Tastes

Like many other Speycide scotches, the nose welcomes you with with warm malted cereal notes, but stay with it and the dominant smell is sherry and plums. Not a bad way to start. Unlike many Speycides however, this one surprises you on the palate by dancing on the tongue. It is sweet up front, with baking spice, fruit and cereal following, but the aforementioned tingling (almost like carbonation) makes it that much more interesting. The finish is long, giving time for the barrel to make an appearance with some of the bitter notes and sherry funk. I got this on sale for ($69 vs $89) and at that price for a 15 year single malt it’s totally worth it. I would even buy at regular price as well.

While I haven’t tried all the varieties of Wild Turkey yet, this expression is definitely more corn forward on the nose then other classic bourbons. Musty corn husk and pecans underneath a bright ethanol layer is what it presents. If you hang on long enough you can just start to pick up a bit of the citrus sweetness. That sweetness shows up on the front of the palate with cherries, but is kept in check by heavier grain notes undoubtedly derived from the 75% corn mash. Back of the palate is soft leather and a little bit of orange. The finish is dry and lingering, with barrel tannins and warmth taking the stage. At 101 proof I would expect this to be hotter but it does a nice job of mellowing itself out just at the right time. Overall a solid pour, and will try it with ice to see if it holds up. A little thinner then I expected and for the price I would say there are better bourbons for 25 dollars less then this.

Before you even lower your nose to the glass you are expecting cinnamon and as expected that is what it delivers. However there is a little more going on here, such as hints of nutmeg and clove and just a little woodiness. The best way to describe it is when you walk into a Christmas section of a store and they just put out those scented pinecones. The initial palate is far sweeter then the nose suggests, and also far smoother with a great mouthfeel. Due to the previous nosing you would be forgiven for not remembering that this is a Canadian whiskey so now it starts to make sense. Upon swallowing though, there is no whiskey to be found.. I believe the mash bill is probably 51% Big Red gum, 35% Cinnamon hearts, and 14% Hot Tamales. The finish is over quick in terms of any flavour (other than cinnamon) but there is a lingering tingle and warmth in the back of the throat which is surprising since its only 33% ABV and Canadian. The above review is from a neat pour in a glencairn, but I also tried it with ice, and it is far superior. The sweet cinnamon is far more enjoyable when its cold and slightly diluted. I'm sure its probably good in some sort of cocktail as well.

This bourbon plays on the nose very similar to Buffalo trace, which makes sense given its lineage. You are greeted with familiar scents of cherry and burnt orange wrapped in a delicate vanilla package. Palate is initially rich and sweet, loaded with caramel and baking spice. In the background there is also chocolate which I don’t normally find in bourbons so it’s a welcome addition. It transitions to finish smoothly, giving far more warmth then you expect and lasting far longer too. When you’re finished with your sip you are left reflecting on how rich and full it was, and while not complex, the rounded edges make it taste far more expensive then it is.

As soon as you uncork this, you are immediately transported to a bonfire on the seaside... only the fire is out and all that’s left is the smoke clinging to your damp clothes. It really is wonderful. The nose starts off with pretty heavy peat, but that’s to be expected. Go back again though, and it presents a beautiful sweetness of ripe pears. Hang on a bit longer and a bit more body comes, giving you a salty cured ham. Initial sip on the palate is sweet, damp wood, like a pine dripping with sap. It rolls into a slight medicinal flavour, but brings that meatiness from the nose. The best way I can describe those flavours together is a piece of meat wrapped in plastic bandaids that’s marinating in a YMCA hot tub. Bet you didn’t think that would be delicious...But it is. The finish is long, bringing loads of brine, some pepper notes and constantly elevating levels of peat smoke...transporting you back to the bonfire you started with. Just a fantastic way to end the flavour ride you were just on. If you actually stuck around to read my review, you will either want try it or be scared of it.. but if you like smoky scotch I promise you will love this. Let me know what you think!

This whiskey is very familiar, but is indeed a darker, slower, and warmer dram as the name implies. The nose is far less bright then deluxe or northern rye, presenting hints of corn, vanilla and oak, much more reminiscent of bourbon then Canadian whiskey. The palate brings some initial sweetness, but it fades quickly to dark toffee and corn notes. In this expression you can tell it wants to be different then it’s siblings.. it wants to play with the American whiskeys. The finish is where the name gets to prove itself.. the charred barrels this was aged in make themselves known here with oak tannins and some of that peppery spice from the palate. Overall this isn’t remarkably complex, nor something you think someone would write a 4 paragraph review about, but if you enjoy Crown, and don’t want an overly sweet version, this is the Crown for you.

The nose on this whisky instantly reminds you of all the great speycide scotches you’ve had before. Fruity and bright on the front, rolling into a warm malty hug before you take your first sip. The palate immediately transports you to grandmas house for breakfast, delivering notes of brown sugar, oatmeal and cinnamon. The finish is short and sweet, but just before it’s gone it gives you a warm, spicy, oak barrel kiss to say goodbye. Super approachable, classic flavours, and like it’s Glenlivet cousin down the street, this is a great whisky to keep on hand or to introduce someone new to scotch.

The nose on this is familiar but interesting enough to have you go back for more. Right at the front you get heavy doses of orange, spice and oak, but stay long enough and you’ll find the vanilla and caramels you expect in a bourbon. I do like that they are quite muted for a change. The taste gives you what the nose already did.. the palate starts off with more citrus, only darker, like burnt orange and sugar. It then turns quite quickly into spice and heat, tingling the tongue. The rich and oily mouthfeel is pleasant, and keeps the finish lasting long.. more heat and ethanol and some bitter notes I can only assume come from the oak. This tastes much higher then a 90 proof, so if you like orange, spice, and moderate heat in a bourbon with solid legs, this is a great option. For the price I wouldn’t say this needs to be a staple on the shelf, but when your family says they don’t know what to get you for your birthday or Christmas because you don’t give them ideas and buy anything you want, tell them to get you this super accessible whiskey.

The nose on a neat pour in a glencairn is soft, warm and welcoming. Unlike a Jameson which is bright and fruity and shouts at you to pay attention, Redbreast 12 doesn’t need to. Apple, dark candied fruit, caramel and oak all wrapped nicely in a malted package is what it presents. Palate starts off sweet and smooth, and then there is Granny Smith apple for days, mixed with butter and warmed baking spices that remind you of your first apple pie. The finish is dry but lingers, which you don’t expect, but sure appreciate it when you’re there. The malted barley that presented at the nose comes back for an encore now, with the sherry cask and wood notes rounding it out. This whiskey begs you to slow down, take your time and enjoy the rich nuanced flavours it has to offer. A really solid representation of what Pot Still Irish can be.

The nose has all the classics you want in your bourbon; toffee, brown sugar, vanilla, and then citrus to lighten it all up. The first sip is sweet initially, and then transitions into a smooth, oily and rich mid palate with more dark sugars and orange. Now on the finish the 100 proof begins to show up and you get that warmth and peppery spice you knew was coming but were worried might ghost you since it waited until now to make an appearance. Classic is the best way to describe this bourbon, the flavours will remind you of others like Buffalo trace or Makers, but the higher proof adds some room for this to be a bit more interesting after each sip. For the price it’s also a great value and should be a staple on the shelf. I bet it could even hold up to an ice cube on a hot day... maybe test that tomorrow.