Tastes

Eucalyptus, mint, sasaparilla and rye on the nose, almost creamy on the palate with some honey and sweet rye, the finish is short with a little pepper.

This is a local, San Diego County, product I found a few months ago at Costco. There was not much info available about this whiskey, but I'm always happy to support and try out local products, so I figured I'd buy a bottle. From the info I did find, it is an extremely small batch, single barrel product and there seems to be a great variation on the end results. On to the tasting: Initially model glue, then latex paint, and finally, faint berries on the nose. The palate has a rubbery, semi-sweet corn syrup taste. The finish is medium length and a bit spicy. Not the worst whiskey I've ever tasted, but not very good.

This is the second edition. From the label: "An extraordinary range of mature casks, including Glenfarclas, Ben Nevis, Balvenie, Kininvie, Glenfiddich, Alt-a’Bhainne, Auchroisk, Glenallachie, Westport, Speyside and (of course) Macallan distilleries, were blended and married in first-fill Oloroso sherry butts..." Nose: Berry crumble, honey, a hint of orange liquor, amaretto and peat smoke. Palate: slightly viscous and oily, hazel nuts, sherry notes and vanilla. Finish: Medium to long and warming with a very pleasant sherry/amaretto note. Every time I try this, I like it a little better. Would probably never have bought this at suggested retail, but a certain on-line retailer in Orange County had this on sale for near half of that, which makes it a steal, especially for a blend which contains however small amount of 30 year old Macallan.

I just never gave up hope... Initially, too much ethanol on the nose. Couldn't enjoy it at all. And there was too much heat on the palate. Adding water or ice just did not make it better. Fast forward 5 months, and this whiskey is finally starting to come into its own. The nose is now more pleasant, with cinnamon, powdered chocolate, rye and baking spices. The palate is still too hot for me neat. Some ice tames it and allows the sweet corn to peek through with some orange and cherry notes. The finish is still a little rough. It's hot and long, with some residual rye and corn notes. I hope it continues to mellow and improve over the next few months. Update: Another 6 months down the road and this has mellowed even more. The nose and palate have added a caramel note. I still like it better with ice. The finish is still a bit too peppery for me. Bottle kill 1/19/24 This bottle was difficult to love. As always, I needed ice to tame its wild raging.

Nose: Cinnamon, baking spices, some orange and cherry notes, plus a hint of stone fruits, caramel and vanilla. Palate: Rounded with vanilla, toffe, baking spices and a hint of sweet corn. It's hot though, and requires a dollop of water or some ice to tame it. Finish: Medium length, dry and spicy. Nosing the empty glass is a most rewarding part of this whiskey. It smells amazing, on par with Elmer T Lee.

Honey, malt and apples on the nose, same on the creamy palate, the finish is medium length with a hint of malt and peat smoke.

Found this today and couldn't wait to try it. And wow!, I'm glad I did. Nose: Peat smoke, granny smith apples and vanilla custard. Palate: Supple, almost silky, restrained vanilla and malt. Finish: Long and drying with oodles of smokey peat.

Young, hot and peppery with oak, vanilla and baking spices.

Now that's a good bourbon! Oranges, cherries, vanilla and cinnamon all combine to make this super appealing, nose through the finish.

Cask strength, bottled at 54.3% Initially nothing but a faint sweetness on the nose and burning on the palate and finish. This needs a healthy dose of water to cut down the burn and to open up. After adding the water, the nose is very delicate with dried flowers, a hint of cotton candy and a waft of citrus. The palate is viscous and coating, with light citrus notes and cereal grains. The finish is warming and long with sweet grain notes and light spices. Despite the subtly of this whiskey, it's got a little sumpin sumpin that leaves me craving more.