Tastes

Very interesting! Accomplishes exactly what intends to. Nose is classic Johnnie, that is until a strong blast of spicy rye comes in. Taste follows the nose: oak, peat, cherry, and a little chocolate hit the palate followed by a burst of rye that lingers quite some time. Finish lingers for awhile and has more than a whiff of bourbon about it...enough that bourbon / American whiskey drinkers will appreciate this one, even if they don't normally like scotch. Wouldn't buy it as a mainstay scotch, but worth the splurge if adding something unique to a collection.

Yum. Another knockout release from Beam Suntory. Nose is fiery at first, but give it a few mins to breathe and you'll get a rich mix of toffee, cherry, vanilla, even chocolate. Hits the palate like a bomb in the finest Booker's tradition - again, best let this one air out for a few minutes. Get used to the heat and you'll discover an intense blend of spices, black pepper, oak, tobacco, and caramel. Some sweeter notes then linger: cordial cherries, a hint of molasses, and is that a little Jim Beam vanilla sneaking in? You'll have time to think about it because the finish is LONG. More approachable (no need to water or ice it down) and complex than the last release, while still delivering on what makes Booker's great. A classic.

Mind blown. Have not tasted prior releases, but a generous buddy poured me some of this the other night. Intense heat firebombs the palate for a split second, then vanishes to reveal an incredibly smooth (for its proof) yet rich mix of flavors: toffee, caramel, dried fruit, berries, cinnamon, butterscotch, and some mild oakiness. Finish isnt very long but boasts lingering cinnamon, butter, and oak. Need to spend more time with this one to really unpack it, but its "nectar of the gods" 5 star rating is well earned. Awesome.

One of my go-to's...or it was, since I can never find it anymore! Delicious, complex sip. Spicy on the nose, giving way to an intense yet smooth rush of flavors on the tongue, and plenty of rye spiciness all the way through the finish. Many flavors to pick out all the way through - and they can vary somewhat bottle to bottle, as the "single barrel" label seems to be in force here. The complexity, warm oak undertones, and blend of spice and smoothness are consistent, though. Grab a bottle if you can find it!

Everyone has an opinion on this one, usually a strong one. Put the image and price tag aside from one moment and you'll find an exceptionally smooth, quite flavorful blend. Plenty of lighter mixed notes at first - citrus, mild sherry, a little tobacco, a little oak. Richer, peaty flavor kicks in toward the finish in a slow but seamless transition. Very refined. Worth the price? Debatable, but great stuff nonetheless.

If you want bigtime Islay peat at an approachable price this may be your bottle. Briny, peaty, leathery notes on nose continue to the palate. Rich, dense tastes of peat, salt, pepper, bitter chocolate, herbs, with an oakiness to it too. Long-lasting oily finish. Good choice if you're wanting a bold Islay.

Among my very favorite single malts in its price and age range. Great overall balance between the oily, peaty Islay drams and the sweeter, fruitier, more approachable Speyside and Highland big names. Nose of oak, sherry, peat, even a little brine. Palate is rich with peat, sea salt, tobacco, oak, dark chocolate, syrup, with a hint of sweeter fruits too. Long-lasting, smooth, almost oily finish. A miniature tour of Scotch whisky if you will.

Interesting sip. Sweet on the nose, but with major oakiness on the palate. Lots of smoke, tobacco, molasses, etc. Agree with the expert here - there's def something old timey about it, which is almost certainly intentional. Not the smoothest sipper in the world, but it's the kind of pour you imagine yourself drinking by the fire in your hunting cabin. Worth a try

Ah, the good ol Dirty Bird. Bad memories from college cause some to overlook what is in my opinion among the best value bourbons on the shelf. Strong vanilla nose, which continues on the palate along with nice mix of sweet, fruity and spicy flavors. Quite smooth given the proof and price point. Bland, brief finish is only real letdown versus some bourbons in the next price tier. Always useful to keep a bottle of this around.