Tastes
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Heaven Hill Bottled In Bond 7 Year
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed June 13, 2022 (edited June 14, 2022)Nose is quite good featuring buttered popcorn, vanilla, fresh cut wood, and golden raisin. Ethanol is nice and low. Palate opens with standard vanilla/caramel (in no way a bad thing) and creamed corn, along with bright oak tannins and pecan. Flavors aren’t the richest, but have a certain punch nonetheless. Well balanced. Finish turns into a nice spice bloom of cinnamon, clove, and prickly pepper heat, and is of medium length. Mouthfeel is effervescent and silky and elevates the experience. I found this to be super solid and pleasantly traditional. The obvious comparison is to Henry McKenna 10 yr, and this is just a shade hotter and less refined but otherwise ranks right up there. Completely unavailable in my area, I paid an up charge of $65 for mail order, but I will rate this on its MSRP of $40 and quite frankly it’s a total win and could easily be my daily drinker at that price. Insta-buy at $50 or under.65.0 USD per Bottle -
Oak & Eden Bourbon & Vine - Cabernet Steeped Oak
Bourbon — (bottled in) Texas, USA
Reviewed June 3, 2022 (edited August 25, 2023)What may be my final sampling of the Oak and Eden line. It’s been a fun journey, and let’s see what this brings to the table. On the nose, we get barrel char that seems to be synonymous with the line, followed by young whiskey notes of varnish and corn, some oak, but wait…what’s this? A vinous aroma of Concord grape and wine tannins. Ok, Oak and Eden, I see you. But not going to lie; some bothersome ethanol pokes through as well especially considering this is 90 proof. Just sayin’. Palate opens with standard vanilla/caramel but with an interesting berry compote note underneath. But man, there is NO mid-palate here at all; races to the finish. Finish is short with more char involved, but the best part carries the longest in the form of some nice fruity/jammy notes. Specifically grape. I mean duh, it’s got a “wine soaked spiral” but the flavor is way more grape jelly than Cabernet Sauvignon. Mouthfeel is pretty harsh and grainy, with the young age being front and center. The Cab soaked spiral is almost (but not quite) able to cover what is most likely 2 year old whiskey contained in the bottle. Pleasant surprise, but more of a novelty than a great whiskey. At $55, this does not in any way qualify as a value, in fact one could argue that it is grossly overpriced. In my book, not terrible but not a rebuy either.55.0 USD per Bottle -
Nose opens with lots of fruits and as I was trying to discern them, it hit me…this smells a lot like a fruit cocktail. Which (and I had to look this up) apparently contains peaches, pears, pineapple, grapes and cherries. So yeah, all of that. Add dates, plum, a hint of licorice and soft, fresh cut oak tree. Smells really inviting. The palate does not disappoint. I will say that from that fruit cocktail nose only pear and grape make it through to the palate, along with date, fig, toffee, golden raisin, milk chocolate, pomegranate, and nutmeg, Flavors are richer than the ABV would indicate. Mouthfeel is light and airy; a perfect match for the flavor profile and proof. It’s hard to call this fruity and sweet of a whiskey “balanced” but maybe…harmonious (?) as everything comes together rather perfectly. Finish transitions from the palate in a slow, measured fashion. Oak and spices come in bringing with it a slight bitterness that really helps this from becoming cloying from the sweetness. The bulk of the finish is relatively short but lingering notes of allspice and cinnamon last way longer than expected. Darker and sweeter than the Lusteau edition, this is by all means a delight. Now, I must get something off my chest: damn you Redbreast. Damn you straight to hell for making a delicious 92 proof whiskey that retails for $119.00! Grrr. Literally the price point is the only thing keeping this from being a straight up 5.0. And yet…I still might buy another. I clearly have a problem with delectable, high priced Irish Whiskeys. Someone stop me.119.0 USD per Bottle
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Oak & Eden Rye & Spire - Charred Oak
Rye — (bottled in) Texas, USA
