Tastes

Nose: On the nose it’s like opening a can of cherry Vanilla Coke. The sweet, blend of cherry and vanilla wafts through the air. It instantly transports me to memories of having a soda on a hot day. Palate: The whiskey coats the entire palate. Its viscosity is syrup like. The brandied cherries take center stage. It’s almost like drinking the cherry syrup from a jar of Luxardo cherries. This deep flavor is intertwined with the robust undercurrent of Vanilla, creating a wonderful pairing. Finish: It’s a prolonged and gratifying finish. The flavors gradually recede, leaving behind a lasting impression. The long finish becomes an encore, inviting contemplation and reflection on the delightful notes once more. In my opinion, this is truly a remarkable whiskey. It’s super sweet and enjoyable at every point. The high proof is a huge benefit to this whiskey as it is full of flavor and last forever. Big fan. Makes me excited to try more from Still Austin.

On the nose this whiskey smells like a mix of citrus, cinnamon, and butterscotch. It’s a sweet and spicy combo that gets me pumped to get into it. Growing up, my mom always made orange cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning and this is exactly what this reminds me of. It’s a velvety whiskey that unfolds on the palate, revealing the rich warmth of a cinnamon roll. Each sip carries the comforting essence of cinnamon, intertwined with subtle notes of vanilla, creating an amazing combination of flavors. As the taste evolves, a delicate touch of orange icing emerges that is sweet and citrusy. Super tasty stuff. This is a great bourye for a great price. Another plus is that it’s in a really cool bottle. Love having it on the shelf as a display piece. I’ll need to pick another one up soon.

Chattanooga 111 embodies the essence of Red Hots candy, both in its aroma and pronounced flavor profile. The scent is unmistakably sweet and spicy, evoking memories of the iconic cinnamon candy, or fireball whiskey if you prefer. Taking a sip reveals a decisive and confident embrace of the red hots theme, with an intensity that leaves no room for ambiguity on my palate. In celebrating its decisiveness, this whiskey crafts a memorable experience for those who appreciate this flavor profile. It has a bit of oak and other general bourbon flavors in the background, but the intense Red Hots character showcases a distinct personality, making it a standout choice for those seeking a unique flavorful bourbon experience. Despite its boldness, the whiskey manages to balance its intensity, ensuring that the overall experience is enjoyable and memorable. It actually seems like a perfect choice for fall and I can see myself going back to it pretty regularly over the next few months. I personally don’t think I’d want to drink this one constantly, but it could hit a spot from time to time. This was tasted neat in a Glencairn.

Nose: On the nose I get vanilla, baking spices and tobacco. Palate: On the palate I get a pronounced vanilla that mingles with a fructose sweetness. Hints of ripe apples and pears. I get peanut shells at the very end. Finish: The finish is probably the biggest negative of this whiskey. There is a short and clean finish. The flavors fade away, leaving a subtle echo of sweetness with a little pepper on the tongue but no where else. I just cracked this bottle and am already pleasantly surprised by this whiskey. It was light, fruity, and very sweet on the palate. I found it to be a good change from the normal bourbon in my opinion. Maybe because of these reasons I gave it a bit higher score than I normally would. I’m a fan.

I enjoy pretty much everything that Jack Daniel’s has been putting out lately and really like the triple mash. That being said, I’ve wanted to try the bonded for a while. Nose - I get bananas, maple syrup, and a bit of nuttiness. Palate - The Palate follows the nose closely on this one. It tastes like a sweet banana bread to me with walnuts baked in. At the end I get a kind of bitterness. Finish - It’s a shorter finish. Overall I enjoy the bonded and think it’s worth a buy, but I prefer the triple mash. It has a similar profile with less banana and no bitterness on the end.

Its been a minute since ive had Weller SR. It was light, refreshing, and approachable. On the nose i get a lot of citrus, orange and lemon specifically. It reminds me of walking through a grove where you’re smelling oranges mixed with a bit of grain. In the back i get a bit of vanilla as well. On the palet the flavors feel rounded and soft. It coats my tongue conpletely. In terms of flavor it follows the nose. Im getting again a ton of oranges and lemons as well as some vanilla. Overall a good experience. It’s biggest weakness is the finish. Its very short. I think it makes for a good summer whiskey. I paid quite a bit over MSRP for this bottle. I bought it here in the UK off an auction site. I wouldn’t buy this bottle again at this price point, but if i got it for £45 i’d be happy.

I'm coming to the end of this bottle thankfully. I got it a little less than 2 years ago. I was really looking forward to tasting what Jim Rutledge, previous master distiller at Four Roses, was putting out since his retirement. I was so excited that I traded a Blanton's to get my hands on this Blue Run High Rye Bourbon. Needless to say, I can't see myself going back to Blue Run after this. On the nose I get Ethanol and oak. Truly that about all I can say. On the palate it I was overwhelmed with some spice, oakiness, and a bit of citrus. You can definitely tell it's high rye. There was no real deep impact of the flavours though, and it didn't feel cohesive. When I first opened the bottle, I gave it the benefit of the doubt that it needed time to breathe and open up, but I went back to it again and again with no change or improvement. I had a couple friends try it and they felt similarly. I've decided I'll use the rest in old fashions or with coke. It wasn't the plan, but I refuse to pour whisky down the drain.

This time around Knob Creek 12 had its oak foot foward. I could taste the regular vanilla and nutty flavors i usually get, but tonight i was hit most by the oak. It was rather oily on the palet for me. Honestly the whole experience reminded me a bit of wild turkey 101. Dont get me wrong i like wild turkey 101. Its one of the bottles i always have around and tend to sip on it to reset my palet, but i think with KC 12 i expect a bit more, and most times i enjoy KC 12 i feel it lives up to that. Just not tonight.