Tastes

Nose- Mild oak and vanilla. Palette- Initial burn of cinnamon, then flows into vanilla and some green apple tartness. Hint of cherry as well. Finish- long finish of oaky vanilla. The cherry hint at the start is more prominent at the finish. Overall- Not for feint of heart. At 118.1 proof this hits heavy at the start with a burn that will warm you on a crisp fall night. The overall flavors pair well with fall. For the price tag I would have liked more complexity and flavor profiles. A good cask strength offering.

Nose- rye spice and brown sugar. Clove. Palate- Brown sugar, vanilla, and slight spice to start. Gives way to mild oak and cinnamon. Dry to astringent without the alcohol burn. Finish- lingering spice and vanilla. The rye spice hangs out with a hint of sweetness. Overall- a light body and mouthfeel that belies its 112 proof. There are many layers to this rye that make every sip something different. Great on its own or in a Manhattan.

Nose- Vanilla and oak. Slight baking spices. Palate- Begins light with notes of baking spice and cinnamon to start. Light body. Sweet. Finish- lingering spice and heat. Cinnamon and oak gives way to vanilla and then dark chocolate. Overall- for a 110 proof this whiskey has a light feel. The heavy proof spice doesn’t hit right away. Rather it hits during the finish. Many complex flavors mingle in this sweet bourbon.

Nose- oak and vanilla. Palatte- spicy to start and then settles into cinnamon and vanilla. A sweet floral note to end. Finish- lingering spice and oaky vanilla. Overall- the high proof can hid a lot of this complex whiskey. Overall, the spiciness and mellow vanilla and oak give the whiskey a nice complexity. Can be put into a manhattan, but is best served neat with a small splash of water to get the flavors to pop.

Nose- mild, sweet, slightly oaky Palate- very mild and subtle, starts with vanilla and mild oak and slides into herbal and licorice notes. Finish- aftertaste lingers and is heavy licorice and herbal. Overall- a mild everyday drinker. The flavors are not what I typically look for in a bourbon. It’s aftertaste lingers to the range of Malort. But it might work in the right mixer.

Nose- sweet vanilla and slight oak. Palate- spicy, vanilla, cinnamon. Thick/oily mouthfeel. Finish- cinnamon, and vanilla and oak notes linger. Overall- for a budget whiskey, this works as a nice everyday sipper. The bottled in bond gives it a good spicy feel to start, but it quickly mellows out to vanilla and oak notes. Not overly complex. Also works quite well in a Manhattan or an old fashioned.

Nose- slight caramel, pear and herbal notes. Palate- oak and vanilla to start that gives way to green apple and an herbal spiciness. Finish- more oak and caramel, slightly peaty. Lingering vanilla. Overall- An easy drinking and “light” whisky. There are some complexities present, but overall i feel that itbis too light to get a deeper flavor profile. All notes seem fleeting and last brefly before giving way to the longer oak/vanilla aftertaste. A good whiskey, but not a great whiskey.

Nose- equal parts of peat and a tobacco earthiness. Slightly salt and tofee Palate- fruity and light. Green apple flavors. Tobacco, salt and toffee then take over. Finish- slightly spicy with hints of vanilla. More tobacco flavor on the finish along with a green apple tartness. Overall- for a buget whiskey, this speyside is light, but has some complex flavors. Many different notes throughout will keep you excited to find the next one. A nice summer scotch.

Barrel # Z5J2 Age- 8 years Proof- 110.16 Nose- vanilla and slight oak Palate- initial burn and cinnamon flavor gives way to heavy vanilla and slight plum. Finish- heavy oak finish that lingers with slight cinnamon. Overall- a great single barrel offering. Great addition to any shelf and matches its price point. Very smooth and slightly buttery.

Nose- sweet vanilla and cinnamon. Palate- initial sweetness of cinnamon and spices. Gives way to oak and vanilla. Finish- more oak and vanilla with a hint of chocolate at the very end. Overall- a nice smooth eye whiskey, with a somewhat creamy mouthfeel. The proof is high, but it does not have the burn typical of a rye or even a barrel proof. Very good neat, but I especially like it in a Manhattan.