Tastes

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]

A nice oaky nose and very unlike No 7 (no banana). The oak profile continues along the palate with cinnamon and vanilla. A nice long dry oaky finish. A few cubes draws the brown sugar out and sweetens the dram. Jack Daniels the way it should be. Enjoyable as a sipper. [85/100][Tasted: 12/19/15]

Sitting in front of the tree on the unbelievably warm December with some Christmas music playing so figure I might as well be sipping a scotch. The initial wave of aromas starts with tangerine with salted caramel. As it opens, over some fair amount of time, cinnamon notes become apparent. A soft, thin texture on the palate that carries caramel, which quickly fades to a bitter orange rind. A small amount of black pepper begins the finish. The palate is left bitter of the rind, with some cinnamon. The addition of a small amount of water mutes the nose somewhat but doesn't alter the aromas. The sweeter side of the dram is drawn out, pulling the bourbon traits of brown sugar and vanilla. Much better dram with water and is a must. Decent for what it is: a blended, sweet, Dewars scotch. The high review sparked my initial interest, but found myself disappointed as I expected more. 79/100][Opened: 12/13/15; Revisited: 1/2/16]

Popcorn initially on the nose with whisps of vanilla. Sweet brown sugar arrival the quickly fades to a drying oak tannins. Leaves the mouth oaky and dry with a hint of cinnamon. A straightforward bourbon that gets the job done. [86/100][Tasted: 12/5/15]

Banana is the dominant note on the nose along with vanilla, the basic bourbon traits. The high ABV makes this hot on arrival. The aromas are realized on the palate. Addition of water is a must. Tames the wild side and increases the sweeter side of the dram. As it opens, it increases in sweetness and fruitiness. Finishes with some oak and black pepper spice. An enjoyable, simple sweet dram, however, a bit on the pricy side. The Nadurra 16 year is better and cheaper, which, in today's market, means it will be replaced by a NAS (Nàdurra First Fill). [Tasted: 12/2/15]

Dinner with friends and enjoyed beer and wine. Saw this in the stock and ordered one for sipping through good conversation. The peat is immediate and on the sweet side. Some faint fruity notes arrive once the peaty-smoke fades. The body is thin and light and delivers, at first, a light oak that's slightly funky(?), but not off-putting. Finishes on the short side with brown sugar/toffee and oak. I did notice that, over time, since I sipped this slowly all evening, it become a much sweeter and softer dram. Time and patience with this one I think is warranted. A simple enjoyable dram. A decent balance between smokiness and sweetness. [85/100][Tasted @ Mannino's; 11/21/15]