Tastes

After finishing my previous bottle of japanese whiskey, I've decided to go shopping for another. I'm on a sort of kick currently. Plus, watching some great shows filmed or inspired by the culture has fed into it as well. This particular entry caught my eye on the shelf. I've heard good things from the Suntory distillery and wanted to give this a whirl. The nose was quite enticing with its fruity pineapple and orange candy like aroma. There was also some oak detected as well. The tasting notes were somewhat similar and yet very different. Fruit and sweetness yes, but instead it stemmed from cranberry and a touch of butter and oak. The finish was quite durable which yielded cinnamon and hints of ginger. One of the most complex whiskeys from this region I've had so far. Definitely worth the price and made Shogun even more enjoyable to watch.

A thoughtful gift from the wife for Father's day. This was a Total Wine recommendation. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. Fairly straight forward barreling. The nose yielded the usual baking spice, but with a hint of banana. The taste contained a decent amount of cinnamon, vanilla, and a touch of oak. Some heat, but overall easy to drink with a somewhat short finish. This is definitely a go to for those days you just want to enjoy a no frills dram. It gets the job done without much thought involved. Great for the price point as well.

Had the pleasure of trying this interesting scotch from a friend. The rum barreling was fairly present giving off a slightly fruity aroma that went onto the taste. Along with that came some brown sugar and caramel flavors. A touch of oak and leather as well. This went down very smoothly with a semi lingering finish. A solid release from Glenfiddich.

Since this was my last vacation evening in South Carolina, I decided to splurge a little. I originally wanted a pour of Old Fitz 10 year, but they were fresh out. The average on this peaked my interest, so i said what the hell! Let's just say, I didn't regret my decision one bit. Not only was this great, but my awesome waiter and manager decided to grant me another pour on the house! When I return to SC next year, I'll be sure to revisit this spot. Awesome selection and food. Onto the drink review. The nose on this was a superb combo of brown sugar, cherry, and baking spice. My first few sips were quite spicy, but in a good way. Cinnamon red hots candy to be exact. After settling, I was able to distinguish an enjoyable complex array of tasting notes. An herbal essence popped first with a side of caramel apple. The backbone had some cereal character to it. Towards the finish there was a delightful duo of leather and barrel char. All the while having a nice oily body/mouthfeel. This has got to be Maker's Mark top of the line because the bar was set high with this offering. I can only imagine what the price of a bottle would run a person. If you can find a pour/bottle I highly recommend giving it a whirl. Solid stuff indeed.

Japanese whiskeys have always been on my radar, but I've never seriously pursued it. Till now. After trying some stellar offerings from the Hibiki distillery from a close friend, I decided now's the time. I came across this at my local shop and decided to give it a whirl. Lets just say, I was thoroughly impressed. The nose was quite enticing and different from the bourbons and whiskeys I've had recently. The tasting notes were a joy. It contained a nutty essence that I would guess to be almond. This was followed by the fruity sweetness from the sherry casks. As the moments passed, toffee and earthy/herbal flavors emerged. The finish was quite smooth and sake-ish. It had me wanting more. I will most definitely continue my journey in regards to this style. I'm looking forward to my next purchase. Another reason for me to love the Japanese culture. I now sip on this everytime I watch a great show called Tokyo Vice.

I always loved the double oak from Woodford. I have bought this more than once which is rare for me. Had a master distiller's version over a year ago that was very solid. So when I saw bottles if this triple finish sitting on a shelf at my local Total Wine, I was quite intrigued. The price wasn't too crazy and I love red wine so it was a no brainer purchase. The nose was all about the brandy barreling and red fruit character. After getting my palate drooling, I dove in and took a sip. My taste buds went into a but of a tizzy cause of the complexities within. After multiple swallows I was able to more clearly ascertain what I was tasting. Up front was the grain/corn effect that quickly transitioned to hints of leather and dried fruit. Further down I received a touch of chocolate and oak. The proof was very smooth and taken as an afterthought. I must say this was a joy to consume. Woodford has impressed me once again. I totally look forward to their other specialized offerings.

Lately, I've been focusing more on whiskey than bourbon. I decided to go shopping and saw this on the shelf. It was the last one and I had to climb to grab it. The name and description sounded interesting so I pulled the trigger. Several pours in and I'm beyond satisfied with my decision. The aroma was fruity leaning more on the side of caramel and lemon meringue. What ensued flavor wise was quite delightful. Again I perceived a lemony character with a touch of pie crust. Undertones of honey and orange emerged as well towards the semi-long finish. The lower proof made sipping a breeze. So take heed, because multiple pours in an evening can definitely become a reality. This was my first experience from this distillery and quite the memorable one.

I finally got around to reviewing this heavy hitter of a bottle. Wifey surprised me with this xmas of 2023. I'm about halfway through it present day. My first impression was the spicy heat that made itself known from the get go. Believable based on the 131.1 proof factor. After adjusting, I was able to ascertain the depth this uncut beauty provided. The nose yielded a pleasant group of characters consisting of warm vanilla, caramel, and a hint of earth. The palate contained a fair amount of oak and leather up front that slowly transitioned to subtle notes of chocolate and cinnamon candy on the finish. A bit herbal at times also. This was quite good, but I'm not convinced this warranted a $300 price tag. Definitely worth a taste if you encounter it, but I'd hesitate paying more than $150 for it. Overall, twas a good time.

It's been a long time since I've tried a pour of 1792. I enjoyed the small batch and sweet wheat, but not much else makes it my way near me. To my surprise, a bottle of this 12 year appeared locally so I snatched it up. The spiced oak aroma was inviting. Upon sipping, I noticed a fair amount of leather and said oak. This followed through to the finish as well. Slight rye and some cinnamon candy also emerged. The booze lit a small flame providing some warmth to it all. Not bad indeed. A solid offering from Barton.