Tastes
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Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed May 19, 2021 (edited July 19, 2021)Tasting a single barrel Pick from Total Wine: warehouse B, floor 4. I thought this was just ok from the neck pour. Mostly cherry, oak with an strong ethanol burn. After a couple weeks, this has opened up nicely. The cherry is tamed in the nose and you got more rye spice, orange marmalade, ripe berries, and honey. The taste is cherry pie, cinnamon, vanilla, with a long toasty oak finish. Dang this is good stuff. The high proof is deceptive as this drinks easy. You do get a warm ethanol hug from this. -
Old Tub Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed May 16, 2021 (edited May 19, 2021)Solid for $20. Typical bourbon notes of vanilla, orange, and oak. This one tasted better as it opened up in my glass. You get a bit of that Beam nuttiness along with some orange zest on the palate. It tasted best when the bottle was half full -
J. Henry & Sons 5 Year Small Batch Wisconsin Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Wisconsin , USA
Reviewed May 16, 2021 (edited October 2, 2021)Light vanilla, hint of sweet berries, corn. There’s some oak and mint at the end. This was a gift and it’s enjoyable. It does taste young compared to a Kentucky whiskey of the same age. Nothing bad in here, but nothing stands out either -
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed March 1, 2021 (edited May 10, 2021)It’s been a while since I tasted this, so no detailed notes today. I did really enjoy this! The most interesting thing about this was the stark balance in smoke and sweet. The smokiness hits first on the palate and quickly fades to a vanilla, apricot sweetness. Even though there’s no peat in this, I still get some peaty earthiness like sea spray on the palate. This or Bunnahabhain 12 would be a good introduction to someone who hasn’t tried Islay/peaty whiskey. -
Good but expensive for what it is. Got a pour at my favorite Japanese bar in Colorado Springs: Chiba bar. The nose was my favorite: pears, figs, apples, honey, blackberry jam, and full of floral notes. I would spend a few minutes nosing this whiskey between sips. It’s very complex and aromatic. The taste was less so. Some malt, citrus zest, baking spices, and a bit of smoke on the finish. It’s easy drinking and tasty, but far less nuanced than the nose. I enjoyed it, but I’m glad I passed on purchasing a bottle when I spotted one at my local store. It loses point for low VFM. I would choose a scotch at half the price over this. My top Japanese whiskey is still Nikka from the barrel. Get one if you see a bottle!
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Herman Marshall Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No.16
American Single Malt — USA
Reviewed February 4, 2021This one surprised me. One of my favorites from this brand. Got it on sale for $30 at Spec’s. Well worth the price. Nose: sweet, fruity, brown sugar Taste: Vanilla, barrel char, malt Finish: Medium length, floral (hoppy) I don’t have a lot of exposure to beer-based whiskey. I do like certain beer-cask finished whiskeys (James Caskmates Stout). The only other beer-based whiskey I’ve tried was Balcones Texas Bock which I liked. That was made from the same mashbill of Shiner Bock beer, but without the hops. Rumor has it, Herman Marshall’s Divine whiskey was distilled from the Saint Arnold Divine beer. I do notice the hops, but mostly on the finish. It has a floral characteristic and its very faint. It’s borderline to being “soapy” but not enough to be off putting. It doesn’t drink like it’s proof, so I gotta pace myself with this. I’m enjoying this a lot more than I thought. -
Ron Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum
Aged Rum — Venezuela
Reviewed January 26, 2021 (edited April 20, 2022)This rum is a Keto-killer Its sweeeeeet. Sugary, syrupy sweet. Loads of molasses, caramel, apples, and bananas on the nose. The taste has spice, coca nibs, and vanilla. It’s dessert in a glass. I like it, but I’m really sensitive to sugar too. It’s more liqueur than rum to be honest. Background: Back when I was eating healthy, I switched from beer to spirits to avoid carbs. Most spirits (whiskey, tequila, vodka) won’t break your ketogenic diet (low carb, low sugar, high fat diet) due to their low carb profile. When I was researching rums, I was surprised how many rums have added sugar. Rum is less regulated than other spirits, so producers won’t have to disclose whether or not sugar and/or food coloring has been added. That’s the reason I held off from trying Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva despite ranking as one of the most popular rums. If you want a sugar-free rum, stick with rums from Barbados (Doorly’s, Mount Gay) and Jamaica (Appleton). Doorly’s 12 is my personal favorite sipper. -
This one caught me by surprise. I enjoy rum and even like whiskey finished in rum casks. This one has wonderful molasses notes on the nose and taste along with lots of fruits like banana, pear, and peaches. There’s a good amount of vanilla and wood notes from the barrel too. I really really like this
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