Tastes

I’ve recently had (and loved) both Russell’s Reserve offerings and I’d heard a lot of great things about Wild Turkey 101. Time to give it a shot. And guess what? It’s really good! All the flavors I love in Russell’s Reserve, particularly the single barrel, are in the 101 - just less refined as you would expect. That beautiful cinnamon/orange/oak/turkey funk is here for $18 a bottle or $30 for a handle. Incredible value. Not as good as the SiB of course, but a fraction of the price. This has to be permanently stocked in my bar as the VFM king. I’m officially a Wild Turkey fan.

This is kind of a tough one to rate, as I feel it is a bit of a lightning rod for people. I honestly think there are two ratings - one for beginners and one for advanced whisky palates. You can imagine where each rating would fall, but let's go through with this anyway! This is a light, sweet whisky that honestly smelled and tasted more like a scotch than a bourbon to me. It has a nearly yellow color so it must be young, especially if pink-hued port has been added to the liquid. Port flavors like plum don't fly out of the glass. Instead it is just light, sweet fruit over what I would describe as a light cereal body - almost like a 40% ABV speyside. Fruit is similar to that fruit cocktail cup I used to get as a kid in my lunchbox. Body is thin and the notes don't really change. Finish is sweet and short. You know what? It is refreshing and very nearly delicious. If it was a light scotch, I would consider it to be very well balanced and drinkable, especially as a starter - palate prep. Not a standout, but very solid for $45. But for a supposed bourbon? It flat out doesn't taste like bourbon. At all! And it certainly doesn't taste like bourbon with a port finish, which I associate with sticky plum fruit and usually absolutely love. The port must be contributing the fruit notes, but honestly they don't feel like the right ones. Fruit cocktail in syrup? Where did that come from? Like I said, hard to rate. It's a phenomenal starter whisky for newbies. For a more developed palate its nice but underwhelming and frankly a bit confusing. What to do? Wimp out and choose a positive but non-committal score of 3.5

Ah the Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch. I had to do . . . questionable things to acquire this in terms of time searching and amount paid. Was it worth the search and scratch? I say yes, but I'm not going to continue searching for this with a burning fire. However, let's get this out of the way - it's damn good and there is a reason it's in demand. This of course the famous Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 along with Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare, Stagg Jr. , Stagg and . . . uh, Benchmark. Of these, I've only had Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare, and I feel this is closer to the Buffalo Trace profile of caramel and spice than the Eagle Rare cherries and oak. But let's judge this on its own merits shall we? This is bottled in bond, so at least 4 years old and 100 proof. Nose is actually more subdued than BT or ER - floral. The palate is toffee and flowers - really! Some of the Eagle Rare cherries as well. Finish is hard to describe - an "up note" of lighter floral sweetness and a little spirity due to the proof instead of a heavier "down note" of chocolate covered cherries and rye tingle on the Eagle Rare.  So take Buffalo Trace, find a place in the rickhouse where you end up with more toffee than caramel (or heck, maybe the increase in proof causes that evolution) and you've got EH Taylor. And just throw out all the comparisons - it's really good! So hopefully you can find it without going through too much trouble.

I saw this Evan Williams BiB in a Safeway for $14.99 and had to grab it, considering I'd read many a glowing review about how it will become the next impossible-to-find bottle like Henry McKenna 10 soon. Spoiler alert - it won't. The nose smells like wet peanut shells and there is a lot of oak and barrel tannins. It is actually pretty thin on the palate and some brown sugar joins the peanut shells. Finish is pretty short with similar notes. This is what it appears to be: a bottom shelf, sturdy mixer for cocktails when you have guests. It certainly isn't something I would want to drink neat if I had alternatives. If it sounds like I'm being particularly hard on a $15 bottom shelf offering - you're right. But it's all about expectations. People pleasantly surprised that an inexpensive bourbon from the supermarket is actually pretty decent have blown this thing out of proportion, setting my expectations higher than this bottle could reasonably be expected to meet. Kind of a funny push and pull effect.

A rich, layered nose with campfire smoke, dried fruit, brine, plum and the medicinal aspects toned down by the sherried sweetness. I love this profile as the sweetness fixes everything I dislike about the Laphroaig 10. It does so many things well and I was really sad to finish it off. It is the equal of or even better than Ardbeg Uigedail, although the Ardbeg is half the price of this which has to be acknowledged. I never had the pleasure of enjoying the Laphroaig 18 that this seems to have replaced, but it is notable that when Lore (an NAS) was released in place of an 18 year old scotch for $120, people were justifiably upset. But it seems like once people were able to try this opinion has slowly shifted. I'd still prefer an age statement, especially at this price (thank goodness it was a gift), but thankfully it is an undeniably well made product. In addition, perhaps they are able to craft a more layered dram by mixing in some rougher peatier elements along with aged whiskey and a percentage of sherry barrels. If anyone deserves the benefit of the doubt, it is Laphroaig.

Very fresh nose with wood smoke, vanilla and citrus which follows through to the palate with lemon becoming apparent - almost like a lemon girl scout cookie that has been smoked. It's not overwhelming and there is good balance. The freshness of everything is what really stands out, which is likely due to a young, well made spirit that hasn't had a ton of cask influence - from wet Buffalo Trace barrels by the way. The finish lingers nicely. I'm really impressed by it. I hated this when I tried it long ago but it appears my palate has caught up. Reminds me of a young IB Caol Ila.

Peat on nose, almost menthol, smoke, honey, lemon, sweet and peaty on palate, smoke and sweet finish. After about 15 minutes, a campfire smoke replaces earthy peat on nose. This is a decent intro to Islay but I think most other entry level Islay drams do a bunch of traditional Islay flavors better (Caol Ila 12, Ardbeg 10, Laphroaig 10, even Kilchoman Machir Bay).

Thick and viscous. Soft, earthy peat, burnt caramel, spice on the nose. Wispy smoke, toffee, salted caramel on the palate, great mild smoke and sweetness on the lingering finish. Outstanding dessert dram.

Soft peat, citrus, sherry and a ton of toffee on the nose - most I've ever smelled in a scotch. A few drops of water and time results in an amazing toffee note. The nose carries forward into the palate with the same notes tied together by wafting smoke - really nice.  A great value for much less than the 18. Almost as good, just a little less intense.

Nose is big baking spices and caramel, palate is toffee and Mexican chocolate, finish is lingering sweet and spice with a tingle from the proof. This is really tasty, but honestly it is a little too sweet and rich for me to reach for it all the time. Ask yourself: do you want a higher proof Woodford Reserve Double Oaked with more spice and less chocolate? This is your dram. EDIT -Second taste after only a few days of air in the bottle and not a neck pour - smoothed out, similar notes but wow - the soft caramel/vanilla/toffee is out of control, with a tingly chocolate finish. Kick up the score!