Tastes

Wow! Pleasant surprise. Nose has strong whiffs of cherries, with a little maple syrups. It packs some heat too, which hits the palate right quick - this seems to drink hotter than its 100 proof suggests. Adjust to it and you'll find a complex, delicious mix of flavors: cordial cherries, butterscotch, caramel, cinnamon, tobacco, oak, chocolate. Thick and viscous texture too. Finish is long and satisfying, with sweet caramel toffee and brown sugar hanging out for a while. Dickel is crushing these BiB releases - they're an amazing value for fine older whiskey. Market seems to have caught on, so grab one ASAP if you see it at MSRP!

Notably different experience than the 12 Sherry Oak. Nose has some of the familiar Macallan handshake, but plenty of vanilla and butterscotch too. Palate is where things really deviate: its drier and spicier. Lots of black pepper, butter, cereal, dried fruit. Finish is heavy with oak, a little tobacco too. It seems brief, but it leaves a subtle sherry aftertaste...nice. Not a home run and fans of the brand's traditional sherry bombs won't love it, but it's a unique and enjoyable dram. Certainly worth trying!

A wonderfully refined whiskey to sip with friends or challenge your palate. Nose is subtle with whiffs of apricots, pears, fresh flowers, honey and oranges. Palate takes quite a few sips and some thought to really unpack: oranges, tangerines, mint, herbs, nutmeg, pears all emerge. Finish is long but also quite subtle, with the fruits and honey lingering. The entire thing is very smooth. It whispers rather than shouts. A delicious sipper, even if it won't cater to taste buds of those who like me who typically swear by sherry bombs, peat monsters or barrel proof bourbons. Well done.

Straight up caramel and butterscotch on the nose, coming on strong. Palate is rich and oily to the tongue, with a potent sweetness. Very smooth. Notes of Worther's toffee, caramel, vanilla, brown sugar. Oakiness is definitely there, but mostly noticeable on the finish - which is the only real letdown, as it ends abruptly. Expensive, but a worthy upgrade over Woodford's mainline offering. Quite an enjoyable sip, especially if you're hanging with friends and want a smooth, tasty, dare I say rich-feeling bourbon without wanting or needing to contemplate each sip.

Definitely try this one if you haven't. Won't be to all tastes, but excellent if you're looking for a somewhat unique unpeated dram. Sherry comes forward in the nose, with a hint of spices and brown sugar - you don't initially notice the rum barrel finish. Be patient, because it arrives on the palate, taking over from the sherry right quick. Notes of toffee, allspice, cinnamon, oak, oranges in there too. Finish isn't particularly robust, but has hints of well-aged rum. The Balvenie's signature gentleness and refinement are there in spades. A great sipper, especially on a summer night where a peat monster would just be too much.

It's Jack. Not the liquid gold its rabid fans claim, nor the bottom shelf rot-gut many bourbon enthusiasts accuse it of being. Nose is full of bananas...LOTS of bananas. Palate is a little flat but alright - bananas still there, some oak and brown sugar thrown in. Finish is hollow and lets it down. Not a sipper and the price is ambitious, but if you need some cocktail fuel there are plenty of worse options. So there - I've probably managed to piss off 90% of people likely to write a whiskey review.

Great choice for an easy sipper, especially at MSRP. Nose is hotter than you'd expect, with whiffs of vanilla and honey. Palate is peppery. Give it some time and there's plenty of cherry but some vanilla, oak, tobacco and chocolate too. A buttery taste lingers on the finish. Nothing is particularly strong. This is one of my go-to's for bourbon skeptics who want to dip a toe in, as its easy and pleasant while still interesting enough. Its also great for times when you just want some bourbon, but don't want to think about it much. That's no knock!

An old friend. Subtle, can be underwhelming if you're accustomed to barrel proof flavor bombs, but worth spending some time with. Toffee, butterscotch, black cherries, and vanilla notes in the sophisticated nose. Palate doesn't smack you with flavor and is probably the weakest part, but still quite pleasant: almonds, honey, brown sugar, caramel, maybe even a little chocolate. Finish is sweet, pleasant and lasts a nice long while. Absolutely worth it at MSRP - if you can find it of course. The bottle I grabbed was the first I'd seen locally in nearly 2 years.

It's Macallan, meaning it works as advertised every time. Not the most adventurous stuff in the world, but always a good pour. Sherry oak casking is very strong on the nose. The palate confirms the nose, with plenty of spice, tobacco, and pepper to go along with it. Pepper lingers at on the finish, but fades as the trademark sherry oak dominates. Manifestly not a peat bomb. Very smooth throughout. If you want a good, reliable single malt for almost any mood or occasion, you could do far worse than this.

One of my go-to sipping bourbons; very consistent for a single-barrel. Nose has intense oak, black cherry, and rye spice. Notes of tobacco, oak, mint, and licorice hit the palate before an intense flood of spices takes over. Sweeter flavors take over the finish, especially the cherry one smelled earlier. Always tasty.