Tastes

Once upon an early evening dreary, while I pondered weak and weary over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten scotch... from the days of the SDT group. This chilly Halloween evening calls for something warm and smoky. A soft, earthy, lightly phenolic nose which a good deal of sweetness. Rubber tire, damp soil, vanilla custard, lemon zest, brown sugar, raspberry jam. It really needs time to settle in. Over time, some slight spice comes through of cracked black pepper, ginger powder and cinnamon. The first draw on the palate is prickly in a medium body. As the palate gets accustomed and acclimated, the flavors become detectable. Creme brûlée, sherry, almonds, vanilla which quickly turns to wood spice and ginger. Water mutes the rubber notes on the nose and dulls the sharp edges on the palate. The finish is long, ashy and sooty with tingling pins and needles, which quickly dissipates. As it slowly fades, black licorice, wood char and drying tannins ride the long finish. This one was a bit disjointed and tough to identify aromas and flavors. It is somewhat funky and odd. However the sweet phenolic attributes are satisfying. Water takes away from funky oddness and removes it’s identity. Perhaps more time aging and maturing would bring this scotch the cohesiveness it lacks. Thanks @Telex for the sample, long overdue. [84/100][Tasted: 10/31/20]

A dreary Friday evening. All quiet. A sample from days long past (2 years ago) as a bonus sample from @Generously_Paul and @LeeEvolved as part of the SDT group. Still getting to the backlog... An initial draw on the nose, though extremely brief, brought a hint of coffee grains. Then, in a flash, gone. The nose is floral and fruit. Light with some alcohol vapor that flares the nostrils, though only a slightly. Honeysuckle, vanilla, Heath bar (toffee and milk chocolate), apples, white grapes. As time progresses, dried grass/straw, dry oatmeal with golden honey drizzled, honeydew and a smidge of oak char. A very busy and full nose. A spicy palate (from the high proof/55.3% abv) that is contrastingly creamy. A orchard fruit base of apples and/or pears, sweet vanilla, caramel, ground cinnamon. What remains is the char and the oak which linger on the palate, all with a with a touch of mint. A good dose of water enhances the whisky. The vanilla flavors are drawn out along with a large sack of barley sugar; very sweet. Whoppers (candy) and green tea seep their way out as well. The nose is the star of the whisky. Full, complex and inviting. The palate holds the nose’s potential and it seems to be on the cusp of really opening up but is self restrained. Water loosens the restraints and starts the open the door for more flavors to draw out. But a catalyst only starts a reaction (if I have my minimal amount of chemistry knowledge correct) and what comes out is based upon the compounds it’s working on. All those fancy words, simply stating, there is only so much flavor in the whole. I was expecting more flavor from a 23 year mature whisky and wanted more, like the nose. A good, enjoyable dram, though, overall. Glad I got to sample this hard to find scotch. Thanks again Paul and Lee. [87/100][Tasted: 10/16/20]

A Friday evening (and what would have been John Lennon’s 80th) watching Yankees v Rays with the peripheral effects of the fading head cold lingering for two weeks. Well enough to pull a sample of this rye from Charleston, SC. I have been reading good things about NSR but, being in the Northeast, is difficult to find. I am a quiet appreciator of rye. Rye, I find, is less temperamental in nature and needs to properly mastered. A poorly distilled, blended can be a train wreck. But when you find that good rye, the multitude of aromas and flavors can be very rewarding. This has a slightly subdued nose, though still distinctly a rye. Dill, cloves, cinnamon red hots provide a nice spicy aroma. A floral note is faint (sweet elderberry, like St. Germaine), with golden honey, bubble gum and/or Twizzlers provide a subtle sweetness. A nice, full, balance of that spice and sweetness. First draw on the palate, the body is light but creamy dense. Gingerbread, walnut-pumpernickel toast, ground cinnamon, cloves provide a spicy potpourri. Bran, raisins, honey, golden-toasted marshmallows provide a sweet counter. A 1/2 teaspoon of water straightens the edginess and enhances the sweetness. But I feel is takes away the full character of the whiskey and prefer it neat. A medium long finish that’s surprisingly less spicy and more sweet and woody. There is a peppery quality with a slight prickly sensation that subsides and turns caramel, dark chocolate and oaken encased is spearmint. This is a decent rye that is busy, deep in aromas and rich in flavors. The 45% abv provides a good, strong backing. High Wire Distilling has done a great job producing a quality sipping rye. May make a good Manhattan, but I would be more inclined to sip this than mix it. Bump it to 48% and it probably could hold up better in a mixer. I will definitely have to seek out other NSR whiskies. Thanks @PBMichiganWolverine for providing me this sample. Really enjoyable. [87/100][Tasted: 10/9/20]

