Tastes

This four grain bourbon is dark copper in color with thin oily legs. The nose is full-bodied and sweet overall, with notes of sour candy, overripe peach, apple skins, sweet floral honey, melted caramel, milk chocolate, leather, and sourdough bread. There’s an oily mouthfeel on the palate, and after the initial heat there arise notes of cherry, strawberry candy, dry oak and grassy straw, dark chocolate, vanilla, and BBQ char, The finish is long, lingering and spicy like curry with dry oak tannins. I am sipping from one of the bottles of batch #3 of this special release bourbon from 291, and man, it is so good! With the addition of wheat into the mix, the already complex flavor is both broadened and softened, making for a fantastic dram! Try it if you have the chance! Cheers!

This bourbon whiskey is a honey gold color with thin viscous legs. The nose is funky and quite different; There is a note of warm muggy pond moss reminding me of my parents’ pond in the summer. There are other notes like wet straw, dusty corn, boiled carrots, and candy corn. The palate is simple with an oily mouthfeel. There are notes of honey, bitter herbs, Froot Loops cereal, and yeasty bread. There is a medium length, dry and grassy finish. This bourbon was very unusual. It didn’t possess many typical “bourbon notes,” so if one’s wanting a different adventure that’s still in the bourbon camp, this is for you, I however wasn’t a big fan. Sorry Leopold, I’d like to be won over by some other product of yours though! Cheers!

This special scotch is a light straw yellow color with thin semi-watery legs. The nose is delicious and overall dry and fruity, with notes including lemon zest, orchard fruit, dark juicy plum, fresh grass, cherry, peach, and a sweet note reminiscent of beer or whiskey fermentation. The palate has notes of salted caramel, green apple, oak tannins, tart green grapes, banana bread, and sour candy. The finish is moderate in length, tannic and fruity. Sláinte!

This whiskey is a caramel syrup gold color with semi- thin watery legs noticeable on the inside. The nose is overall fruity sweet and peaty with notes of honey, floral, citrus, cherry, banana, vanilla, caramel apple, mild peat, and salty sea brine. The palate has a watery mouthfeel and is overall sweet with notes orange, cinnamon sugar, cherry candy, Whoppers milk chocolate malt balls, and more salty peat as the whiskey opens up. The finish is long, soft, and sweet & salty. First, I’m sad to say that Blue Fish Distillery is no longer in business, so this bottle was one of the last ones in existence to my knowledge. That being said, I am blessed to have been able to try it. From batch #20 bottle #1,817, the whiskey is made with 70% Irish malt and 30% peated malt barley and the peatiness is so fun to find in a local whiskey. I really enjoy this whiskey and wish to see more like it! Cheers!

This unique bourbon whiskey is a khaki gold color with semi-thin watery legs dribbling down the glass. The nose is sweet and full overall with ethanol at first, then notes of candied pecans, maple syrup, dusty corn, vanilla, malt, milk chocolate, fruity candy, and BBQ smoke. The palate has a watery mouthfeel, with notes of caramel, country stalk of straw in your mouth, Twizzler candy, and syrupy cherry. The finish is mild and lingering initially, but becomes harsh if left to open up for too long. This bourbon is made by my friends master distiller and master chef, Victor Matthews and his team in Green Mountain Falls, CO. This is a worthy addition to their lineup and I recommend it! Good folks and good spirits! Thanks friends! Cheers!

A light straw yellow color illuminates this whiskey, while super thin viscous legs dribble down the glass. The nose is a light bodied, fresh nose with notes of dry farm straw, grass, garden herbs, vanilla, leather, lemon, dried apricot, and orchard fruits particularly pear. The palate has an oily mouthfeel and a richer yet simpler taste than the nose would let on. There are notes of vanilla, caramel, maple, and dry grass. The finish is mild and it slowly tapers off and fades like an 80’s rock song. This blend of North American whiskeys from Lee Spirits isn’t bad. I’d say it isn’t their best product as Lee’s specialty is gin, but it’s still a decent blend. If I remember right it’s a blend of bourbon, Canadian, and a white dog rye. I’d recommend trying it and visiting Lee Spirits’ speakeasy, Brooklyn’s on Boulder in Colorado Springs. Thanks friends! Cheers!

This rye whiskey had a copper color with thicker oily legs. The nose was overall sweet and sour with notes of peach, pear, red apple, honey, strawberry Twizzler, dusty corn, sweet tarts, and a note I can unfortunately only describe as gym sweat. The palate had a velvety mouthfeel, with notes of blue cheese, green apple, red grape, citrus, cinnamon, and rye spiciness. The finish was medium length with a pineapple and grape skin aftertaste. Rye is a whiskey category that I am finding is quite diverse. This particular rye was very different from others I’ve had but so good! I had this one when my fellow distillers and I had a night out at a whiskey bar after work, and I would definitely recommend! Whistlepig, thanks! Cheers!

This high rye bourbon is caramel syrup in color with thin viscous legs. The nose has notes of baking and rye spices, apple pie, cherry, warm melted caramel, cinnamon toast, strawberries and cream, and aspen dust. The palate has an oily mouthfeel and is overall sweet and spicy, with notes of cinnamon spice, breakfast toast, orange candy, and milk chocolate malt balls. The finish is long and minty. This fantastic bourbon is complex yet well balanced and one of my favorite products from Distillery 291! Barrel 16, bottle 31/46 is what I am tasting from, but every time I’ve had it, it’s been delicious! I very much recommend! Thanks and cheers!

This local bourbon has thin oily legs, the brown color of a cooked donut, and is cloudy as a typical Seattle day. The nose is quite light and sweet with notes of faint corn dust, floral wheat and flowers, sweet red apple, vanilla, graham cracker, and milk chocolate malt balls. The palate has notes of sweet Thanksgiving creamed corn, fruity sour Trolli candy, lemon, caramel, and honey. Finish: The finish is lingering with a note of sweet tea. This is a very different bourbon. It’s good, not the best, and pretty mild. The flavors though are so unique it’s an interesting ride! I’d recommend a taste if you’re in the area. Cockpit Craft Distillery, thanks for the juice and for your service! Cheers!

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!