Reviewed May 14, 2022 (edited May 16, 2022)So looking at my last couple of reviews I’ve been doling out 4+ ratings like candy, so lest you think I find everything amazing time to review something that is not so much as my exploration of the Oak and Eden line continues… My second review of this offering, this time a Total Wine Store Pick coming in at 116 proof. Nose: ok “charred oak” is right, so much so it’s hard to get other things out it. Luckily for this rye I like smoky/char aromas and flavors; smoke, charcoal, burnt ends barbecue, and a hint of rye spice and pepper. Aroma is definitely powerful and low on ethanol so yay for that. Palate: like the nose, charred flavors rule here. Burnt sugars like you’d find on top of a creme brûlée (minus the custard underneath) ash, smoke, and bitter scorched oak. Nothing smooth or refined about this one; it’s the whiskey equivalent of a donkey kick to the teeth. Finish: Oh man, we’re going downhill fast. Hints of mint and eucalyptus followed by…you guessed it…more char. The mint has a medicinal quality reminiscent of toothpaste. It’s actually pretty long, but you definitely wish it was shorter. Prickly heat. Mouthfeel is grainy like 40 grit sandpaper and is bone-ass dry. This is the kind of whiskey I picture Clint Eastwood pulling out of his pack in an old Spaghetti Western; strong, harsh and biting. I’m almost certainly giving this too high a rating, but as I said I kind of like charred smokey flavors. This is like a Balcones without the brown sugar sweetness and full, oily mouthfeel so therefore nowhere near as good. Worse than the 90 proof non-store pick version, which is a little bizarre. At $55, it’s an epic fail and while I didn’t totally hate it, I bet most people would.55.0 USD per Bottle -
Blackened x Willett (Master of Whiskey Series)
Rye — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed May 13, 2022 (edited December 22, 2022)Pretty mild nose for a rye of this proof; spearmint, ginger, strawberry, something grassy, something umami (soy sauce?), leather, and a hint of “Willett funk” which I can best describe as a dusty rickhouse note if that makes sense. After it’s been in the glass a minute the ethanol drops to near zero, a plus for a 109 proof product. A weird and complex nose for sure. Palate: Oh ok, wow. There is a LOT going on here. Chocolate malt, black pepper, date, fig, raisin, plum, raspberry, tobacco, and mint. Flavors are explosive. This tastes like someone mixed a dessert bourbon with an herbaceous rye and honestly I’m all about it. Underneath it all, there is a flavor that is distinctly “Willett” which in my book is a good thing. Finish is spicy and long with white pepper, cinnamon, peppermint, and a nice toasted oak not present in the nose or palate. Finish is loooooong. Mouthfeel is unctuous and suits the flavor profile perfectly. Totally unique and delicious. I’m not sure how much of this is attributable to the Willett profile (probably a lot), the Madeira cask aging (probably a considerable amount) or the “sonic Metallica aging” (probably zero) but whatever it is, they nailed it. But we must address the disgusting $159 price tag. Apparently this is 6-8 year Willett Rye in here and given what THAT goes for these days, one could make a serious argument that is actually a bargain. Do I think so? No, not quite. Will I buy a replacement when this is gone? (Assuming I can find it) I just might. It’s that good.159.0 USD per Bottle -
Yellow Spot 12 Year Single Pot Still
Single Pot Still — Ireland
Reviewed May 12, 2022 (edited June 18, 2022)Nose comes in with big butterscotch aroma, followed by clover honey, sorghum, apricot, and wet hay. A barley note rides consistently underneath. Fairly pungent given the proof. On the palate we find vanilla cake frosting, browned butter, hazelnut, and fruit in the form of peach, banana, and apricot. There’s a bit of tangy tamarind in there as well. Slightest hint of barnyard funk is completely alluring. Nice complexity. Flavors are rich but soft and delicate at the same time. Man, this is tasty. The longer side of medium finish takes quite a left turn and is slightly spicer than expected but I don’t mind the pivot. Notes of white pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, cocoa, a subtle kiss of oak and an earthy note that I can’t quite put my finger on (tea leaf?) Mouthfeel is full and greasy, coating the entire mouth, but also has a drying effect which encourages repeated sipping. A nice combo. Let’s get one thing out the way right now; while I love the “Breasts” (lol) and the line has plenty of excellent whiskies, the “Spots” reign supreme in this category. This is absolutely top notch Irish whiskey. Now the bad; I paid a painful $115 for my bottle. The fact that I am considering buying a replacement at that price should speak volumes about exactly how good this stuff is. Winner winner, chicken dinner’115.0 USD per Bottle -
Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon Barrel Strength
