Tastes

Yep, i just had this unicorn. I believe it is one of the hardest Rye Whiskies to find, and it is the hardest Van Winkle to come across. And you know what? It is delicious. I am not a fan of rye whiskies but this one blew my mind. Hands down this is the best Van Winkle i have had (and i have had the 12yo Lot B, the Pappy 15yo and the 20yo). Bottled at 95.6 proof (47.8 abv), with the most beautiful mahogany color. On the nose it is wonderful. Super sweet. Not a rye hint anywhere. Maraschino cherries, cotton, Maple syrup, Prunes, Liquorice and maybe a slight acetone note. The alcohol/acetone note makes it a good offer, believe it or not, because it is so delightful and sweet, that if you weren't perceiving this alcohol note you wouldn't think this is whiskey. On the palate is incredibly rewarding. I kept it there for 30 seconds and it was superb. Bitter chocolate, Oily. Cherries bathed in chocolate, Herbal notes (romero), Pepper, Liquorice, Maple syrup. Aftertaste is amazing. A ginger spice bomb, but very pleasant. Your whole mouth goes to sleep. Perfect. Overall this deserves a 100 over 100, an incredible whisky, one of my favorites from 2018. Cheers!

I can now say, that i am a true Whisky Critic since i have finally tasted the unicorn of Whiskies, the famous PAPPY VAN WINKLE. This 15yo expression took me quite a while to find, i was on Miami on vacations, (remember i am from Ecuador) and i went first to a place called Casa de Montecristo that allegedly had Pappy but when i went there, they had ran out of it. Then I search a little on the internet and found that they had pappy on a beautiful place called Apothecary 330, in fort lauderdale, i traveled an hour to get there. When i saw the "pappys" i flipped. They were finally reachable... except for the price. The 20yo was $70 the 1oz (3cl). Way too much. So i took the 12yo lot b, and this one the 15yo. ($35 and $50 each) This is my review for the 15yo. Lets set things straight (i might hurt someone's feelings here): this is by far the best bourbon i have ever had. It is BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED, but... it is still a bourbon. That means (for me) that it will always be inferior to some scotches, even if it is the best bourbon ever. Well, lets start. This is an amazing dram. SO COMPLEX. no alcohol note at all. Deep Copper color, 53.5%abv. Most Bourbons have at least 51% corn whiskey, rye and barley. This have wheat instead of rye, making it smoother. Prepare for a lot of notes. Lots of layers. Nose: starts with your typical bourbon notes, banana (but very refined), rust (like an old penny coin), caramel from creme caramel (lovely) (best thick caramel note ever), mashed old bananas (when they become darker) metallic, vanilla. Superb. On the palate is the glory. The "coin metalic rust" can be tasted, sour and salty at the beggining; lemon. Then bombs explode one after another (lots of layers, beautiful sensation, not at the same time): first a pepper bomb, then a vanilla short bomb, then a herbal explosion, everything explodes, it is not a taste, it is explosion of flavor. Oak and brown cake is there too. Marvelous. The aftertaste has every spice there is. Clove, allspice, pepper, ginger. Finish medium, mouth goes to sleep with every sip. What can i say, it is a work of art. Worth every penny... or maybe not. $350 would be the most i would pay for it, it is not possible to get it for that price. Overall, 100 over 100, long live to the king of bourbons, Pappy Van Winkle. Cheers!

It might sound like fantasy, but here in my hometown Guayaquil, Ecuador, there is a man that has a lot of Pappy bottles and some other very, very fancy bourbouns, and he found out i was a whisky enthusiast and a critic, so he invited me to his house along with other friends to a tasting and i got to say, we drank some very, very, very fancy and expensive bourbon yesterday. I got drunk drinking pappy. Lots of it. The 12yo, the 15yo and the 20yo. I believe that my organs are now golden. Well, lets do this. Pappy 20yo is as expensive as it is scarce. It is an unicorn. It is practically unreachable. I have had the 12yo (lot b) which was great and it was the favorite of the host of the tasting; and, i have had the 15yo (and had it again yesterday) and i got to say the 15yo is the best by far, making this 20yo the second best, because of something that some expensive old whiskies have: fancy tasting notes and easy drinkable character, but not the complexity we whisky enthusiasts/critics want. 45.2% abv, chesnut color. Beautiful. (90.4 proof actually). On the nose it has a lot going on: Banana, Cherry, strawberry, Super refined and fancy vanilla, Prunes, lots of Maple syrup, Herbal Fresh forest notes. On the palate is very pleasant and easy drinkable. Maybe too easy drinkable. You just dont feel 45.2%abv is happening here due to its smoothness. Mostly oaky but in the most beautiful way, Herbal notes, a rye sweetness/spicyness, and Prunes. It could be better. Aftertaste is heavenly. Is where it gets all the points Ashy and the most amazing ginger spiciness ever. Eternal aftertaste. Amazing. Very balanced, very well crafted. Overall i give this superb bourbon a 96 over 100, and ill stick to Pappy 15yo. Slainte my friends!

