Tastes

Received a blind sample from a friend. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel, apples and a hint of nuts. Palate: Some cinnamon and clove, but not as strong as expected. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: Minty clove notes appear that weren't there before. Overall: 8/10 - The nose is the star of the show, but a splash brings out some nice notes.

Received a blind sample from a friend. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel, apples and graham crackers. Palate: Dry oak tannins and a note that's hard to place. Almost like rubber. Finish: Medium length with mild heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed, but dry oak is diminished. Overall: 7/10 - This is a fine dram, and I suspect that it's been in oak for a while. The proof doesn't seem particularly high but the odd note in the palate makes me curious.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Stone fruit and herbs, some minty notes. Palate: More herbs and mint, without the fruity notes from the nose. Finish: Medium length with very little heat. Splash: The minty notes really shine. Overall: 8/10 - I'm not a big rye drinker, but this was a pleasant departure from bourbon. It's MGP 95/5, but the minty notes are really pleasant without being too forward. For a budget rye, this was impressive.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Light amber. Nose: Faint caramel and vanilla, not much else. Palate: Some clove and baking spices, pretty mild. Finish: Short and barely warm. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 3/10 - This was gifted to me in an airplane bottle and I hadn't gotten around to trying it until now. It tastes young and low proof, with minimal effort, the basic description of a well bourbon.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Grassy, with some spearmint & hints of vanilla. Palate: Cinnamon and clove with more spearmint. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Some oaky notes finally arrive. Splash: Spearmint notes really take over. Overall: 8/10 - This is an enjoyable, affordable rye thst has pleasant spearmint notes throughout, and would probably stand up well to cocktails. I haven't tried any other Whistlepig expressions, but this entry level offering makes me want to sample more.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Jammy fruits with cherries, raisins, apricots. Some caramel and graham crackers. Palate: Cinnamon red hots, some baking spice. Finish: Long length with medium heat. Splash: Cinnamon gives way to clove and more baking spice. Overall: 8/10 - A solid sipper. Fruity notes in the nose don't carry over into the palate or finish. Purchased as part of a bundle with Remus Repeal for $175 so not priced individually.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Big fruit notes, mainly apricot and raisin, with some caramel and bread. Palate: Clove and cinnamon with some fruity sweetness. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: Bread and apricot notes return. Overall: 9/10 - I’m not usually a big fan of ryes (finished or otherwise) but this one hits all the right notes. The finish is a little short for 107.3 proof.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Lots of grass with some fruity sweetness underneath. Palate: Grass, clove and a little oak. Cinnamon arrives late to the party. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 5.5/10 - The grassy note is strong throughout, and masks some of the classic bourbon notes. Garrison Brothers make some amazing whiskies, but this base offering just doesn’t quite hold up.

Tasted blind at a friend's house. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Light-medium amber. Nose: Caramel, raisin, dark fruit, oak. Palate: Clove, oak, and something I can't quite place. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: Oak and clove notes and a grassy? note. Overall: 8/10 - I had wanted to try this and it did not disappoint. Will stand up well to ice and I'll definitely pick up a bottle.