Tastes

Nose: dark dried fruit (prunes), barrel char/smoke, walnuts Palate: dark honey, caramel, vanilla, black pepper, baking spices Finish: fresh red berries, brown sugar, vanilla, black pepper, cherry on the tail end Another great bourbon from EH Taylor.

Nose: cigar wrapper, dark honey, hint of mossy peat, something floral Palate: caramel, mild walnut, hint of peat again, vanilla, something like a hint of orange blossom Finish: mild menthol, caramel and vanilla, and a puff peat smoke Smooth as glass and yes, over priced. However, you cannot discount the quality of the blend. It’s excellent. Although it needs to be a higher proof, and it’s flavors are very delicate, it’s still delicious. It is what it is: a good “gift Scotch” that will be appreciated by anybody who receives it. Are there better bangs for the buck Scotches out there? Yeah. Literally dozens and dozens. Does that mean this isn’t good? No. It’s quite good indeed.

Nose: vanilla sweetness, maple candy, vague fruitiness Palate: vanilla, hint of what seems like sherry sweetness, rock candy Finish: vanilla, caramel, white pepper, small puff of peat smoke It’s it engineered to be smooth? Yes. Does it have E150 and chill filtration? Yes. Is it overpriced? Yes. Does it need to be higher than 80 proof? Yes. But, is it good? Well, yes. It’s an inoffensive prestige blend in a pretty bottle that makes a good gift to your father in-law. It’s not meant to be a daily drinker or a serious blend for the hard core Scotch aficionado. But it’s a luxurious blend that will appeal to a multitude of palates.

Nose: prunes and other dried dark fruits, cherry cough syrup, brown sugar Palate: caramel, vanilla, some candied pralines, white pepper Finish: cherry cola, barrel char, brown sugar, and maybe a hint of celery This stuff is viscous and mouth coating and very smooth given the proof. Fairly complex. Really a benchmark bourbon. Delicious.

Nose: dark honey, dark sweets, a little iodine, brown sugar Palate: dried fruits, candied walnuts, apple pie filling, fresh strawberries, caramel, orange rind Finish: cinnamon red hots, fresh red fruit, hint of mossy peat, vanilla, more citrus rind Given this is almost 60% alcohol, it’s surprisingly smooth with little ethanol burn or boozy odor. It’s really delicious and if you like Aberlour Abunadh, you’ll dig this. I bought two bottles...it’s that good.

Nose: fresh fruit, dark brown sugar, some ethanol Palate: cinnamon bomb, cinnamon roll frosting, maybe some apple, a little sharp Finish: vanilla, imitation maraschino cherry syrup, cherry cough syrup, hint of malt Tastes like a young Scotch matured in a new bourbon cask...which it basically is. Not bad. Like others have said I’d be curious to taste a extra aged version.

Nose: initially very boozy due to the high proof. A bit of nail polish remover blasts you in the nose. However, once is settles down you get milk chocolate, dark sweets, something vegetal like celery, and a hint of char/woodsmoke. A trace of maple floating around as well. Palate: strong. Boozy. Sharp. Again, after mellowing in the glass for a few you get maple sweetness, barrel char, mixed nuts, vanilla, and I don’t know why but a hint of what I can only describe as strawberry essence? Weird, I know. Finish: cherry cola. A little smoke. And that strawberry again. Some nuttiness. This is my favorite rye. High proofed, complex, sweet without being cloying. I don’t know why it isn’t more hyped than so many others out there, but that’s ok. More for me. It also makes a KILLER Manhattan.

Nose: iodine, maple, vanilla Palate: brown sugar, vanilla, iodine Finish: vanilla, lemon, honey A scotch for a bourbon drinker.

Nose: maple, light smoke, acetone, mixed nuts Palate: barrel char, caramel, mixed nuts, some yeasty funk Finish: char, black pepper, mixed nuts, cheap perfume Meh. Not my thing. Mixer only. However, the nose is the best part. The maple/smoke combo is not too shabby.