One less dram to taste from the whiskey bucket list, Old Rip Van Winkle is the 10yo expression or "Pappy" even if the name Pappy is not in the label. Still this is one of the best bourbons i have ever had, and i think it is as good as the 20yo, (my favorite is the 15yo). Bottled at 53.5%abv (107 proof), deep copper color. On the nose, perfection. Cherries, Brown sugar, Coffee, Soap, Spices, Cherry Caramel, cherry Marmalade after 5 mins of breathing; cherry brigadeiro. On the palate, it has only 4 notes, very clean notes, that felt fantastic. Cherries, Oranges, oak spice and Prunes. Aftertaste is sublime. Spice oak, Cherry sweetness; Metalic (the copper note that i seem to find in all Van Winkle's); Rye spice Very Dry. Overall, this is a fantastic bourbon, and it is the chepeast of the Van Winkle's (still expensive though). Love the bottle, live the bourbon, love the whole culture surrounding this whiskey. 100 over 100.

I know i have been rating high scores lately, and it is because i bought a lot of samples of good renowned whiskies. This is not that case. I bought this full bottle simply because i loved the NAS version of Old Ballantruan, called "the peated malt". It is much better than the NAS, being almost a perfect 100 over 100. Bottled at 50%abv, with a deep gold color. On the nose not complex but beautiful: PEAT, A LOT OF IT. butter and smoke. Simple but great. On the palate, spices, oranges, smoke, a mild but pleasant burn, clove, corn, very phenolic. Finish is so long, smokey and spicy, that makes your tongue to go to sleep. It never feels like a 50%abv dram, very smooth, very balanced. Amazing really. Overall i give this a 98 over 100. Very very very recommended. Slaintè!

Oh this is Heavily peated. Very pleasant. Instantly made my top 5 whiskies so far. Im a peat head. On the nose, as soon as you open the bottle you get that peaty aroma. After pouring it on the glass you will have to dodge that intense peatiness (which is wonderful) to get some citrus notes as lemon and oranges. There is something floral in there too. On the palate is quite pleasant. Full bodied, eventhough it is bottled at 50%abv you dont need water to taste it, since it is sweet with a very very small hotiness, with intense peat aty the finish which is medium-long. Almonds and nuts are present, oakyness, and peat. I really really really enjoyed it, it is less than 10 years old, but oh boy it is lovely

Amazing. Just amazing. The nose is the worst part of it but as i was told, this one is a fine dram. Beach notes, stress out. Bottled at 43%, deep gold color. On the nose it is a little straight forward, salt, Beach, Tobbacco, Acid grapes,Slight peat and Pear juice. On the palate is balanced and delicious: Oak, Spices, Oranges, Hints of peat, Clove very Salty. Finish is long and rewarding, with ashes. Overall this beauty is a 96 over 100, points deducted on the nose but it is one of the greatest. Absolutely recommended. Slaintè!!!

Excited to review a Whiskey which Bobby Axelrod from the tv series "BILLIONS" always drinks. I believe this is the best american whiskey i have ever tasted (excluding bourbons). Bottled at 43% with a russetmuscat color On the nose is nice, complex. Starts very sweet, with sugar, bananas, powdered sugar, and if you let it breath a little it will become fruity and citric, with orange and lemon peel notes. Finally it mutates to lemon pie. On the palate is FANTASTIC. i even gave it a 27 over 25 to throw some extra points in there. Oranges, apricots, pleasant oakyness, ginger, pepper, some smoke, very thick very chewable. Finish is short but amazing. Like an instant ginger bomb, enjoyable. Overall i give this beauty a score of 97 over 100 and i recommend it.

You know you have tasted one of the best whiskies ever as soon as you watch it on the bottle. This one was the case. This discontinued bottled can only be find online, paying a high price for it, and it deserves every penny. Bottled at 40%abv, with a tawny color. On the nose, its fantastic: cough syrup, brown sugar, toasted caramel, orange candy, lemon, some floral notes and cremè bruleè. On the palate, it is ALSO fantastic. Tobacco, Ashes, Oranges, a pleasant smooth flavor, old wood, almonds and a very long and mouth watering. Elegant, VERY VERY ELEGANT, hence the "elegancia" name. Overall this is a 100 over a 100, absolutely beautiful, powerful, elegant, perfumed, magical. If you can find it, buy it. SLAINTE

You know i am not a great Macallan fan, but this one was an spectacular dram. I had read somewhere that when you try any of the fine oak expressions, you have tried them all since they are similar... what a false fact that was. This has nothing to do with the 10yo. Bottled at 40%abv On the nose is amazing: fresh lemon peel and lemon pie. Vanilla plant and Honey. Its aroma is super nice, well made. On the palate is amazing. There is this macallan typical profile but much more peppery. Dry grass notes too. DELCIOUS. Finish is short but pleasant, this is where it lost some points. This is a very delicious and balanced dram, that is why i give it a 91 over 100.