Reviews

It’s been a while since I found quiet time to review. Pulled this out semi-randomly. Is this a Jura that’s long overdue? N: A soft and rubber tire beginning. A subtle maritime brine floats between the rubbery peat. Slowly some grassy notes and lemon zest add some more earthy notes. A beach bonfire on an autumn evening. P: On first draw, a nice lemon-pepper flavor fills the palate. The high proof adds some zing which fortifies the pepper. There is a slightly bitter phenolic tone that hovers over the lemon-pepper. Buried in all those dynamic flavors is a bit of sweetness. Light brown sugar which brings a nice lightness to the palate. W: Water strengthens the sweet side of the pour while softening the jagged edges. F: A long, warming finish that adds drying oak tannins with the prickly bite fading with the sweetness, lemon, pepper and oak. O: Jura has always been mediocre. Superstition was my first Jura and I have always been rooting for them. An underdog. Unfortunately they have stayed mediocre. This dram does show the potential of Jura. Thanks @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample. [Tasted: 4/9/26][90/100]

I have had the good fortune to purchase every Act since Act 2. The second and third Acts were incredible. Some of the best whiskey I have tasted. From those Acts forward, the quality has diminished each year. However, these Acts have slowly been improving with every successive release since Act 6. N: On initial nosing, you are welcomed immediately by baking spices. Not overpowering, but with an inviting, light, cordial greeting. Cinnamon sugar, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, pumpernickel. As it opens, the grape, port sweetness peeks through which rounds the spicy spices. P: The initial sip is gently biting; prickly. Once it softens, the port wine coats the palate. BlackBerry jam, mingled with rye, black pepper, cinnamon spice, oak spice, dates, with some herbal undertones. F: A long finish that’s oaken with orange and lemon zest. Spearmint, charcoal, black licorice ride to a very long lasting ending. W: A touch of water sweetens the dram softening the spice. This rounds the dram and creates a more approachable dram. Whatever your mood, hard or soft, just drink straight or add water to enjoy a softer side. O: The previous releases were somewhat weakened from the early Acts. This Act is a step forward to its former greatness. This was a bottle that was opened a month ago. That month of resting has improved the dram as the initial pour was somewhat incoherent. Give this time in the bottle and time in the glass and you will be rewarded positively. [91/100][$125][Tasted: 11/21/2025]

I received this from a friend sometime back. I have been sipping occasionally but never really analyzed fully. Tonight is that night while watching game 5 of the Tigers/Mariners playoff decider on a dank and damp evening. N: Worn leather greets the nose. A baseball glove. A soft layer of baking spices blends with the leather aromas with walnuts, rye and caramel. A warm introduction. P: The palate receives a spicy tingle with a touch of sweetness. Ground cinnamon which is mingled honey, vanilla, Demerara sugar, cherry NyQuil, pumpernickel. Solid but not deep or flashy. F: The finish is bitter and contrasts the nose and palate. The drying oak tannins last for a fair length fading along with baking spices. O: A promising nose which invites and welcomes a comfortable palate. Easy to sip. The finish doesn’t continue the invitation. The strong bitterness detracts from the palate just lessens the enjoyment of the dram. A good sipper when you want to just sip without getting too deep into your dram, which happens way too many times. A grab and go pour. Perfect for a chilled autumn evening. [85/100][Tasted: 10/10/25]

Some details of this sample: The Lady of the Glen Caol Ila 9 Year Old, finished in a Xynisteri white wine cask, was distilled on April 17, 2012, and bottled on May 4, 2021. It was matured for over seven years in a hogshead before being finished in a Xynisteri white wine cask (cask number 311196) from a vineyard in Cyprus. The whisky was bottled at natural cask strength of 58.3% ABV and is part of a limited release of 307 bottles. This is from bottle 189. N: Take lemon peel and bacon bits and stir it around. Then add some sweet cream, apricots, ocean salt air and you have a wonderful, bright, clean, nose. P: The texture is thick and creamy. Sweet, smoky, and citrusy. Barley sugar coats the palate delivered in the silky body. Cigar ash with lemon zest and sweet vanilla smothered apricots. W: Water dulls the nose a bit. The palate remains almost unfazed by a generous amount of water. More of the sweetness is present, but not overly so. F: As it fades towards the finish, black pepper spice tingles the tongue. The tingle sensation remains for the entire fade. Of course the peatiness is ever present keeping the palate ashy. The finish lasts virtually forever, like the final chord of ‘A Day in the Life’. O: This is a dram that delivers nice savory, sweet aromas and flavors. Caol Isla at its finest. The punch is alcohol is welcomed but does not dominate. A warming dram on cool nights suites this best. But anytime is a good time to sip. A very fine pour. Thanks @PBMichiganWolverine for the generous sample. [92/100][Tasted: 9/4l/25]

