Tastes

Blending magic. Simple as that. I came home after a week of vacation in the rain forests of Costa Rica, and found a nice sample of this provided by a friend of mine. After a week of just one pour ( Glenfiddich Winter Storm), and daily juices of various fruits and berries, this dram was a welcome sight to sore eyes and taste buds. I can’t really describe it...it’s just a whirlwind of flavors...rich, oily, yet light and fruity. You definitely get the sherry (seems like oloroso), but you can tell there’s really high quality well aged grain in there too, from the fruity backbone. Why the hell didn’t I buy a bottle when it was readily available? Hindsight is 20/20, but for now...enjoying this.

Our last night in Costa Rica, and I treated myself to this during a nice last night vacation dinner. After three locations in CR ( mountains and valleys of Monteverde, volcano and rainforests of Arenal, and sheer luxury of the Guanacaste coast), I thought this was an apt way to part. Honestly, I was surprised to see this on the hotel shelf...not readily available in the US, never mind here in Costa Rica. At about $30/pour...expensive. But unique. I’m generally not a Fiddich fan, but this was interesting. It’s like walking into an Asian tropical fruit section. Aromas of lychees, jackfruit, kiwi. Palette is more of the same. Definitely worth trying...especially if you enjoy higher quality Irish whiskey (think Bushmill 21, Redbreast 21). You’ll get a similar tropical fruit basket, but with an Asian bent.

Really a great summer time hot weather dram. Light nuts on the aroma; really delicate. Almost floral...I’m amazed at how the finishing hasn’t overpowered this Lowlander. I’d expect any finishing to do a number on Lowlanders, but this is executed quite delicately. Palette...okay, not as exciting as the nose, but still...not bad! It’s not challenging or complex, but doesn’t need to do be. Thanks @LeeEvolved for the sample!

I had a pour of this, courtesy of @LeeEvolved . I love trying these new American craft distilleries; they have to use creativity, finishing sourced products, and adherence to quality just to compete and stay relevant. And even if they do all of these things really well, it’s still no guarantee of turning a profit, as we saw most recently with Copper River out of NJ shutting its doors. Their best hope is going the route of High West and selling to a major spirits company. Anyway, these gals here have placed out a pretty good sourced product with a spin on their own finishing. Reddish mahogany color, followed by sweet plums and vanilla on the nose. Taste is typical sweet bourbon, but with a twist of red berries (from the finishing ). I don’t think they’re anywhere as close to High West in their finishing, but it’ll be interesting to see if their own product will be as good as Stranahan’s, Westland, or the other established craft distillers. Thanks @LeeEvolved , i’ll be keeping an eye out for these as they start evolving.

I’ve had several family friends that have sworn this was the best thing since sliced bread, so,naturally I had to give it a shot. Granted, these same family friends are white wine and rose drinkers, so that should’ve clued me in from the get-go. But, I was meeting a friend this evening over drinks, and I saw this on the shelf. I figured now’s a good time as any to trust the palette of a white wine or rose drinker in sugggesting what classifies as good bourbon. This ain’t it. I was hoping for some depth and oomph...sort of like what I’d get out of an Elijah Craig barrel proof. Nope. It’s pulling it’s punches. Has the vanilla and oak, but a tad too weak. Has the caramel, but faint. I think this is maybe $60 or so? I can spend that $60 better else where. The lesson learned: if a rose drinker tells you that there’s a bourbon you absolutely must try...don’t. It’s like if you were to tell the rose drinker there’s a rose he/she absolutely must try. That opinion ain’t worth a rat’s ass.

Firstly, I need to apologize for the screwy upload of this. I’m a part of the beta testing to directly add new items. As you can see, just “Westland” isn’t a sufficient description. I meant to write “ Westland Hand filled distillery only 5 yr old Moscato finish”. And as you can also see, my picture positioning skills have much to be desired. Anyway...on to the review: so this is a distillery only, almost 5 year old, made from 5 types of barley, and aged in American oak before being transferred to moscato wine barrel. I love Westland for their creativity and adherence to local sourcing, and it shows in their quality. They do only one thing—-make single malt whiskey, and do it freakin well. No gin, no vodka, no beer, no bourbon. They were financed several years by early investors which afforded them not to provide a revenue stream till the whiskey matured, which is a rare luxury for new craft distilleries. And they don’t source their whiskey, instead opting to use only local Washington state barley (hey, High West and Wistlepig...take note). They’re actually doing some really cool things with local peat (yes, I was surprised to learn we Americans have peat!!?), as well with organic heirloom barley. In about 2 years, they’ll be the first whiskey makers to use heirloom barley from seeds over hundreds of years. That barley is blue...will be interesting to see the effect on whiskey. So, this distillery only bottling is unique...aromas of chocolate liqueur like Godiva, and an initial palette heat which soon settles into a Christmas cake flavor. Considering it’s their first 5 yr old (almost), and their only moscato finish...it’s a must-have if you’re a Westland fan. If you’ve had their previous products, this one puts those to shame. I’d say it’s in line , if not better, than their Garryana 2017. Superbly well made with care and quality at the forefront,

I’m glad to be going to this summer camp. Sure, my kids can go to the YMCA summer camp and do swimming and other stuff, but not me...I’d rather give up my job for the summer and imbibe in whiskey all day and night for 3 months. Looking forward to my bottle of this !

Thanks to @The_Rev , I got to try my first Alabama whiskey. Honestly, I was expecting something closer to moonshine...just knowing that Clyde May was a moonshiner. I was dead wrong. This is more a mix of the heather / honey of a Speysider with the corn sweetness of a Kentucky bourbon. Thanks @The_Rev !

Another sample courtesy of the distillery tour. Apparently one week every year, the distillery in Seattle holds a big festive party, and this bottle is made in commemoration. Their normal peated version is actually mixed with peated malt and unpeated. But this one is fully all peated malt. Side by side with the peated version, this fully peated one is definitely more complex and smokier. Personnaly I still think their Garryana is by far the best, but this comes in second. Strong smoke, followed by your typical Islay style medicinal qualities. This is apparently made using Scottish Islay Peat,but they are working on a Washington state peated one, which should be out in 3 years.