templeton Rye is one of the whiskey community's favorite whipping boys, so I was fairly curious to try it – I guess no news is bad news. That being said, I didn’t really want to spend my own money on something that I probably wouldn’t be a big fan of – 80 proof whiskies cater more towards the sensibilities of children and the infirm. When I saw this at a work event, I saw the perfect opportunity to check the box off for this one. Age: 4 years Mashbill: MGP Rye (95% rye; 5% barley) + unknown additives “within federal guidelines” Abv: 40% Price: N/A, but I know it’s $28.99 at the local Total Wine Setting: Neat in a tumbler at a work event Nose: There’s not much here. I got some light rye and that was about it, although drinking this in a tumbler instead of the trusty Glencairn surely didn’t help, so I don’t want to take off too many points here. (16/25 points) Taste: Lots of rye bread, accompanied by a mystery sweetness that for the life of me I couldn’t isolate into something more specific. Oddly enough, I didn’t get any of the usual MGP dill that shows up in MGP-sourced ryes (which is a disappointment to me, as I like that flavor). Although it’s completely one-note, it’s actually pretty decent. (41/50 points) Finish: Blink and it’s gone. The low proof is evident, as there’s no pleasing warming feel, although there is also no roughness, so their claims that this has a “clean and silky smooth” finish aren’t wrong (unless their BS background story). (17/25) points) Conclusion: This is the perfect whiskey for people who don’t like whiskey and/or people who judge the quality of a whiskey primarily on how smooth it is. I suspect there aren’t many people in this community who fall into this group, but there’s definitely a market for this, and truth be told, it isn’t half bad. I’d never go out of my way to buy this, but if offered again, I’d certainly drink it. I’m also not particularly perturbed about their rather shady additives or backstory – that’s unfortunately how the bourbon world is these days, and in the words of the wise philosopher known as Ice-T, don’t hate the playa, hate the game. 74/100

I’ve seen a lot of people dump on this stuff on here, I’m sure in part based on the accountant’s strength proof, but I’m always curious to try new things, even if bad, so I opted to order a pour while out for dinner with my wife. Mashbill: 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley. Price: $30.99 at Total Wine in Houston, Texas Setting: Neat in a tumbler while at dinner Nose: Oranges, maybe a little oak. Not a whole lot here. (15/25 points) Taste: Oranges, peanuts, oak. Tastes like water with some whiskey added, rather than the reverse. The flavors aren’t bad – they’re just too weak. (35/50 points) Finish: Short. Dry, slightly bitter oak. At least it’s smooth. (17/25) points) Conclusion: This is about as plain and unremarkable as you can get and still be a Bourbon. Whilst drinking it, I just kept thinking that it was the thinnest whiskey I’ve ever had – it was as if I was drinking something better with ice and left the drink out for a while before returning, with the ice melted and the whiskey back up to room temperature. That being said, it doesn’t taste bad or rough like a lot of objectively bad whiskies. I’d certainly never a buy a bottle of this, but it’s probably a decent buy for people just getting into brown liquor. 72/100

Mashbill: Allegedly 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley Setting: Neat in a Glencairn, with two basset hounds dozing next to me Nose: Cherries, vanilla, cinnamon, oak, caramel, and milk chocolate. Really pleasant. It’s strong, without being overpowering. (23/25 points) Taste: Cherries, standard Buffalo Trace cough syrup, oak, vanilla, cinnamon. Pretty much the same as the nose. It’s a little too thin, but otherwise delicious. (46/50 points) Finish: Smooth. Dangerously smooth. There’s no alcohol burn. The finish lingers, with some brown sugar and honeycrisp (the best kind of) apple, as well as some slight tannic oak bitterness. (24/25) points) Conclusion: This would benefit from a higher proof. Otherwise, it’s a damn fine whiskey, and I fully understand why it is so difficult to find. I wouldn’t say that it is particularly unique – it’s just very well executed. If I ever see it on the shelves (or otherwise stumble across it), I’ll certainly buy a bottle. 93/100

I've previously reviewed a store pick of this, but never actually tried the normal version. Let's see if it was as good (answer: yes, it was) Age: NAS (allegedly 7 years) Mashbill: Allegedly 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley Abv: 53.5% Setting: Neat in a Glencairn, with two basset hounds dozing next to me Nose: Apples, oak, vanilla, and cinnamon. Really nice. (22/25 points) Taste: Apples, oak, cherry, caramel, cinnamon, and baking spices. Like the 12, it tastes pretty much like it smells, although when it tastes this good, who cares. Great mouthfeel – this bottled at a better proof than the 12. (46/50 points) Finish: Medium to long. Pop Rocks and some pleasant alcohol burn. (22/25) points) Conclusion: I got essentially the same tasting notes that I did on the store pick I reviewed a few months ago – the main difference was that I got this Pop Rocks note on the finish that I didn’t get on the other bottle. Another damn fine whiskey, although I (somewhat surprisingly) preferred the 12. I’ll certainly pick up a full bottle of this if I can find it anywhere close to retail. 90/100

