Tastes

Let this sit in the glass for a good 15 minutes before starting this journey. Continue to learn that patience is well rewarded. Pear, honey, the lightest whiff of a distant fire. Maybe like a shirt you wore the day before while smoking a Brisket. Some candy sweetness Spice on the start with honey again and then a wonderful menthol almost minty flavor. Salty with some nice cereal notes. Finish is great neat and spectacular with several drops of water. Water brings out more spice, menthol & Brine. Really loving this glass.

A minute in the glass for every year in the Cask. Never have truer words been spoken regarding my experience with this Scotch. First impression.. Bang! Medicinal and almost acrid smoke. 18 minutes later (you know what I mean) the sherry notes, fruit and sweetness are all present m. (all this on the nose) Flavor is Maple, menthol, dark fruit, cherries. You almost forget the big smoke from 40 minutes ago. This is a wonderful Scotch

OK... I'm continuing to step into the Islay scotches. Smells like you're walking up to a camp site with their fire in the distance. I do get berries and other fruit notes in the Aroma. Some medicinal notes out of the shoot then Maple bacon. Menthol, salty (briny) and moments of mint at the finish. Medicinal notes on the finish again.

I do enjoy this. Quite a bit. But have to report that the Aroma is the best part of the experience. Dark fruits and spice. Reminds me of high end dark rums. You just enjoy the Aroma for a long time. Flavor is great, even slightly rich. But doesn't stand up to what came before. Prunes, dates in syrup with melted butter. Finish is rum like and sweet. But falls of quickly. Water makes it a bit more prickly.

This is wonderful. Color is light straw. Berries and light grain on the nose. Not quite grassy, but almost. Lots of nice toasted cereal in the flavor. Spices moments of menthol & mint. Drops of water bring it alive even more. More tropical notes in the finish as it opens. The finish on this is spectacular.

Really enjoyed this Scotch. Dry fruit and Maple in the nose. You can sense spice in the background. Flavor is the right amount of sweetness with licorice, Maple, brown sugar and dark fruit. Finish is nice with toasted cereal note and light spice. A wonderful warming sense to this one.

A nice version of this classic Barrel Proof. I've had this bottle for a while and waited to review. Have to note that I enjoy it and yet tried it next to the now classic B520. (wow, B520 was head and shoulders above.. But that's for another review...) Toffee is the word on both Aroma and flavor. Buttery mouth feel with some chewy caramel notes. Almost creamy. Slightest note of cherry for a fleeting moment. Oak stands in the background, but makes its presence known. Drops of water are mandatory, but probably not shocking at 122 proof.. Spice on the finish is nice, especially after some water added.

Really good. Gotta be honest, not sure I could pick out what style of whiskey this is. You have to put 3-4 drops of water in this. It's a game changer. Cereal notes explode with nice toasted grain and more vanilla and spice. Many notes similar to Bourbon. (not a shock given the Barrels used) This whiskey is about the finish. The burst of flavor is nice, but really subtle. The finish on the other hand is lingering and really nice. Vanilla & caramel Aroma stays true.

OK, so as I climb the smoke ladder this one is a jump for me. Having said that, I spent a decent amount of time getting used to the Aroma. At first just a campfire. But then Apple pie, melon and some grilled pineapple. Flavor is much less Smokey than the Aroma suggested. Honey, pear some grainy cereal notes then a lot of bitterness in the finish.. This is where the smoke lingers. Suddenly a memory came to me from youth. Sore throat spray Chloraseptic. My God that's exactly what it tastes like. The first time I thought to myself that I will eventually climb the ladder to enjoying some Islay selections. The journey continues. (don't have a sore throat today!)

I have procrastinated in posting this review hoping and waiting for my opinion to change. Sadly, it has not. I'm a big fan of the Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon and was really excited to enjoy this. First glass, must be a "neck pour"... Second glass. I must be in a bad mood. Couple months later as I've continued sipping on the bottle. Muted, uninspired and lifeless. Nothing stands out to really comment on. I will finish the bottle and go forward in life disappointed.