Tastes

EXPLORATION: Smells like dark cola, grain, and caramelized jet fuel—thanks to the righteous 55%. Do you like bourbon and coke? What if I told you that you could have that same sweet satisfaction, without the coke? With this masterwork, you can. Vanilla. Cinnamon. Maraschino. And the biscuity goodness of some kind of baked good? Sounds like a lot, but it’s never sickly sweet; it finds a balance just right. Rich. Robust. Nourishing. And a killer aftertaste. EXHORTATION: Recommended for sipping, or making your friends cocktails they’ll dream about. *for a budget-friendlier option, the standard Russell’s Reserve is about as solid a mixer as you can get.

EXPLORATION: This dram seeker is young in the ways of whiskies—younger still in Irish ones. Take his words with a grain of barley. Cereal and wet hay on the nose. We’re at the farm on a rainy day. The body is light, but creamy. It has a peppery bouquet with a dash of orange and the dank sweetness of apricot. A bitterness on the finish closes out an experience nicely balanced between rich and dry. EXHORTATION: I don’t quite have my bearings with Irish whiskies, but know that this tasted good.

EXPLORATION: The nose rides hot with apples and wheat. Tastes malty sweet, with a touch of bitter on the middle. Stone fruit finish with a trace of...licorice? EXHORTATION: Solid dram, but my memory of it has waned in the days since tasting. I’ll happily try it again to refresh my memory down the road.

EXPLORATION: Apple nips the nose, with afterthoughts of vanilla, cherry, and oak. The apple remains apparent on arrival, but quickly bursts into a dry and spicy bouquet for the middle. The finish smooths out the experience with the return of vanilla and cherry. EXHORTATION: This might not be this seeker’s cup of scotch, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. At an admirable 46% and a fair price point, this might be YOUR cup if you like your whiskys apple-y and dry. POSTSCRIPT: One more thing: when drinking out of doors, keep an eye out for gnats & fruit flies—lest you need to pick the thirsty creatures out of your dram (like I did). Who can blame them?

EXPLORATION: Wafts of butterscotch, barley, and a touch of banana pudding greet the nose. The arrival is silky sweet cereal that blooms into bitter toffee. A delightful apricot finish lingers just long enough. Sounds pretty good, now that I mention it. EXHORTATION: Seek a bottle if you’re in the market for approachability and complexity entwined. Other bottles in the Nikka family might be a bit more affordable and just as fine. Will seek further.

EXPLORATION: Tastes like a beloved bastard son of bourbon and rye. Smells like the barrels it was birthed from. Reminds me of apples mulled in Dr.Pepper over a tire fire. EXHORTATION: Seek this intriguing dram if you find yourself in the Lone Star State.

EXPLORATION: When someone opens a bottle of this sea-soaked serum, you smell it from across the room. The nose is smoky, as expected, but it’s also salty and sweet. On the palate you’re met with the same, and more. The sweet smoke rides alongside peppery oak in an impressively smooth swim across the tongue. The smoke finish is present, but not overbearing. EXHORTATION: Seek for your first or fifteenth journey into peat. A veritable steal for its price tag.

EXPLORATION: Nothing bombastic, but certainly not boring. The nose is tame and discreet. Upon arrival, a cereal sweetness disguises a quiet smoke that meets you halfway. Solid. EXHORTATION: Seek if you’re looking for an affordable but pleasing blend to share with others.

EXPLORATION: The scent of oaken smoke greets the nose, along with mulled fruit, brine, and, by the gods—rubber tires. The taste is smooth. A peated vanilla smoke, with a slight note of chocolate somewhere in the background. It’s a little bitter in the middle, but this faded after a time. A nice smoke finish lingers. EXHORTATION: Seek a dram if ye be a peat lover or no. This is pleasant, but one wonders if it is a shadow of what could be.