Tastes
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Upon first nosing I immediately detect stewed cherries and spice, with equal parts sweet and tart to the fruit, also a good hit of alcohol but without any harshness or burn. Further nosing and I get red apple skins, cloves, ginger, just a hint of rye, rose water, and finally charred sugar maple. On the tongue it’s a bit like cherry cough syrup at first. As the sugary sweetness fades, the spice starts to emerge with cayenne pepper and ginger taking the lead. Red apples and plums briefly appear, followed by an orange citrus tinge. The body is pretty good, syrupy but not too heavy. The legs are extremely slow to develop, and very thin and quick at the start, but then a delicate string of beads rims the glass and hangs on for quite a while before dispersing. The finish is very mildly dry and oaky, nutty, and somewhat short. There’s slightly bitter cocoa, and a final note of cherry pie. Over ice everything becomes muted and rounded, the finish is more strawberry rhubarb than cherry, and a bit of mint comes out at the very end. Nose: 9 Taste: 8 Body: 9 Finish: 8
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A very bourbon dominated rum, the nose is loaded with vanilla and molasses with just a hint of woody spices and citrus. On the tongue it actually tastes more like a bourbon than it does a rum, with caramel and barrel char leading the palate and just a little funk and cherry-like fruitiness in the back. There’s a surprisingly strong alcohol bite to this for being 12 years old and just 43% ABV. The body is so so, satisfactory but nothing to write home about. On the finish, there’s a semidry note of oak and traces of sweet bourbon and pepper. Not a bad rum, but a little disappointing for a single estate with a 12 year age statement. (Note: the bottle shape and label have been changed). Nose: 8 Taste: 7 Body: 7 Finish: 7
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The nose is nice and rummy, but not too boozy, with brown sugar, maple syrup, some butter, a bit of oak, tobacco flower, and mild baking spices such as clove and nutmeg. Sweet on the tongue, with just a little heat and peppery bite, it has a nice, subtle flavor profile. Dark sugar syrup, not quite molasses, soft warming spice, mild notes of oak, and sherry, even dried cherries. The body is nice and full, with a slick but not heavy mouthfeel. In the glass it takes a good while to form legs, and though scattered and uneven, beautifully delicate teardrops develop and run down the walls at a moderate pace. The finish is slightly dry, showing more prominent oak, suede, cigar papers, and evokes a memory of cherry Twizzlers. Nose: 9 Taste: 9 Body: 9 Finish: 8
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Hints of sweet licorice on the nose with a very clean fresh vegetal note like snow peas underneath a layer of fine cold pine smoke. Smoked, slightly underripe pineapple and chilis waft in and out too. In time, queso fresco appears as well. The palate is sweet and smooth with quickly vanishing butterscotch notes, a pinch of cayenne pepper and lots of woodsmoke, a touch of licorice, and mineral. The body is soft and velvety, but not quite full bodied. It leaves a nice mist behind in the glass. On the finish it becomes much drier, with a lingering fruit sugar sweetness, perhaps yellow apple or pear, but much more vegetal and mineral like parsnips baked on hot slate over a rubber tire fire. A very enjoyable Mezcal to sip.
