Tastes

Tonight I let the Bulleit sit for 30 minutes before tasting, and boy, did it make a difference. Nose: Spicy, with a more definite alcohol impact that right out of the bottle. The fruitiness I noted last night is absent, and the woodiness I detected last night is slightly stronger. Palate: Very fruity at the front of my tongue, berries perhaps, though I'm not sure. The back of my tongue gives me the spiciness again, and all through my mouth the alcohol burn is significantly stronger than right out of the bottle. The woodiness I noticed in the taste last night seems missing, or at least I can't detect it. Finish: Fairly long, with a very definite spice, blending into a most clear woodiness. That reverses the finish right out of the bottle, and it's also a longer finish. I still like the stuff, but resting took it down a notch. I like it better when it's straight out of the bottle.

I'm new to whisky - just over a month in - and to bourbon, so my rating may be higher than really proper. But this is absolutely the best bourbon I've ever had, by miles. On the limited scale by which I can judge, it does get five stars. Mash bill: 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malted barley. Proof: 90. The nose is very fruity and pleasant - there's alcohol in it, but nothing to burn the sinuses. I think I get a faint trace of woodiness (is this was experienced whisky drinkers describe as oak?), but it might be just my imagination. On the first sip I notice, for the first time in my limited experience, a distinct mouthfeel - creamy and smooth. The taste is spicy on the front of my tongue, which I understand is a characteristic of rye, with something else underneath that I can't identify; it is pleasant, however. Continuing to take sips, I find the spiciness is more pronounced on the back of my tongue, with a clear woodiness which, however, complements rather than tussling with the spice. The finish is moderate in length, with the clearest woody taste yet, which gives way to the spice, which then fades into a pleasant burn on the back of my throat. I forgot to note the shelf price, which of course is less than what I actually paid, but I believe it was $29 and some odd cents for 750ml.

This was the first whisky I'd tasted in nearly 40 years - and it was awful. Granted that I was new to the stuff, but this is exactly the sort of taste that made me think for years that all whisky tastes like turpentine. I got rid of the bottle without a second try, and won't ever buy this junk again.

From the first sip I regretted spending money on this stuff. It's what you should think of when someone says that whisky tastes like paint thinner. I tried it once, and put the bottle in the trash.

This is unaged corn whisky - the label says "moonshine" but it is legal corn likker. The nose is very powerful, with the alcohol overpowering a slight sweetness. There's also a slight sweetness on the palate, with no particular flavor, and a distinct alcohol burn which numbs my gums. The finish is bland, with a lingering burn from the alcohol. This stuff isn't bad, exactly, but unless white whisky is universally just pure alcohol without much flavor, it's a poor representation of the variety.

The nose gives me a definite smell of apples, while the palate is apples and a hint of cherry candy. The finish provides a strong and pleasant smoky taste. This bourbon is watery, though, and doesn't seem to be the 80 proof of the label. It's a good introduction to whisky, but I'll look for something more substantial to be my regular tipple.