Tastes

Alright, lets get this out of the way, short and sweet (the review, not the whiskey). Not good. Smells like old star anise. Tastes like kleenex. If that was the intention, then good job. If not, yeeech!

Wonderful smell like caramel corn at the carnival. This has a fruity taste similar to stone fruits (like peaches and nectarines) as well as berries. Strong vanilla and brown sugar finish. Just simply... yum!

Another favorite. Smells sweet and fruity. After it sits on my tongue for a few moments I find there is a sudden pop of fruit and maple. The flavor is lasting and has notes of light cloves, honey and cinnamon. The aftertaste has a pleasant caramel and apple.

Here we go! This is one of my absolute favorite bourbons. This is a welcome addition to my Whiskey Stash. It has a strong vanilla and oak smell. Bits of cinnamon and carrot cake give me a playful, nostalgic taste. Despite being a higher proof bourbon it is surprisingly smooth. It give that warm fuzzy feeling. The taste is sweet and spicy, almost like candy. I would mostly compare the taste and finish to a really creamy butterscotch.

First, most noticeable feature is the sweet smell of raisins. Subtle taste with a bit of a medicinal finish. Fruit is the strongest flavor, most likely from the sherry casks. I almost wonder what a peated version of this would be like.

A bit meh. This has earthy notes that remind me of soy. The taste is very straight forward and has quite a few elements in it, but many of them are lost in the peat and are difficult to pick out. Matches the qualities of a smokey dessert wine.

Not as good as the regular peated whiskey, but still stands on it's own legs (pun intended). Smells like a clean river stone. Notes of earth, smoked meat and a fresh wood campfire. Enjoyable and complex.

Starts with a lingering smokey smell. Hints of a salty brine float on top of sweetness. Easily comparable to rich, salted caramel. There is strength and depth that compounds with each sip. The peat is noticeable and pleasant without being overwhelming.

Not a huge amount to say about this one. Smells like well loved furniture at Grandma’s house. Perfume-y and strange. Not great, very… sad.

This was definitely an experience. I had never had Japanese whiskey before, but I was not at all disappointed. It was simple and subtle but had tremendous refinement and character. There were scents of vanilla and white chocolate. The taste was smooth and a bit salty, lifted by notes of fragrant citrus sweetness.