Tastes

"Video review: https://youtu.be/vN-XUWkBYEw .

Video review here: https://youtu.be/F2Np52Oi5Tk .

Check out my video review here: https://youtu.be/tpQZ5KCLzAc .

Check out my video uncorking review: https://youtu.be/8IvOvthRSQE

NAS 47% abv non chill-filtered Nose: apple-cinnamon; pear dominate. Nothing special. Taste: sweet, fruity and medium-bodied, then develops a nice dry but not overpowering spiciness (pepper and chile) followed by caramel, raisin, vanilla, dark cocoa and a pinch of salt and citrus. Very nice ride! Finish: medium-long, with a tangy sweet stone fruit and nuttiness along with caramel/vanilla/honey and a lingering black licorice note. Value: Not exclusive yet $60 to 80 USD. Borderline too pricy. Final thoughts: An interesting Glenfiddich for sure, as it greats you rather predictable nose but then takes you on a ride. The influence of port wine pipes are evident here, and really give this a uniqueness among Fiddich's. While a tad pricey for an NAS this one is certainly worth it and offers a few surprises with your Speyside. Score: 4/5 (Recommend buying a bottle) Malt Musing: "I don't drink alcohol, I drink distilled spirits. Therefore I'm not an alcoholic, I'm spiritual."

61.1% abv Non-chill filtered Nose: Sweet, fruit-forward and hot! Notes: butterscotch; toffee; candy corn; straw; yellow and red apple; light brown sugar. Also, is that citrus!?! Taste: hot at first, with a note of citrus, then develops quickly into dark cocoa and charred oak, with sweet caramel and nuttiness quickly following. Finish: medium-long. Apple cinnamon crisp, slightly bitter orange rind and oak, and a creamy light caramel corn/vanilla right at the end. Value: $65-80. Worth the cost. Final thoughts: Another great barrel proof release from Elijah Craig. While not quite as memorable as batch A119 from earlier in 2019, this is no slouch and won't disappoint any bourbon head. Somehow, despite being 6% less abv than the A119, this one was a bit hotter, but also brings a little more complexity and fruitiness. None the less, a stellar bourbon...glad I picked up two bottles! Score: 4.5/5. Highly recommend buying a bottle Malt musing: "Keep your friends close and your bourbon closer." Link to video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfoHiKsIrzk&t

23 years old Non chill-filtered Natural color 49.2% abv Nose: rich sweetness. Dark honey and maple syrup; chocolate; butter cream; slight oakiness; dark fruit in the background, like plum, raisin and raspberry; hint of spice, maybe cinnamon? Very layered and complex and evolves in the glass with time. Taste: incredibly rich and oily! Sweetness abounds with raw honey, milk chocolate, light caramel. Development comes in waves of coffee bean, juicy dark red fruit, slight herbal, orange/tropical, and well-rounded oak. It’s a ride. Finish: a long one, with chocolate-covered dark cherry, hazelnut, caramel/toffee and a slight saltiness and hint of mint. Value: avg around $400 USD. Worth it! Final thoughts: what a whisky! This is a unicorn bottle for sure, and one that is luckily still fairly available at the time of this review (Sept 2019). The complexity of this dram makes every sip an odyssey of flavors. Don’t miss this one, even at the high price point...it’s likely your favorite unpeated single malt. Final score: 5/5 Buy right now! Malt musing: “When you drank the world was still out there, but for a moment it didn’t have you by the throat.” - Charles Bukowski