Tastes

This was a bottle that I never thought I would get a hand on to try in recent times. But tonight at dinner I was surprised to see that they had this on their menu at the Smokehouse. I was, to say the least, very ecstatic. Nose: Apples, oak, char, brown sugar, bananas, nuts like pecan, hints of orange, and hints of caramel Palate: Charred oak, green apples, burnt brown sugar, caramel, bananas, bread spices, cinnamon, and hints of orange Finish: Sugar, apples, oak, bread spices, hints of butter, and hints of menthol This is such a well rounded whiskey from start to finish. Just from the nose you already know that you are in for a ride. The initial palate has a slight burn, but a good one, one that you can enjoy. And then everything rounds out and builds to a gorgeous full body. The flavor lingers long after the liquid disappears on a delicious palate of oaky brown sugar bourbon note. I was lucky and glad to finally try this one.

Nose: Honey, toffee, vanilla, oak, black peppers, peaches, bananas, sugar, and slight citrus Palate: Honey, toffee, oak, vanilla, spices, malty, and sugar sweet Finish: Spice, black peppers, baking spices, toffee, vanilla, oak, and a little citrus zest The Bulleit rye is an amazing bottle of rye because of the price and flavor that it brings. It has all the needs of a rye to sip neat or mix in a cocktail, especially eggnog. The nose is spicy and sweet; very much balanced on each so harmoniously that they weave together. On the palate the spices come through but once again intertwined with the nice toffee and vanilla notes. The finish is medium in length but definitely follows through on the flavors from the palate with a little emphasis from the oak. This is an amazing rye for its price and one that is surely to find a place in any liquor cabinet.

The Peat Monster 10th Anniversary is truly a monster, a peat monster. Compass Box does such an amazing job with their blends and this is just another one to add to that collection. Nose: Peat, briny, malty, flowery, cake, and vanilla Palate: Peat, salt, flowery, oily, malty, smooth, vanilla sweet, peaches, and slight stone fruits Finish: Malty, salty, peat, flowery, vanilla, and light fruits This is bottle shows peak flavors you would expect out of an Islay/peat whisky. First thing you notice is the clear color of this whisky, making it stand out in a realm of peat whiskies. On the palate it is as if someone had taken a salt cube and threw it onto the barbecue. A wall of peat smoke and salt, but beyond that is the beautiful, flowery and fruitfulness. The finish lingers on as your tongue is coated in the salt, and your mouth waters for the next sip.

Nose: Peat, apples, red berries, sherry, briny, honey sweetness, and slight spices Palate: Peat, briny, baking spices, red berries, apples, peaches, and fruit sweetness Finish: Peat, briny, baking spices, slight honey, and slight sherry I have wanted to try this bottle for quite some time since the peat head in me can not be tamed. After my bottle of Green Spot I decided it was time to drop the hammer on this. What an amazing bottle I have got to experience. It is truly an Irish with peat notes. The combination of both Irish and peat blend perfectly together on this and create such a complex, unique, and smooth taste. The fruits in this can also not be forgotten as they linger long into the finish. However, the palate and finish is just a little bit too light on all these notes as there is no emphasis on just any one note; almost as if the whisky is trying to do too much. Above all it is a combination of best of two worlds. I can not wait to try the other Teelings, and even the Connemara. If you like your Irish and you like your peat, this bottle is a must try.

A day behind on my Irish whisky tasting for St. Patrick’s day; though I just picked this bottle up yesterday in it being so. What a beautiful Irish whisky it is. Nose: Green apples, caramel, peaches, orange zest, biscuits, Christmas spices, slight sherry, and slight nuts Palate: Smooth, green apples, oranges, caramel, oak, sherry, ginger, Christmas spices, and slight nuts Finish: Oak, green apples, caramel, ginger, baking spices, sherry, slight oranges, and slight nuts What a beautiful dram of whisky from start to finish. It starts with the stunningly clean and simple bottle. Then, the nose is absolutely mouthwatering filled with green apples and caramel: like those caramel covered apple lollipops. The palate is so smooth, its all you can think about. Then comes the spices and the warmth of the flavor. The spices and orchard fruits dance gorgeously into the finish. The finish lingers of smoothness and your mouth will beg again for the spicy complex flavor. Though I am not too versed in Irish whiskies, I can dare say this is at the top of the line.

Nose: Apples, lemon, peaches, caramel, grapes, and slight sherry Palate: Almonds, apples, fruit sweet, oily, sugary, and slight smoke Finish: Nuts, almonds, caramel, apples, peaches, oily, and slight bitterness This is a dram of blended Scotch that will always be an anchor for me. Though I am not as big on blended Scotches, I know that Chivas 12 will never disappoint or turn me away. The nose is gorgeous, a fruit plate with a slight hint of caramel and sugar sweet. On the palate, it is a bit short, though the fruits come out more and dance around hints of nuts. The finish is short and a little bitter, but not a bad bitter. For the price you get a Chivas 12 for, it is always something that is reliable and worthy of a spot in my collection. A very easy, casual drink.

GOT, a great TV show; Johnnie Walker, a great whiskey brand. This is one of the many GOT branded whiskies out there and definitely on the lower price range of that spectrum. Nose: Chocolate, sherry, oak, peat, cherry, spices, and slight vanilla Palate: Peat, sherry, oak, sugar sweet, spices, vanilla, and hints of chocolate Finish: Peat, smokey, oak, dark fruits, slight vanilla, and slight spices This is a nice whisky for its price, which might be its best advantage. It does a little bit of everything, but is not great at anything. The finish is extremely short and light bodied, almost feels a little watered down. Definitely not a bad dram, but definitely not something I’d seek out for myself.

Crown Royal Reserve. Crown Royal is always a safe bet, an easy go to. The Reserve steps its up just another slight step. Nose: Honey, toffee, syrup, almonds, malty, and slight peaches Palate: Honey, nuts, toffee, malty, apple, peaches Finish: Malty, toffee, honey, light fruits, and slight apple This is a beautiful dram on the nose. Very sweet aromas mix beautifully together with the fruity notes. However, the fruity notes are very light, almost drowned out by the sweetness, even on the palate. The finish is light and short, almost watered down, yet still delicious for a quick bite.

“Wow!” That was my first expression. I was skeptical going into this bottle, but all my doubts have been cleared; this is one amazing whisky. Kilchoman being the youngest and newest Islay Distillery made me think their inexperience and young whisky could not match the competition, but I was wrong. Kilchoman now rests with great trust and appreciation from me. I can not wait to try the rest of what they have to offer. Truly, stunningly wonderful. Nose: Sherry, raisins, peaches, citrus, slight strawberry, slight oak and the peat creeping behind Palate: Briny, peat, smoke, sherry, peaches, cherry, sugar sweet, slight oak, and the peat builds. Finish: Briny, sherry, peat, smoke, peaches, fruity sweet, and slight malt Beautiful, complex flavor. Everything blends together in a beautiful harmony. The classic flavors of a young, fruited whisky blends with the classic Islay taste make for an unforgettable composition.

Nose: Honey, vanilla, oak, toffee, and slight spice Palate: Vanilla, caramel, leather, bitter, spice, and slight peppercorn Finish: Toffee, vanilla, bitter, and slight butter On the nose this is an extremely sweet and full whiskey. Immediately you get the vanilla and toffee-caramel classic bourbon. Across the palate are the same notes, however, becoming bitter and leathery. Finish is very light and subtle, but the bitterness lingers. Not my favorite dram, but definitely not strongly opposed.