Tastes

On the nose candied lemon, graham cracker, vanilla, saltwater taffy, menthol, dill, cinnamon, dark chocolate. The palate is plenty punchy for 46% and quite flavorful. Sweet vanilla and brown sugar up front, some cherry Twizzlers, followed by the rye spices with mint, dill, cinnamon, and pepper. There's a little bit of leather going into the finish. It's eminently familiar as MGP 95% rye, but more balanced and refined than the typical 3-6 year versions we've all had dozens of. I enjoy the MGP rye profile, so this is a smash hit with me. In a similar age range, I've looked at buying the Templeton 10 year rye, but have always balked at the price. At under $50 for a 12 year age-stated rye, this is a great deal. I had some concern that it might come across as too thin at 46% (my sweet spot tends to be in the 50-55% range), but as I noted, it has plenty of punch. I think the peppery spice makes it drink a little higher than it is. I recently had a bottle of Sagamore Spirit Barrel Select at 55%, which I believe is a blend of the 95 and 51% rye mashbills, and 7 years old. I prefer the Bulleit 12. The Sagamore seemed to trade turns as a dill and cinnamon bomb. This has both, but in a more enjoyable balance.

Orange floral berry toffee peat on the nose. The floral aspect of the nose is reminiscent of Springbank 15, but a heavier peat presence is noted. The palate continues with floral orange and peat, along with the toffee and some pepper going into the finish. The peat feels in the mild to moderate range. A little bit of leather, chocolate, and orange rounds out the finish. The flavors here all work for me. Floral, orange, toffee, peat. Delicious.

Celebrating the end of 40 days of Lent with a 40 year old whisky. Hefty dose of sweetness on the nose, brown sugar, butterscotch, candle wax with a burnt wick, old varnished furniture. The palate matches the nose for me, along with some baking spices mixed in with the old oak going into the finish. I had this before trying the Glenglassaugh Sandend and the difference in quality was fairly stark. I actually really enjoyed the Sandend, but the old oak notes really set this apart. At the same time, and only the tiniest of quibbles - I think this isn't quite as complex as I had hoped. Still, for the first time to ever taste any whisky in the 40s, it was a sublime experience and a great way to wrap up Lent. Huge thank you to @pkingmartin for the opportunity to try this.

The nose is a little sprity, but is full of bright fruit. Apricot, tangerine, green apple, tropical fruit, then some nice maltiness. Reminds me of Irish whiskey a good bit, in particular Knappogue Castle, of which I've had both the 14 year and the 12 year Marchesi finish. The palate has all the fruit, but adds in some creamy vanilla ice cream and then slight spice toward the finish. As with the Knappogue Irish whiskies, I really enjoy this as well, and I'd give it a similar score as I gave those, 3.5-3.75. The flavors pop a little more in this, but also feels a bit younger and slightly less refined than the Knappogues.

I think this does best with a little water. Without, it seems like it's too tightly wound, and a little hard to pick apart the notes. With a splash of water and some time to open up, the nose is berries, vanilla custard, barbecue smoke, slight iodine, aged cheese, leather. The palate is creamy custard with blackberry, balanced with sweet smoke. Citrus fruit, a little peppery spice, leather, dark chocolate. I purchased before any reviews had come out because I knew it would be good -- I've enjoyed everything I've tried from Bruichladdich. The question was just how good. I've had a couple pours now a couple weeks apart, and I think it's very good to great. It's not an instant favorite as I thought it could be, but I'm definitely glad to have a bottle to see how it evolves.

The nose is citrus, sugar-crusted pound cake, something slightly herbal. The palate has grapefruit sprinkled with sugar, along with the light herbal note. Finishes with a little bit of the grapefruit bitterness, but it's not off-putting to me as a grapefruit fan. It's an enjoyable pour, and I'm grateful to @pkingmartin for the opportunity to try.

The nose is honey, orange peel, pear, lightly smoked seashell (don’t ask me why you’d smoke a seashell). The palate is vanilla pear custard, honey, faint peat, pepper. I think this is very good, but it also doesn’t seem like a great deal. It tastes like Johnnie Walker Green with a little more peat. I almost think I could get a similar profile by adding a splash of Talisker 10 to JW Green. I also prefer the younger cask strength Diageo special releases, which is what I’ll stick to when buying Talisker.

The nose is orange chocolate, raspberry Whoppers. Slight herbal note more in the background. The palate follows the flavors on the nose, but starts to develop some spice mid palate. Cinnamon, clove, ginger. Very slightly herbal again going into the finish. I’ve only had a few offerings from New Riff, but they’ve all been good. Great pour - chocolate, fruit, spice.

Many thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample. The nose has some rubbery peat, lime custard, apple orchard, and soft floral notes. The palate is fruity sweet on arrival, ripe plum, toffee, vanilla, transitioning to a sweeter peat, slightly savory, followed by some ginger and pepper. I’ve been curious about Chichibu, but haven’t felt the urge to splurge because I understand it’s quite young and very expensive. Now having tried, I can start to understand why these command such a high price. A remarkable pour that I am thrilled to have been able to try. Thanks again, Pranay! I’ll join the chorus of 4.5s on this one.

Picked this up for $30 from someone unloading some unwanted bottles. Private Barrel pick from Thru the Cellar Door, which appears to be in Broken Arrow, OK. The math on the proof/ABV doesn’t add up - the bottle says 62.75% and 133.5 proof, so it’s unclear if this is 62.75% or 66.75%. I’m guessing the latter. 8 years old, so several years older than their regular cask strength bottling. This absolutely needs a little water, both because it drinks very hot, but also because it unlocks some nice fruit flavor. On the nose peach cobbler with a cinnamon brown sugar crumble. Pleasant oak and a slight plastic note that reminds me of Maker’s Mark. The palate is sweet bready vanilla pastry, apricot, coconut, orange peel, transitioning to some drying oak tannin. Lingering brown sugar sweetness, but a fairly short finish considering the proof (whatever it may be). All in all, a great buy at $30, but I have no idea what this sold for originally.