Tastes

Smoke, peat, sea, brine, leather are immediately apparent on the nose. Faint amount of vanilla sweetness is in the mix. A damp, cool day by the ocean beach near a fire is an image in my mind when I take in the aromas. The longer it sits, the smoke fades and it becomes much sweeter and saltier. Smoke then heat arrive on the palate with a slight amount of caramel and coconut sweetness. Oaky dryness envelopes all around. A full-bodied, heavy and somewhat oily textured spirit. A splash of water sweetens the dram and eases the burn and brings out a rubbery note. A long-lasting finish of cigar and pepper and lemon peel, though it may sound off-putting, is rather enjoyable. Am I at the beach house, enjoying the sunset, just having finished my cigar? Oh, wait! I'm in my living room on a cold and wintery evening (by a nice warm fire). A complex, long and satisfying dram, with a touch of youth. Wonderful! [$59][92/100] [Opened 1/9/15; Revisited: 2/14/16]

On nosing, one may be fooled into believing that this is a peated whisky as the smoke is not all that obvious, tucked away in the way back. However, vanilla and caramel are obvious. That all changes on the palate where the peat dominates, but not over-the-top. As the palate swims past the peat/smoke, brown sugar, brine and white pepper flavors blend and in balance amongst themselves. The palate is left with the spice and menthol and that ocean-brininess. This was magnificently paired with Truffled mushroom broth, pancetta, baby kale, Dijon matzoball, mimolette that absolutely drew out the flavors and aromas. [87/100][Tasted: 1/31/16 @ Eat Mosaic]

The nose is a potpourri of green apple, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla and an odd-man out, rubber (cannot surely identify). Arrives with some sweetness of brown sugar wrapped in a medium body. As you explore, hints of, oddly, again, fresh cucumber notes on the palate can be found (at least for me). A lovely finish with a tad of smoke paired with pepper spice. A unique whisky I tasted with a food pairing of Roulade of Sole, charred haricot vert, "French onion" crostini almond and smoke apple. Very enjoyable. [86/100][Tasted: 1/31/16 @ Eat Mosaic]

After enjoying a fine burger and stout, decided to close the evening out with an Irish whiskey. Trumbull Kitchen had this available and felt like a good pairing. A malty chocolate sweet nose which gets sweeter the longer it opens. A faint whisp of coconut breezes around. Malty mouthfeel that delivers a thin, faint profile of vanilla, cereal and oak. The flavors fade quickly, too soon. You are left with a palate of light milk chocolate/ovaltine (be sure to drink it), oak and a skosh of black pepper spice that warms the soul. A nice and easy dram that is an improvement upon the standard. A nice light and sweet Irish whiskey. Compliments a Guiness rather well. [$39.Lit][85/100][Tasted: 1/13/16 @ Trumball Kitchen; 3/17/16; 4/1/16].

At one of my favorite Hartford pubs having enjoyed Fish 'n Chips and hearing David Bowie (RIP) and never having tasted this whisky, thought it was about time. Nose is sweetly rich; NYC vendor honey-roasted almonds, dates and a touch of cinnamon are all the aromas that dance around. Arrival is soft and round that brings on the typical richly sherried whisky flavors: brown sugar, raisins that linger for a brief moment but quickly fade. Oak tannins, black pepper and cinnamon spice remain and leave a slight bitterness and oakey dry for a extended length, but not in a bad way. Add a touch of water and the oak and spice are diminished and rounds out and with that some of the character of the dram. Somewhat reminiscent of Bushmills Black; both sharing similar qualities: triple distilled and sherry finished. An enjoyable, sweet and oakey scotch that inoffensive and easy to drink. [85/100][Tasted: 1/12/16 @ Vaughans, Hartford]

Sitting at the bar waiting for the Alabama/Clemson game to start, after a nice bbq meal (Go Tigers). The banana notes are the first notes on the nose. They overpower all, initially. As you wait, they do lessen and other bourbon traits make their way: corn sweetness, vanilla, oak and cinnamon. This initial Bookers blast (neat) immediately anethestizes the tongue and dulls the senses. The second wave, as you are better prepared, allows you to discern the brown sugar sweetness. At this point, water is your friend. Add some ice gradually and let it open. This beast need taming. As it starts to settle, the brown sugar sweetness and oakey dryness play off each other, starting sweet then turning dry. The oak dominates and as it starts the finish, the palate is left oakey dry and Red Hot cinnamon spicy. A nice treat and fun ride. As far as all the two Booker batches I have experienced, to me, they are all very similar. A more refined palate may be able to discern the differences. But, in general, if you like bourbon, you can't go wrong with Bookers. [93/100] [Tasted: Black Eyed Sally's, Hartford, CT; 1/11/16]

[1998/2014; Batch #: 4/503] : Watching the final few minutes of GB/Was game after enjoying a nice family meal (Greenbay won). Picked this up for a relative steal and was waiting for the quiet time to enjoy this dram. Rich, deep amber color entices you to take a sip, and I will. Sweet smoke, hickory, tobacco, brown sugar and hints of dark chocolate, if you wait and dig. The aromas blend wonderfully. I can nose this one all day. Soft on the palate and arrives sweet. Browns sugar, cinnamon and oak and nuts (almond, walnut, pecan?) arrive sequentially but all meet and balance each other. They depart together opening the door for tobacco and black pepper spice to make the grand finale. The sweet tobacco leaves the mouth wonderfully ashy, like smoking a good, rich cigar. Lagavulin 16 lovers will enjoy this whisky. Less smokey and sweeter than the it's brethren and just as enjoyable. Just find some down time and sip slowly. Sláinte. [$67][94/100][Opened: 1/10/16; 4/17/14]

Banana and nutmeg nose are the primary notes on nosing. Some walnut makes its way through. A nice, warm, sweet aromatic, like fresh baked banana-nut bread. A soft texture the greets you with a hard bite and fades quickly. Sweet toffee and cinnamon remain until the finish. Fades to a hint of oak and ground cinnamon spice and traces of banana. The addition of cubes (or water) lessens the initial bite. The toffee notes are enhanced and overall an improved dram. A sweet, straightforward, good textured bourbon. [84/100] [Tasted: 12/25/15]