Tastes

Appearance: Looking into the glass of this 18 year old blend I notice it being the color of golden honey. Medium watery legs surf their way down the sides of the glass. Nose: The first impression of this gorgeous nose is that it’s very fruity - heavy pear, cinnamon apples, ripe strawberry, banana, with the addition of fruity aromatic pipe smoke, some salty ocean surf, light vegetal peat, and some burned toast notes. Taste: The palate starts a little hot and dull at first, but as it opens up, a dark chocolate and vanilla latte taste transitions into a green apple / strawberry note afterwards, followed by a salty peat note. Finish: The finish is medium long in length with a surprising slight burn for the low proof, then a dry / sour green grape essence is left behind. Thoughts: Sometimes the big brands like Jim, Jack, and Johnnie get a bad rap for being so big and sacrificing quality for quantity. To be sure, in some cases perhaps that may be the case; they are businesses after all, and they do want and need to make money. But in their portfolios of products where we may find some subpar items, there are in the lineup, gems that are a delight! This scotch, for example, is one such gem! I really recommend this one and wouldn’t at all mind having it again. Though both are great, the nose is better than the taste in my opinion, but this is a great blend! Johnnie Walker, well done and many thanks! Sláinte!

Appearance: Upon looking in on this classic wheated bourbon, one notices the light copper color and the medium sized watery legs racing back down the glass. Nose: On the nose, tickling one’s nasal senses are notes of sweet candy corn, flowers, caramel, ripe fruit including real cherries (not the candy flavor or maraschino kind), apple pie, brown sugar / molasses, toast or baked bread (which is ironic if I’m remembering this whisky’s origin story correctly), dusty grain, and salted nuts. Adding splash of water leads to only notes of caramel and flowers. Taste: The palate consists of, totally agreeing with our friend Mr. Morton, a creamy mouthfeel. Notes include cherry, barrel spice, honey, vanilla, buttered toast, and a citrusy tang. Adding splash of water gives way to a grassy /straw note with more bite at the end. Finish: There’s a short to medium finish leaving an almost dry and acidic (but not overly so) aftertaste. Thoughts: This is a great classic bourbon! I love this brand’s history, marketing, and taste! Don’t add water, but drank in cocktail or neat I would recommend this bourbon and I am personally excited to try the other members of the Maker’s family! Plus, for the price of roughly a Jackson and some change, you can't go wrong! Cheers!

Appearance: The dark color in this deeper charred Canadian blend is that of a cake donut. Slowly finding their way back down the glass are the whisky’s thin watery legs. Nose: It's a sharper nose of sawdust, car exhaust, and paint thinner notes at first, followed by, after a few minutes of breathing, caramel apples, vanilla, smoke, cherry, and dusty old book notes. With a splash of water it becomes less harsh and more honeyed and maple smelling. Taste: On the palate I’d say this dram is most similar to a generic bourbon. there are notes oaky wood tannins, caramel, baking spices and cardamom, and a green sour/bitter note in the back of the throat. - really not much there. With a splash of water, it gains more candy apple sweet and ashy notes but drops most everything else. Finish: The short medium finish is basically a hot sweet Twizzler candy. Thoughts: This particular offering from the Crown family I wasn’t the most impressed with. It was okay, but the notes and tastes just didn’t seem to fit together. It’s maybe worth trying, but not worth keeping in your collection. Thanks Crown Royal! Cheers!

Appearance: A light straw color is the hue in this high selling blended scotch. Very thin, semi-viscous legs slide down the inside of the glass after a swirl. Nose: On the nose I find notes of grain, dusty corn, a small touch of peat, some ashy smoke, salted caramel candy, and a light lemon flourish. Taste: The palate I find, as their website suggests, not harsh at all. There are notes of honey, some light peat again, lemon or clementine citrus, and red grape. Simple and inoffensive. Finish: The short finish leaves a lemony note that has rung true through the majority of the experience. Thoughts: This blended scotch was a decent dram: affordable, decent tasting, and has a cool history. It’s not a hero whiskey one needs to explore very hard; on the Cutty Sark website they even suggest its best utilized when mixed. I’ll probably not buy it again, but won’t turn anyone away from trying it if they haven’t already. Thanks Cutty Sark! I’m curious to try your Prohibition Edition. Sláinte!

Appearance: Orangey copper was the color of this lovely Irish whiskey, and thin watery legs slid down the glass’s walls, much like Tobey Maguire in the first Spiderman movie when he’s testing his powers. Nose: A beautiful nose welcomes you with notes of caramel and honey, buttery cinnamon toast with brown sugar, dark notes of plum, blackberry, and cherry mixed with yogurt giving me a summer breakfast of berries and yogurt smell. Other notes fill in the extra space such as pine, barrel spice and char. A splash of water adds notes of honey, dandelion, and vanilla and causes it to smell very Canadian. Taste: On the palate, a full oily body. It’s rich with notes of brown sugar and cinnamon again, dark ripe cherry, black pepper, with some medicinal and metallic notes hidden in there as well. Adding a splash of water gives it a sugary sweet Sour Patch candy vibe. Finish: You are left with a medium long finish with a peppery spice aftertaste. Thoughts: This whiskey is good; it’s complex and definitely worth trying. I recommend it. But, if it had a personality, I’d say it would be a little standoffish. I was slightly disappointed in there not being as much as I was expecting on the palate in comparison to the nose. When it comes down to it, of all the expressions of Redbreast I’ve had, I’m choosing the 12 as my favorite! All are good though! Thank you Midleton, for another great whiskey! Sláinte!

