Tastes

I hate to say it, because I’ve really heard a lot about what this distillery is doing for the Texas whiskey scene, but I (after 4 times going back over 6 months) DO NOT like this whiskey. Nose: dark DARK fruit, barrel mustiness, the slight tinge of rotting leaves that I hate about the newest expressions of Highland Park 12. Just very old and musty tasting which is not what I look for in a malt heavy whiskey. Taste: Almost exactly the same as the nose. Raisins dominate with a slight sugariness. The mid pallet and finish I just don’t like. Not going to get into any tasting notes because I can barely stomach it. Its just not my thing. Not faulting you for linking this whiskey. Sometimes people don’t understand why I like Islay peated Scotch so much and I think this whiskey is just the same. It’s a very acquired taste that I don’t think I’ll ever acquire the taste for. This is a just ones opinion, don’t let this sway your opinion by any means. Especially for all the accolades this distillery has won over the past few years.

This was my first crack at the famous Peat Week by Balvenie, and good lord have I been missing out. This is absolutely amazing peated scotch that gives the Islay’s a run for their money. Nose: Spicy barrel notes with heavy peat, smoke and cigar ash hints. The underlying scents include dark fruits (raisins, plums, and savory red apples). The back end gives into a silky creaminess. Taste: Pretty much identical to the nose. The finish lasts forever and has a milk chocolate creaminess with a minty vegetal note lingering 30 seconds or more after you have swallowed. Absolutely wonderful. A bit pricy, but at 14 years old it makes sense. I’ll definitely be coming back to this one in the future.

Was a bit skeptical when I heard they were doing a Offerman Edition. Especially when I was not a huge fan of the 9 year game of thrones edition. But I was pleasantly Proven wrong. The 11 year is delicious and another unforgettable expression from Lagavulin. Nose: Peat, smoke, sweet cigar ash. Baked cinnamon apples, sweet pears, and nutmeg. Taste: mild peat and smokiness, vanilla, caramel, and candied cherries. Mid pallet is wonderfully malty with a long lingering finish of barrel mustiness, and fruits including apricots, apples, and maybe a slight cranberry? (That could be all in my head)

Only other Oban expression I have had before was Oban 14 and I liked it a lot. The only thing that disappointed me was that i didn’t consider it too complex on flavors. Little Bay however, is the exact opposite. Both the nose and taste are deeply saturated in seemingly dozens of flavors. Nose: dried candied apricots, overripe apples, baking spices such as clove and star anise, sweet butter cream, and all rounded off by what I can only describe as a fresh baked and stuffed cannoli. Taste: slight ashy smokiness which is pleasant, candied fruits such as plums, apples, pineapple, and raisins, granulated cane sugar. Mid pallet fades into a silky milk chocolate and transitions on the end to those same baking spices I found on the nose. So glad I found this bottle before Fall. Once the temperatures go down this whiskey is going to be perfect for sitting next to a bonfire, or fire place after a good hearty meal.

First time tasting anything by Glendronach and I’m not disappointed. Nose: heavy HEAVY dark fruits and caramel rounded off by a vanilla mustiness. I keep reading that this is supposed to be slightly smokey, but I don’t smell it at all. Taste: spicy, smooth Carmel gives way to dark cherries, raisins, red apples, slight red grapes. The finish lingers for a long time with barrel tannins I usually find in bourbon, heavy cream, and shell on peanuts. All and all, awesome whiskey. It doesn’t really take me anywhere I’ve never been before, but it’s extremely solid.

Ardbeg continues to impress with this release. Huge impact of the rum casks comes out in both the nose and taste. Nose: Rich full bodied peat and smoke. Very rounded and robust. The iodine and rubber smell I usually get off Ardbeg is completely gone. Instead it is replaced by fruits and spices. Overripe banana, sweet apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, slight raisin and nuttiness. Taste: Spicy peat and smoke fades quickly into an extremely creamy fruitiness. I was immediately reminded of a more smokey Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow Blend. Cinnamon and nutmeg fade into a thick banana and apple flavor. The finish is pleasantly salty with citrusy flavors like lemon, ginger, and turmeric. Oily whiskey, flavors last a long time after.

Compass box killing it once again. First time trying this one and of course it lived up to the hype. Perfect fall/winter scotch. Nose: So much here it seems impossible. Pears, apples, orange, slight cranberry, cinnamon, sweet cream, nutmeg, all spice, cloves. It’s like walking into your parents house 3 hours before thanksgiving dinner. Taste: As the title suggests, so many spices right off the bat. Sweet apples and cream lead into cinnamon brown sugar. Mid pallet has a lot of buttery puff pastry taste. The fruits linger on the finish. Orange and lemon zest, along with savory butter and allspice berries. Going to hang on to this bottle for the remainder of the year so that I have enough for the holidays. Hats off once again Compass Box.

I have to agree with the professional review of this whiskey. The name is quite disappointing to how the whiskey actually tastes. It’s more of a rounded off mild peated Scotch than the “storm” suggests. It does not punch you in the face with flavor at all. Nose: smoke and brine dominate. The peat sent is muted. Very malty and honeyed on the finish. Not much fruit but I feel like there might be a hint of either apples or a grapefruit of some kind. Taste: Very Briney. Followed closely by the smoke and peat. Peat shows up much more on the taste. Finishes mid pallet is straight classic scotch maltiness. Very reminiscent of a run of the mill highland. Finish is oaky and mixed with flavors of black pepper, red pepper flakes and cayenne peppers. All and all not bad, but I wish the smoke and peat was bumped up a bit.

Sometimes it’s almost impossible to think that Compass Box whiskeys are blends. Peat Monster is a perfect example. Nose: Sweet Peat and smoke is rounded off by a honey infused green tea aroma. Taste: As the title suggests, Peat and smoke dominate. Sweet pure honey dominates the mid pallet with a finish of slight apples and green grapes. The lingering flavor is honey bunches of oats cereal. Sounds crazy but it’s all there. Honey, oats, cinnamon, corn, and sugar. Compass box never disappoints. They are the future of blended Scotch. Those who wish to make it the world of Scottish whiskey without actually distilling their own, should consider CB as a pillar of excellence to eventually reach.

Eagle Rare...a product of the Buffalo Trace distillery and it shows. This $36 bottle outshines many bourbons I have bought in the $40-$50 range. Nose: Savory red apples, cranberry tartness, and even a hint of raspberry. All of this I’m blanketed in barrel tannins and sweet brown sugar. The end has a bit of minty freshness and nuttiness as well. Taste: Sweet cinnamon applesauce incased in oak. The mid pallet brings light to all the classic bourbon flavors. Caramel, brown sugar, slight cherry notes and leather. The finish is pure white cane sugar and lasts for a nice long while. This bourbon is absolutely amazing for the price of $36. I would have scored it higher if it weren’t for the extremely limited availability in my state. This would be my go to daily drinker if I could find it anywhere. But unfortunately that hasn’t happened yet.