Tastes

Addendum: The single batch nature of this bourbon is shown clearly in a new bottled purchased only a couple months since the last one…and this one has a lot of rye on the nose which simply wasn’t there with the bottle I reviewed late last year…under the rye is orange peel, pine needles and vanilla. Interesting and very different. Taste is intense burnt orange and light vanilla and tannin spice. Though I get a lot of tannin I don’t taste the oak like I did with the original bottle. Also unlike the last bottle I could drink straight despite the 55% alcohol this new bottle really needs water due to the high alcohol and spice. Once watered down you get a nice rye character, orange, dark chocolate and ginger spice. Its nice stuff in many ways but I have to say it is simply not in the same class as the original bottle I reviewed which was a titanic bourbon. Although I’m guessing this new one would make a better Old Fashioned and is great on the rocks. I originally gave this 5 stars and this bottle in front of me is really only up for 3 ½ stars so I’m adjusting my overall rating down to 4 stars to reflect the nature of this bourbon. Original Review - This is like a single malt in many ways but the nose tells you this a Bourbon - a really good one! The nose has all those notes - big sweet vanilla and oak and yes the burnt sugar and spice. But then there is an almost floral note before the leather and cigar come through. This is clearly from the same family tree as their 10 Year old expression but its more refined and yes more alcohol 55%. You notice the alcohol but it can be drank neat very easily - may be too easily.... Orange peel, dark chocolate and marzipan are the first things you notice. Vanilla and oak are very much present but this is a multilayered whisky and one that impresses in every turn. It doesn't have the bone dry tannin finish of 10 year which is actually a good thing even though I liked that quality in a bourbon. Water as I often find makes for a game of winners and losers - part of this is me as I prefer to drink whisky neat in almost every case - hey I preferred to drink Bowmore Tempest neat which make me officially insane. Having said that water does bring a level of refinement and only slightly mutes some of those special flavours; the marzipan and burnt orange. Like the 10 year old you feel there are more layers to explore and peel back as you explore the bottle. Wow is the word. Again in Australia this is $76 and a total bargain and in the dram world its spiritual cousin is the A'bunadh and that's almost double the price. 4.5 stars or 95.

Sweet vanilla, cinnamon and oak on the nose. Big initial taste and great mouthfeel - oily and the initial taste quickly builds into a butter and sweet toffee, baked apple with burnt brown sugar before finishing in dry dry oak tannin and spice. This is a real step up from Bulleit and the like. More layers to peel back...orange comes with water and complex oak....for what is $66 bucks in Australia this is something else. 4 stars or 92.

A solid entry in the cheap Bourbon world. Nose has sweet oak, vanilla, corn and leather - hint of wet leaves. Taste is light bodied sweet vanilla with burnt sugar with cigars. Rye spiciness gives a nice finish. Mild burn. The finish is kind of longer than the taste which is a bit unusual. Water ummm waters everything down but leaves the rye. Its pretty smooth and a nice place to drop by if you want some cheap American fun. In this price bracket I much prefer Rollins but this is still good stuff. 3 stars or 88

The nose on this is special! So much so that once you taste it you get a little disappointed. Dark storm is a great name when the nose is so alive and fresh. You get those peat and briny notes but there something else going on - spice and smoke warn you that you are not safe here....the clouds are rolling in and the seas are angry.....but this tastes to me like young spirits not uncouth but lacking in character. Yes there is nice spice from oak...and charred casks give this its main character but you can't get past the lack of depth on display. So you get a sweet vanilla and oak tannin mixed with smoke and its all very nice and ordered but I feel it misses the salt of the 10 year old and the thrills. It’s a very nice dram don’t get me wrong but just lacks the complexity where it matters and this holds it back. If the taste matched the nose this would be something to get really excited about. So in the end - nice and interesting, with a nose to die for but just short of outstanding. 3.5 stars or 91.

This needs more time and a bottle(s) to ponder...A nose that reminds me of Highland Park 18 year but more alive and urgent. Peat and heather....citrus and floral honey but also a note of the sea. You get a real sense of place like few drams just from the nose. Not a huge whisky but when its this good who cares. Oily and refined are my first impressions. Great mouth feel and the taste lingers for a long time. Like I said who cares that this isn't a big upfront whisky. While we are in the middle of a peat arms race (which I'm rather enjoying ;-) ) its also great and timely to see a dram where peat is part of an ensemble cast. Also must be noted this is not heavy in tannin or spice - a touch of pepper may be but the finish is like I said all part of an ensemble performance. Wonderful stuff - one of my all time favourites and thanks to Cascade for turning me on to this. 5 stars or 96 but frankly who cares what the score is just pass me the bottle.

This is whisky for me in so many ways. It sets the heart pumping and the mind racing but also removes the world and leaves you in a place of quietness – until the glass is empty. Thanks for Cascade for the sample and the only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is that I've had the 21 year old at his place and that is as close to perfection in a glass that you will find. Nose is Lemon and floral notes with a breeze coming straight off a breaking wave. Wonderful. Taste is intense and integrated. A medium long finish and alcohol warmth but refined...The nose implies this will be a citrus heavy and sweet floral dram when the reality is a salty and briny clash with vanilla and yes lemon....but finishing in oak tannin and complex spice. Its complex but also very much an integrated whisky - integrated is the word to describe this whisky and this is what makes this better than the 12 year old....which is a marvel as well but less cerebral and exciting at the same time. The wood is much better quality and also more pronounce than the 12 year – and that’s what makes the 17 year old so good - there are layers and layers to peel back but you can also just sit back and drink it in. Loverly, loverly stuff – someone…anyone send me a case or make me a board member - please. 4.5 stars or 94.

This is a serious dram...nose is busy, sweet fruit almost tropical but also brine, peat and floral notes. Busy, complex and full smelling. Taste has an initial sweetness and fruit that almost instantly gets smashed by salt, iodine and spice. This is not the place to introduce someone to whisky! Firm peat make itself known on the finish and the taste lingers for ages after you swallow. Salty liquorice and peat is the lasting impression. It overloads your palate and I can see this turning as many people off as on. I actually like it neat but water adds a note of smoothness to the presentation and opens out the peat. This is a huge whisky almost comic book in its approach. I like it but not a preferred dram after a long day. 4 stars just for the wild ride or 92.

First off thanks to Cascdoe for a sample of this....I like this one! The nose is complex and also amazing. Floral notes, lemon and honey...there are more layers to peel back. This is a full tasting dram....sweet malt but balanced with oak...toasted oak. Touch of spice and oak tannin on the finish but all balanced beautifully. Like the nose this has many layers.....what a great dram! 4 stars or 94.....I need to expand on this review when I have a bottle.

Nose has a light christmas cake smell I think, also sweet perfume and vanillia. Taste is vanilla, raisins and a herbal oak finish. Very pleasant if not very challenging dram but sometimes that is all you want or need. 3 stars in a heart beat or 90.

Ok in Australia this is $40 and in that club this is an interesting dram. Nose has butterscotch, butternut biscuits, peat and a touch of ethanol weaved together. Not amazing but certainly enough going on to tell you this is not just another mass produced blend. Sweet toffee/butterscotch and vanilla moving to light tannin and like High Commissioner a touch of charcoal and spice, nicely balanced and very smooth for a blend. Cereal malt mixed with a herbal finish. It is lightly peated like the nose but again nice and refined dram at this price point. 3 stars or 88 points - top result for NAS blend.