Tastes

I had high hopes for this one and was not disappointed. The nose is wonderfully strong, with orange cream, fruit and spice most prominent. The palate is similar, with nice oak (unusually nice, perhaps the American/French mix?). The finish is fairly long, with a very mild cocao note. I tried this with a 1 ounce sample. There's a lot of interesting stuff going on here, and I will buy a bottle. I expect to find more as I work my way through.

This is a delicate whiskey on the nose, and on the palate too. It's also an easy drinking whiskey, but there are a number of interesting things going on. Specifically, great apple and pear, nice vanilla, and a subtle rum flavor layered throughout. Lovely!

To my nose, this is a pretty classic American whiskey. That continues on the palate, although the wine cask show up a bit on the mid palate, and then again very late on the finish. The wine cask doesn't dominate, and I'm caught between appreciating that and wishing it was just a bit stronger. Regardless, very, very nice overall.

it's Talisker, but with Menthol and heat. A bit of water moderated the heat, but didn't tame the menthol. I love Talisker, but to me, this one has fewer of the Talisker notes I love.

This is definitely Talisker - light smoke, some brine and a touch of sweetness. There definitely is a strong black pepper note, which makes the smoke taste a bit more like char. Interesting. For Talisker fans, it's a worthy addition to the collection. But to those new to Talisker, start with the 10.

Interesting! A nice nose, with vanilla and oak. The palate brings some vanilla and caramel. There's a fair amount of heat, but it's more of a persistent heat than a flameout. It tastes like a young whiskey - not full or oily. But it doesn't have some of the harshness I find with some young drams. Perhaps the solera process mellows it a bit. I don't think I'd buy a bottle, and if you prefer a more full taste and texture, it may not be for you. But I'll keep an eye on Hillrock - there's some good stuff going on here that might benefit significantly with a few more years in the barrel.

This is an interesting dram. It tastes like a grain whiskey in some ways. The alcohol is strong. The flavors - vanilla, floral, a touch of spice - come fast and all at once and fade as the alcohol kicks in. I haven't tried the non-cask version, but I'd like to. I have a feeling this is one instance in which the lower ABV will allow the flavors to blossom. The smoke is lovely, however.

This is a very nice whiskey, particularly considering the price. To me, this is Lagavulin 16's little brother - younger, not quite as developed, and less peaty, but the same type of full, smooth, bold profile.

Very nice dram, smooth and balanced. Raisin is the most intense note for me, followed by chocolate. Would I turn it down if offered it? Never. Would I buy it, given the price point? No. I have no specific negatives, but it lacks the wow factor I need to shell out this kind of coin.

This is fantastic, and really unique due to the barrell finish. I concur with the expert notes, but would take it one step further. I love finishes that taste like a truly integrated part of the whiskey, as opposed to throwing a sheen over the top of it. I have yet to taste a bourbon that accomplishes that better than this one. The orange notes are quite beautiful and prevalent on both the nose and palate, but delicately enhance the beautiful base boubon. This is hard to find for sale; I was very lucky to be offered a taste by the owner of Fluke Newport in Newport RI. If you're in the area, head up to the bar on the third floor - they have an awesome selection of rare American whiskeys of all types!