Balcones is one that has escaped me but has intrigued me. This distillery has been craft-fully creating quality products and pushing traditional whiskey barriers, in my opinion. This sample came from longtime distiller friend and most gracious with his shares and collection @PBMichiganWolverine First few inhalations reveal sweet corn, vanilla and a pinch of tequila. Sweet and earthy. Dried grass clippings, caramel, apples, marshmallows, melon. It only gets sweeter and richer with time. An arrival that is almost undetectable in feel and body. Extremely velvety, round and smooth. The sweetness from the nose carries through onto the palate with vanilla, brown sugar, corn, mandarin oranges. A nice bit of spice keeps the sweetness in checked with black pepper, oak spice, spearmint, rye and dill. As the the palate starts to segue to the finish, almost seamless, the spice fades to a medium length finish leaving a prickly tongue, a mouth of caramel, toasted marshmallows, Luxardo cherries with a bit of drying oak tannins. Of the bourbons and American whiskies that I have tasted, this ranks as one of the best. The balance and depth of nose and flavors is near perfect. Not sickly sweet, overly dry or edgy spiced. The combination of the three sensations perfectly play and pull. I am glad I was able to taste this as this a few and far between (extinct) bottling. Thank you again Pranay for the wonderful sample. [95/100][Tasted: 9/12/20]

As I sit and review this on a rare Wednesday, midweek review, news of Tom ‘Terrific’ Seaver’s passing hits the headlines and a quick sadness dampens this review, being a huge Mets fan. 2020 cannot pass fast enough... As you breathe this in, there is a spicy sweetness about this dram. Not potent or heavy handed. As it settles, it really sweetens on the nose. Caramel covered apples and pears with bananas, apricots, toasted coconut and brown sugar. A touch of aged leather, dried oak, walnuts, cocoa powder with a tangent bubble gum aroma. Spice and fruits with a touch of sweetness, embodied. This has an initial spicy bite that slowly diminishes. Cracked black pepper, red pepper, chili powder, slightly burnt pumpernickel bread, ground cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Pecans, walnuts, salted peanuts with apples and pears and roasted pineapples. The flavors are wrapped in a medium body with jagged edges. A touch of water really pulls the sugars out and smooth the jagged edges. However it loses it character and blurs the distinctive flavors. A better pour undiluted. A finish that’s long, warm and woody. A touch of dill and mint and a touch of cola. This is more bourbon than rye. A wonderful nose that is full and rich. Full of variety and rich enough to have as an intermittent sipper. The need to slow down and be quite patient time is much needed but ultimately rewarded. Thanks @PBMichiganWolverine for sharing (3 years ago). Unfortunately it took me this long to get to it and wish I got to it sooner. #41. #LGM. [90/100][Tasted: 9/2/20]

This was part of the SDT group, sampling, which now, seems like a hundred years ago when that journey took place. This unfortunately arrived with a cracked bottle top and I wound up with about a one ounce pour. But, one ounce is better than zero ounces. A soft, sweet fruity and floral nose. Freshly sliced unripened apples spritzed with lime juice. Lightly toasted wheat bread, coconut shavings, tea and honey, cream soda with a mineral element of raw, freshly opened clam shells. It arrives on the palate with a mild spicy edge with with flavors of vanilla, key lime, kiwi and almonds. The body is lightweight and velvety. There’s a nice long finish that’s drying with plenty of oak tannins, sweetened lime juice. A nice bouquet is bright, vibrant and luring with a palate . Though it is not broad in variety of flavors, those flavors that are very bold and distinctive. A nicely crafted spirit and I only wish I had more to experience. Thank to @Generously_Paul for the sample. [89/100][Tasted: 8/21/20]

It’s been some time since I last tasted. Finding time to do so seems to be getting tougher. But tonight, a window of opportunity arises. Tonight is a pour from a relatively new distillery from Sweden. Founded by a whiskey enthusiast who seems to be pushing limits, creatively. The color is a deepen rust with a slight purplish hue. There is soft, sweet, maritime entwined a slight synthetic vinyl note. Air it out and the notes become more clearly become tangible. Clam shells, rubber inner tube, chocolate milk shake, Mexican vanilla and licorice. The palate receives a soft and silky, medium dense body that remains true to its original arrival entry. As for the flavors: Apple smoked salted meat, apricots, brown sugar, soy sauce (hot and sour sauce), bitter dark chocolate, figs, roasted plums and cracked black pepper. The finish is long and lasting. Cigar ash, burnt toast, lemon zest, black pepper, black licorice with a nice touch of vanilla sweetness. For me, this is somewhat akin to Bunnahabhain. Overall, the balance of aromas and flavors is outstanding. Young yet mature. Sweet yet savory. Soft yet firm. This is an enjoyable, excellent slow sipper from nose to finish. If you find this, grab one and sit back and take it in. Thanks @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample. [92/100][Tasted: 7/24/20]