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed May 10, 2022 (edited August 14, 2022)“Hundred North Bar & Kitchen” pick, 131.3 proof. Nose explodes with Maraschino cherry, French vanilla, furniture varnish, cola, flan, banana, barrel char, oak, and if I may be honest a decent amount of ethanol. But it IS 130+ proof so…forgivable. Palate is PUNCHY and features basically everything present in the nose in nice balance; so as not to be redundant with the individual notes I will just say we have rich vanillas and caramels, layered with fruit, spice, and wood. Cohesive. Finish goes on for what seems like days, as the maraschino cherry from the nose and palate morphs into black cherry, along with pink peppercorn, toasted marshmallow, cinnamon, and significant oak presence to add some balancing bitterness. Prickly heat pushes through which has the net effect of adding some effervescence, and the mouthfeel is full bodied and oily. Overall pretty damn stellar and a great example of what I am looking for in a barrel proof bourbon. If you aren’t already a fan of the Old Forester profile this probably will not change your mind; it’s basically 1920 on steroids. But if you dig 1920 as I do, then don’t pass up the rare opportunity to snag a bottle as you won’t be disappointed. At the $85 I paid, it’s worth every penny.85.0 USD per Bottle -
Oak & Eden 4 Grain & Spire - Torched Oak
Bourbon — (bottled in) Texas, USA
Reviewed April 17, 2022 (edited October 25, 2022)My exploration of the Oak and Eden lineup continues… Nose features burnt firewood, orange peel, vanilla, and a minty note reminiscent of toothpaste. Strong enough given the proof but too odd to be considered “inviting”. Palate contains orange zest, some toasted caramel, butterscotch, and toffee, and is by far the best part of this bourbon. Apparently there is wheat in here to make up the fourth grain but you’d never know it, as the flavors are pretty jagged. Doesn’t contain much of a mid-palate and basically races to the finish. Finish is quite short, with astringent oak, smoke, and the medicinal toothpaste note found in the nose. Not stellar. Mouthfeel is sharp and “sandpapery”. I don’t know if that’s a word, but it is now. Overall, it looks like the “torched oak spiral” just cannot overcome the obvious youth of this whiskey. Man if I had to guess I’d say this is 2 years old. Some of the Oak and Eden line has been a pleasant surprise; not so this one. At $54, it’s so far from a rebuy as to be considered laughable. I’ve had better whiskey in the $20 price range. Hard avoid.54.99 USD per Bottle -
Redemption Barrel Proof 9 Year Bourbon (2017 Edition)
Bourbon — Indiana, USA
Reviewed April 15, 2022 (edited April 17, 2022)Purchased in 2021, so I’m not sure this is a “2017 edition” but yet the proof matches exactly so I dunno. Nose is not the strongest but very pleasant; MGP all the way with Christmas tree, allspice, ginseng, leather, cinnamon, grass, and pencil eraser. Ethanol presence very low for the proof. Palate: Yeah ok, that’s delicious. Everything in the nose is present in the palate with a bit of vanilla and apple sweetness to bring some balance, but make no mistake; this is not a sweet bourbon but more of a “spicy and woody” offering. Flavors blend pretty seamlessly and with typical MGP brightness. I hate the expression, but probably the “smoothest” bourbon I have had with this particular profile by which I mean no rough edges or alcohol presence. Finish is quite long with cedar, cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, and a hint of mint. Very nice. Mouthfeel is medium, but any thicker and wouldn’t match the bright flavor profile, so I’m totally ok with it. This is a tough one to rate. I throughly enjoyed it, but with a price tag of $99.99, it’s hard to call this any kind of value especially given you can get the same MGP profile albeit aged a few less years in Belle Meade Reserve at the exact same proof for $65. (Belle Meade is also slightly sweeter) This will be my first review with a rebuy level rating that probably isn’t an actual rebuy; but it is one tasty mofo.99.99 USD per Bottle -
On the nose, we start fruit forward with red delicious apple, some pear, honey, graham cracker, tobacco, and the slightest hint of wet, green oak. Aroma is decently strong for the proof and contains next to no ethanol. Pleasant to huff. Palate opens with the honey and apple from the nose along with shortbread, toffee, and butterscotch. Flavors are well integrated and rounded. While it doesn’t scream “bold”, it is far from wimpy. Flavors sit very much on the front of the tongue. Medium length finish is where things get truly interesting. Featuring date, fig, plum, nutmeg, peppermint, and a light kind of generic spice underneath. Oak appears as a balancing factor for the sweetness rather than a prominent trait of its own. Mouthfeel is smooth and velvety. Overall a pretty delightful and complex Irish whiskey that comes together really well and there’s much to like here. At $85 it’s a bit pricy but you ARE getting a 15 year age statement, and the age shows in the lack of rough edges or flaws so I’d consider it a “fair” value. Rebuy? I tend to prefer the cask strength version, so maybe not if that is available, but that’s really the only thing preventing a rebuy and my rating reflects that.85.0 USD per Bottle
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