Tastes
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Tanqueray No. TEN Gin
Distilled Gin — Scotland
Reviewed February 14, 2023 (edited February 16, 2023)Extremely robust citrus flavor. I taste a broad assortment of citrus fruit, I get lemon, limes, and oranges - juice and rind. It's got some spice i -
A sweet, oily rye. I get rye grain and a bit of licorice on the nose. It's got a sweet and spicy scent. It's got grassy, herby, rye flavor, some moderate spice, which is balanced by a sweet syrupy body. It's not too hot. It's got some heat - I get ground ginger or black pepper. It's got an herbal somewhat astringent finish. It's a very competent rye for the $20-30 price range. It's better than most entrants in this range and better than a fair number that are 2-3x this price, provided that you like heavier ryes. I think I prefer it to Russell's Reserve rye, but not Russell's Reserve single barrel. It's definitely hotter, but not as sophisticated. Rare Breed rye blows it out of the water, but it does that with most things under $100.
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Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Rye
Rye — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed October 15, 2022 (edited April 12, 2023)On the nose I get grass, rye grain, apple, maybe a subtle hint of vanilla, possibly a hint of cloves. It's a spicy drink - I get a real blend of spice on my palate- black pepper, maybe a bit of cinnamon, ground ginger, fiery rye. Beyond the heat, I get some typical rye flavors like maraschino cherries and almonds. I find that many entries in the Wild Turkey line and Russell's Reserve tend to have apple flavors, and that's definitely present - whereas Russell's is a sweet and smooth sipping mellow rye, Rare Breed Rye is the other side of the rye coin - it's fire and spice. The finish is long and hot - more ground ginger, barrel char comes through with some nice woody charcoal notes, maybe even some cocoa. A great companion for a cool fall night, with pumpkin or apple pie, holiday gatherings, or a backyard campfire. A great addition to the WT lineup. This is a real winner. Definitely be picking up another bottle when I finish this. -
Old Tub Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed October 14, 2022 (edited November 2, 2023)Fantastic for a daily drink or as a mixer. Nice punchy sweet corn flavors. Robust. It's surprisingly good for ~$20. One of the better value offerings out there. For my taste, I think it's quite a bit better than regular Jim Beam. It's cheap enough I don't feel bad mixing it or experimenting in cocktails. Also great for any kind of cooking/baking/candy-making that calls for bourbon. It's also a great casual drink with friends and family for those times when you just want a pleasant drink but it's not the focus of the evening. -
Blue Run Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed September 18, 2022 (edited November 21, 2022)The nose is sweet corn, candy corn, peanut shells, caramel, grassy herbs and rye grain, but on the tongue the rye hits me right away - it's quite hot - dark rye spice, maybe cinnamon red hors, cloves, black pepper. At the first taste, I would have said this is rye whiskey, and not bourbon, but the corn elements really roll out as the flavor evolves. It's still hot with a lot of rye spice and cinnamon, but I get barrel char, caramel, candy corn, corn syrup. Really nice long smokey finish with burnt caramel and grassy eye. Really great flavor profile, but I feel that the balance is a little off for my taste, and that there are some rough edges that could stand to be mellowed and melded a bit to make this superb. All around good whiskey, all things considered, and this is an excellent winter or fall holiday companion. -
George T. Stagg Bourbon (Fall 2020)
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed September 16, 2022 (edited September 17, 2022)Very intense. Added a bit of water. The nose is leather, nuts, corn syrup, rye, burnt sugar. The palate was a bit too intense for me without water. Fiery, spicy rye. Maybe some cloves/baking spices. Oaky barrel. Burnt marshmallow, burnt brown sugar, sweet corn, toffee, maybe a hint of anise. Finish of caramelized sugar, smoke, slightest hint of maple. Charcoal, leather, tobacco. Lingering rich caramel. A real heavyweight in the bourbon world, a nonstop barrage of intense flavors. Having had Thomas Handy Sazerac, William Larue Weller, and George Stagg on a few occasions, William Larue Weller is my favorite because it is mellow, complex, and sublime. Stagg is the opposite - it is aggressive and intense. I think Weller is the better, more sophisticated whiskey, but Stagg is a non-stop assault on your tastebuds and should not be discounted. Thanks for the sample, Paul! -
Well, it's definitely Ardbeg, it's got savory brine, plenty of peat, smoke, pepper, and smoked meat/smoked fish. But I also get dark chocolate, some dark fruit(in a high quality chocolate way, not a sherry way), coffee grounds, maybe even a hint of pear. I also get burnt bread in the finish, but not necessarily in a bad way. They really must have burnt some of their malt to a crisp. This is definitely different, while being very recognizably Ardbeg. I like this - it's a really interesting direction, and I think that there is more for Ardbeg to explore here. Here's hoping for a version 2.0 at some point down the line.
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I'm predominantly a whiskey drinker, but I love a good gin and tonic. When I saw that the masterful Bruichladdich made an Islay botanical gin, I rushed out and bought it immediately. I've only ever mixed this gin into a gin and tonic once. It was a great gin and tonic, but to be honest, I think that The Botanist is so good, that I'd rather drink it neat. Bruichladdich proves that Islay does more than just peat the Hell out of things, though they admitedly do a damn fine job of peating the Hell out of things. The Botanist proves that Islay can produce some of the finest spirits in the world without even needing to put them in a barrel. It's probably my favorite gin, and I even feel guilty mixing it.
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I won this bottle in a tequila lottery, and it does not disappoint. On the nose I get floral notes and some vanilla, maybe a whiff of charcoal and caramel cream candies. Perhaps some wet gravel. The palate is very rich. I get vanilla, honey, wild flowers, caramel, barrel wood, barrel char, citrus juice, lemon peel, caramelized agave. I also get a bit of salt. It really has an excellent mouthfeel and a long finish - I get waves of sweet melon and honey wrestling with tart citrus that seem to be fighting each other - a very slight edge of anise, charcoal, and salt. It really lingers and all the flavors seem to ebb and flow like the surf. It has just a bit of smoke, but I wouldn't consider it smokey, then again I drink very heavily peated scotch, so take my assessment of smoke with a grain of salt. There is really a lot here, and it's all very pleasant. A tequila lover's dream, but also something not to be missed by lovers of other fine spirits.
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