Tastes

Nose: Quite a bit of ethanol punch for a 40 proof whiskey. Oak abound with some background notes of vanilla and citrus peel. Not super complex but nice smelling. Flavor: Just like the nose but VERY sweet. Vanilla, oak, and a little bit of citrus peel here as well. Quite a bit of alcohol burn for the 80 proof. I don't think the 10 years in a barrel have done this whiskey any favors. Finish: Fairly short with a good bit of barrel bitter that I found a little off putting and a hint of rye spice. This whiskey is ok but nothing exciting. Maybe a higher proof would have brought out more of the flavor? It seems a waste to age something 10 years only to mute the flavors by bottling at a lower proof. If Basil Hayden's ever has a barrel proof release I'm all over it.

I tried this at Whiskyfest SF but I'd had a few already. Pretty sure I liked it but...here's a sober taste. Nose: Presents as very sweet with a traditional high rye bourbon nose of vanilla, dark caramelized sugars, and very heavy apple. As I get more of the nose I start to get some lightly herbal rye notes and a little bit of fresh baked sourdough. Flavor: More vanilla and dark sugars with quite a bit of oak from all of those age stated whiskeys that were blended in. Some grassy rye notes and a little bit of toasted peanuts in the background. Presents as what it is: a blend of rye and bourbon. Finish: Medium long, gets pretty herbal with quite a bit of mint and black pepper. Some rye spice but not as much as I'd expect. A little drying oaky note towards the very end. Overall this is a nice whiskey with the herbal notes from the rye offset nicely by the sweet nutty ones from the bourbon. Comes across a lot like a Maryland style rye (usually around 51% rye and heavy corn) like Sagamore but the high age does wonders for the complexity and dark sugar notes.

I've been wanting a Booker's bottle for a while but never wanted to spend the bucks until I found one for $57.99 at Costco and I couldn't resist. Nose: Even from a distance I get a powerful vanilla scent, more than any bourbon I've ever nosed. Dark caramelized sugars, quite a bit of oak, and some leather and cigar in the background. Just a hint of boiled peanut. Flavor: Sweet caramelized sugars, dark and buttery, a little bit of leather, dried cherry, and quite a bit of cinnamon and clove. Punches way under the proof that the bottle indicates. This comes across closer to 105 proof. Finish: Long finish with that Beam nutty note that I always expect but it's less peanut and more buttery macadamia nut. Dark barrel char but not drying like I usually get from other Booker's bottlings. Spicy finish but not overwhelmingly so. Wow. This is the most balanced Booker's I've tried. They've all been delicious but all are either too heavy on the leather, too heavy on the sweetness to where it is a little cloying, or too heavy on the spice at the end. This one just hits all the right notes for me.

A sample bottle picked up in a sampler pack as I'm curious about Balvenie. Nose: Very light with dark sugars and malty notes. A little honey and mango on the back. Flavor: The rum is much more of a background note on this and I appreciate it. Sweet and light with a buttery mouth feel, crème brulee with caramelized sugars, and a little barrel char. Finish: Fairly short with a little bit of oaky char and finishing with a sweet mango note. I like this a lot. Balvenie is apparently my thing. I appreciate the mild rum finish that didn't beat me over the head with the rum but rather accented the finished whiskey with nice dark sugar and buttery notes. Delicious.

A sample bottle picked up in a sampler pack as I'm curious about Balvenie. Nose: Very similar to the 12 year Doublewood but quite a bit more barrel oak notes, more char, and heavier on the vanilla and sugars. Flavor: Delicious! A vanilla and honey bomb followed by dried cherries and figs. Buttery and thick mouth feel as well. Finish: Medium length with more dark sugar and a little bit of baking spices with some spice and quite a bit of oak and some sherry funk. My favorite sherry finished single malt to date. This is way more refined and polished than the 12 year.

A sample bottle picked up in a sampler pack as I'm curious about Balvenie. Nose: Vanilla and a ton of red fruit and quite a bit of sherry cask funk. Pretty basic sherry cask finished single malt nose with not a whole lot else sticking out. Flavor: Much milder on the sherry finish than the nose suggests. Vanilla, light sugars, dried dates and figs, dried cherry, a little bit of musty sherry funk. Very pleasant. Finish: Medium short, some more sherry funk with quite a bit of oak and more spice than I'd expect from a single malt. Overall I liked this quite a bit. Maybe my favorite sherry finished whiskey to date.

I should point out that I've tried this. In more ways than one actually. First I tried a sample of the old 6 year that dthom picked up in Kentucky. Secondly I tried the new 7 year at Whiskyfest SF but...it was something like taste #15. I think I liked it but my memories at that point are kind of fuzzy. Nose: Interesting and complex. Vanilla, dark caramelized sugars, dates and figs, malted milk balls with the emphasis on milk chocolate, some yeasty bread notes. Flavor: Sweet vanilla crème brulee up front, very buttery for a 7 year age stated product, toasted coconut as well. A little bit of that signature Heaven Hill roasted peanut. Finish: Medium length, a little spicy with a ton of baking spices HEAVY on the clove with lingering cinnamon and cardamom. A little bit of oak on the finish but not overwhelming. Overall this is a very nice whiskey. An easy sipper but not super simple with enough complexity that I wouldn't get fatigued on glass number 2. And for those of you who are thinking or saying it: Yes I realize that you used to be able to get this in Kentucky for $15. I've tasted the 6 year and it was nice. This is better. $25 better? Maybe not. You know what? I don't live anywhere near the mythical land of Kentucky where fairies float in the air farting out magical whiskey dust. So I like this as it is without comparison to the old product that you can't get anywhere anyways. But seriously Kentucky don't ever change. OK...maybe change a little by meeting demand with supply. That is all.

I've wanted to try this for a while as I've heard some good things. Nose: Very sweet right up front, vanilla, poached apple, honey, some background yeasty fresh baked bread notes and a little bit of grassy herbal play. Pretty but kind of plain smelling. Flavor: Very plain. Vanilla, light sugars, baked apple, very sweet like the nose suggests. A little bit of funk that I associate with malted whisky. Not bad but kind of simple. Finish: Medium long, quite a bit more spice than I expected. A lot of dry barrel notes, black pepper, and a little bit of mint. Overall not bad but kind of boring. I'd say it's a poor value for the price. If this were a $25-$30 bottle I'd be more on board.

Nose: Vanilla, light sugar, and a ton of barrel funk. Way more funk than I'd expect, more than I'd think would come from a sherry finished single malt. Weird. Very fruity as well. Ripe pear, ripe banana, and clove as well. Flavor: Very sweet and mild. A little smoky which I didn't expect and, frankly, didn't appreciate. A little dull and watery. Finish: Kind of skunky to be honest. Super gross finish. This was a sample bottle as part of a three pack of Glenlivet samples and I think this must be a bad bottle. Absolutely terrible taste and finish. I'm not going to give this review a number as this can't be how it normally tastes.

A generous sample from dthom as part of the "whiskey transfer program". Nose: Very much what I'd expect from an age stated 10 year wheated bourbon. Vanilla, honey, some grassy notes, and quite a bit of corn. Almost like a corn pudding. Butterscotch, caramel, and toasted pecans. Flavor: Very sweet, poached apple, cinnamon, corn flakes, and more honey. A little thinner than I'd expect from the age. Finish: Long finish, sweet and spicy with quite a bit of black pepper. Some baking spices like clove and cardamom and a little bit of barrel bitter that I found a hair off putting. Finishes with toasted pecans and barrel bitter. Overall a good wheated bourbon but nothing to get super excited about. It's nice but a little bland and thin.