Tastes

This is a beautiful bourbon. It's perfect, above any ice had so far. The nose is has all the things you'd expect from a bourbon, perfected. It's softer, too. There's wood, cherry, brown sugar, tobacco. It's so much another than you would expect from a bourbon of this proof. Long finish. Worth it. Beautiful.

Nose: vanilla, toasted bread, and a little oakiness up front. When I get into it, I find mint, apple, cherry, and a little cigarette ash. Palate: Pretty much the same. Slight astringent mouthfeel, could be thicker. Finish is medium short. It's nice. Not a favorite, but good on the right occasion. Wouldn't want this any younger.

First impression of the nose is the funkiness. If you've ever sprouted grains, it's pretty unmistakable. The malt, in the malted barley-- it's not as prominent in other scotches I've had, which is fairly limited. I don't know if that's an indicator of a young whiskey or what. This is followed by fruitiness-- lemon, some apple or pear. There's some fatty sweetness, like custard or creme brulee. Taste is very much similar. Really emphasizes the creamy dessert feature of the nose. The funk makes it almost like a cheesecake. Medium finish, and mouthfeel. Great for NAS single malt under $50.

My first impression on the nose is of wet grass and brown sugar, with some floral notes, minerality, with wood and vanilla backing it all up. It's different from the standard bourbon. There's some of the rye influence, but it shows up as grass and flower foremost, which gives way to some 🍞 notes. The palate is silky smooth, foremost. It's slightly briny, mildly sweet, mildly spicy. My wife said it's like Cumin, and I can really see that. We both love it

I like this more, the more I get to know it

A bottle was killed in the making of this review Nose is very fruity up front: plum, strawberry, honeydew, It's the most wine-like whiskey I've ever smelled. It's got a sweet grain smell in the middle that reminds me of frosted flakes. Very little ethanol, I can stick my nose in there and really hang out and absorb those smells. There's a good amount of richness, like heavily buttered bread. There's some citrus around the edges, a bit of lemon, maybe some orange zest. Even a bit of blueberries on the vine. I've read other tasting notes, and many are very different. I'm fairly new to whiskey obsession, and it's interesting how few reviewers align on the same dram. People have different frames if reference, and preferences. When people talk about marzipan, heather, sultanas, Turkish delight, elderberries, most flowers I have no idea what they're talking about. Keep building that bank of places references ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Who cares, this whiskey is delicious. The flavor really resembles the nose in every respect. I don't have a wide view of sherried whiskeys, I've had Aberlour's A'bunadh, which was good, this is more approachable given the lower abv. I'm eager to try Glendronach's older offerings. At $54 this feels like a steal for an independently. Wouldn't mind keeping on the shelf.

Nose is toasty pastry dough, some honey and nuttiness, like baklava, with a little citrus, and pepper. More of the barrel is apparent, when compared with the 12. Taste is buttery, slightly sweet, honey, warming on the tongue, nice even pepper, long pleasant finish. Compared favorably with a good bourbon. In fact, if like to get a bottle and do side-by-side comparisons with a few bourbons. I like this quite a bit more than the 12. There's more development, it's one of those that over the course of a bottle, you can keep picking out new smells and flavors.

Heavy wood and fruit on the nose, with the familiar buttery, shortbread-like, slight vanilla. The overall effect reminds me of rhubarb pie. The first taste that stuck me was the strong pepper at the back of the throat and up the nose, which took me yourself by surprise. I had just tried the very mellow 12 and was expecting more of the same. Similar slightly sweet buttery notes, but overlaid with fig, and citrus. I was surprised to learn that the Lustau is 2 years younger than the 12. It's more complex, interesting, and overall enjoyable.

Biscuit and some flowers I can't identify, maybe honeysuckle, slight vanilla on the nose. It's so delicate it can be difficult to pick out specific things. Taste is like a light, fluffy bourbon. Vanilla, pastry, buttery, shortbread cookies, some honey. It's nice, but maybe too delicate for my taste.