Tastes

Wow, definitely a sleeper bottle that really surprised me. Been avoiding JD for years due to past experiences, but this one has won me over, especially at 60%+ for less than $60. Nose is straight up bananas, vanilla and oak with a hint of cherry. Very little ethanol considering the proof. Palette starts very oaky, transitions into some more of that unique bananas foster and finishes long and strong with some slight cinnamon, cherry and more lingering oak. A winner for sure that I’ll be coming back to!

Heavy vanilla nose with a bit of baking spice. Full bodied and thick, especially compared to standard makers. First hit with a little heat, cinnamon and spice into mellow vanilla and a fairly long warm finish. Really easy drinking for the proof. Solid bottle from makers and looking forward to more of these.

What a great entry level (price wise!) speyside, possibly the best single malt I’ve had under $50. Nose is fairly typical speyside - light pear, apple, honey, straw, but also a bit funky like springbank. Really full and oily on the palate with dry oak, more fruit - raisins this time, a bit of salt and the slightest hint of peat smoke Finish is fairly long, with peppery spice and more fruit notes backing it up.

Great stave selection on this one! Toasty warm woody notes with muted sweetness (which I like, wheaters get too sweet for me). Really easy on the nose and palate considering the proof. Fairly short finish though.

Nice barrel proof wheater. Nose is fairly light considering the proof. Initial hit of alcohol is followed by sweet bready notes, fruit and caramel. Mouthfeel is fairly oily/thick with more sweet wheat and a long finish. Not bad at all, but i think wheaters are overhyped and would take its counterpart, ecbp over this any day.

Nose and taste remind me a lot of a good rye. More so than any other scotch I’ve had. Nose is vanilla, cinnamon, baked apples, raisins and a hint of citrus. Medium body with notes of rye spice, apple cider doughnuts, oak, fruits and a bit of vanilla and caramel. Nice spicy lingering finish. Excellent blended malt and looking forward to trying more from compass box

J&J’s Batch. 15yr 3months. Un-fucking-real deal. Less than $50 for a 15+ yr 120 proof? Its like stealing. Nose loaded with cherries, oak, a hint of maple syrup and vanilla. Palette is a thick, but dry oak bomb followed by some fruity sweetness and a touch of vanilla. Finish is longggg and oaky. Love these picks and this is the best I’ve had yet.

Interesting young single malt. Relatively one dimensional but not bad for a newer craft distillery. Plus it was $16 for the bottle so good deal regardless. Nose is buttery with light pepper notes and some fruitiness that sort of reminds me of white wine. Really unique for a whiskey. Taste is honey, apples, pepper and a bit of sherry on the short finish. Kinda boring, but would make a great hot weather sipper.

Multiple fruit notes on the nose - typical cherry, but also apple cinnamon and maybe a hint of banana even? Oak and caramel as well. Palette starts a bit hot, but mellows nicely with a few drops of water, which open up the fruit, oak and vanilla notes. Finish lingers a while till you sip again. Good stuff, but certainly overrated being picked 2020 #1.

Ridiculous fruit on the nose right away. Heavy cherries, vanilla, brown sugar and oak, bur relatively little caramel notes. Taste starts with the same cherry, a hint of vanilla, spice and a fairly long oaky finish. Solid sip all around and would buy a bottle at the right price.