Tastes

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - the slogan of Eagle Rare has almost become a mockery in these days, but that is not their fault. A flawless bourbon nose awaits, think of ripe oranges, honey and gingerbread, rounded off by caramel, toasted oak and sage. Great balance. The palate veers towards vanilla cream, treacle and rich wood spices before it turns zesty, herbal and slightly dry. Cinnamon, rock candy and a touch of bubble gum subside in the medium-length finish. This American classic hits the sweet spot, it is one of my go-to bourbons. RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]

Meant as a tribute to co-founder and head distiller Matt Hofmann, this heavily peated Westland is a real flavor bomb. Whiffs of coal smoke, raspberry powder and dusty old electronics ascent from the glass, giving way to almonds, red currants and spearmint. Funky and effervescent notes chime in. A peppery explosion of wood spices, mashed berries and dirty peat smoke kicks off the palate. Water accentuates sweet and sour notes. Baked apples, licorice and hints of ash push into the sooty finish. This intriguing whiskey goes toe to toe with any Balcones! RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 88 pts → FIRST-CLASS

Distilled at Hiram Walker distillery in Ontario, Lot No. 40 is a traditional Canadian rye matured in virgin white oak. On the nose, honey, toffee and floral notes take turns with peppermint, baking spices and pinewood. After the gingery and oaky arrival, the palate transitions towards maple syrup, cinnamon and cloves. Unripe pears, cherries and sourdough shine through, and it is a bit spirity. Black tea, rock candy and lingering spices mark the short to medium finish. We know that Canadians keep the best stuff for themselves, but this rye is actually not bad. RATING: 3.4/5.0 stars ≙ 82 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [-]

The fact that this Canadian blend came in a plastic bottle made me slightly uneasy, but let's not jump to conclusions. Notes of honey, burnt sugar and mild spices emerge from the glass, and there are hints of breakfast cereals, pastries and custard. Not the most complex nose, but not off-putting either. On the palate, Kellogg's Smacks, caramel and baked apples with cinnamon suffer from the low ABV, this tastes a bit thin. Milk chocolate, butterscotch and soft tannins remain in the short finish. To be fair, you can drink this neat - I honestly expected much worse. RATING: 2.7/5.0 stars ≙ 76 pts → SUBPAR [+]

Diageo's workhorse distillery is anything but glamorous, so it's no wonder that this Teaninich had to be finished in a sherry cask. Slightly musty and grassy, the nose leans towards unripe citrus fruits, sour cherries and potato fritters. It's a bit of an oddball, but things improve significantly on the palate. Sherry-forward, peppery and punchy, the arrival develops with raisins, peaches and herbal notes. Drying oak spices, lemon zest and red apples fade in the medium finish. It's certainly not a bad single malt, but my excitement is limited considering the price. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Balcones, Westland and countless craft distilleries - Scotch is facing some stiff competition as American single malt rises as a category. Notes of cherries, dates and cocoa reach my nose, followed by toasted oak, baking spices and fresh mint. Rich, intense and juicy, the palate carries on with burnt sugar, stewed fruits and roasted nuts. Water brings out aromatic and dryer flavors, and I get dark chocolate, orange zest and cinnamon. The prolonged finish evolves with maple syrup, barrel char and licorice. Only 4 years in the Texas heat, this Balcones is amazing. RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]

Brown-Forman's recent stock performance mirrors GlenDronach's fall from grace, and overpriced travel retail bottlings like Forgue show you why. A bit bumpy but still pleasant, the nose greets with grapes, prunes and baking spices, mingling with porridge, cantaloupe and hints of sulfur. The fruity arrival offers canned peaches, oranges and ginger, but there is a spirity/sharp undertone that never disappears. Dried fruits, almonds and a touch of IPA subside in the hot finish. This malt wasn't ready yet, so you have to ask yourself: why invest in disappointment? RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 79 pts → AVERAGE

Who would pass up the opportunity to taste and review one of the top 5 whiskies of all time? The nose of this 1964 Bowmore is out of this world, almost ethereal, thriving with lychee, passion fruit and lilies. Pineapple, tobacco and some waxy notes emerge, this is almost too precious to drink. Silky, lush and more acidic than anticipated, the palate is a tropical fruit dream, flourishing with juicy oranges, guava and a subtle layer of soot. It begs for another sip as the sophisticated finish lingers. I'm not a Bowmore fanboy, but this dram is nectar of the gods! RATING: 5.0/5.0 stars ≙ 95 pts → PERFECT

My bottle arrived in a damaged box, so I made a virtue of necessity and simply opened it. The nose of this Longrow 21 is stunning, there are countless layers. Quince jelly, orange peel and pipe tobacco are complemented by spent matches, sea spray and hints of soot. Wonderfully juicy, ashy and savory, the palate emphasizes tropical fruits, wood spices and earthy notes. Pineapple cubes, roasted almonds and whiffs of peat smoke sparkle in the long and slightly salty finish. Call it a guilty pleasure, I'm aware that this malt is too expensive, but what a dram! RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB [-]

I am a sucker for port, and Springbank ranks in my top 3 distilleries, so this Longrow is a real treat. On the nose, I am picking up raspberries, red currants and a farmyard note, it is quite effervescent, mineral and acidic. Embers, leather and peppercorn chime in. The sweet and sour arrival bursts with strawberry cream, prunes and earthy tannins before pink grapefruit, cocoa and briny peat smoke kick in. Excellent balance. Berries, dark chocolate and mint subside in the savory and slightly ashy finish. It's a real cracker of a malt, the tawny port casks work magic! RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB [-]