Tastes
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Rabbit Hole Heigold Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed August 6, 2022 (edited August 7, 2022)Flat golden brown color and average legs in the glass. On the nose, brown sugar and vanilla, but under that a grassy mushy apple and cereal smell. Burnt sugar, leather and tannic vanilla oak on first taste. Orangy citrus sneaks in there. Malt cereal gives it a soft but rather thin mouthfeel. The rye spice (grassy, then growing more peppery) starts later and carries through an average finish. Ice cube tempers the tannins and the rye spice, leaving this less interesting. A good sip, but definitely rate this below both the Cavehill and Boxergrail, especially given that this is a pricier juice ($70--ok, it's the price point relative to other really good high rye bottom-shelf bourbons that bugs me), and that's disappointing. The Dareringer sherry cask is better too at similar price. Still not a fan of their tall rectangular bottles, but do like their labeling design (although the labeling isn't very informative as to mashbill and aging info). -
Ok, its vodka, but... this one has a lot going for it. Certified organic rye from ND. Distilled in Rigby, Idaho and bottled at 40 ABV with water from aquifers of the Grand Tetons watershed. Female distiller and owner. Unique fermentation, four-column distillation, and filtering processes. Eco-friendly packaging from glass to soy-based inks to recycled paper and packaging, and wind-power at the distillery. All good. Clear liquid with coating legs in the glass. Clean and sweet nose, even floral. Earthy, nutty, and lightly floral sweet in the mouth, and then some ethanol and a hint of spicy rye grass in the long finish. Creamy soft, thick and viscous mouthfeel, but no harsh ethanol burn or off-flavors. Really elegant, nice to drink on its own, cold or room temp where it shows more flavor muscle. Would rate this the best vodka I've had (which isn't a huge number because... hey, it's just vodka!) Not a fan of the tall thin square bottle--tippy, and it won't fit in many cabinets--but the label is simple and handsome, as is the concentric squares symbol impressed in the bottle. But what's important is I love the liquid inside. Top notch.
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Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon French Oak Finish
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed June 27, 2022 (edited July 23, 2022)Lux Row Distillers (Luxco), 96 proof straight bourbons, wheated and high rye blend, aged 6 additional months in French oak. Golden brown color, average legs in the glass. Floral and sweet cereal grain on the nose. Soft and lightly sweet grain, grassy rye in the mouth, and a little ethanol. Dry oak, light but not overly tannic in the finish. Leather, rye spice, and a dry menthol mouthfeel. Ice tames the spice and sweet stone fruit comes out. Not overly sweet, and not as much vanilla as I'd expect from the dominent oak flavors. Nicely balanced and yet unusual. Ice tones down the oak and raises the sweetness level and vanilla. Going to keep trying this. -
MGP, now Rossville Distilling and Ross & Squibb. They've been at this a long time, selling their juice to others to age/bottle, and now selling it under their own label. That's a good thing. We know their stuff is good, so what are they keeping to market? Nose is familiar, floral grain, vanilla, and a hint of pepper spice and wet leather. Sweet cereal, spicy grass and pepper and earthy spices. Average viscosity and light golden color in the glass. Good ethanol burst, with vanilla oak and tannins, and mint tingle in the long finish. Smooths and opens with an ice cube. Priced right this is a really good rye, but hard to find around here or I'd make it a daily regular. Look forward to finding the barrel proof.
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Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye
Rye — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed May 22, 2022 (edited August 17, 2022)Vanilla and sweet grain and a whiff of baking spice on the nose. Light golden-brown color and thin coating legs in the glass. Oak char and smoke explode right off the bat. Spicy and grassy rye flavors grow, along with a sweet cereal grain backbone. Medium mouthfeel overall. Finish lingers. Spice and mint and nettle tingle in a semi-long finish. I can see this being a great rye to mix given the higher ABV and price point, but it's good sipping straight too. Ice cube thins the char and spice flavors, enhancing the sweetness. Craig is making great bourbons at great price points. This rye is a smart addition on their part (even at the minimum 51% rye mashbill), joining a strong portfolio. Rated 7th most exciting whiskey of 2020 by Whisky Advocate. -
Great bottle and label. Liquid is clear and light legs. Nose is light fruit and grain. Pears and grapes in the mouth, a little ethanol, some spice, and then gone. Thin mouthfeel. Aftertaste is grape must and sweet. Not exactly the "no flavor" vodka that's the style. This is full of flavor, makes for good sipping straight or cold. Excellent...for vodka. St George is making high quality distillates, each an unusual, unique, variation on the base liquor. Most impressed with everything they're making.
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Koval Single Barrel Four Grain
Other Whiskey — Illinois, USA
Reviewed May 19, 2022 (edited May 21, 2022)Barrel# FB6W78. Leather tannins and soft spices, floral sweet grain on the nose. Smoke char and vanilla oak, sweet cereal--rolled oats--in the mouth with a creamy malted-grain mouthfeel. Sweet, floral orange, and some light spice in an average finish. Soft, round, and floral sweet with that oak char smoke backbone. The contradictions work well together -
Stranahan's Single Barrel Single Malt, Cask Strength, Idaho Director's Cut 2022 #1, Barrel 15-2377
American Single Malt — Colorado, USA
Reviewed May 7, 2022 (edited July 20, 2022)See also the reviews for Stranahan's single barrel single malt cask strength whiskey. This is one of two barrels of single malt contracted by the State of Idaho. This Idaho Cut #1 is Barrel no. 15-2377, 100% malted barley, double distilled in limited runs; barreled in 2015 in American white oak, aged 6 years and 2 months, and bottled at 56.64% ABV. Sweet grain, vanilla, and a little ethanol on the nose. Dark golden brown color and good legs in the glass. Burnt sugar and toasted cereal, vanilla oak, and some baking spices in the mouth. Rich, full, and mouth-coating. Warm but not alcohol hot. Spice and sweetness linger in a looong finish. Easy to enjoy neat. With an ice cube the high ABV and spice softens and rounds. Nice. Stranahan's is bottling some really good American malt whiskey, and at single barrel and cask strength you get to see it in its original barreled form.
Results 101-110 of 470 Reviews