Tastes

Birthday gift number 2. Other than the age statement, this couldn't be more different than number 1 (Ledaig). Super dark color. I'm sure I've had coffee that was lighter in color. The barrels they used must've been quite damp. The nose is very dry, nutty, earthy. Maybe a little vanilla and berry underneath that layer. The palate is dry, raisin, dark chocolate, rich. Builds into a little spice through the finish. This is quite pleasant.

I was afraid I might like this one. Afraid because I hate celebrity garbage. And this has the added distinction of whiskey pseudoscience, what with the playing of music for the barrels and all. I've avoided trying the regular Blackened for that reason. But then Willett had to partner with them and give them some respectability. So @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington generously obliged my interest in trying this one. The nose is full of cherry and vanilla, with the rye notes hanging out a layer or two below. The palate hits first with the sweet wine. Not sure how Madeira differs from Port, but it reminds a lot initially of Midwinter Night's Dram. Then the Willett rye flavors come in and swirl with the fruity wine notes. It's like a better version of MWND. When I had them on hand, I actually made a poorish man's version of this, using MWND and Willett 4 year rye. Not the same level of goodness, but it wasn't bad. This is really well done, and I'll be strongly tempted to buy this if I come across it. Thank you BOL for the opportunity to try this!

Batch 120, 57.26 ABV. Definitely noses like high rye. The palate is less well-rounded than the Stellum single barrel Cygnus that I tried, which was also the MGP 36% rye mash bill, but 5 years old. This has less sweetness and more leather. I also don't enjoy this as well as Clyde May's Reserve 6 year, again MGP, but unknown mash bill. The Clyde has more fruity sweetness. I do like this better than New Riff Single Barrel - not MGP, but has a similarly high rye mash bill. In comparison, this has a little bit more menthol on the finish that I'm not sure I'm in love with, but overall I think this is better. I also think this is tastier than Belle Meade Reserve. I think this is good, but I also think you can do better for the price and (lack of) availability - this isn't distributed to Oklahoma, so I traded for it. Cost to me was 60 by way of trade, which isn't bad, but I'm told these usually go for more. I'll enjoy the bottle, but won't go out of my way looking for another.

Nothing better than a birthday gift of scotch. On the nose lemon, pear, honey, saltwater, peat. On the palate much the same. Honey and pear first, followed by smoke, ashy peat, brine. A little peppery finish with vanilla and lemon showing up. The proof is an odd number, but it seems like I've seen that number before, so it must have some significance that I'm not aware of. I'm sure @cascode will know. Overall, I think this is pretty good, I enjoy it, and all the more considering it was a gift. I wonder if it stays in the shadows of the Islay heavyweights because the price isn't as competitive. Seems like this goes for about 70 around here, which seems too high. I will definitely enjoy this bottle though.

Birthday pour, last night. Couldn't find anything 44 years-old, so I settled on a 24 year-old. Between this and the Seagrass 16 year, I was expecting to like the Seagrass better (review upcoming), but this one surprised me. On the nose, I think the closest thing in my cabinet is Redbreast 12 Cask Strength. Fruit, tropical even. On the palate, it's butterscotch, followed by tropical fruit basket, followed by rye-like spices, peppery. Really pleasurable complexity and development that moves between different and distinct notes. It's really good. Really really good. It's better than RB CS, which is among some of my favorites in the cabinet right now. The RB tastes hotter and doesn't have the complexity that this has. I've gone back and forth between a 4.75 and a 5, but I'm going with a 5. And surprisingly, I liked this better than the Seagrass 16. Once again, huge thank you to @pkingmartin for what was a delicious birthday treat.

Thought I wrote down some notes on the first half of the sample I tried a week or so ago, but now can't find them. Don't feel like trying to recreate them, but the Cliff's Notes version is peat, lemon, chocolate, tobacco, creamy. It slots in below the regular 16-year for me, but it's definitely nicely done. Thank you for the sample @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington!

Nothing special, no real complexity to be found here, but it adequately scratches the itch for an easygoing sherried scotch. Great value at thirtyish bucks.

Someone brought this to a whiskey tasting, thinking it was an Irish whiskey. It's deceptively labeled to make one think it's whiskey, which it most certainly is not. To be fair, in very fine print it does say liqueur. Sickly sweet. Artificial. Maybe an orangy flavor, but mostly just sugar, and lots of it.

Compared to the 2020, the sherry is much more in the background. I get more of the apple and honey notes. A smidge of Springbanky character in there too. All in all pretty good. Better than Hazelburn 10, but not as enjoyable as the 2020 Hazelburn 13. Thank you @ContemplativeFox for the sample!

Side-by-side of Springbank 12 Cask Strength, batches 19 and 21, courtesy of the generous @ctbeck11 The nose of the 19 stands out as more interesting and appealing to me. Not getting a lot of sherry - seems like I'm getting more of the Springbank funk and peat shining through. The nose on the 21 seems to have a stronger fruit component, along with a floral note, while the peat seems more muted. On the palate, the 19 comes across like an amped up version of the 10-year, which is exactly what I was hoping for in this dram. There's some sherry in there, but it takes a back seat to the delicious Springbank funk and peatiness. The second sip I actually notice more sherry. I'm finding now this has a great balance between the bourbon and sherry casks, but also seems to let the funky peaty spirit show its stuff. The 21 is no slouch, but it's much more fruit forward. The funk and peat are in the backseat on this ride, but this is still quite nice. Added a little water to both. Before, I was strongly favoring the 19, but after I may actually prefer the 21. I'm now noticing how thick and mouth-coating it is. The 19 now seems thinner and a little hotter after adding only a splash to each. So, neat I prefer the 19. With a splash of water I prefer the 21. It's actually pretty tough for me to pick a winner now. I think I may be slightly more drawn to the 19, but honestly I'd be thrilled to have either of these in my cabinet. Scores: Batch 19 - 4.5 Batch 21 - 4.25 Thanks CT for the opportunity to try these. Was really a pleasure.