Tastes

Color: Yellowish Amber. Medium to slow legs Nose: Ethanol, floral almost semi-dried lawn clippings that eventually turns into what seems to be rye. Hints of vanilla cinnamon and oak are in the background Palate: Floral/grassy Finish: Lingering finish with spice and a huge punch of fresh grass clippings I’m not exactly sure what to say about this bottle. It’s definitely unique and something I won’t forget. Though, my palate is begging my brain to forget about whatever it was I just put it through. Initially on the nose all I get is ethanol. After letting it open up, it went from floral funk to rye. Some of the floral notes carry over into the palate, but are quickly shoved aside for one of the weirdest finishes I’ve had in a whiskey. Its like someone blended up fresh grass clippings and infused the juice with it. It’s somewhat offensive and I’m really trying hard not to hate it. I may have to revisit this and hope it goes better second time around. First go around I’d have to say it’s a hard pass on ever buying another bottle.

Color: Honey. Moderate almost watery legs Nose: Vanilla rum, oak, sugary apple juice, melon, tobacco Palate: Vanilla rum, oak, apple juice, almost silky texture Finish: Moderate with charcoal, cinnamon, green tea, tobacco notes. It's rounded out with barrel tannin and a lingering minor spice note that engulfs the tongue. I've had a pour of this before but, I don't remember it being as good. It comes off as very rum forward on the nose and palate at first. Letting it develop, opens this dram up. It's almost chaotic but, beautifully balanced at the same time. Nose and palate are very similar. Though, on the nose I'm also picking up unripe melon and a sweet tobacco note influenced by the vanilla rum. The finish is where it's at for me. Tobacco from the nose comes back along with an amazing green tea note. Although I don't want to give this a 3.75 because of my previous experience. I have to. Credit where credit is due.

Disclaimer: I'm a sucker for anything sherry casked. Color: Honey. Silky with legs on the moderate side. Nose: Sherry, vanilla, raisins, sweet, briny, leather and pipe tobacco. Palate: Sherry, vanilla, raisins, sweet, leather, rich and silky. Finish: Moderate finish with the sherry fading quickly. Leftover are wood tannin and a little spice around the tongue. This dram presents itself as sherry forward throughout. Notes of vanilla and raisins are woven in to create a silky rich nectar. The finish lingers long enough to remind you of the wonderful encounter your senses were presented with.

Color: Amber. Oily with slow legs Nose: Brown sugar, vanilla, oak, ripe stone fruit, hints of maple syrup Palate: Vanilla, oak, stone fruits, rich and meaty, oily Finish: Long finish with rye spice that crescendos in intensity. Heavy oak tannins sap your tongues moisture. Faint hint of mint in background. Noah’s Mill is in my bourbon top 5 list. This dram isn’t for the faint of heart. Off the bat it’s hot the nose and palate but, letting it develop helps tamp the sharp edges. It’s very oak and vanilla forward throughout with ripe stone fruits bursting through. The intensity of the finish builds on the quicker side and after climaxing lingers for quite some time.

Color: Honey Nose: Rye, vanilla, oak, baking spice, stone fruits, menthol Palate: Rye, vanilla, oak, stone fruits, oily Finish: Lingers with rye spice biting on the tongue, oak, vanilla and candied fruit This is an easy sipper. Out of the gate, on the nose and palate, you're presented with the quintessential bourbon notes. In the background stone fruits are making themselves known adding richness and depth. The finish lingers with some sharp edges from the rye spice. In there somewhere you may find candied fruit notes. Vanilla and oak ever present seem to have a drying affect on the tongue. Single Barrel definitely overshadows Small Batch but, if you're looking for something that doesn't break the bank as much, go with the latter.

Warehouse: NN Barrel No: 76-10 Color: Amber Nose: Rye, vanilla, menthol, baking spice, black tea, oak Palate: Vanilla, oak, over ripe citrus, oily Finish: Long with oak, vanilla and spice. A wonderful hint of mint rounds the edges Four Roses Single Barrel is comprised of their OBSV recipe. This delightful dram is rich and silky. On the nose it's as if you've walked into a bakery. Behind it all, you get menthol which encapsulates all the other notes if you keep it on the nose long enough. Taking of sip of juice you're presented with rich oak and vanilla. Hints of over ripe fruits are somewhere behind the scenes. The finish is long with more of the palate on deck and notes of spice. Rounding it all out you get a wonderful wash of mint/menthol leaving your mouth refreshed.

Color: Reddish amber Nose: Musty corn, rye, vanilla, tobacco, caramel Palate: Sweet corn, black tea, rye, baking spice, oily Finish: Moderate finish with vanilla, and lingering cinnamon spice with hints of peanuts This interesting dram presents with corn and rye but, has some wonderful notes of black tea and cinnamon. Looking for more complexity in a bourbon, this may be a bottle of interest.

Color: Amber Nose: Rye, baking spice, vanilla, hints of oak and tobacco Palate: Rye, vanilla, cherries, oak Finish: Lasting rye and baking spice with a dry rounded finish Initially hot on the palate, this dram starts to round out as you let it develop. Rye and baking spice attack the nose and palate and eventually you’re greeted with a hint of cherries. Unfortunately, there’s nothing unique about this bourbon. The small batch and single barrel definitely have the upper hand.

Color: Honey Nose: Ripe grapes, cider, vanilla, oak, malt and spice Palate: Vanilla, oak, ripe grapes, white pepper Finish: Rounded moderate finish with lovely notes of oak and finally and a dash of spice Glenlivet 12 is a friendly dram that is vanilla and oak forward with lovely notes of ripe grapes and cider throughout. It's refreshing flavors make it a great bottle to keep around.

Color: Golden honey Nose: Over ripe fruits, apple juice, malt, vanilla, oak Palate: Oak, apples, vanilla Finish: Easy rounded finish, with hints of over ripe fruits and faint oak Founders Reserve is an easy sipper. There’s nothing complex about this dram. For anyone looking to enter the Scotch world this juice would be an easy entry point.