Tastes
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Lagavulin 9 Year (Game of Thrones-House Lannister)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed March 5, 2023 (edited May 20, 2023)With whisky prices today, it feels like a steal to find this for $45. Probably should've cleared the shelf at that price. The nose is honey glazed barbecued pork belly. Some orchard fruit in there. The peat is barbecue smoke and slightly briny, but it's balanced by the sweet and fruit. Citrus fruit becomes becomes more prominent after some time. The palate shows ashy smoke, creamy caramel, brine, lemon custard, a touch of oak. The finish is a little peppery, with ashy smoke and sweet lingering. It's not got the depth of the 16 year, but the bump in proof is appreciated and it's a solid peaty dram on its own. I've been in a peaty mood, and this fits the bill. I don't know what this was originally priced at, but at $45 it's a no-brainer. Probably over-rating this a bit due to value, but going with 4 stars. I may have to make another visit to buy some more.45.0 USD per Bottle -
Ardnamurchan AD/02.22
Single Malt — Highland , Scotland
Reviewed February 16, 2023 (edited September 7, 2023)Scanning the QR code leads to loads of info about the contents and production of this whisky. It's quite remarkable the extent of details that they disclose. Even if you don't buy a bottle, do yourself a favor and scan the QR on the next Ardnamurchan you see. This particular bottle is number 66 of 1200 in this batch. The batch is made up of 40 casks of peated whisky and 10 casks of unpeated. The majority of the casks are ex-bourbon barrels, with a handful of sherry casks. Citrusy nose, with lemon and a smidge of orange. A little salt spray, and a tiny wisp of peat smoke. Vanilla cream, black pepper. The palate is nice and creamy with lemon and pear, custard. Candied ginger. The peat starts to come on towards the back of the palate and through the finish, but it's not as strong as I was expecting, considering the proportion of peated casks that were used. The peat is one among many notes, balanced by the fruit and creamy vanilla flavors. The peat is campfire, slightly briny, very mildly vegetal. There is a bit of pepper and burn on the finish, reminding that this is nearly 60% ABV. This is a really nice whisky and after having tasted and enjoyed both the regular strength release and now this one, I'm a fan. I'm reminded a bit of Talisker, which on the far western coast of Scotland, Ardnamurchan doesn't appear too far from the isle of Skye, at least as the crow flies. As long as I can find these releases, I'm inclined to be a regular purchaser. -
Ardnamurchan ad/07.21 :04
Single Malt — Western Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed February 10, 2023 (edited September 7, 2023)It's not all the time that I have a hankering for peated whisky. But sometimes when the craving hits, everything not peated tastes boring. It's like I develop peat pica and have to rummage through the whisky cabinet or stashed samples for anything smoky, briny, vegetal, tarry, or iodic. In my manic hunt for peat, I may also branch out to new whiskies. I had been curious about this distillery, but had stayed away mostly thinking it was too young and not peaty enough. But after a couple recent endorsements decided to give it a try. Overall, glad I did. On the nose, lemon, honey, fairly light whiff of peat. From the nose, I'm not expecting this to satisfy my craving. On the palate, however, the peat plays a more prominent role. It's not the star of the show, but it's got a speaking role for sure. Pear, honey, lemon custard, candied ginger, and somewhat vegetal and smoky peat. The peat comes across more campfire smoky than briny, but there's a smidge of salt in there too. I wouldn't have guessed it's only 5-6 years old, but will say that compared to Kilkerran 12, (which seems to have about a similar level of peatedness), the Ard comes across as somewhat less refined. Maybe an unfair comparison, but the last bottle of Kilkerran I bought I only paid about $10 more for. Of course, prices for whisky have gone up across the board, and the Kilkerran now seems to be $90+, so $59 for this seems now like a fair value. In fact, I liked it enough that I bought the cask strength bottling, which I've yet to try, but from what I gather it's got more peat and nearly 60% ABV. Gotta keep that peat pica satisfied. Cheers!59.0 USD per Bottle -
Balcones Blue Corn Bourbon Whisky Finished in Wine Casks
Bourbon — USA
