Tastes

Pretty dry and precise, with Christmasy clove and a hint of vanilla up front — and on one occasion, mustard — followed by a metric ton of pepper and Big Red gum. There’s some peppermint on the end. Warms everything up for awhile afterward. Consummately rye. Excellent, but just a smidgen too pricey at $68.

A true go-to. Bear hug of smoke up front, alongside band-aid, cigar, and backyard pool chlorine. It’s balanced on the palate, with more peat and caramel apple. Long finish shows campfire and almonds or something. Awesome, though overpriced when in the three figures (which is more often than not these days).

Really tasty and distinct, but I guess I don’t find as much complexity as the pros do. A single note of sour apple Jolly Rancher on the nose, followed in the mouth by creamy vanilla and the standard chalky/cottony biscuit note found in Irish pot still whiskeys.

Sweet cherry, caramel, cigar smoke, and old cologne on the nose. More cherry, apricot, and a punch of oak in the mouth. Surprisingly easygoing at 50% ABV, but it does leave a long, cozy burn behind.