Tastes

In this gorgeous rye there’s a dark copper color with thin semi viscous legs slowly dripping down the glass. The complex nose of this particular barrel has notes of sweet cinnamon sugar toast, cherry, grilled corn, cherry candy, BBQ char, damp forest floor, barn straw, mixed salted nuts, aspen dust, with honey and flowers. With a splash of water it becomes more floral and grassy with salted pecan and orange notes. The palate has a creamy mouthfeel and starts with some expected high proof heat. Notes include oatmeal raisin cookie, burnt caramel, milk chocolate, and baked green vegetables. With a splash of water, more orange citrus notes come forth. The finish is long and initially spicy that tapers into mintiness. This particular review is ironically for barrel 599, of Distillery 291’s barrel proof flagship rye recipe. The nose is amazing, the flavor is full, by far my favorite rye to date! Definitely recommended. Cheers!

This whisky has a light copper color and thick watery legs. The nose is caramel and maple dominant, with some additional notes of baking spices, buttered toast, marshmallow, corn chips, and some chemical astringency. The palate has an oily mouthfeel, with notes of vanilla, mild spice, robust maple syrup, and a graininess. The finish is semi hot and lingering. In my opinion this expression is better than the original, but it is still not excellent. A mixer for a rye based cocktail wouldn’t be bad, but I’d go with something else first. Cheers!

This gorgeous Irish whiskey is liquid gold or melted sunlight in both taste and color (whichever metaphor better strikes your heartstrings.) And exceedingly thin viscous legs dance slowly down the glass. The nose is overall fruity and floral with notes of honey and grass, orchard fruits, orange, green grapes, and salted caramel. The palate has a creamy mouthfeel and is very fruity with notes of tangerine, sweet red apple, plum, blackberry jam, and cantaloupe melon. The finish is long, with a soft black tea tannic aftertaste. Oh my gosh. This whiskey was another treat from a friend and I am quite blessed to have been able to savor a sample. It is amazing to me what can be done to whiskey to alter the end product so vastly! I believe the saying is true, “There are no bad whiskeys, just exceptional ones.” However compared to this exceptional gem, some whiskeys don’t stand a chance! I highly recommend trying this Irish blessing and would personally love to have it again! Thank you Midleton Distillery! Sláinte!

There is a beautiful copper color with in this whiskey, and thin oily legs cling to the glass. The nose is strong and delicious with notes of peat, sea brine, floral honey, lemon, incense smoke, and burnt rubber. The palate is equally delicious with notes of peat, BBQ char, rubber, sweet apple, French toast, and a medicinal quality. The finish is long and transforms from bitter to sweet and dry. This is a tasty dram! If I were to compare it to a scotch it’d be of the Campbeltown region. I find the generous proof and full flavor so good and I highly recommend it! Thanks, Paul John! Cheers!

This glorious single barreled treat is dark copper in color with very thin oily legs. This bourbon is a delight to look upon. The savory nose explodes with delicious notes of sweet corn, BBQ sauce, caramel candy apples, citrus, vanilla, aspen dust, cloves, and mint. The palate starts with intense heat to begin, then eases into notes of cinnamon, rich syrupy cherry, caramel, honey, brown sugar, smoke and char. With a splash of water it’s more reminiscent of an old fashioned with the notes of cherry and orange turned up. The finish is lingering, cinnamony, and very dry yet sweet, like eating a s’more. My particular bottle is one of 49 from barrel 543. I am a big fan of this whiskey and think the uncut proof allows the flavors and ruggedness to flow unbridled! I definitely recommend! Thanks 291! Cheers!

Bright gold is the color of this whiskey, and I would expect nothing less! The glass walls also show thick watery legs. The nose is sweet but not overly complex. I detect notes of dusty corn, candied walnuts, yogurt covered raisins, cotton candy, and a faint ethanol scent. The palate has a watery mouthfeel, with notes of sweet corn, grape skins, cracked pepper, and Spree candy. The finish is of medium length and ends kind of peppery. I will agree with Distiller’s Jacob Grier when he says this whiskey is, “more glam than dram.” It is a fancy package and a gimmicky finishing process, but that does make one feel this whiskey is special and makes the moments worth celebrating more memorable. As an example, I poured a dram of this for myself when my wife and I brought our daughter, Jane, home for the first time after she was born the other day! It may not be the best whiskey, but the moment made it special. Would I buy it again, probably not. But it made for a nice memory. Thanks Gold Bar. And Cheers to baby Jane!

Visually, this bourbon mash moonshine is clear as water. And thin semi-oily legs slowly go back down the glass. The nose isn’t very complicated, but either by the power of suggestion in its name or otherwise, it does present as “fresh.” There are notes of corn dust, ethanol, granola cereal, minty toothpaste, and inoffensive cleaning products. The palate has a creamy mouthfeel, with notes of corn, watermelon candy, and basil leaves. But it leaves you feeling fresh like Colorado snow. The finish is long-standing but slowly fades with sweetness and a clean aftertaste. This is one fine clear spirit. Obviously its bourbon counterpart is far superior, but as a raw unaged whiskey it is quite respectable! I like it, and recommend a taste. Thanks 291! Cheers!

Dark caramel is the color in this Tennessee Whiskey and thin very oily legs find their way back down the glass. The nose is generally sweet with notes of maple and vanilla, melted butter on toast, banana bread, and an unsweet slight nail polish note to keep things interesting. The palate has a really watery mouthfeel with notes of barrel or BBQ char, salted peanuts, rye bread, barrel spice, and cherry. The finish is spicy, smoky, and lingering. I’m glad I got to try this expression from the Jack Daniel’s lineup. With the higher ABV than the Old No. 7, it has a bit more spice and punch, which I like. It isn’t a phenomenal whiskey, but it’s good. If you come across it and are craving some Jack, I say go for it! Thanks, Jack! Cheers!

Appearance: A honey gold color lights up this special scotch, with thick watery legs teasing one into a sip. Nose: The nose could summarize Nick Offerman himself, I’m sure. There is a tough rugged side boasting delectable Lagavulin peat, and meat like tender BBQ. But there is also a hidden softer side with notes of honey and flowers, incense smoke, red apple and cherry. Taste: The palate isn’t at all overwhelming and is delicious with notes of salty peat, BBQ burnt ends, and dark chocolate. Finish: The finish is briney and peaty and dry. Thoughts: Now this is Lagavulin! I would love nothing more than to drink this scotch with Ron Swanson and discuss life and whiskey! It’s a delicious sipper, with admittedly a bit less flavor than I was expecting, but still fantastic. I am glad I tried it and definitely recommend it! Lagavulin, well done, friends! Sláinte!

Appearance: Darker caramel gold is the color of this Colorado single malt, with thin semi-watery legs dribbling their way back down the glass. Nose: The nose on first approach introduces itself as charred and funky. After opening up, notes come forth like grass, straw and hay, honey, purple clover flowers, melted caramel, cinnamon toast with maple syrup, graham crackers, and brown sugar. Taste: The palate starts with a surprising heat and burn that never really dissipates throughout the journey. Notes I could detect within the blaze were barrel spices, corn, caramel candies, dark plum, clove, and mint reminding me of a sip from a mint julep. Finish: The finish is spicy for a while then drops with a woody dryness. Thoughts: I am drinking from a bottle from “Cask 2” of this whiskey, for those who care. Personally, really enjoy the nose; smelling this is very enjoyable and I could sniff on it for a good while. The taste however, though not unpleasant, is merely more aggressive than I’d like and distracting from the flavors. Besides that, a fine American single malt. Golden Moon, thanks! Cheers!