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A buttery, almost scotchy, herbal nose that comes out swinging well above its ABV but given time to breathe calms down enough to become rather interesting. I pick up sweet roasted corn cakes in butter, as well as heavy esters of fresh wintergreen, and underripe banana. There is also a musty note, masa flour, some cocoa powder, sarsaparilla, and a touch of allspice. On the tongue it is as sweet as expected, but unexpectedly spicy. There are notes of corn syrup, Cow Tales and Hot Tamales candies, jalapeño pepper, some agave, spearmint, and spice. The longer I hold it in my mouth, the more the sweetness fades and pepper takes over. Medium-light bodied, but with a little nice oiliness to it. The legs are OK, running wild at first, but once they slow they drape nicely before dissipating. On the finish there is a lot of vanilla, and finally oak appears. I also get fire roasted vegetables, and a touch of leather. This is one unique whisky that given more time to age could be something really special. Nose: 8 Taste: 8 Body: 7 Finish: 8
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I’m greeted with a powerful yet delicate nose, like a pungent bouquet of honeysuckle and apple blossoms, but with an alcoholic kick. There’s unhulled barley, wildflower honey, and a feint minerality, almost a note of chalk but not so dry, more like Bird’s vanilla custard powder. Also, a hint of bourbon barrel spices and just a drop of lemony citrus. Spicy, sharp, and syrupy sweet on the tongue, it is the experience of the nose amplified. The heavy caramel sweetness fades quickly into soft vanilla, as the spice builds through the mid-palate approaching cayenne. The citrus too intensifies at this point, and evolves towards Valencia orange. The body lacks the girth expected but is by no means thin, not velvety but a tad creamy. The legs are so so, disorganized yet beautiful heavy teardrops form pretty skirts for a few moments before disappearing. The medium finish is dry, mineral, clean copper, oaky, somewhat bitter almond skins, and slightly saline. Whispers of spice and citrus hang on to the bitter end as well. The addition of water softens everything but the citrus sharpness, and makes the body creamier. Aroma: 9 Taste: 9 Body: 8 Finish: 8.5
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Rich, dark fruity bouquet with a hint of date nut bread and a touch of rose. Entry on the palate is sweet and herbaceous, then follows intense spice. Afterwards stewed fruits, jammy plums, Medjool dates in syrup, ginger, cassia cinnamon, a hearty dash of cayenne pepper, deeply charred bourbon barrel, and grape musk become apparent. The body is velvety and sumptuous, with decent legs despite the low ABV. The finish is long and reminiscent of fortified wines aged in wood. There’s a bit of mint, possibly oregano, lingering caramelized fruit sweetness, but also some sourness like balsamic glaze, chocolate hazelnut spread, just a touch of bitter orange, and finally charred oak that lingers for a spell. Nose: 8 Taste: 9 Body: 8 Finish: 9
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A bit of a rough and ready nose at first, calling to mind days of old with illicit stills and rustic saw mills. Give it time to breathe and the vapors settle, the dusky wood fades, and some sweet vanilla bean, juicy citrus taffy, a little sticky toffee, and a slightly floral note comes out. Sweet and flavorsome on the palate. There’s serious bourbon notes, brown sugar, Rainier cherries, cinnamon, peppercorn, raisin, orange peel, and a smidge of mint. Good body, it’s a little creamy on the tongue, while in the glass the legs are pretty thin and quick leaving plenty of tears behind. On the finish the orange peel transforms into lemon, the sweetness diminishes into a simple icing and a bit of dry spice cake. Dry dusky oak lingers longest bringing the experience back to where it started. You can’t go wrong with a Deanston. Adding water amps up the brown sugar/bourbon notes, making it almost too sweet, no need to dilute this beaut. It’s just right the way it is, even if it is a bit different. Nose: 8 Taste: 9 Body: 8 Finish: 9
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A funky, sweet and slightly sharp nose of artichokes, honey, a bit of dried lemongrass, and a little golden syrup. There’s almost a mustiness to it. The palate is very sweet and peppery. I get loads of honey upfront, quickly followed by cayenne and a hint of cinnamon. There’s not a lot more going on besides this sweet heat but it’s good. The mouthfeel is so so, a tad thin yet coating. Certainly no complaints. The finish is nice, sweet but not cloyingly so, and hints at sugar cane and Honey Nut Cheerios. An interesting sipper or cocktail base for sure. Nose: 6 Taste: 7 Body: 6 Finish: 7
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A sweet nose greets you with gentle notes of orchard fruits and cereals, but then a sharp trailing edge leaves some ethanol and underripe strawberry in its wake. I get Golden Delicious apple, Anjou pear, oats, a hint of gin soaked Golden raisins, a dollop of honey, and some very mild baking spices. To the tongue, it’s equal parts spicy and sweet. There’s immediate heat and cinnamon spice, then fruity sweet notes muscle their way in with fresh apple dominating an undertone of lemony citrus and strawberry jam. The body is a bit on the light side, not surprising at a meager 40%ABV. The mouthfeel is a little thin but with a redeeming oiliness. In the glass, the legs start off a hot mess, but manage to get it together before they disappear completely. The finish is nice, semidry with a little rustic oak coming through. There’s cocoa dusted almonds providing some bitter astringency, and just a drop of lingering sweetness. No need to add water to this one, it’s better as is. It’s a worthy scotch with a flavor that nods at finer Irish whiskies. Nose: 8 Taste: 8 Body: 6 Finish: 7
Results 41-50 of 65 Reviews