Tastes
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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. -
Bunnahabhain 30 year TWB Artemis
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed June 5, 2022 (edited August 17, 2022)Wow. This is freakin’ good. This was our pour #2, sent courtesy of @pkingmartin , for our quarterly online tasting ( followed after a old rare Balvenie 10, and preceding a hefty in-your face JD single barrel barrel strength rye). I so wish I bought this when I had the opportunity. Especially considering the price. And I’m not a sucker for labels, but this is of Artemis, which is NASA’s next flight to the moon ( sister of Apollo…which was the first flight to the moon ). I’m a huge space junkie, so this is one of the only labels that truly hit home for me. If Brora had a wanna-be little brother, this would be it. Farmy, slightly peaty, a citrus hit. All wrapped in an elegant silky backbone of shortbread. If you find this bottle, buy on sight. Thanks again to @pkingmartin for the pour! -
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye (2020 Special Release)
Rye — Tennessee, USA
Reviewed June 5, 2022 (edited August 17, 2022)Jack Daniels is like that awkward kid in high school. You know, the kid with braces, pants that are 1 inch too short, glasses with a scotch tape in the center. Yeah, that kid. But then, that’s the same kid that 10yrs later is a knockout hottie , with a PhD in chemical engineering from Stanford, and a personality that lights up the room. Yeah, sudden metamorphosis from being a bottom shelf cola mixer to a much sought after limited release. This pour was generously sent by @ctbeck11 …we ( as in @pkingmartin , @Richard-ModernDrinking , and I ) had our quarterly online tasting. This was one of the highlight pours we had during the tasting. I’m so glad we had this as the last pour of the night. The first was an early 80s bottled Balvenie 10 (cognac bottle shape), followed by an amazing Bunna 30, and then this. The aroma is powerful. Herbaceous, minty. That mint burst even more on the palette, backed by chocolate and mocha. Just amazing. So…this is what I’m loving about Jack Daniel’s. About 10 years ago, all they did was make stuff we can mix into soda. Now, they have it all—-amazing limited releases like this that can stand up to the best of any rye, to the affordable new releases ( bonded, triple), as well as the single barrel ones that are in the $60-70 range. This is a special treat—-thanks again @ctbeck11
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