Tastes

Smoke and toffee/caramel sweetness up front on the nose, but not as strong as the 10 year. Behind that are hints of vanilla and honey sweetness. Medium bodied. Smoke arrives immediately on the palate with oak and black pepper spiciness, salt with a touch of vanilla. The smoke makes its way to the finish and much further, leaving a cigar-rich palate, mixed nuts and oak, brine/salt and a touch of mint. A splash of water lessens the burn and increases the sweetness. Quite satisfying but I think 10 year is my preference, but this is nice one for the collection. [Dry Glass: Saw dust and vanilla][87/100][11/5/16]

After another weekend stint to Maryland, got home, grabbed some sushi and opened the JWP to wind down from the drive. I have a soft spot for JW as I really started enjoying Scotch with JW Black slowly working to single malts. Every now and then, having a blend to sip is refreshing and usually uncomplicated and perfect for those moments when you just need a dose of easy. The nose is soft and mild of apples and cereal touched with honey and cinnamon. Let it open and over time the aromas intensify. Like the nose, this is soft. The whisky delivers sweet tea, honey, salted caramel and a bit of a cereal, like Frosted Flakes. A small trace of almonds are detectable. There is a slight tinge of cinnamon and remnants of honey, oak and dark chocolate all which linger for a good amount of time. I found this an enjoyable dram that's easy, sweet and comfortable. A solid blend. That being said, this is a worthy dram if it was priced accordingly. For under $60, it's a decent value. Anything higher than that and I think one can find an equal or better blend for less money; which I had the good fortune of attaining at a reasonable price. [Dry glass: caramels][$49][88/100][Opened: 10/23/16]

[$45]

This past Sunday's dusk found me watching the NY Mets close their fun and bizarre season intermingled with football during a somewhat dank day. A perfect day to sample a generously provided smokey dram (thanks Pranay!). Kilchoman is doing things right and been hooked with Machir Bay and look to collect some more of their line. The nose of Loch Gorm arrives with a sweet bouquet of smoke, brine, mixed nuts of almonds and walnuts with a touch of caramel. A lovely nose that I could be inhaled all day. Finally, a sip that delivers a creamy sweet honey and vanilla body which is backed with a touch of smoke, milk chocolate and a youthful hotness. All these flavors are well-balanced and no one flavor overly dominates. As you enjoy these flavors, they ultimately fade leaving the charcoaled palate with a touch of black pepper and mint with some brine/saline and bitterness that seems to last allowing you savor the dram. A tiny amount of water draws the sweeter side by diminishing the youthfullness. This is an excellent smokey Islay that is a must for any peat-head. The hot and wild nature gives the dram whisky a bit of charm but may be a factor that may be too much for some. A must for any Islay fan. [Dry Glass: Soot and brown sugar][Tasted: 9/2/16][90/100]

I have usually overlooked Crown Royal products partly due to lack of interest but mainly because of my limited exposure and perception that most Canadian whiskies are uninteresting (i.e. Canadian Club) and only good for mixing. Then, through a sample kindly provided by Pranay, I have been pleasantly surprised and found a quality Canadian whiskey and one that I will look to add to my collection. The nose of this dram is is what you find at a country breakfast: Frosted Flakes, Brioche French Toast with confectioners sugar, maple syrup with a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg. It arrives in a rich body, slightly hot, which delivers butterscotch and baking spices. Finishes almost as it arrives, sweet and spice with a touch of oak, Add a small amount of water and that initial burn is softened and the sweetness is enhanced. The palate, however, is slightly bitter. A dram that suits well, in my mind, during the fall season as an after dinner sipper to finish of a good Sunday meal. [Dry glass: caramel and marshmallows][91/100][Tasted: 9/25/16]

Went out last night with a few high school friends at a local bar. As always, I check the whiskey shelf whenever I go out. An obscure bottled was tucked in the corner and I asked the bartender as to the whiskey bottle. It was Pure Kentucky; read the label and had myself a dram. The nose is dominated by leather mixed with allspice, vanilla and straw. Arrives hot given the high proof. Let it coat and you can detect the bourbon sweetness of brown sugar with the drying faint oak notes. The palate is left oaky and dry with a hint spearmint and sweetness of caramel. Add a teaspoon of water or ice and the sharpness of the alcohol is obviously diminished while the sweeter caramel/brown sugar notes come forward. Recommend with water/ice and is almost a must with the high proof. Somewhat akin to Bookers. A slow sipper and solid bourbon. If you judge a book by its cover (or whiskey by its label) seems one would think it's a bottom self. This ranks up with the better, stronger, oaky bourbons. [88/100][Tasted: 9/17/16 @ Portly Villager]

[2013 bottling]: Sitting in front of my wood stove on an extremely cold night listening to some country music and decided to partake this dram tonight. A wonderful initial wave of campfire smoke is the main attraction on the nose. As it sits and opens, honeysuckle, maritime salt and floral notes aromas strengthen. The palate begins salivating for a taste. When you finally give in to the palates demand, you are rewarded with a full and heavy body that carries vanilla, brown sugar, smoke, tobacco all masterfully balanced. No one flavor dominates, but compliment and work well as a team. When the sip finally exits, the mouth is left with a sweet tobacco flavor and black pepper with a small amount of oak bitterness and vanilla/toffee, all lasting forever. Gently bitter and sweet. A touch of water tames the youngness and improves the experience. This is a wonderful, complex dram and carries itself as a more mature whisky, but the old youngness is apparent. One for a top self. [$57][90/100]. [Opened: 1/31/15][Revisited: 5/24/15; 2/13/16]

The sherry is prominant and dominant on nosing. Give it time to open and the aromas of light brown sugar, some dark fruits, dates or figs, and a pinch of brine waft around. A touch of tobacco is first to arrive and opens to almonds and/or walnuts and a touch of oak. They all gradually fade and leave the mouth slightly oaken with a touch of grapefruit and white pepper spice. Add a small amount of water and the dram is rounder and sweeter and strengthens the grapefruit on the finish. Preferable with water. This is a slightly more concentrated and tighter version of HP12 where the flavors are slightly amped-up. Makes a wonderful sipper that is best enjoyed when there is time and the bustle of everyday can be pushed aside for a little bit. Many thanks Pranay for the generous sample. I was waiting for that moment to sit back to concentrate and enjoy this dram. Much enjoyed. [Dried glass: Brown sugar and vanilla][90/100][9/2/16]

After a semi-quick stint to Maryland, was anxious to open this bottle after seeing on the shelf in a local liquor store. This is my first Corsair purchase. They have intrigued me in that they seem to be experimenting and they don't seem too concerned about trying different and unique combinations, somewhat similar to High West. The nose is somewhat unique with some bourbon traits however softer with (de)shelled pistachios, cocoa, clove and a touch of oak. Excellent nose. A vanilla sweetness initially arrives and gives way to a hint of raspberry with oak and nutmeg. The palate is left slightly woody of cedar or pine with spearmint and nutmeg. A teaspoon of water rounds the edges and tones the feel of the dram and is preferable without as it looses a bit of character. This is perfectly suited for a late October or November/Thanksgiving fall harvest time season. Very enjoyable and slightly different. I believe this is a limited edition, so if you find one I don't think the purchase will be a disappointment. [Dried glass: cedar and vanilla][$53][88/100][Opened: 8/29/16]