Tastes

Nose- some cherry cough drop and cinnamon candies are the dominant notes. Palate- I love the creaminess on this one, and the cinnamon red candies it brings. If there is a flaw it is that it is a bit one note. What it does though, it does well Finish- nice medium finish with oak and cinnamon going out Overall- this is one of my friend's picks from Binny's (RW) is Rob Weekly, GM at the Naperville store. What it does, it does well. It just is straightforward and not complicated. It was an above average pick, but he has done better. The 4Rs picks he has been on have been phenomenal.

Color/appearance- much darker than most 12-15 year scotches. Red/amber hues. I anticipate a lot of the wine finish influence. Legs are thick and slow. Nose- fig newton right out of the box! Dusty powdered sugar too. There is also a scotchy tanginess to it. Palate- reminds me of powdered sugar, creme filled donut with fig jam. This is a fruit salad. The viscosity is thick, and coating. Without the tangy scotch nose, I could be fooled that this is a young armagnac. It draws much grapey, fig, and plum flavors from the cabernet and suppprts it with an oaky backbone Finish- finish lasts and fades to chocolate with a nougat center. There is no burn at any point. I may have wanted it to challenge me more, but for what it does, it does well. Overall- this is an easy sipper, and a great transitional whiskey for someone like me crossing from bourbon, cognac, armagnac background into the world of Scotch. No bandaids, rubbery taste here. If there is a flaw, it may be too much wine influence has made it move into a dessert category. If you are looking for a wonderful, dont break the bank, digestif scotch-- this should be high on your list of must tries

This is 127.3 proof, warehouse G, floor 3 Nose- ligonberry syrup, cherry cough drop, with a touch of nutmeg. After sitting I get milk chocolate on the nose too. Really can catch that if you nose the empty glass. Palate- deliciously rich and coating. The berry basket theme continues, but now with some heat and spice. Clove comes in with a hint of vanilla beans and dry oak. Finish- Drinks way below the proof. Goes out on a menthol cherry cough drop note. Dangerously good rye here. Overall- quite excellent. This takes the standard bottle and elevates it ×4 in its richness, complexity, balance, and finish. Bourbon drinkers will even embrace this rye. Very nicely done. It is a complete winner for me.

Nose- sweet butter, and berry jam all slathered on toasted wheat bread. Give it an oaky backbone with a sprig of mint, and you have the fantastic nose that is WLW 2023. For me one of the best noses of the year (comparison 4rs LE, GTS, WT Voyages, C913, Maker's Cellar Aged, and a few other misc. Contenders). The nose leaps from the glass on this one. Palate-Lead with vanilla bean and for me almost a strawberry jam. The oak is by far not underplayed, but rather showcased. It borders on too much without crossing the line. After a pop of heat, the flavors seem to melt into a milk chocolate center. Finish- The milk chocolat and caramel nougat prevail. There is just enough oak barrel at the end to proclaim this seriously aged bourbon Overall- what do you get when you cross one of the best wheated bourbons on the market with high proof, and quality aging? You get WLW 2023! It blows my mind how at 133.6 proof, I get enough burn to tell me its bourbon, but nowhere near what I would expect at that high of percentage. This is truly one of the best WLWs I have had.

Nose-The nose is a tad more delicate. It leads with vanilla, creme brulee. I also found red apple skins and a very pleasing musty leather book note the more it sat. You have to work a bit harder to find the nose, but it is a nice one. Palate- wonderful red fruit, apple, ripe red berries (perhaps red raspberries?), more of that creme brulee, but this time not the pudding part, but the burnt sugar crust. This is all covered in chewy caramel. It drifts to a wonderful cigar box, or hanging tobacco note. Palate- medium to long finish. Definately an upward warming. You can taste those red berries and apple notes. The apple turns to apple pie crust. Nicely done! Overall- Well what do you know, Brent Eliot has done it again! After missing the mark for sime in 2022, this is a master's class in blending incredibly good whiskies. The layers of flavor a reminescent of all the things I loved about 2019 LE. The only minor critique is the nose, which was a bit muted and at times hard to find. The palate and finish though erase what the nose lacked. This is a sipping bottle. Go get your best cigar, find a comfy chair, and enjoy for a good long time. One of my favs this year. Definately worth the hunt at its srp and beyond that.

Nose- Rum raisin, fruitcake, smells like one of those Tortuga Rum cakes that you sample or buy on vacation. The aroma is rich and decadent without being overly sweet. It explodes from the glass. There is also a vanilla cream underpinning with notes of egg custard Palate- Sweet upon entry and slightly syrupy, with notes of brown sugar. Then the bourbon really shines through the rum. Caramel corn, a hit of nutmeg, and some heat. Not much of the WT funkiness, but enough funk to let you know that WT and Appleton Rum are a match made in heaven. Finish- Nice long, warming finish. I am left with rumcake, and a nice older smoke finish. The sweet notes tamp down the 106 proof. Overall- Hands down THE BEST rum finished whiskey I have tried. For bourbon lovers only, you may be put off by its sweetness. For rum lovers only, the heat after entry may make you say hmmm?!? If you enjoy rum and bourbon both, crave something sweeter after dinner, this strikes the chord! For me, it would be one of those "if I could pick only five whiskies....." it would be it. The balance it strikes between the bourbon and rum is amazingly good. The Russell's and Joy Spence knocked it out of the park with this one. I refrained from 5 stars simply because of the astronomical price and perhaps the sweetness may be a turnoff for some. Take that out of equation and it is a 5 of 5. I traded a Stagg Jr and a Weller Full Proof to obtain and I feel I am a huge winner

Nose- Vanilla forward and a bit on the sweeter side. To me, smells no different than Blanton's. A tad of citrus and a hint of newer wood. Palate- sweet caramel cream and vanilla. Representative of a cowtail or bullseye candy. Not as citrusy as Blanton's can be, but sweeter. Finish- Short to medium finish. Kind of ho hum. Overall- not necessarily worth the hype. It is just bourbon. Quality bourbon but really nothing to write home about.

Nose- Vanilla, creme brulee, toffee, and oak. There is also a hint of smoke and nutmeg. This beckons you to sip it. You literally taste it through your nostrils Palate- is this seriously 133 proof?!?!? Undeniably drinkable. The heat comes in at the end, but this is caramel coated vanilla bean, sweet toffee, a bit of apple, and oak. Terrific balance here. There is also a spice cabinet worth of Fall baking to go along with it. I honestly have to say this could go head to head with Pappy 15 and knock it off its pedestal. In terms of value and accessibility- go get you some! Finish- for days! The kind of bourbon that warms you up without burning you down. The finish showcases the 13 years and 7 mos. It makes you want to sip more of that oaky goodness. Overall- currently my top pick for bourbon of 2023 (although I REALLY want 4RS LE to taste side by side). Blows the doors off of Maker's Cellar aged. Reminds you of the pirate bottles of years gone by . Just when you thought Heavenhill put out "Just another good barrel proof whiskey" they blew the doors off of it. BALANCE, taste, and finish- it's all there