Tastes
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Bushmills. That very name brings back one particular memory. It was my business school days. It’s an automatic Pavlovian response. I hear Bushmills, and then this one particular memory from my MBA days come back. I was 24. Minding my own business, studying in the graduate school library., which was shared by the entire grad school across all their programs. This young woman is sitting across me, and we start chatting. She’s talking about research she’s looking into regarding some English lit. I assumed she was in the MS or PhD lit program. We chatted for hours that evening. Before heading out, I asked her out on a date. Was thrilled she agreed. So, the following weekend, I pick her up from her house, right outside the campus. I assumed ( wrong assumption #1) that she was living off campus with friends. We go to an Italian restaurant, all the while again having a great conversation. I ordered a Bushmills, and I assumed she’d like wine—-I asked her “red or white”?, she replies back “ I can’t drink”. I assumed she just doesn’t drink. Wrong assumption #2. Midway through dinner, she mentions how she’s so afraid of upcoming PSATs. I froze right then. “PSATs? Is that some graduate literature thing?”. “No. It’s the test you take in your junior year of high school”. Holy shit. I’m driving you right back home. Crap. Get in the car, and you need to get back home. Apparently she was in the grad school library looking up research articles…in my defense, I had no idea that smart high schoolers come there for research. Anyway…this 16 year old Bushmills bought back that memory. This Bushmills is in a totally different experience than the one ages ago. I’m sharing this with friends of similar age. This is rich in aromas. Cherry and tropical fruits. Palette is fruits layered with milk chocolate. Amazing… not sure of the price, I’m only have a pour at a friend’s. But I notice this is 40%. Too bad…this would be a notch up if it were higher ABV. So…net/net: it’s a whiskey worth having this with friends or family…not high school women researching articles in a grad school library.
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Gold Spot 9 Year Single Pot Still
Single Pot Still — Ireland
Reviewed July 25, 2022 (edited January 14, 2023)I feel as if Mitchell’s Spot series are the Marvel movies of the whiskey world. Just when you think you’ve seen one superhero movie, which was pretty good, they come out with a bunch more that are also pretty good. But at some point, enough is enough …I’m then super hero’ed out and want something totally different. I find all they’re doing is more of the same…just a different superpower. I feel as if I’m there with these Spot series. I’m right at the point of “enough already…all you’re doing is simply increasing the price and adding a new frickin color”. This is the newest Spot. Nine years in bourbon, Sherry, Bordeaux wine, and port pipes. Hefty 51%. I only am having a pour…was actually astonished to find this sitting on the shelf at an upscale Asian fusion restaurant in Kauai. From my understanding, it’s not a regular lineup, but quite limited. Not sure if the bottle count. Pineapples. That’s all I get on the nose. Plenty of pineapples. It’s like I’m in sitting in the middle of a Dole pineapple field. Not that it’s a bad thing. I love pineapples..so, yeah, I’m good. But if you’re not a fan of the yellow temptress of the fruit kingdom, move on. This is a head on full body and mind immersion into pineapples. On a side note—-did you know there’s such thing as a white pineapple? It’s sweeter, less acidic, and you can eat the damn core! Anyway…back to this…palette is a bit less on the pineapple, more on bread and bakery goods. Some fruit…peaches…Sherry and red berries ( from the port pipe?). Nice balance of red fruit, baked goods, with added heft from the ABV. Overall, this is really good. I only had a pour, but if the price is right ( <$100), I would buy a bottle. It’s a toss up between this and the Blue Spot…all comes down to preference. This is a bit fruity, Blue is a bit richer.15.0 USD per PourAMA Restaurant -
Ledaig 2005 13 year TWE
Single Malt — Highland , Scotland
Reviewed July 25, 2022 (edited July 26, 2022)The 2nd sample vial I bought with me to Hawaii…this one a 13 yr sherry matured Ledaig, sent courtesy from @Richard-ModernDrinking. In 75 degree weather, sitting by the Westin Princeville pool, not sure if a Peat/ sherry combo is ideal in this setting….more meant for lighter drinks, but is there ever a wrong place for a really good Ledaig? This is how I like my whiskey. Rich, thick mouthfeel. It’s briny, salty, and sweet. Carmelized fruit. Rich meat and nuts ( the recent macadamia crusted ahi I just had comes to mind). Sea salt chocolate. It’s a decadent whiskey that acts older than its young teen years. Great cask choice by the folks over at TWE. Thanks Richard for the pour! -
Smögen 8 Year Old (2020 batch)
Single Malt — Sweden, Sweden
Reviewed July 24, 2022 (edited August 28, 2022)My last night in Hawaii….and here I am sitting on the balcony in Hilo, directly looking at rough tropical ocean waves pounding against the lava foundation. This is as far as one can imagine from Sweden, and yet here I am having one of my favorite European distilleries, pour sent courtesy of @pkingmartin . This is what a young Ardbeg wishes it was. Wafts of smoke and peat as soon as you open the bottle. Peaty, smoky, lemon-y on the palette. Well beyond its 8 years. Comparing this to the Ardbeg 8, it’s a no competition. This is by far a more quality product, with focus on the liquid itself instead of marketing bullshit stories. Well made…and yes, pricey , as Smogen always is, but you are getting a top notch product that surpasses any Islay of equivalent age. -
