Tastes

Smooth and uncomplicated, and highly reminiscent of its fellow wheated bourbon, Maker's Mark. I just tried this at an event in Miami where Heaven Hill had a table offering samples of a few of their wares. The nose is all sweet maple syrup and a hint of that marker scent I often get from wheaters. The taste is light, sweet, with a slightly thin texture -- honey, vanilla, cream, and another hit of that slightly off marker note. The finish is mild and not particularly remarkable, although it has a little more bitterness than I like. For the price it's a strong contender, and would mix well into cocktails or drinks that don't call for a spicy bourbon. Not much to contemplate as a sipping whiskey, but also not much to dislike either.

Batch B517 (62.1%, May 2017 release) - I was very excited to try this when I found it in Miami after searching through 5 or 6 different liquor stores. This may be my platonic image of bourbon. Neat, the nose definitely hits you with the heat, but not in an unpleasant acetone way at all (the benefit of the 12 years that this barrel proof bourbon has aged). With a little water, which I prefer, there is a complex bouquet -- a word I hate, but which is perfectly appropriate here, as I get beeswax, spring meadow flowers, an oily or buttery scent, as well as the usual sweet caramel flavors and some sharper edges from the oak. The palate is so lively and transforms constantly as I roll each sip around my tongue and the sides of my mouth, with a thick, buttery mouthfeel and a lot of oak and toasted wood. The finish lasts forever and warms the entire mouth, all the way through the throat, with a nice honeyed touch. It has no burn, only a constant, growing warmth and tingle that just never leaves the mouth. Lots of wood and spice, especially cinnamon, throughout. Remarkable, amazing. Aberlour A'bunadh and Ardbeg Uigeadail were some of my first experiences with cask strength/near cask strength whiskies, and I'd rate this one several cuts above A'bunadh (of which I'm not the biggest fan). Bravo, Elijah Craig (it almost makes me forgive you for taking away the 12-year small batch, which was delicious and so much more obtainable).

This single malt is a major component of Dewar's blends, so if you've had and enjoyed Dewar's, this one will be right up your alley. It is not overly complex but it's certainly pleasant. The dominant note on the nose is apple, malt, and a bit of caramel. There's not much spice or smoke in its scent. The palate is consistent with the nose, quite sweet, and the texture is light and a little watery, not surprising given the low ABV. The finish is brief and has that sweet caramel flavor as well, though now hints of smoke and grassy bitterness appear at the end. The smoke is a surprising revelation at the end, and subtle -- probably just from the ex-bourbon barrel char. I've seen some reviews online claim this one has ex-sherry casks mixed in, but I don't see it at all, and the packaging itself only references ex-bourbon barrels. I find this bottle under $40 in Miami, so it's a fair, similarly priced substitute for the basic Glenmorangie 10, Glenlivet 12, Glenfiddich 12 trio, but not clearly superior to any of those.

There's a reason so many bars use this as a mixer. At $20 or under for a bottle, this one is the best rye for mixing at a reasonable price point. It makes for excellent Manhattans and even better Godfathers (we also make a house variant with 3 parts Old Overholt to 1 part each of Cointreau and amaretto, which is best with the spiciness and edge of this rye).

The first decent scotch I ever had, so in a way it set my framework for what scotch is. Having now had Caol Ila and Talisker single malts, which are major components of JW blends, I see the family resemblance. This is a mildly smoky scotch with a core of pleasant, malt sweetness. It led me to love scotch, so I'll always appreciate it, though may reach for single malts on the shelf first now.

A great distillery visit and tour in West Virginia, and one of the older and more distinguished members of the craft/independent distillery movement. The Yearling has a nice caramel heart and has already pulled in some strong oak notes from the barrels. It stands up well to, and reminds me of, Maker's Mark. It still shows its youth, as the name fairly indicates. The price is high for a half-handle, but I am rooting for these guys (the rest of the line also is well worth trying)!