Tastes

116.8 edition. Nose is surprisingly subdued for the proof, does not smell hot at all. Baking spices lead the way with a powerful hit of rye, there’s caramel, vanilla, wet tobacco and savory notes also. Palate entry is pleasant, with a little spicy bite, vanilla, caramel and baking spices. Finish is lengthy with heat and spice, sweet and savory notes also.

Bold, rich, semisweet, herbal and spicy, quintessential Wild Turkey. So good!

Nose smells of pumpkin pie, heavy on the cinnamon, turning to all spice, a little play dough too. Palate entry is easy, a little viscous, a bit hot, it quickly turns to heavy cinnamon, there are some other baking spices as well, some uncooked pie dough and pumpkin seeds. Finish is long and spicy. The Amburana seems a little overdone here.

Bottle has about third left, after several pours and sharing it with friends. It’s been open less than six months. Nose: Lemon, shellfish, vanilla, peat and driftwood. Palate: Creamy, spicy and hot with a bit of orchard fruit, baking spices, camp fire smoke and vanilla. Finish: Long and spicy. I really wanted to like this more than I do. Ice made this better for me, taking away some of the heat on the palate, but not finish. Neat I give it 3.50, with a big ice cube 3.75

According to a quick Google search, this is the best selling whiskey in Scotland. Is there wisdom in the crowd? Let’s see. Of the Grouse offerings, I’ve only had this, and the naked malt. But they both have this crazy, intense, malty, vanilla, caramel, baking spices and Manuka honey on the nose, which I find super appealing. Easy entry on the palate. It’s somewhat viscous with more honey and vanilla and a hint of smoke, barley and berries . Finish is somewhat short with some spices arriving late. Keeping in mind that this is an inexpensive blend, I say the crowd is wise. Nothing wrong with this. In fact, I find many things right with this whiskey. And combined with Disaronno, this makes a fantastic Godfather mixed drink. 

Neck pours. Semisweet and fruity with leather and a little baking spice. Very nice!

Its just ok. A mixer.

Its just ok. A mixer.

Overrated, just like Peyton Manning. I joke, but anything else in the same retail price range would dominate this like the Legion of Boom dominated Peyton and the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII!. Nose is pretty nice, a hint of smoke?, tangy with a sweet Dickelness, lime stone, caramel, soda bread, dill pickle, baking spices and marzipan. Actually, I find the nose quite compelling. Palate is soft and inviting with a general sweet fruitiness, some minerals and baking spices. Finish is fairly long and spicy with minerals, flinty stone and a hint of baking spices. You can’t escape the Dickel DNA in this, but it is actually pretty nice and it doesn’t upset my stomach like most Dickel products.