Tastes

Received a blind sample from a friend. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, sweet jammy fruits. Palate: Red hots and clove. Finish: Very long with medium heat. Splash: Leather and oak mix with clove and baking spices. Overall: 8.5/10 - Good complexity and a finish that just won't quit. Would probably stand up well in a cocktail or over ice.

Received a blind sample from a friend. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Honey, caramel, apple. Palate: Clove and baking spice. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: Spice gives way to oak and leather. Overall: 7/10 - The nose is promising but doesn't quite carry through. Finish makes me think it's higher proof, but could be more complex.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Caramel and apple with a hint of pepper. Palate: Clove and cinnamon with some pepper on the tip of the tongue. Finish: Medium heat, medium length. Splash: Some sweet fruit notes appear. Overall: 7/10 - Above average but pepper notes are always present. Would probably be great in a cocktail, rather than neat.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel, apples, some raisins. Palate: Oak tannins and leather give way to cinnamon and clove. Finish: Hot with clove and cinnamon, medium length. Splash: A few drops reveals more caramel and apple with red hots. Overall: 9.5/10 - This drinks below its proof, with classic notes and a complex palate. It's fantastic with just a few drops of water but woukd hold up to a large ice cube.

Received a blind sample from a friend. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel, fruit, some grass/wood notes. Palate: Cinnamon and clove give way to oak and leather. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: More oak and leather without the heat. Overall: 8.5/10 - This is a classic bourbon. Probably barrel proof with a good amount of rye. A little more complexity in the palate and this would have scored higher.

Penelope Straight Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength Batch #12 113.9 Proof Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Butterscotch with vanilla and raisins. Palate: Some oak, baking spices and cloves. Finish: Long and warm. Splash: Vanilla returns, mixed with clove and oak tannins. Overall: 8/10 - The nose is the star, and the finish is dynamite. A few drops of water calms the clove spice and allows the oak and vanilla to shine through.

Stagg Jr batch 12 132.3 proof Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Cherry cola, vanilla, some maple. Palate: Cinnamon and clove. Spicy! Finish: Long and warm, but not hot. Splash: Cherry cola returns sith some oak dryness. Overall: 9/10 - This drinks well below its proof. Absolutely sublime, just a touch hot on the palate.

Greens Farms Spirts single barrel store pick 2022 110 Proof Barrel SB-83500, bottle 27 Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel apples and peanuts, with a hint of chocolate. Palate: Cinnamon and baking spices take over. Finish: Long and warm with a sweetness at the end. Splash: Clove notes appear with a bit of the chocolate from the nose. Overall: 8.5/10 - This is a beautifully complex bourbon that drinks well below 110 proof yet can stand up to some ice.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Fruity and floral, some baking spices. Palate: Baking spice, vanilla, oak tannins. Finish: Medium length, warm but not hot. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 8/10 - A solid sipper, good enough to be a daily drinker. Reasonably priced and available everywhere. My favorite expression from Four Roses.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Light amber. Nose: Caramel apple and peanuts. Palate: Mild clove and baking spice. None of the sweetness of the nose. Thin mouthfeel. Finish: Long but not very warm. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 4/10 - The nose promises a lot, but the body and finish don't deliver. The light color hints at the mildness of this whiskey.