Tastes

This is a weird one, with it being a 100% corn new-make white “whiskey.” On the nose... I was turned off at first. Smells sour and sweet. Without the wood barrel influences I am left with what I’d describe as cotton candy and hospital hand sanitizer. It also smells thick and syrupy. On the tongue... it tastes a bit better than it smells. It has a dull sweetness underneath a larger sweet tone. With nothing to mask it, there’s definitely an alcohol taste. And it’s thin with little finish. I added a little water and the alcohol burn actually seemed to go up a notch but didn’t unlock any new flavors for me. This is an interesting whiskey to try just on the basis of knowing how to identify the corn influences in bourbon and to experience what whiskey uninfluenced by a barrel tastes like. I think it’s also a confirmation that wood truly makes whiskey.

The nose is so beautiful. Makes me close my eyes in hopes that my brain will make more room for the olfactory senses. On the tongue, it’s sweeter than expected and, yeah, a bit meaty. There’s also a mintyness that makes me think of kebabs with mint yogurt sauce. Yeah, I said it.

I have such a hard time picking my favorite between Ardbeg 10 and Laphroaig 10. Why bother. Both are the water of life and both warm me and wrap me in peat blankets. This one is more oily and briny and, to me, less iodine than Laphroaig. And somehow slightly smokier while being a touch less heavy. Mmm.

Honestly, for the price this is good stuff. It’s got a bit of a burn, but not as much as I’d expect for it to be bottled in bond. It’s not very complex, but I get some buttered sweet bread and cherry coming through over the alcohol.

Leather and caramel. Light smoke on the finish, and sweet.

Sweet Granny Smith apples and oak on the nose, but very thin and a slightly unexpected alcohol burn and toffee on the tongue with a very fast finish.

It’s got a kick to it. Add a splash of water perhaps. It’s spicy and the oak punches through elements of black pepper and orange peel.

Smoky but also incredibly full and complex. A wet campfire by the sea.

Sweet and spicy. Lemon peel, vanilla, and yum.