It’s been quite some time since I sat and tasted anything. Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoying many-a-pour. A quiet evening affords me some time to work a sample. N: This opens fruity and sweet. Orchard fruits forward. Ripened plums, apples and pears potpourri. A dusting of cinnamon, almonds and hay. All of which provides an earthiness to the nose. P: Jammy sweet palate with a bit of heat and singe. The nose carries forward to the palate. Grape jam, cinnamon almonds and hay. Not much of a deviation. F: A touch of oak on the finish accompanied by white pepper and remnants of the grape jam. The finish lasts for a medium length leaving the mouth slightly dry. O: A decent dram. Tasty and inoffensive. However, it rather static in nose and flavor. Not flashy. Sips very scotch-like. Enjoyable. Thanks @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample. [84/100][Tasted: 7/18/25]

I walked into my local liquor store for a simple peruse with no (real) expectations of a purchase. Of course I couldn’t resist purchasing this new bottle. It was OESK or OBSF. It could only be one. I will have to circle back for the other at another time. But this purchase is OESK. N: A fragrant opening. Halloween tricks and treats in a glass. Candy Corn, Hershey milk chocolate, caramel apples, waxy Nik L Nips. There is a bit of earthiness that grounds the sweet treats. Straw grass, petrichor and ginger root. P: Unlike the sweet nose, on the draw, the palate begins to tingle with pins and needles. When the zings subsides, baking spices, well balanced, of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg mixed with orange zest, caramel, vanilla sweet cream. Given time, the dram becomes sweeter and softer while the body remains medium dense and viscous. F: A soft, woody finish with a touch milk chocolate, Irish tea, toasted coconut and a dusting of cinnamon spice. The melange finish sticks around and caps the crescendo of aromas and flavors. O: As with any (good) spirit, time is the friend. This OESK blend, on the palate, starts slightly coarse and spicy. As time progresses, the bouncing, chaotic qualities begin to align and the spirit finds itself and becomes a refined, balanced, easy sipper. From the opening to the finish, an enjoyable ride. [$50][88/100][Tasted: 4/11/25]

Browsing the liquor recently and saw this sitting on the bottom shelf. I have read generally positive reviews over the years and have been intrigued, but never actually pulled the trigger on purchasing, until now. At 114 proof and under $30 the only question to be answered is this a quality pour? N: Ethanol vapors initially cloud the aromas. As it dissipates, what a sweet nose comes through. Candy corns, Karo corn syrup, vanilla, aged leather and peanut brittle. As nose that has similar qualities to Old Tub. P: A medium full body with some teeth. Tobacco leaves, cola, the same Candy Corns carrying over from the nose, cinnamon, ginger root and rye. All the flavors are bold, punchy and bright. W: Much sweeter with a good dose of water. A toothless caramel and vanilla sipper without the earthy spice. F: A solid woody finish, earthy, leather, spicy hot, prickly and long. A finish that lasts long and deep. A trait that makes a whiskey a rewarding and is often lacking in many. O: Surprisingly crisp. This sips as a mid-tier bourbon that carries rich and flavorful flavors. The sweet nose steers you in on direction while the spicy palate take you on another path. With the spicy qualities, and strong punch, this has the qualities of a mixer. And this all comes at an extremely affordable price. A surprisingly good bourbon. [86/100][[$30][Tasted: 2/28/25]

