Tastes

Corn and citrus and vanilla First sip: WhistlePig never fails to deliver on the fruit for me- citrus and faint banana, and caramel coming behind that. Slightly tannic. It’s not as sweet as the other WhistlePigs I’ve tried- definitely less sweet than the regular 10year. Some definite heat. After it sits: not much change. Maybe some kettle corn, but it’s still more tannic than sweet. With water: I added a bit and it made the eye even hotter… so I added a bit more and it toned it down. It toned down the flavor, though, so that’s a bummer. I’m not one to add ice to my bourbon, usually, but I might consider it with this one. I *like* it (I always like WhistlePig), but I don’t love it. I definitely don’t like it as much as the regular 10-year (I’m trying them side-by-side, because Saturday and Science,) so I’d probably save my money in the future.

Nose: ethanol, corn First sip: baking spices immediately. Cinnamon spiciness. It tastes young. There is a kettle corn sweetness balanced against a mouth-drying leather. After it sits: a layer of dark fruits, like raisins. With water: cuts the spiciness a tad. With the dark fruits, It reminds me of a spicier (both heat and baking spices) Woodford. I can’t believe I’ve made it this long into my bourbon journey without trying Buffalo trace. For shame. I like it, but I think that it needs about 15 minutes and a few drops of water to be at its best for me.

First sip: Sweet. Cherries and a hint of Vanilla Coke. Buttered popcorn. A bit of heat, but mostly smooth. After it sits: gets sweeter the longer it sits. Almost a butterscotch quality to it, with some cinnamon redhots. With water: So smooth. Caramel notes pop. A slight smoky quality balances the sweetness. Some fruity notes on the back end that remind me of WhistlePig. Finish: medium-long, fruity. Loved it. I haven’t had Elijah Craig since I first started exploring bourbon, so it was nice to return to it. This is a great sipper, and I’m glad I bought it.

Nose: caramel and vanilla First sip: Tastes just like Knob Creek to me. Sort of a nutty vibe, like peanut brittle, which is exactly what I think of when I think of Knob Creek. It’s very smooth, likely due to the age statement. After it sits: Don’t know. I keep forgetting to let it sit. With water: cuts all spice out. Sweetens it a bit, but makes it too mild. Maybe I added too much water. A little black tea and caramel on the finish. Finish: Medium-long, a little spicy. In fact, the finish gets even spicier the more you drink. I mean… for $40 dollars with a 9-year age statement, I honestly don’t see why it has the bad ratings that it does. I like it. I have much more expensive whiskeys that aren’t this good. Granted, I have limited experience with Tennessee whiskeys in general (my dad was a George Dickel and Jack Daniels drinker, so I’m likely a bit prejudiced), so I can’t compare it to those specifically. It tastes just like Knob Creek to me, and I love Knob Creek. I get zero Flintstone Vitamins or orange candy notes. (I kind of wish I did- I love those orange candies.)

Nose: earthy wet wood, cherries. Almost an IPA quality to it- kind of yeasty, but sweeter. First sip: fruit. Cherries and vanilla, but with a slight bitterness that resembles vanilla extract. Oak. Pretty smooth, with a spicy kick on the back end. After it sits: not much change. With water: Starts to remind me of Woodford when water is added- raisin-y dark fruits, which is always the Woodford hallmark to me. Finish: short. Baking spices make an appearance- nutmeg and clove. This bourbon joined the collection thanks to a recommendation from an older gentleman at Total Wine (older gentlemen always strike up bourbon convos with me in Total Wine, for some reason- it doesn’t happen anywhere else! I think they are trying to figure out if I’m shopping for myself or my husband, who is an IPA drinker.) I can’t say which way I enjoy better. I love Woodford, so adding water is nice, but if I wanted Woodford I’d just drink that. I think it stands alone on its own merits. It’s not my favorite, but I like it.

Nose: bubble gum and vanilla. Fruity-sweet First sip: reminds me so strongly of WhistlePig 15yr. Fruity, vanilla and brown sugar. Almost pastry-like. Sweet, very little heat. My usual testing protocol is to let it sit for a bit, and also to add water, but I was too impatient because I liked it so much. In fact, I left the restaurant after dinner, drove to a liquor store, and bought a bottle. It’s far more affordable than the WhistlePig 15yr or even the Weller 12yr that it reminded me of, and every bit as good.

First sip: Hay for sure. Faint beer essence- yeasty. Fruity notes on the finish. Really smooth. With water: peanut notes. Gets sweeter, but surprisingly more spicy. Finish: long “Farmstock” seems fitting- it tastes outdoorsy. Not my favorite WhistlePig, but is there a bad WhistlePig? Nope. Happy I tried it, don’t need a bottle.

Nose: cherry coke First sip: Spicy. Mouth-drying oak. Heavy vanilla and black tea. An herbal quality comes in on the finish. Not super sweet. With water: Not much change, except a bit of a soapy note is added. Water tones down the spiciness, which makes it more pleasant for me. Finish: long and vanilla. It’s surprisingly spicy for its age and proof. I like it better with water, but I probably wouldn’t buy again.

Nose: ethanol, vanilla, and corn. After about 10 minutes, caramel First sip: Baking spices immediately. Honey sweetness. A bit of heat shows up on the second sip, but it’s mostly smooth. On the third sip, peanut brittle and hay make an appearance. The sweetness starts to dissipate somewhat, introducing an earthier vibe. It’s brief, though. A couple of minutes of sitting lets loose the usual caramel and vanilla notes with some oak. I’m reluctantly adding water, just to see the effect. (It doesn’t really need water, but I’m experimenting anyways.) All of the spiciness disappears, leaving behind a fruity sweetness with peanut brittle. Still great. Surprisingly complex. I like how it changes as you sip. It reminds me of Whistle Pig- and I hate to say it, but it actually reminded me immediately of the WhistlePig Boss Hog VII I tried recently. Except, you know, affordable. Love it.

I picked up a few bottles at a few Atlanta distilleries after doing some whiskey flights. This was one. I’m finally opening it to taste it at home. Nose: straight up grass and hay, reminds me of an Irish whiskey. Once it has sat for a bit, though, there’s some chocolate on the nose, and something a little fruity. First sip neat: Earthy, grass. It’s like the liquid version of breathing in a freshly-mown field. Not very sweet. There’s not a lot of heat to it, which is surprising for its age and the fact that it’s a rye. There’s maybe a hint of caramel on the back end, but only a hint. (Interestingly, my husband described it as “too sweet, but not in a good way.”) With water: The nose changes to bourbon vanilla-and-caramel. Still overwhelmingly earthy grass on the front. Gets a little sweeter, and those caramel notes in the nose actually come through in the back end. Finish: medium-long, sweeter than the actual drink. A little coffee bitterness once everything else has drifted away. If the whole thing tasted like the finish, I’d love it. Overall, this is not one I’d reach for personally. I don’t think that should be a deterrent for most people, however, especially if you like scotch and Irish whiskey. The more that I try, the more I realize that earthy/peaty/grassy whiskey is just not for me. Just a personal preference.