Tastes

This a delicious and inexpensive bourbon at $24/bottle. At 53% ABV, the nose is heavy on the ethanol, with saddle leather, light pencil shavings, and caramelized brown sugar lingering underneath. Sipped "neat," maple syrup dominates the pallet, leaving a lingering finish of maple syrup and brown sugar. For some reason, it reminds me of breakfast food, oatmeal. Empty glass: toasted marshmello.

This bourbon piqued my interest after I saw John Wick II. In some ways, this bourbon (at first) reminded me of one of my favorites, Evan Williams Single Barrel, with a few nuances. Maybe it's due to being heavy on the corn? The nose is subtle, no overpowering ethanol (ABV is 46.5%). Caramelized brown sugar and Jolly Rancher apple candy show through on the nose. As the bourbon gets more air time in the glass, a leathery note appears. On the tongue: movie candy (Atomic Fire Ball and Hot Tomales), leather, #2 pencil eraser essence, Play Doh , cinnamon, apple candy, butter and leather. The finish is not so bad/short. I picked up a bottle (dumped on 5/31/17 per label) of Blanton's for $43 (750ml) at Total Wine & More. It's a little more expensive than it's competitors, but worth a try.

The smokiness of this scotch brings up memories of camping excursions of yesteryear, and weirdly enough, my summer jobs as a teenager with the U.S. Forest Service - the connection being campfires. Aside from smoke, the scotch presents other aromatics, such as stewed apples, brine, and vanilla. On the palate, the smokiness is apparent, with apple, maple syrup, and vanilla, all which create a unique tapestry. The finish is long with a lingering smokiness. This was my first try at scotch long ago, which is an unusual choice given that peaty scotches are almost an acquired taste. Nevertheless, it's an approachable option for those who want a more savory take on scotch.

This is my first wheated bourbon, but compared to non-wheated counterparts it's very delightful. The Distiller's tasting notes are "on point," so no need for me to be redundant, with the exception to say that it's very spicey (for me, at least). Price point is exceptional at $24 (750ml). Too bad this gem is in great demand, which has prompted retailers in my locale to place a limit of 1 per customer!

The Distiller.com description lists an ABV of 40%, but the bottle I have on-hand is 43% ABV. The nose reminds me of a delightful Moscato with notes of citrus, pear, honey, and grape. On the pallet, it's moderately sweet and smooth. The finish lingers with hints of pear and vanilla. This one is a real bargain for being under $40/750ml!

This scotch is true to its emphasis on the "bourbon" aspect of its nature. On the nose, there is Jolly Rancher apple candy, maple syrup, brown sugar, lemon and orange, while on the pallet there is the bourbon'ish note of vanilla, without the sweetness. The finish is likewise vanilla. This is one of my favorite scotches, which retails for around $42 (750ml).

My first experience with this bourbon involved barrel no. 209, bottled on 12/19/16, which I got on sale for about $25 (750ml). Overall, I find this to be an approachable (especially for non-bourbon drinkers), pleasant and well-crafted bourbon with a nose that is light on the alcohol, apples, toffee, cream, and somewhat of a coffee note. On the pallet, the toffee and coffee'ish notes are apparent. The finish is brief, non-lingering, but not bad. This is an excellent value for the price point.

I recently heard a review by whiskey expert, Ralfy ("ralfystuff" on Youtube), and decided that I had to pick up a bottle. I wasn't disappointed by this reasonably priced gem ($28 for 750ml). On the nose: toffee, honey, leather, and cinnamon. On the pallet: light sweetness (not overly sweet) of candied apple. This is a smooth, easy drinking bourbon - perfect for introducing others to the world of bourbon.

My first sip of this bourbon was like a punch in the mouth - BAM! At 50% abv, it came across strong on the nose as well as the pallet, so I added three teaspoons of water and let alone for 15 minutes, after which it blossomed into caramelized brown sugar and leathery notes. On the pallet, I get the same. I'm not much of a bourbon drinker (yet), but what is most noticeable is the contrast in sweetness to say, Evan Williams Single Barrel, which I like. EH Taylor has less of a sweetness in its taste profile, which is not a bad thing, just different. Whiskey expert and author Lew Bryson lists this bourbon in the top left quadrant of his bourbon flavor matrix of his book, Tasting Whiskey, which means that its mashbill is high rye, and toward the oakey side. Overall, this is worth a tasting experience if you haven't yet had the opportunity. It retails for around $38 750ml bottle.