Tastes

This is good but not great. Like the proof, has the trademark lag wood, Smokey banana peels profile. Got this at a steep discount so I’m very happy but I’d not have been happy paying retail back when diageo was trying to cash in on the GoT rush. Whoops! Probably made way too many of these.

Macallan isn’t my favorite distillery. IMO it’s generally overpriced and overrated. However they do know how to make a sherried single malt and when they hit with a decent proof and well selected casks I can see what the fuss is all about. This is Sherry forward. I’d hesitate to call it a bomb, as it has some balance of dark fruit, musty malt and some wood spice. But the sherry and oak steal the show. Has a dry finish, and a layered sweetness of fruit and honey. If I could find this at a decent price I’d buy a bottle.

This is like drinking apple cider and then licking the barrel. Very fruit forward, lots of sweet malty notes with an overly intense oak spice. It opens up with water and air. Drinkable but I didn’t find myself going back to this often. I realize with a quarter cask the wood is a feature and not a bug but it’s a miss for me.

Lemon peel, tar, oak. Dry but sweet. It’s interesting after having probably about 10 different Ardbegs to see how subtle changes impact the base spirit. The black oak really makes it’s mark on this one, and in an interesting way. Some bitterness and sweetness to the finish. I did a bottle share on this and glad I did...because it’s a fine dram but also because I’m not sure I’d need a whole bottle. Looking forward to the next new Ardbeg! Updating this as I’m finally kicking my half bottle. The longer I’m away from this the more I appreciate the combo of being wholly unique and yet distinctly Ardbeg. I’d definitely enjoy a whole bottle. Unfortunately you’d probably have to find it at auction at absurd prices by now.

1st bookers batch for me and it looks like I picked a good one. I’ve had bakers before so familiar with the distillery profile. This drinks rather easily for its hefty proof. It’s oily and immediately hits you with cinnamon, baking spices and vanilla. There’s an edge of peanuts but it’s more like it was made adjacent to nut dust and not soaking in them like some of the other nutty bourbons I’ve had. There’s a lingering burn and that’s usually when they show up.

Very sweet and easy to drink. Vanilla and brown sugar. This reminded me of sweet tea.

Very quaffable even at cask strength. Dark fruit and strawberry on the nose and palate. Has a very strong salty jam note that I found pleasant. Reminded me of a nice continental breakfast. Which is to say that it was perfectly fine and got the job done but you’re gonna be hungry an hour later.

This is an excellent bourbon, one of my favorites so far. It checks all the boxes for a cask strength quality bourbon...vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon/rye spice. Considering the proof it goes down very nice neat and just as well with an ice cube or splash of water. Drank this right after makers cask strength and it just wasn’t fair...quality stuff.

This is a contender for my favorite rye although I’m still a bit new to the category. I’ve had maybe 12-15 so far (mostly highly rated ones) and it’s between this and the willett 4yr. What I find so unique about this bottle is how clean and crisp the rye spice is, with cereal notes and a winter spearmint spice that doesn’t turn into the heavy chewing gum/breath mint aftertaste many ryes have. It takes water well and some of the underlying notes of vanilla and apple come out with a teaspoon or so. But don’t overdo it. Shared a bottle and had to buy another one when I spotted it. grab one if you see it while you still can.

Tasty. I didn’t pick up any notes that aren’t widely observed but I would note that the rye (spearmint side) definitely comes through on this one and I thought on tasting it the mash bull might have a 20%+ rye. I’d be interested in trying this at cask strength. 86 proof is pretty low for a bourbon IMO and this comes off as a bit weak. I enjoy the port wine finish and think it helps smooth out the rye edges. My biggest complaint is that it’s overpriced and allocated in my state. It’s just not good enough for that. I was “lucky” to get this for $49 and that’s an ok price but I see if often for 2x that.