Tastes

Not actually as in love with this bourbon as some people seem to be. Its really nice on the nose, sweet and vibrant with a lot of vanilla and cream. But on the palate, its got an almost artificial-tasting sweetness, and lacks complexity for a port-finish. There’s nothing bad about it, but there’s also nothinv all that exciting or outstanding about it. It’s worth noting though, that it’s pretty perfect for using in a Manhattan. But straight up, I’d call it pretty average.

The nose on this whiskey is soft and elegant. You get hints of the wood and the sweet honey notes, and also something resembling marshmallow. On the palate, a whole bunch of layers come out. But theyre not rushing out, rather they unfold slowly. There’s nutty notes like almond or pecan, and there’s gentle vanilla. Then there’s some dried fruit and some apple, and also almost a bit of spice towards the end. Altogether, this has to be one of the richest Balvenie’s I’ve had, and that’s coming from a distillery known for it’s depth and richness. I can’t explain this, but this feels especially sophisticated and, not to overuse the term but, elegant. I can only attribute that to it’s complexity. Top notch whiskey.

Strooong vanilla sweetness on the nose. It really doesn’t give any indication of the rich assortment of flavors you encounter on the palate. The taste is buttery, bread-y and even a touch spicy at the front. It then gives way to a delicate and creamy sweetness that’s characterized mainly by cinnamon and vanilla. The finish is almost indescribably smooth. There is absolutely no burn whatsoever, but there is still flavor. I don’t know if this is the best Jameson out there, but it’s certainly gotta be in the conversation.

There’s a saturated sweetness on the nose. Strong honey and a little wood spice. Also jumping out of both the nose and the palette is clove. I would say it’s more prominent here than any other whiskey I could think of. It even persists on the finish, along with vanilla and a waxy characteristic. As far as Canadian whiskies go, it’s not a game-changer but it does stand out for its balance. If i’m going to introduce someone to Canadian whiskey for the first time, this would definitely be in the flight.

So classic! Lots of sweet vanilla, cherry and wood spice on both the nose and palate. It finishes almost creamy, but leaves behind those barrel spice notes. It’s easy, when you have this bourbon often, to forget how much it stands out compared to other mass production bourbons. It’s great for any purpose, but especially neat or in cocktails. Definitely a go-to if you want assured quality.

Many of the same notes as the classic Maker’s (vanilla, cherry, gentle oak). But it’s a bit more buttery and definitely has more bite as well. There’s also, a bit more spice on the nose that’s very rich. I think I’d almost prefer it to the classic for neat sipping.

Fruits and baking spices are all over this nose. There’s also a rich minty quality that sharpens it. The fruits and spices continue on the palate, where they’re met with sweet vanilla and some grainy notes. The fruity quality shines even more if you compare it to other budget bourbons. It’s hard to put a finger on which baking spices take shape here. Expert review says nutmeg but I could just as easily identify ground allspice. Whatever it is, it brings a bold sweetness to the mid-palate before the long, bittersweet finish. Very nice flavor for the relatively low proof and the price. At $19-24, this should be in the home-bar rotation for anyone who likes making cocktails or sipping sweet bourbons.

For 50.5% abv, this bourbon has a surprisingly delicate nose. It definitely smells like a bourbon, but it’s not loud. On the palate however, there’s MUCH more of a punch. On the first few sips you feel the proof, and as you start to adjust all of the friendly sweet notes start to shine more and more. It’s honey, vanilla and even a light bit of sweet citrus. Then comes the long spicy finish. This originally was a go-to shooter/mixer for me back in the day, but I’ve started to keep it on hand for late-night neat sipping more. I especially like this with a cigar.

Nose is very sweet and oat-y. In fact it reminds me quite a lot of the original Cheerios cereal, nothing added. Same can be said for the palate but with a little more spice to it. The finish is crisp and dry, and not long at all. The simple finish won’t blow anyone away, but for $20, this is a damn fine blend and a solid whiskey to keep on hand at the bar.

Delicate nose at first, with lots of light fruity notes, and some lemon citrus as well. Then you find a bit of vanilla and wood char, which I would imagine could be attributed to the American Oak barrels. The expert review mentioned ginger and I have to say I’m super impressed because it took me a long while to hunt for that note but it is there for sure, if you look deep. Ironically as soon as I found the ginger note I lost that charred note and was left with those sweet fruity notes again. This whiskey has a lot going on for a lowland, but it’s never aggressive. For the price, I’d highly recommend it.