Tastes

Of all the new distilleries that have popped up in recent years, the only ones to really intrigue me are Waterford and Nc’nean. The collaboration that Waterford is undertaking with Irish farmers is immense and impressive. A true terroir approach. The initial trio of bottle releases were rare on this side of the pond, so I was beyond lucky to try a pour from the legendary @PBMichiganWolverine who graciously shared a generous sample. At three years, this is unmistakably young on the nose & taste...heavy barley and grass notes that require a splash of water to get it to a better spot. But there’s an underlying vibrancy and quality that indicates this distillery is on the right track. Benromach and Bruichladdich have shown me that some single malt whisky can get quite interesting in the 6-7 year range so I’m counting down the days (years). If bottles of Waterford become more widely available and fall in the $70ish range, I can see myself always having a bottle on hand. Cheers and many thanks again PB!

Even though I gravitate towards scotch & Japanese whisky, there is always a bottle of bourbon in my open collection for when I crave the standard bourbon trifecta of vanilla, caramel, and oak. This bottled in bond small batch bourbon nails those typical notes on the nose while the taste takes those notes and adds spices (cinnamon) and a hint of brown sugar. There’s a decent chest warmth to top it all off. Rating: Distiller score of 90 is lofty but probably deserved although I’d lean more upper 80s (87ish). For the $43 I paid for this Colonel EH Taylor bottle, it’s a no brainer as a regular on any whiskey shelf. Classic middle of the fairway bourbon. Enjoy!

At some point in my whisky journey I’ve had a pour or two of Dalmore but am quite confident that I’ve never owned a bottle. Thanks to the massive generosity of @PBMichiganWolverine I was able to try a sample of this Dalmore offering. There’s no doubt this is a delicious and drinkable whisky but the 40% abv leaves it a bit thin and can’t recall any real stand-out tasting notes. A quick scope online reveals an eye-popping price tag in the $240 range. If this bottle was $70, I’d still choose Kilkerran 12 or Ardbeg Uigeadail or Springbank 10 over this any day of the week. Cheers again PB for sending over a taste I probably would never have tried otherwise.

One of my favorite whisky paths to travel down is the murky world of Japanese whisky. The Harmony is essentially the bottom rung on Suntory’s Hibiki line but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy to find and/or inexpensive. A blended parlay of grain and malt whiskies, this bottle is a smooth concoction with both Scotch and Irish similarities. The nose is fruity and floral with a hint of oak, while the taste accentuates those same notes. The finish has just enough kick to remind you that this plays at 43% abv and not a lower level. There’s over 2k reviews on this whisky here so more detailed tasting notes can be had taking a spin through all the other user reviews. Rating: Distiller score of 87 seems on the money. While the price varies widely and is often way too high ($90+ at many SoCal liquor stores), I can luckily find this regularly at a big grocer for $64. That’s probably still $10-$15 more than ideal but seems quite reasonable compared to other Japanese bottles. I just enjoy having this one around as it’s easy & smooth and always pleases the crowd. Cheers

Admittedly I’m a fan of Balvenie, ever since the 12 Year Doublewood sent me exploring down the scotch path all those years ago. As a member of the core range, this Balvenie Single Barrel spent 12 years in bourbon casks and boasts a hefty ABV. While sharing the same age as its Balvenie sibling, this bottle is wildly different than its Doublewood brethren - the ultra friendly Doublewood being a great ‘intro to scotch’ and the Single Barrel being a rugged bruiser. Strong astringent grass, barley, and bourbon-like vanilla on the nose, followed by a bitter explosion of similar notes when taking a sip. The finish is bold with a honeyed sweetness. Definitely enjoyable. Really can’t recall other bottles of scotch with this profile. Rating: Distiller score of 89 is probably spot on. This comparatively unique single barrel scotch is worth a spin - a pour for sure if not a bottle. Cheers Cask Number: 5303 Bottle Number: 68