Tastes

Not sure which batch or proof this was at Radiator. Was off the shelf, not on the menu, at $28/Pour. Nose was spice and vanilla heavy. Palate was full and spice forward but rounded and deep in flavor. Finish was long. Had to be Willett stock. Flavor was extremely similar to my 4 year at home, just a bit deeper/richer.

Pour at Radiator in Seattle ($25/1.5oz). Nose was thin and dominated by sweetness and ethanol. Some oak notes on the nose came in. The palate was thinner than I’d expect, in body and in flavor. Fruit, oak, vanilla. Very short finish. Just felt hollow and is overpriced at retail, let alone secondary.

Sherried notes come through on the nose in addition to some sweet elements. Fruity palate with more sherry and a medium/light body. Moderate finish - shorter than I’d expect. A nice drink but massively overpriced.

Vanilla and spice on the nose. Palate is medium with heavy vanilla and moderate spice. Medium finish. Tastes a bit young and thin but was fun to try!

Peat smoke on the nose with some honeyed notes in the background. Palate isn’t as peaty as I was expecting but smoke still dominates. Some sweetness on the medium mouthfeel tries to balance the peat. If you like lighter smoked scotch, this might be for you. Fairy balanced, medium + finish. Nice but overpriced.

Nose is peat smoke and iodine all day. You smell the smoke as soon as it’s poured. Palate is thick and peaty. If you are someone who says maximum peat is best you’ll give this a 5. It’s aged Ardbeg essentially but I found this too one dimensional. Long finish.

$13/oz at Hawthorne in Boston. Nose of honey and green apple. Bright and sweet smelling. Palate delivers essentially the same: berries and sweet apples clearly come through. Moderately complex. Medium mouthfeel and medium finish. Nice.

Home bar. Sweet, light nose. Extremely light palate. No burn. Hints of bourbon flavor but extremely thin. For the bourbon drinker who doesn’t like a bold or very flavorful style.

Mooncussers Bar, Boston ($15/oz). Classic Bookers nutty, spicy, ethanol nose. Medium+ to Full mouthfeel. Tons of ethanol followed quickly by peanuts and brown sugar. Finish is long and full. One of the better Bookers of the past few years!