Age: NAS, but allegedly 7-9 years old Mashbill: Buffalo Trace #1 (allegedly 75% corn, 10% rye, 15% malted barley) Abv: 65.95% Setting: Neat in a Glencairn, with a fat basset hound snoozing next to me Nose: Black cherry, vanilla, brown sugar, ethanol, caramel, oak, maple syrup, cinnamon. Really interesting and complex nose – I pick up a different aroma every time I inhale. (24/25 points) Taste: Cherries, cough syrup, cinnamon, dark chocolate, raisins, caramel. Very thick mouthfeel. Good, but it packs a wallop. (42/50 points) Finish: Long and warm. The rye shows up. (21/25) points) Conclusion: I liked this, but I didn’t love it the same way some people here do. Batch 9 is complex, and therefore interesting, but it also comes across as harsh at times. It reminds me of Eagle Rare dialed up to 11, with the same strong cherry and cough syrup flavors, which is not surprising given that it’s the same mash bill. It’s definitely worth trying – there aren’t that many whiskies sold at a proof this high – and I intend to buy a bottle if I do stumble across one. 87/100

Growing up in Southern California, one never saw people drink Wild Turkey. I knew it existed, but in my mind (and I assume the region’s collective consciousness), it was what roughnecks in Louisiana drank. That’s probably true, but I've heard that Wild Turkey actually makes some good whiskey. I picked up a half-size bottle to investigate. Age: Blend of primarily 6, 7, and 8-year-old bourbons Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley (allegedly) Abv: 50.5% Price: $11.49 for 375 mL ($19.99 for 750 mL) at Total Wine in Houston, Texas Setting: Neat in a Glencairn, surrounded by two basset hounds and my in-law’s two dogs Nose: Rye, apricot, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, and ethanol. Pretty classic bourbon notes. (21/25 points) Taste: Rye, peanuts, sweet corn, and oak. There’s also this general “dusty” note, as well as a fair amount of heat. Tastes pretty good – the dusty note is actually kind of interesting. (41/50 points) Finish: Medium length. A pleasant warmth with brown sugar. (21/25) points) Conclusion: Wild Turkey is a solid whiskey, and I can see why it is such a popular budget choice. It smells great, tastes solid, and has a pleasant finish. It’s a little rough around the edges, but that’s to be expected for something that costs less than $20. I need to pick up a bottle of Russel’s Reserve next and compare. 83/100

It’s been a while since my last Scotch review, as it has been quite toasty here lately (100 and humid) and I’ve been turning to Bourbon or a cold beer instead. Last night, I decided I needed to remedy that, and while going through my inventory spreadsheet, I realized that I’d never done a review of Glenlivet 12. Here we go: Abv: 43% Price: $18.99 for 375 mL at Total Wine in Houston, Texas Setting: Neat in a Glencairn, surrounded by two basset hounds and two mutts. Color: Apple juice Nose: Apples, white grapes, honey, cereal, and cardboard. It’s not very strong, or particularly inviting. (16/25) Taste: Apples, cereal, honey, almonds. Fine, but it tastes watered down. This could benefit from a higher ABV. (39/50) Finish: Very Short. Almonds with a slight alcohol burn. (15/25) Conclusion: I remember thinking this was pretty enjoyable when I first started my descent into the world of brown liquor and didn’t know any better. It tastes like slightly alcoholic apple juice to me, which is fine, but it’s also boring and watery. In a world with so much good whisky, why waste time drinking something mediocre? I’m glad I only purchased a half-bottle of this. 70/100

Abv: 43% Price: $21.99 for 375 mL ($36.99 for 750 mL) at Total Wine in Houston, Texas Setting: Neat in a Glencairn, with a fat basset sleeping next to me. Color: Apple juice Nose: Apples, pear, leather, barnyard, cereal, and star jasmine. There are a variety of aromas going on here, as I pick up fruity, grainy, earthy and floral notes. Unfortunately, none of them is particularly alluring. (18/25) Taste: Apples, banana, cereal, wheat, bread, almonds, oranges, and tobacco. The flavors aren’t bad, but it tastes watered down. (39/50) Finish: Very Short. A slightly spicy note with a light alcohol burn. (12/25) Conclusion: I can’t recommend this. I would never turn down a glass, as it is certainly drinkable, but this is about as bland, inoffensive, and unremarkable as it gets for a single malt. I guess that makes it a good gateway to other whisky, and I do remember enjoying this when I was first getting into Scotch. I wouldn’t buy another bottle, however, as one can do better in this price range. 69/100