Rye whiskey has always intrigued me. The spicy, earthy qualities I find more interesting and satisfying. Having the JD Straight Rye which was relatively good (and I believe discontinued) and reasonably priced, the next progression was the Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye. The SBBP Bourbon is excellent so naturally thinking, I have similar expectations. This release is bottled at a beefy 65.55% abv. Barrel #: 24-02519 Barrel House: 1-09 Bottling Date: 3-11-24 N: A greeting on the nose sweet, spicy and earthy. Light brown sugar, vanilla on the sweeter side. Pumpernickel, cinnamon on the spicy side. Leather and petrichor ground the sweet and spice. Deep in the recesses is the JD banana profile. P: After Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Proof Rye (2024 Release) Rye whiskey has always intrigued me. The spicy, earthy qualities I find more interesting and satisfying. Having the JD Straight Rye which was relatively good (and I believe discontinued) and reasonably priced, the next progression was the Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye. The SBBP Bourbon is excellent so naturally thinking, I have similar expectations. This release is bottled at a beefy 65.55% abv. N: A greeting on the nose sweet, spicy and earthy. Light brown sugar, vanilla on the sweeter side. Pumpernickel, cinnamon on the spicy side. Leather and petrichor ground the sweet and spice. Deep in the recesses is the JD banana profile. P: After getting past the anesthetic sip, and the palate acclimated you can begin to taste the flavors. Cola, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla all blended. Chewy. Towards the finish, the rye side comes forward, with barrel char F: Pins and needle’s tongue that fades towards a long, bitter finish. Wood char, cola, cloves with a tinge of spearmint. W: A good dose of water definitely softens the dram. However, the character, the spice and earthiness are diminished. O: This is a solid sipping rye. This sips closer to a bourbon than a rye. Sweeter than grainy. A touch of water definitely softens the experience. A solid nose with an enjoyable and approachable palate with a good, long lasting finish. Add in more rye spice and baking spice and this would be very solid. Would work well in an old fashioned or maybe even a Manhattan. But a good sipper. Comparatively, the Straight Rye I found to be a better mixer. [88/100][Tasted: 2/21/25] getting past the anesthetic sip, and the palate acclimated you can begin to taste the flavors. Cola, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla all blended. Chewy. Towards the finish, the rye side comes forward, with barrel char F: Pins and needle’s tongue that fades towards a long, bitter finish. Wood char, cola, cloves with a tinge of spearmint. W: A good dose of water definitely softens the dram. However, the character, the spice and earthiness are diminished. O: This is a solid sipping rye. This sips closer to a bourbon than a rye. Sweeter than grainy. A touch of water definitely softens the experience. A solid nose with an enjoyable and approachable palate with a good, long lasting finish. Add in more rye spice and baking spice and this would be very solid. Would work well in an old fashioned or maybe even a Manhattan. But a good sipper. Comparatively, the Straight Rye I found to be a better mixer. [88/100][Tasted: 2/21/25]

I received this as a gift. I have seen this on the shelves but it was never on my ‘buy it now’ list. One of the fancier bottles that have seen. This one has an enigma to me. I have not heard or read much of this Willett and I never happened to or come across or tasted prior to tonight. A quiet opportunity finds me and a pour (or two) to mull over. N: A gentle greeting upon the nose of light sweetness, floral and earthiness. Candy corn, honeysuckle, vanilla all encased in oak. P: The body is thin. A mouthful of honey and caramel sweetness tempered by mild peppery spice. There are small hints of lemon and strawberries that adds to the sweetness bowl. F: Inverse to the starting and mid palate flavors, the finish is delicately spicy. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and pumpernickel. The vanilla and honey remnants keep the spice in check. O: Stowed in a Genie bottle, the liquid inside keeps metamorphosing. The aromas on the nose are few but bright. Changing on the palate, the transformation from sweetness to spiciness begins. More tangible and qualities are realized. Then at last a full spicy and long lasting finish is realized. The strongest part of this bourbon is born. This is an easy and approachable whiskey. Simple. The lack of overall complexity keeps this from being a first reach. But the finish does keep this one a strong pour and what I feel makes a good whiskey and great whiskey: the finish. Enjoyable. [87/100][Tasted: 1/24/25]

A last minute weekend purchase from family. With a few pours under my belt and not much left in the bottle means a proper tasting has to occur. N: A gentle oaken vanilla greets the nose. Slowly opening, slowly creeping out, caramel aromas, worn leather, blended pumpernickel and baking spices; allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Creeping out eventually are small wisps of maraschino cherries. P: Gently spicy on arrival. There are no strong or vibrant flavors. A gentle blend of caramel vanilla, lemon oil, oak, black pepper, maple syrup. Balanced where no one flavor dominates. F: The finish is shorter than desired. Wood spice, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon. Slightly drying on the palate when all fades away. O: A very approachable, inoffensive, enjoyable bourbon. It’s not flashy, but it’s rich and balanced. The vanilla, maple syrup with spices are blended well. Comparable to Buffalo Trace or a less spicy Eagle Rare. Shareable, affordable, enjoyable. [88/100][Tasted: 1/5/25]