Reviewed February 9, 2023 (edited April 12, 2023)As is typical with Balcones, big and bold. The roasty toasty Balcones note is front and center. Then strawberry jam on a tortilla chip. Sweet and salty kettle corn cooked in cast iron over a wood fire. Buttered cornbread. Dusty lumber. A little water brings out more caramel. A little more water and the fruit comes across more like raspberry. I was skeptical about this one, because I don't generally care for secondary finishes on bourbon, but it works really well here. I might like this more than the regular Blue Corn Bourbon, but unfortunately I didn't think to keep any to compare when I finished my last bottle a couple weeks ago. I don't think it rises quite to the level of their peated single malts, and I think the special releases from Ironroot and Garrison Brothers are still a bit ahead of them in regards to Texas bourbon, but this is very good and I'm strongly considering ordering another bottle. -
Ghostwood Premium 4 Grain Blended Bourbon Whiskey
Bourbon — Illinois, USA
Reviewed January 21, 2023 (edited January 28, 2023)Blind whiskey tasting with friends. This one may not have gotten a fair shake, as it was last in a lineup of 11, but it tasted like pretty generic bourbon and didn't stand out in any way, good or bad. The biggest surprise to this one appears to be its price, as it was said to have cost 60$. Not sure what would justify such a premium based on the small sample I had. Says "bottled in Montana," so who knows what the source of this one is. -
Blind whiskey tasting with friends. This was the only scotch that made the lineup of 11 whiskies, which also means I'm probably overrating it a bit, but it was a welcome changeup from all of the bourbons and ryes that were tasted. Pretty classic blended scotch flavors, and I liked better than recent taste of the Dewars Portuguese. Also more flavorful than I expected for only 40%. I'd be willing to revisit.
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Blind whiskey tasting with friends. This one I couldn't figure out. The flavors were pretty bold, but not all pleasant. Tasted a good bit of malt, but also a good bit of youth. There's not a traditional rye flavor here. Sweet, but also acetone-like flavor. It stood out as unique, but not all in a good way. I'd taste it again, but it also looks like it costs nearly twice what it seems worth.
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Michter's US*1 Sour Mash Whiskey
Other Whiskey — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed January 21, 2023 (edited April 12, 2023)Blind whiskey tasting with friends. The main thing that stood out about it was its thinness. I'm sure it didn't stand up well to the others in the lineup because it was the lowest proof of the bourbon entries and was bracketed on either side by just better whiskies. I thought this was fine, and I could see going higher on the rating in a tasting on its own. -
Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 3
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed January 19, 2023 (edited April 11, 2024)Even though I hate the most recent marketing of Highland Park, the brand has some sentimental value to me, as it was the first whisky that got me interested in peat. I've only ever tried the regular 12 year, both before the marketing change and after. The last time I tried it, I thought it had taken a step back from the pre-viking bottlings. But I've heard good things about the newest cask strength release, so I thought I'd give it a go. We know that the marketing department is on heavy drugs, but let's see if the whisky-makers are too. On the nose, orange, honey, vanilla, light peat. There's a little sourness that takes turns as slightly off-putting, to actually pleasant when I imagine it as a fresh orange. On the palate a nice oily texture. The sherry shows up strongly on the palate, continuing the orange, but adding some berry and dark chocolate. I had heard that this was the most peated of their cask strength releases. It's definitely there, especially on the finish, but I was hoping for more. The peat is, as they say, very heathery, and it does come across more strongly than I remember on the 12 year. It's very drinkable straight from the bottle despite the proof, but also takes some water quite well, although it seemed the peat and fruit diminished and the honey grew stronger. This is a good whisky. I will say it seems a hair overpriced, but then everything seems overpriced right now. Going with 4 stars.88.0 USD per Bottle
Results 71-80 of 389 Reviews