Tastes

Another quick stint to Maryland to see family. Stopped by Roland's in Chesapeake Beach to pick up a something new to share. This was the bottle of choice. The familiar bourbon nose of corn, brown sugar, vanilla, ground cinnamon and oak char are immediate. As it opens, with a bit of patience, subtle hints of bananas can be found. Oak tannins dominates the palate on arrival. Brown sugar is briefly revealed, segues to a small amount of char and quickly fades back to the dominant and primary oak and cinnamon spice characteristics. Finishes just as it arrives with a with a trace of black pepper. The addition of water/ice tempers the oak and enhances the sweeter side and is preferable. A decent sipping whisky (their spelling) but somewhat safe and static. A better quality, punched up (45% abv), more defined whisky than the Old No. 7.[Dry Glass: Brown sugar and nutmeg][$25][85/100][Opened: 10/24/15; 4/8/16;10/28/16]

Watched the Mets defeat the Dodgers and decided to celebrate with this dram. Caramel, apples define the nose, but the aromas are all faint and almost indiscernible. Cherries on the arrival, fairly bright on a soft and silky body. The cherry notes give way to a nutty and autumnal spices; nutmeg, cinnamon. Finishes with a the same spices and some oak tannins. A cube or small amount of water increases the cherry and vanilla notes, morphing more towards brown sugar. A warming whiskey that is suited well for a crisp October fall evening. Enjoyable and warming. #LGM. [86/100][Tasted: 10/15/15 @ Vaughans, Hartford]

Still watching the Mets @ Vaughans and working this dram. The nose is more bourbon traits than Irish whiskey. The arrival is soft; one of the softest drams that I can recall. Rich vanilla-honey sweetness fills the palate. Some oakiness comes through after the sweetness subsides. The mouth is left dry and a skosh spicy; cinnamon and walnuty. Stephanie's review is right on and on par with what I experienced. A lovely, sweet whiskey. #LGM. [88/100][Tasted: 10/15/15 @ Vaughans, Hartford]

While watching the NY Mets in game 5 vs the Dodgers, ordered a dram to ease the anxiety. Ripe pears, vanilla and banana are the featured aromas. A hint of dried hay are found a bit deeper in the dram. Spicy on arrival in that velvety Bushmills body. That spice subsides and opens to sweetness of brown sugar, honey, milk chocolate whoppers. The flavors do not stay for long and give way to a slightly spicy cinnamon finish. The mouth is left oaky dry and remains on the palate. A good dram that is clean, neat and easy. #LGM. [86/100][Tasted: 10/15/15 @ Vaughans, Hartford]

A similar nose the the 15: honey, tea, heather and vanilla; soft and sweet. A hint of dandelion? Like a warm spring April day. A soft arrival, thin and light. The honey notes dominant which then reveals brown sugar. A bit of spicy pepper begins to creep in and becomes the primary remnant on the the palate. Hints of oak and drying tannins are the last notes of flavor on the palate. A good whisky that's easy, not overly complex and enjoyable. Balanced, soft, sweet and dry. [87/100][Tasted: 10/14/15 @ Hartford Hilton]

From my brief notes, Initial nosing reveals banana and a yeast and grain. Soft and sweet on the palate, revealing a fruity body of pears as well as malt. Finishes dry leaving oak and white pepper. Found this to be better than their Single Grain product. [85/100][Tasted: Whisky on the Hudson 2015]

Finally opened this watching some football and grilling some dinner on this early fall evening. A beautiful Amber color reminiscent of fall. After breathing for about ten minutes, the nose reveals candy corns, Maraschino cherries with hints of oak char and nutmeg. Sweet and spicy, but not intense or overwhelming. Arrives in a silky body where brown sugar dominates. As it opens, the brown sugar become more intense. Oak tannins can be found which balances the sweetness. Cinnamon notes make a late arrival segueing the finish. The palate is left lightly brown sugar sweet and lightly oaky and the cinnamon spice is the last remnant. A very well balanced bourbon that shows it's maturity that makes this a good sipper; does not bite or burn and well balanced through nosing, arrival and finish. Add a few cubes and is a perfect sipper for a warm summer day. All this that can be found at a relative bargain. A good every sipper. My bottle states the age on the back of the bottle. Is this a precursor to a NAS bourbon? [Dry Glass: Toffee][89/100][Opened: 9/27/15]

Having a shot of Blanton's with my buddy who is enjoying his Sweetwater IPA at Gibsons at the Nashville airport (beer and shot for $4 more - I got the shot of Blanton's, he got the beer). Brown sugar nose with wisps of chocolate and leather. Arrives oaky and rye spicy. As it begins the path to a finish, the oakiness is the dominant feature. The oak stays for some time and finally reveals some brown sugar. A nice bourbon to finish the stint in Nashville. [88/100]

Flew down to Nashville [9/12/15] with some friends for an extended weekend and grabbed a bottle for the room. I was looking for a good sipper to compliment the music and friends without dropping beau coup money. The nose of cherries, toffee, cinnamon spice and leather is balanced and bright, like a Nashville boot shop, all packaged in a warm amber color. Arrives spicy with rye notes, oak, hint of char on a velvet body. As the spicy notes fade, the sweeter, brown sugar character of the dram makes its appearance and wonderfully counters the spicy arrival. You are left with a palate of drying oak tannins and the sugar sweetness the stays for a fair length of time. What I really like about this bourbon is the camillion character by simply adding a cube. This is where the sweeter side becomes and stays the dominant flavor and strengthening that woody finish. A much better dram with ice (but not too much) or a splash. I was not sure what to expect when I purchased, but this is one I look forward to keeping in the collection. [Warehouse: KE/Barrel #: 6-10][$44][90/100][Opened: 9/12/15; 3/4/16;5/14/16].

Tasted on Whiskey on the Hudson 2015. Notes are sparse as it was near the end of the evening. My recollection was not favorable. However, being of sound mind, I need to revisit under less, preceding inhibitors. [80/100]