Tastes
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Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey (80 proof)
Rye — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed July 7, 2020 (edited March 7, 2021)*This is a review of the 86 proof Old Overholt that is replacing the standard 80 proof version.* Licorice! I prefer spicy rye whiskeys like Rittenhouse. They hold up well in cocktails. This weekend, I was attending a party with some friends. They asked if I could bring ingredients to make Manhattans. So I bought Old Overholt as a budget rye to share. I was pretty disappointed with the end result. I should’ve spent a few more dollars and bought Bulleit rye instead. -
Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt
Blended Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed July 7, 2020 (edited July 10, 2020)Simple notes of citrus, honey, and a malty funk. But what’s there is very enjoyable. Solid entry point for whiskey newbies. -
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed July 7, 2020 (edited August 10, 2020)Tastes like Woodford but with everything amped up and fuller. Extra wood, extra spice, citrus, and more vanilla and chocolate on the finish. Almost like dark chocolate. I shared this with some friends on a road trip. Everyone complimented the chocolate cake like finish. Thumbs up! This made a solid rotation in my bourbon shelf. -
Solid pour for the price! Background: I often buy a budget bourbon and leave it at my girlfriend’s house. That way, if I’m feeling a dram, I have something nearby. My girlfriend, also, likes whiskey and will make a hot toddy for a nightcap. So I look for versatile, tasty bourbons that won’t break the bank... Here’s the short version: Hot hot hot!Just expect OGD114 to give you a nice big, spicy ethanol hug. Once acclimated, I get honeyed sweetness, citrus, vanilla, caramel, and spice on the nose. On the taste, it’s hot and spicy! Cinnamon, cloves, hay, and mint. The rye is very apparent in this whiskey. There’s a underlying hint of citrus there too. At the end, I get that bit of nuttiness that’s common in Beam products. Overall: This is a solid budget pick. My bourbon preferences tend to lean towards high rye bourbons. I like that spice! It’s a decent pour and will hold it’s own as a mixer. Will it unseat my current budget bourbon: Wild Turkey 101? No...but it’s a good and wallet friendly! This is a 3.5 for me but gets extra points for the price.20.0 USD per Bottle
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John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum
Other Liqueurs — Barbados
Reviewed June 17, 2020 (edited September 18, 2021)I'm experimenting with more tiki style drinks and thought this would boost my cocktail game. Its sweet but not overbearingly sweet. There's some citrus in there along with some spiciness on the finish. These two flavors help balance the sweetness of this liqueur. So far I've tried it with rum in a simple Corn 'n Oil cocktail, a variation of the same cocktail with some lime juice, and with some rye whiskey. I liked the simple Corn 'n Oil recipe of 1/2 oz Falernum, 2 oz of dark rum. I used Doorly's 12. I enjoyed the bit of citrus and spice the Falernum added to this drink. Afterwards, I tried the same drink with some Angostura bitters. Usually I add two dashes of bitters when making cocktails, but I think this drink is better with just one dash. Two dashes of bitters overpowered the rum and Falernum. Later, I tried it with some lime juice. This is when the cocktails really started to shine! The fresh lime juice accents the lime flavors in the Falernum and its delicious! Lastly, I created a Manhattan variance subbing Falernum for sweet vermouth. It was good, but once again, this drink really started to shine with a 1/2 oz of lime juice. Overall, I look forward to experimenting with this in other cocktails. So far, I really enjoy this with lime juice as a second mixer.15.0 USD per Bottle -
Highland Park Magnus
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed June 17, 2020 (edited January 16, 2021)Got a sample bottle last week! Time to delve into more Scotch! This one is a bit thin. The nose has some light peat and lemon. I pick up mostly citrus. The taste has a bit of peat, smoke, and maltiness along with some floral notes. Overall, I thought it was ok. Nothing offensive in it, but nothing outstanding either. Honestly, I liked it best when mixed with some Gozio amaretto liqueur in a Godfather cocktail. -
Decent whiskey. Hits all the notes... I finally had a pour of this at a local bar. It surprised several of my friends that I had never tried this before. On the nose, I get cherries, some chocolate, and a tinge of citrus. The taste is rich and balanced with allspice, vanilla, and and oak. This is a satisfying poor with a nice balance of flavors. I enjoyed the mouthfeel although the finish is quite short. As I try more whiskeys, I find myself enjoying more high-rye bourbons than wheaters. Not sure if this would unseat Wild Turkey 101 as my everyday dram, but this is a solid go-to bourbon.
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I drank this side-by-side with the Crown Royal Deluxe as a comparison. The Black is like the Deluxe, but with the flavors slightly amped up. Vanilla, maple, some citrus. The wood aftertaste is tempered a bit compared to the Deluxe. Instead, this whiskey has a bit more char/smokiness with some spice. I like it a bit better than Deluxe.
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Thought I'd revisit the whiskey mixers of my college years... Crown and coke was a goto for me at parties. Now that I'm more experienced and my palate is a bit more nuanced, I thought I'd get a sample of CR Deluxe and see if I'm still fond of this whiskey Overall, its smooth with vanilla, mild syrup, and some oak. A bit of citrus on the nose. The taste is a bit weak with a woody finish that tastes a bit odd. Its so smooth to the point that flavor notes feel watered down. I'd relegate this to a mixer only. Not one I'd drink neat, but Crown and Coke still ain't half bad.
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Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
Coffee Liqueurs — Australia
Reviewed May 11, 2020 (edited March 8, 2021)Good stuff! Its not too sweet but sweet enough for my drinks. Personally, I prefer less sugar in my cocktails than most recipes call for, and I add more to taste. Mr. Black has the dark, roasted chocolatey flavors of a 12-hour cold brew, my favorite brew method. You can taste the vodka too, but it blends well with the coffee flavors. Despite the 25% ABV, I can still feel the caffeine in this. Its becoming one of my favorite ingredients. So far, I've tried it on the rocks, White Russian, Black Russian, and a Revolver. The revolver is my preferred way to drink this, especially with a rye or high-rye bourbon. Its also great in milk and in milkshakes too. Honestly, I can't get enough of this stuff.28.99 USD per Bottle
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