Tastes
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Blue Spot 7 Year Cask Strength Single Pot Still
Single Pot Still — Ireland
Reviewed March 4, 2024 (edited March 25, 2024)After wondering for so long how they justify charging around $300/bottle for a 7 year aged Irish whiskey, I finally had a chance to try a pour at a bar. Feel in love with the nose immediately. Vanilla, caramel, honey, custard, stone fruit, not a hint of ethanol. The palate is rich, with some chocolate, espresso, prune, with a long peppery finish with a bit of cinnamon and ethanol. I still think the price is a bit steep, but it might be my favorite Spot (slightly edges out Gold Spot, haven't tried Red Spot yet).55.0 USD per Pour -
Laphroaig Càirdeas 2019 Triple Wood Cask Strength
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed January 14, 2024 (edited January 22, 2024)Much fruitier nose than the Madeira cask. Just a hint of iodine and sea spray. Earthy palate, dark fruit, smoke and salinity on the finish. Definitely sweeter than the Madeira cask, but not nearly as overwhelming as the PX cairdeas.52.0 USD per Pour -
Laphroaig Cairdeas 2016 Madeira Cask
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed January 14, 2024 (edited January 22, 2024)Nose has some stone fruit, herbs, and a waft of ocean air. The palate is a little earthy, some stone fruit, white grapes, and decidedly on the dry side. The saline notes from the nose arrive on the finish, accompanied by a light bitterness. This might be my favorite Cairdeas I've had this far (we'll find out soon if the Triple Wood exceeds it).47.0 USD per Pour -
Springbank 15 Single Cask (Demerara Rum cask)
Single Malt — Scotland
Reviewed January 14, 2024 (edited January 22, 2024)Rum is dominant on the nose, with some molasses and banana. The palate has the signature funk, with some syrup, faint smoke, big body and a little bit of ethanol burn on the finish despite just being 50.8% abv. The first fill demerara rum barrel is dominant here, but it works really well with the distillate. It's a beautiful thing, and would probably be legendary if it aged a few more years. This was a happy accident, as it was labeled "Springbank 15 cask strength", which I assumed was Sherry. They were out of the rum cask 15, and offered this and standard 15 as alternatives. Saw that it was a single cask and demerara rum, immediately said "I'll have that one."33.0 USD per Pour -
Writers' Tears Inniskillin Ice Wine Cask
Blended — Ireland
Reviewed January 7, 2024 (edited January 8, 2024)Big fruity nose with a hint of fudge. Medium body, the wine cask contributes a sweetness that's not overwhelming, and it's fruity. Some confectioners sugar. There's a slightly sulfuric essence that's present but not strong enough to seriously detract. Overall it's pretty good, but I preferred the cask strength over this. -
Writers' Tears Cask Strength (2019 Release)
Blended — Ireland
Reviewed January 7, 2024 (edited January 8, 2024)Nose with caramel, berry, butterscotch. Rich palate with some caramel, honey, oak, stewed apples. The mouthfeel is thick and oily, and there's just a little heat on the finish. Definitely the most Scotch-like Irish whiskeys I've tried, and one of the most enjoyable. I'm actually not entirely sure which release I'm drinking, so went with the most recent one that came up. -
Chairman's Reserve The Forgotten Casks Rum
Aged Rum — Saint Lucia
Reviewed January 2, 2024 (edited January 3, 2024)Aromas of caramel, tiramasu, dark fruit, and other nice things. The palate has a little oaky bitterness, but also sweet, featuring dried dark fruits and a lot of oak. The finish is a little dry and astringent. Overall it's OK, but it's not particularly memorable, and there are non-memorable rums I find far more enjoyable. -
Starlight Single Barrel Huber's Old Rickhouse Rye Finished in Grape Brandy Barrels
Rye — Indiana, USA
Reviewed December 23, 2023 (edited December 27, 2023)I usually find Starlight to be pretty good with barrel finishes, but this one has a bit of a harsh, youthful quality that overwhelms the brandy finish. This finish probably would've worked better on a bourbon; in retrospect, brandy and rye doesn't really seem like it would be a great combo.
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