Tastes
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The nose presents caramel creme, nutmeg, clove, sugared pecans and cinnamon. There is also a hefty dose of oak cask to tie everything together. Upon tasting, more of those elements speak out, along with cocoa, roasted coffee bean, young leather and mild ginger. Again, the oak encircles the disparate elements and binds them together. The finish is long, with fading notes of caramel hard candies, chocolate covered cherries and a touch of black licorice. Overall, a very sweet, candy-like release, with plenty of traditional bourbon character to please virtually any fan of the craft.
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: Both the flavor of brandy and rum come through in this latest expression. The grape spirit holds court while the rum adds a warm, nutty and round mid-range note. The blend is lovely, and almost like a cocktail in itself. With a splash of simple syrup, some cocoa bitters and dilution, this would make for a great after dinner drink. Alexandre knows what he is doing and with yet another winner, he is sure to rack up another slew of awards from various spirits competitions with this one. Santé!
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Starward Octave Barrels (Yalumba The Octavious)
Single Malt — Victoria, Australia
Tasted June 23, 2022Lightly sweet with malt and grape essence, this is nonetheless tempered by the oak cask which infuses the endeavor with a dry character. The nose is delicate and fruity, while the entry has a robust and punch-like flavor. We particularly enjoy the Shiraz patina as it has an old school approach and is less sweet than if they had used a sherry cask. The flavor stays agreeable throughout the entire journey, and everything leads to a soft fade after several minutes. Really a joy to experience! -
A rich and malty entry that expresses sweetness and roundness on the palate. Warming, slightly spicy and exquisitely flavorful, this is an Irish whisky that captures a playful aspect of the emerald isle. Wood, grain, water and time all play a part in this expression. As the falvor journey goes forward, different notes come to light. A bit of baking spice, softly tannic oak, chewy barley, baked pear, apple tart, blackberry and even cream. This is a great spirit to pair with a rich dessert or a creamy forward cheese. We continue to be impressed with the Waterford releases. The capture the independent spirit of Ireland.
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Upon our first sip, we immediately thought of cocoa and milk chocolate. This characteristic remains throughout the journey, while the malt itself acts as a canvas upon which the Mizunara paints a delicate and evocative picture. This is one of the most unique Irish whiskies we've ever enjoyed, and of the several Glendalough releases, our favorite. If you are able to find a few bottles, snap them up immediately. They may never come this way again.
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As with each of the barrel proof releases, the variations are slight, but noticable. With this one there is a definite leaning toward maple syrup and nut breads. Of the two releases so far this year, we like this one best. It has a roundness, lovely body and a subtly rumbling heat that wakes up the tastebuds. Another excellent release fromt he folks at Larceny.
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A dark character, that is full of self assurance and vigor. We really enjoyed the effect that the ex-whiskey cask aging had on this spirit. Lending a sweetness, and familiar chewiness, this tequila has a lot going on. First a lot of wood, creating a tight and dry entry, then switching to a patina of sweet, yet oaky intensity. There are some notes of butterscotch, caramel and vanilla, but mostly a plethora of wood stave, lending a spicy and toasty sensation on the palate. Definitely designed for sipping, we recommend serving over single large rock of ice.
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Jose Cuervo Tradicional Cristalino
Tequila Reposado — Tequila Valley, Jalisco, Mexico
Tasted May 4, 2022Very smooth and elegant entry with a vanilla forward overtone. The agave flavor is clean, fresh and warm. What is most intriguing about this spirit is the blend of differing woods and agings. There is a fair amount of dry tannin in the overall character, but it is well balanced by the agave, almost giving it a sweet corn similarity. We definitely recommend this as a sipper, but it will also work as a stellar highlight in an anejo cocktail. A welcome addition to the Cuervo portfolio!
Results 1-10 of 81 Tastes