Appearance: A caramel copper color tints this Irish whiskey. Thin, extra viscous legs cling to the inside of the glass after a swirl. Nose: Fruity and honeyed is the overarching theme of the nose. Notes of dark plum, dried apricot, lemon, a dustiness, cut hay, sugary candy, and peach tea all contribute to the bouquet. Taste: I heavily agree with our friend, Mr. Phillips - the very first sip is a big punch of fruity flavor. Like Rocky Balboa wearing a Latino fruit hat punching you in the face while you’re eating a fruit salad. Notes of pineapple, tangy orange citrus, sweet red apple, pear, watermelon, caramel, and honey decorate the palate. There is an oily body and mouthfeel that’s nice as it helps those flavors stick around for a bit. Finish: The finish is long with a honey sweetness aftertaste that rises then eventually fades after the swallow. Thoughts: This variant of the Redbreast family is very good but not quite as complex and at the tier of the 12 year old. I still would recommend it and if fruity whiskies are your wheelhouse, this will very much deliver! I can see this being a great spring and summer choice whiskey. I also think the proof on this one was a great choice! Watering it down does it no favors. Midleton, thanks again! Sláinte!

Appearance: The color in this beautiful Irish whiskey is a light caramel hue. Legs within are thin and watery. Nose: Fruity and sweet are my first impressions of the nose. Notes of plum, cherry, red wine, fresh cut hay, buttered toast, coconut, sunscreen, and snickerdoodle cookies all make their appearance and weave throughout each other. Also, I find the more I let it sit, the more it opens and starts to smell like an Old Fashioned with an orange peel garnish. An added splash of water creates more floral and honeyed, walking-through-the-woods-in-the-rain-on-a-warm-day note. Taste: The palate also has a fruity first impression. There are notes of red apples, Twizzler candy, cinnamon sugar toast, and salted caramel. A splash of water brings out notes of yeasty sourdough bread and orange tang. Finish: There is slight heat at first, easing into a mellower medium length, orange citrus finish. Thoughts: Oh my gosh! I am so very impressed with this whiskey and it is easily my new favorite Irish, at least. I highly recommend it and would be happy to buy it again. Thank you Midleton, for this delight! Sláinte!

Appearance: This beautiful blend is khaki gold in color with exceedingly thin and viscous legs. Nose: The nose at first appears mostly as grain “sparkle,” but with some time to open up notes of salty peat smoke, pine trees, candy honey, flowers, sour green apple and grape, and lemon zest all make appearances in the exciting nose. Taste: The delicious palate consists of notes of sea salt, peat, orange citrus, fruity candy, honey, dark chocolate, and campfire smoke. Finish: There is a short to medium finish that rises up in your throat, then dives but leaves behind an almost BBQ aftertaste in the back. Thoughts: There's a lot going on, but it's a good balanced blend. I don't mind it one bit but like it more after letting it breathe a while. I would recommend it. Buchanan’s, I can see why you are one of the top selling blended scotches out there. Keep it up! Sláinte!

Appearance: The color of this highland representative is a light gold, Thin legs stick to the inside of the glass. Nose: The nose is simple but pleasant with notes of flowers, cut hay, light peat, honey, some maltiness, with some spiky sharp notes in there as well. Taste: On the palate the taste is also simple - fruity and sweet with notes of honey, grass and hay, various herbs, and I think a random note of pineapple. Finish: The short to medium finish leaves some heat and a malty honey aftertaste. Thoughts: This young NAS single malt made by Glen Garioch is, in my opinion, a decent bottom shelf single malt. I bought this for a friend to celebrate his newborn son and he loved it! (My friend did too!) There are obviously better options out there, but for sub $30, it’s not half bad. Sláinte!

Appearance: The color of this straight bourbon is a surprising copper. It also has very thin oily legs. Nose: The nose starts you on your journey with salted caramel syrup, followed by corn, a sweet floral bouquet, Graham Crackers, and vanilla. There’s also a mustiness and some moss or decaying leaves. The more time it breathes the sweeter it seems to get. Taste: The first thing I notice is this whiskey has an oily body like a WWE wrestler. Notes on the palate consist of cherry Jolly Rancher, black tea with cream, caramel candy, a light dustiness, and a weird kale note. Finish: There is a short finish, leaving an almost fruity ashy note, like a flavored aromatic pipe tobacco. Thoughts: In my opinion, this bourbon is good. I like it, it’s familiar enough while still unique enough to stand out. It’s better than I thought for a whiskey in this price bracket, though I would love to see what a higher ABV would do to it. I would recommend this if you’re looking for a cheap bourbon while still wanting some quality. Beam, you do this brand justice. Cheers!