Tastes

With Fireball you know what you’re getting. It’s probably not a go-to for avid whisky lovers, but it has its place. On the nose is cinnamon spice. The taste seems artificially sweet but is instantly recognizable. It takes me back to childhood when my dad would buy hot tamales candy, red hots or big red chewing gum and let me have some. It has a long finish with medium heat.

A classic Islay scotch with a medicinal essence. The color is light gold, but not bright. There is a tinge of cool green undertones almost as if a gold coin from a sunken ship oxidized after settling in a bed of seaweed. On the nose, there is instant peat smoke followed by brininess. I pick out the distinct smell of bleu cheese stuffed olives. Funky. Vinegar. Salt. The taste is initially sweet and smooth followed by a cloud of smoke. The finish is long with the salty seaweed and medicinal flavors lingering.

An excellent every day bourbon with a respectable ABV at an affordable price. The nose is heavy with fruit, specifically apple and notes of cherry. The palate is sweet with caramel and apple. Slight spice on the finish, but not overwhelming.

On the nose there is a strong presence of vanilla with subtle undertones of fruit. On the palate, there is also vanilla and apple as the predominant flavors. When adding a drop of water, the flavors shift and push carmel to the forefront with a long finish.

A more complex take on the classic 10 year, the 12 year LaSanta is deeper and richer in color. Instead of the golden hues from the 10 year, the LaSanta takes on a redish brown color, presumably due to the sherry casks. On the nose, I primarily picked up notes of dried fruit and chocolate. On the palate, the flavors were initially buttery and savory. The finish returns to the dried fruit and baking spice theme, leaving me feeling like I had just sipped down a fresh baked raisin spice cake.

The concept of being aged at sea was intersting to me, but I was unsure if I would detect any noticeable differences. After my first tasting, I have to say, I’m a believer. On the nose I detected sweetness and fruit. The smell was pleasant, but didn’t present anything surprising. Overall the aroma was what you would expect from a bourbon. Moving on to the taste - this is where it really shines. When the bourbon touches the palate, there is an instant sweetness and smoothness. Flavors of carmel come to the forefront and there seems to be a slight oiliness. In contrast, the finish is spicy and slightly smoky. The aftertaste is subtly reminiscent of a blended scotch.