While here in Kauai, I convinced the family to make a quick pit stop at the Koloa rum tasting. Four rums, all quite decent—but this one here was my favorite. Christmas in a bottle. You get cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar on the nose. Palette is the same. Surprisingly not sweet at all, and would be an amazing fall sipper The sheer amazing natural beauty of the Garden Isle probably added a bit of bias to the score…but nonetheless, this was the one bottle I gladly shelled out $30 for a purchase.30.0 USD per BottleKōloa Rum™ Company Store & Tasting Room
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Cognac Sponge Grosperrin 1968
Cognac — Fin Bois , France
Reviewed July 8, 2022 (edited August 3, 2022)Pedigree. So much weight placed on a assumption of greatness based on data points. Most pan out really well. Some not so much. Let’s take this week’s outlier: Boris Johnson. Such high pedigree—-an Eton grad that took the helm of Brexit. All data points, minus his hair, would point towards a greatness. But alas, he fizzled out. And by last week, his cabinet was as empty as a flash sale on a shelf full of Springbank. And that lead us to this. I have a bone the size of T-Rex’s femur to pick with these guys. This is a 52 yr old Fin Bois cognac from a 1968 vintage. That in itself would out this in a rarified category. And it’s from Grosperrin , who is noted in finding hidden gems. And bottled by Serge Valentin’s ( of whiskey review fame) sidekick — Angus aka the Whisky Sponge. The price on this reflects its pedigree…well over $400-500. But I only bought a small sample from TWE. Nose is incredible. I had it in my glencairn over 20 minutes before taking the first sip, and the air permeated with notes of cedar wood and jasmine. Should’ve been labeled Eau D’ Jasmine. Palette is where I left sorely disappointed. It was such a let down —a bit astringent, oak-y, and too grape-y. I’m glad I didn’t buy a bottle. The pedigree is there, but it falls flat. Of course…TWE could’ve just pour the worst ones into their smaller sample size…who knows. -
Killowen Dalridian part 2
Blended Malt — Islay & Ireland , Ireland
Reviewed July 2, 2022 (edited August 17, 2022)The thing with these guys is that they’re good…but over priced. I loved their Dalridian part 1, which was aged also 11yr. Their 10yr olds are also good, but the lower age statements are simply a hard pass. And even their 10 and 11 year olds are quite seriously over priced…despite how good they can be. It’s usually a peated Islay ( Caol Ila usually) combined with a Irish ( most likely Bushmill), and then maybe a secondary maturation in some other wood as a combination. I believe this particular one was a bourbon matured Caol Ila mixed with an Oloroso matured Bushmill, and maybe no secondary. Priced at $150 for a 500ml is DAMN pricey. I only bought a sample at $10. It’s good…but you’re paying a hefty price for what is in essence a 11 yr old blended malt. Nose is fresh —- almonds, some smoke, and fruits. You can so tell it’s got that Islay -Irish mix. Palette is lower in the smoke scale, but the fruity Bushmill takes center stage. Then you get the salty briny smoke. At $50 for a 500ml—-immediate buy. But the way these are priced, you’re paying a premium for the blending skill. Hard pass on the bottle—-but if you find a sample—it’s a must try.10.0 USD per Pour -
Balcones Peated Texas Single Malt Whisky
American Single Malt — Texas, USA
Reviewed June 26, 2022 (edited August 20, 2023)This will grow some hair on your chest. Regardless if you’re male or female. It’s damn potent, hot, and firing on all cylinders. So I generally haven’t found an American peated whiskey that’s as good as an equivalent priced Scottish peated. I find the Americans generally one dimensional, young , and hot. I would expect peat to add layers of complexity ( think Springbank or Laphroaig or Lagavulin). So, I know I’m in the minority, but my standard of comparison is skewed towards a baseline set by industry leaders in peated whiskey. This is good…don’t get me wrong. But it’s potent heat, charred meat, and some fruit. It’s young…which is what I feel is really holding it back. Simply needs a bit more time to age. Nonetheless, it’s good, and our American standard of what is a good peated whiskey. Thanks @pkingmartin for the pour!! -
Sierra Norte Single Barrel Yellow
Corn — St. Augustine de las Juntas, Mexico
Reviewed June 23, 2022 (edited August 17, 2022)As much as I was raving about the extremely rare green corn version from these folks, this one here is the polar opposite. I had a single cask pour, so mileage may vary. I couldn’t take the smell of it. Aroma of sewage and burnt plastic. I had the hardest time even taking a sip, just couldn’t get past the aroma. Taste was just as bad. Rotten green vegetables, spoiled meat. Wondering if I had a bad cask, or something in it triggered a response in me…who know. But it was only a 1cl pour from a tasting set. Poured 90% of it down the drain. -
Sierra Norte Green Corn Barrel 270
Single Malt — Oaxaca , Mexico
Reviewed June 22, 2022 (edited August 17, 2022)Who knew Mexico makes whiskey??! I assumed they make only tequila and mezcal. But, yeah…whiskey too. I guess anyone can make whiskey, all you need is some grain. And then they can all talk about “terroir” and “local water source” and single origin grain, or whatever. And one other eye opener…green corn?!?! So not only does Mexico make whiskey, but they have green corn?!?! Never knew that was a thing. I had a small pour of this…and it blew my socks off. Apparently, green corn whiskey is EXTREMELY difficult to make, because the green corn is extremely difficult to work with as a grain. Now this whiskey is the only known green corn whiskey in the world. Yes. Only green corn whiskey in the world..that’s how freakin’ difficult and rare it is to make. And a single cask to boot. NCF, no color, single cask…and only a few casks of this made. Nose is jalapeño, green Chile, herbal. Thick and viscous. Palette really comes alive. It’s a cross between bourbon, Springbank, and a dose of tequila. With a slice of green chile. Really unique. At $155, it’s pricey…but I can see why…only a few casks, difficult grain to grow and work. Glad I got to try a pour, and if you see this anywhere, buy a pour—-the uniqueness is a price well paid.
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