Tastes

The start of a three day weekend. Pour myself a sample courtesy of @Telex as part of the tour. The nose is light and faint. Aromas of cereal notes (Cheerios) along white fruits (apples, pears), vanilla, honey. A sprinkling of baking spices of nutmeg and cinnamon as well as ginger and a smidgen of root beer. The body is thin and arrives spicy of black pepper and ginger. Oak spices with an earthy mineral quality. The finish is of orange bitters or zest mixed oddly with hints of pineapple. These slowly fades leaving the palate woody and dry. The dram is not a lively or rich or deep in flavors. A relatively easy drink for hot, summer days. It’s a sipper that has no memorable or distinctive characteristics. It’s an average dram, but not something I would actively seek out. [Tasted: 8/31/18][84/100]

Overcast Sunday. Have the smoker working it’s magic on ribs and corn. Mac ‘n cheese in the oven. Beatles playing on the stereo. Countdown to “Sharknado 6” begins. Now I sit and wait and realize it’s a perfect time for a bourbon. This is a local Long Island whiskey that is sourced and aged in oak barrels (of course) and finished in French oak casks that previously held Long Island Chardonnay which was “rinsed in high proof brandy.” [Batch 19] Distinctive bourbon notes of corn and vanilla start the nose. Red grape notes start working its way though as it opens. Toffee with some rye spice follow, seeping through the opening aromas. As these aromas blend and weave, carnival treats of buttered popcorn and peanuts manifests themselves along with stone fruits (cherry and peach). A surprisingly busy nose. The mouthfeel is medium-light which arrives sweet and spicy. Brown sugar, vanilla, butterscotch with a rye graininess. Towards the finish, grape and peanut butter and corn oil as it fades towards the finish. The finish is slightly drying with some char, oak, rye and dill. Some black pepper and grape notes encase the char and pepper. I didn’t expect much from this bourbon and was caught off guard that it was an enjoyable sipper. The wine finishing definitely rounds the sharpness that would reveal itself otherwise. A good middle of the road whisky that is inoffensive and easy (for a Sunday afternoon) while smoking meats. [85/100][$29][Tasted: 8/19/18]

Been away from tasting for some time (but been enjoying drams on the weekends). From the way back collection of samples, I settled on Longmorn 16 which @Telex provided for our semi-virtual touring group. Bourbon notes are detectable on the nose. Vanilla, caramel, with a hint of baking spices: cloves and cinnamon. Gala apples, pears, Entenmann's crumb cake. A light maritime brine permeates throughout. Sweet, but not overblown. An inviting nose that takes a great deal of time to open. Be patient. The initial draws are hot and biting. The body is weighty and oily. Once the palate adjusts, subtle butterscotch sweetness is detectable. Aged Oak, leather and ground cinnamon with traces of Irish tea. Simple, but rewarding. The finish is long, oaky and drying. Ginger root, cinnamon and oddly, artificial grape (like grape soda). A scotch that the comes on slowly, but the more time you give it, the more you realize you are sipping on a solid whisky. The subtle sweetness and slight spiciness compliment each other and do not try to overpower each other. A dram perfect for an autumn beach evening while the sun descends. [87/100][Tasted: 8/17/18]

After being out for a bit on Friday, I flip on the tube to watch the Mets-Yankees opener (Mets won, yay!). Poured the G&M Miltonduff that is bottled at 43%. A light opening of hay and dry grass, wet sawdust (pinewood). Some light sherry notes are way in the background. Also found are walnuts and, almost out of place, white wine notes (Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio) and becomes more pear-ish with some vanilla. The initial draw on the palate is fruity and spicy. Pears in cocktail juice (think Dole’s canned Peaches) with oak and white pepper. A thin line of sweetness containing vanilla, caramel and butterscotch. Orange rind begins at the back of the palate towards to finish. The body is medium-light in weight. The finish is bitter of orange zest and lemons. An oaky dryness that keeps the palate dry for a good and long period of time. This is a dram that, in a single word, could be described as ordinary. It’s youthfulness is apparent in the spiciness and thin on flavors. A dram worthy in social situations that doesn’t require concentration or time. However, for the price, and in the same social situation, I would probably prefer a Glenlivet. [$55][84/100][Tasted: 7/20/18]

