Tastes

Continuing with the cracking of unopened bottles, today we'll do a classic North American faceoff: Canada vs the US. Representing Canada: Wayne Gretzky Maple Cask & JP Wiser's 15 year rye Representing USA: Maker's Mark no. 46 & Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Finishing things off: Woodford Reserve D.O Nose: Double bubblegum, cherries, and milk chocolate. Not at all what I expected but makes me feel like a kid in a candy store. Palate: Rich and chocolatey, stone fruits, marachino cherries and a bit of sweet cigar tobacco. This is the closest thing to adult candy I've ever experienced. Finish: Medium length, with warming spices and cinnamon. The fruity/candy notes take a back seat to the absolute oak bomb that you're left with. It's everything I love about classic WR on steroids and chewing bubblegum. Still think I prefer their Rye over this one, but I sure won't kick it out of bed. 4/5 Final results: US edges Canada by a score of 8.5 to 8. Honestly closer than I thought it would be! 1. Maker's Mark no. 46 French Oaked 4.5/5 2. JP Wiser's 15 year rye 4.25/5 3. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 4/5 4. Wayne Gretzky Maple Cask finish 3.75/5 It was a hard fought battle for the Canucks but they couldn't quite beat the might of the American oak. Until next time folks.

Continuing with the cracking of unopened bottles, today we'll do a classic North American faceoff: Canada vs the US. Representing Canada: Wayne Gretzky Maple Cask & JP Wiser's 15 year rye Representing USA: Maker's Mark no. 46 & Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Number 3: JP Wiser's 15 year brew Nose: Caramel popcorn, oak, rye spice. Interestingly the classic Wiser's orange peel is non existent here. Palate: A bit oily mouthfeel, fairly dry, cereals of all kinds and very oaky. Very well balanced between the sweetness and bitterness. Burnt sugar and toast. Finish: Warm and dry, with the rye kicking things into high gear. This one really makes you pause and think. It's subtle and develops slowly like a long winded old man telling a good story. So far this by far the best Canadian whisky I've tried, and it is a heck of a lot better than bottles of Scotch that I've paid at least double the price for. This one is going to be a mainstay in my cabinet for sure. Absolutely excellent but probably not quite enough to beat the damned Yanks unless the Woodford DO is a total bomb (not bloody likely). 4.25/5

Continuing with the cracking of unopened bottles, today we'll do a classic North American faceoff: Canada vs the US. Representing Canada: Wayne Gretzky Maple Cask & JP Wiser's 15 year rye Representing USA: Maker's Mark no. 46 & Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Number 2: Maker's Mark 46 French Oaked Nose: Classic Maker's sweet cereal, corn flakes but with some oaky French sophistication (flacons de mais?). Chocolate covered raisins when you dig a bit deeper. Very inviting Palate: Velvety smooth, dark fruits, caramel apple and hints of cocoa and spice. Finish: Fairly lengthy, with more spiced fruit and chocolate. This is like every great dessert I've ever had combined into one incredible package. You'd never know that this is 94 proof with how easy it goes down. So good it's not fair. Not looking good for my home and native land right now at halftime. 4.5/5

Continuing with the cracking of unopened bottles, today we'll do a classic North American faceoff: Canada vs the US. Representing Canada: Wayne Gretzky Maple Cask & JP Wiser's 15 year rye Representing USA: Maker's Mark no. 46 & Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. First up: The Maple Great One Nose: Maple syrup bomb, oak, brown sugar, butter. Palate: Very sweet, hot and watery mouth feel. A bit of cereal and rye spice to go with the delicious maple. Finish: Short and fades quickly. Kind of like swallowing a mouthful of pancakes at the Cabane à Sucre. This would likely be way too sweet for a typical whisky snob, but as a proud Canadian who taps and boils my own maple syrup every winter, this hits me right in the guilty pleasure. Is it complex? Hell no. Would it be the perfect thing to add to your coffee while ice fishing? Hell yes. 3.75/5

Finally time to start cracking into some unopened bottles in the collection before my wife starts counting them. Single malt showdown: Auchentoshan 12, Cragganmore 12 and Nikka Miyagikyo. All tasted in glen cairn glass and rested for about 30 minutes. Let's Miyagikygo! I should also preface this is my first time trying a Japanese single malt. Can someone tell the emperor to lower the damned prices! Nose: Pears, apple blossoms, and a hint of malt. A very delicate flower this. Palate: Thin mouthfeel that starts very light but grows. Orchard fruits and a decent amount of smoke. Like a burnt tarte tatin. Finish: Lengthy, floral and warm. There's a lot going on here and I can't quite figure it all out. All I know is that this is a heck of a solid dram. I can only imagine how great this would be with a bit more age behind it. I guess the emperor can charge whatever the hell he wants, because I get why people want this stuff. Final results of the showdown: 1st place: Miyagikyo 2nd place: Auchentoshan 12 3rd place: Cragganmore 12 Katana beats the broadsword. Palate:

Finally time to start cracking into some unopened bottles in the collection before my wife starts counting them. Single malt showdown: Auchentoshan 12, Cragganmore 12 and Nikka Miyagikyo. All tasted in glen cairn glass and rested for about 30 minutes. Next up is Cragganmore (or less): Nose: Honey and mead, not really much else that I could detect. They say the most complex aroma of any malt on the box, which confuses me. If anything it seems like the least complex that I've come across. Palate: Oily and thick mouthfeel. Interestingly it's mostly malty, with some grain and only a hint of honey. No smoke or bitterness that I can detect. There is some complexity here, but it certainly isn't earth-shattering. I think the marketers at Diagio might be sniffing their own farts a little too much with this one. Finish: Short and back to the honey with increasing sweetness. Don't get me wrong, I like the super honey aroma and overall this is a solid if unspectacular dram. I guess I was expecting the nose to make me question my own existence or something with the way they talked it up. Will come back to it in a few months and see if it's turned into anything more than just a bee's wet dream. Final results of the showdown: 1st place: Miyagikyo 2nd place: Auchentoshan 12 3rd place: Cragganmore 12

Finally time to start cracking into some unopened bottles in the collection before my wife starts counting them. Single malt showdown: Auchentoshan 12, Cragganmore 12 and Nikka Miyagikyo. All tasted in glen cairn glass and rested for about 30 minutes. Let's Auch with the doc: Nose: Fruity, cherries, raisins and a hint of smoke. When I first poured the nose was muddled but it's flipped completely to something very inviting. Palate: Slightly oily, sweet and exactly what the nose was telling it would be. Stone fruits, a bit of sherry and a wisp of smoke to remind you that this is Scotch and not Irish. Finish: Medium length and warm. Things really develop at this point from apple/pear to musty grapes. Dries up at the end. I have to say, I kind of thought I would hate this when i first cracked the bottle, but letting it breathe a bit changed everything. Guess I'll have to go to the Lowlands now too if I ever make it to the land of Robert the Bruce. Final results of the showdown: 1st place: Miyagikyo 2nd place: Auchentoshan 12 3rd place: Cragganmore 12