Tastes
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Quite evocative on the nose, with a spice driven profile that instantly shouts “rye”. The first sip features sharp rye characteristics. Bready, grainy, peppery, chewy and held together by the vanilla/caramel cohesion of the barrel. But, there is also a fruity sweetness here. Like baked apples with brown sugar. As the flavor progresses, notes of cocoa, and lightly roasted coffee bean come into play, leaving the palate with a dry finish. As an aside, we love the design of this bottle and the beautiful cork. Really a thoughtful and artistic ensemble. Hard Truth has a real winner here for rye lovers. Time for a Sazerac cocktail!
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Old Fitzgerald 17 Year Bottled in Bond (Spring 2022)
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed April 2, 2022 (edited April 15, 2022)These OFBIB releases keep getting better and better. The latest one features an olfactory palette of heavy spice, sweet notes of caramel, fresh cocoa and young tobacco. These all carry through to the palate where they become even more pronounced. Drinkable at full strength, the body is medium-light, with a round and warming middle tonality. The finish is extraordinarily long, with oak-laden tannins continuing to percolate on the tongue. With a splash of water, things open up into a softer and more mellow mood, but do not lose any of their personality. This particular release is excellent and shows what an extra year in the barrel can do to transform a great whiskey into an exceptional one. -
A lighter, Canadian-styled rye, that still has plenty of spice. At first, the flavor seem subdued, but after several seconds, the body opens up and the zippy rye does a tarantela on the tongue. This is followed by notes of cinnamon candy (red hots), and a subtle smoky sweetness. For a pure rye, you can’t go wrong with the price point here. A friendly and easy on the pocketbook whiskey. We like this in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
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Barrell Bourbon Batch 032
Bourbon — (bottled in) Kentucky, USA
Reviewed April 1, 2022 (edited November 1, 2022)Another sure fire winner from the folks at Barrell. This expression has a definite chewiness with a round and tobacco leaf like character. Slightly fruity with elements of stewed prune, apricot and baked pear. All of this is tied together with a pecan pie flavor profile. Even at full proof, this is one smooth bourbon. add a gentle splash of branch water and it opens up into a very easy going and elegant spirit. At once sweet, it also has the self assuredness of an seasoned statesman. We look forward to Batch 33! -
Quite evocative on the nose, with a spice driven profile that instantly shouts “rye”. The first sip features sharp rye characteristics. Bready, grainy, peppery, chewy and held together by the vanilla/caramel cohesion of the barrel. But, there is also a fruity sweetness here. Like baked apples with brown sugar. As the flavor progresses, notes of cocoa, and lightly roasted coffee bean come into play, leaving the palate with a dry finish. As an aside, we love the design of this bottle and the beautiful cork. Really a thoughtful and artistic ensemble. Hard Truth has a real winner here for rye lovers. Time for a Sazerac cocktail!
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Sparky and perky nose of rye spice. A quite complex melange of dark bread and dried cooking herbs. Very engaging and inquisitive. A very friendly welcome. The first notes of flavor are as expected. Spice driven, but also with plenty of chewy caramel and chocolate. The rye plays well with its neighbors, making a perfect marriage of the best of a bakery and a barrelhouse. For a rye, this one sings. Really worth the upgrade from the flagship expression, and exceptionally well blended. It would be interesting to find out more about the ratios of the various ages involved in this blend.
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Heady char and cask on the nose, creating a woody, dark, expression of barrelhouse. Upon the first taste we find burnt sugar, molasses and toasted nuts along with spicy elements of mexican chocolate. Very dry and woody on the back of the palate. This is the flagship Stellum ramped up to 11. Oak, tannin and wood are the key indicators here. Things become more balanced and amenable when brought down to a comfortable proof with some water or ice.
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Visual: Clear. Nose: Super intense powerhouse of juniper intertwined with lemon/lime citrus. An extremely heady mix of botanicals. Taste: Smooth and balanced gin character with a lovely softening tea character that ties everything together. Not one of the infusions stands out (other than the juniper itself), but is presented as a cohesive whole. Finish: Medium long with the juniper fading somewhat and the citrus presenting an ultra clean finish. Overall: An excellent gin that adheres to a traditional flavor profile, yet adds enough of a twist to make it unique. This gin works with everything from martinis to a red basil smash. Seek this one out!
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This is an amazing rum. Having tried many pepper infused spirits over the years, we thought we knew what to expect from this one. But, instead of the heat overhwhelming the rum, it compliments it, adding a warmth with no harsh burn. The initial taste is sweet and round, what you’d expect from an aged rum. But, after a few seconds, the fire kicks in, lending a hot experience that is on a level with fresh ginger. The warmth lasts for several minutes, but never overwhelms. This is a perfect rum for experimentation in cocktails. Everything from ginger ale highballs to tiki drinks. Try adding some to your next Pina Colada. Burning Mast is killer with pineapple and coconut. Kudos to Kirk & Sweeney for a stellar product!
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Widow Jane The Vaults 15 Year Bourbon (2021 Release)
Bourbon — USA
Reviewed March 27, 2022 (edited June 30, 2022)Delectable, delightful and delicious. A perfect marriage of distillation and aging showcased in a high-proof and venerable spirit. The nose alone will tantalize your senses with heavenly notes of caramel, cocoa, vanilla, and sweet roll. The flavor is compact and intense with even more sweetness. Caramel corn, pecan pie, fresh pipe tobacco and baking spices all come into play in an ever shifting landscape of flavor. The finish is long and has elements of pfeffernusse, molasses and mellow smokiness. This whiskey is a real treat and shows just how masterful the distiller’s skills truly are. We could enjoy a pour of this every night.
Results 261-270 of 305 Reviews