Another consecutive Wednesday and I find myself perfectly alone. Let me kick it up with a gifted 18 year Aberlour while I finish season two of Westworld. A rich, but gentle sherried beginning, undoubtedly. Orchard fruits aplenty, but complementary to the sherry. Plumbs, oranges, peaches, apricots and apples. A mild sweetness entwined amongst all the aromas of vanilla cream, salted caramel and cocoa. The whisky arrives with a spicy sweetness of vanilla and white pepper. Orange, honey, cocoa sweetness comprise the core flavors on the palate. There are small currents of brown sugar, almonds, caramel, raisins. The finish is long with orange bitters, oak tannins, charcoal and cinnamon. Unabashedly a sherried scotch, if anyone who is familiar with Aberlour. The opening nose draws you into the depths hoping to discover more. The palate is the weakest segment of the whisky, being short and light with the flavors. Quite good overall and balanced well. This would make a good pairing with a mild cigar and time...and may have to try that sooner than later. [$120][90/100][Tasted: 7/18/18]

Friday the thirteenth and in the mood for a non-scotch brown liquid. Fumble, fumble and I find this sample. Immediately on the nose are apples with cinnamon. In short time, other quality high rye whiskey notes come through: cloves, leather, rye, brown sugar, vanilla. Some oak char as well. In due time, however, the aromas crescendo and start slow fade, becoming weaker in potency. Still, though, quite nice. For it’s high proof, the palate arrives soft and sweet in a medium dense body. Richly deep with brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon. The rye notes are detectable but not overpowering. Fairly straight forward, but tasty. The finish is long and enjoyable. Oak and cinnamon that is drying. Some root beer on the far reaches. This hybrid bourbon-rye provides a whiskey that is a good sipper. Similar, from recollection, of Four Roses Single Barrel. Sweet for a rye; spicy for a bourbon. Thanks @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample that had made a journey to New York, Virginia and back again. [87/100][Tasted: 7/13/18]

The boy is out; the wife is out. Me by my lonesome. I had this 375 sized bottle I got some time back. Now is a good time as ever to have a hump day dram. Grilled apricots seasoned with dill arrives on the nose. The dill eventually turns more to spearmint. Some honey notes and cloves and a touch of vanilla and yeasty, sourdough bread. It arrives spicy and zesty. Once past the spicy sensation, the flavors pull forward. Cinnamon, birch beer (the other root beer), butterscotch, leather. The body is medium in density and yet, though the tongue senses the spice, it the texture is quite soft. The finish is the stronger part of the dram. Oak spice, spearmint, toffee with trace amounts of apples. Warming and drying that lasts for a good length of time. My goto rye for Old Fashioneds and Manhattans is Rittenhouse. A great sipping rye, with some water is High West Midwinter’s. This is pretty darn good as a sipper, though not as flavorful and full as MWND. Would I have this on my stock? Probably not. Though I wouldn’t think twice if the mood strikes for a spicy sipping rye. [85/100][Tasted: 7/11/18]

Knockando, most uncommon here is the North America (or at least in my region). A pour starts my late evening. I purchased via proxy from @LeeEvolved for our whisky group. This was distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2013. Aged in European oak sherry and refilled bourbon casks, but for how long in each, I am unsure. It arrives on the nose lightly sherried and sweet. Canned mixed nuts, dark chocolate, honey, vanilla, raisins and cereal (Raisin Bran). Some tropical fruits of honeydew and apricots. A pinch of cinnamon and oak are sprinkled about. A rather inviting nose. The body is medium in weight that arrives sweet and turns spicy. The sweetness is light brown sugar, vanilla and honey. This sweetness segues to the spicy notes of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. A ying/yang balance of sweet and spice. It finishes, long, of oak, cloves, cinnamon and almonds. The tongue rides out a soft tingle to completion. A solid opening draws you in. The palate, however balanced, is two dimensional and you find yourself wishing for a bit more and the one dimensional finish wishes for a more two dimensional finish. It’s a good pour and easily drinkable. For a 15 year, I do expect a bit more. [$48][84/100][Tasted: 7/6/18]