Tastes

Quarter Horse Kentucky Rye, "aged a minimum of one year in new oak." It is 90 proof and cost me 4 bucks plus tax for a 50 ml plastic bottle, the 750 ml glass bottle is around $25 to $30 I believe. Aroma is very similar to over proofed rum/apples/fruity, the taste is on the sweet side with minor/quick oak notes, pleasantly sweet aftertaste, minor rye spice. It is smooth but with a little kick to it. Found at Bevmo's. Grade: C range. It is okay and I probably will try it once more in the glass 750 ml to be sure the plastic did not interfere with the taste and do want to try their bourbon offering.

Dalmore 12, single malt, 40% abv. Aroma is sweet/fruity from the sherry casks, some oak notes and faint chocolate. Nice aroma. Taste is light to moderate sweetness mixed with a little astringent oak. Not to complex in my opinion. Very smooth and it was a gift from my wife. Generally its in the 50 to 65 dollar range. Grade: B range.

Old Crow bourbon, aged 3 years in "new charred white oak barrels," 40% abv. Found this up in northern California at the duty free store on Travis Air Force Base. This brand is owned by Beam Suntory. Aroma: sharp, apple, fruity. Taste: hints of apple, a little sweetness, oaky on the back end but not a lot. I do not recall it tasting this way, I have had it before but it with coke a while back. Was more expecting it to taste like Jack Daniels, because in coke it was tasting as such. This sampling was had on the rocks. Cost: 9-10 bucks for a 750 ml glass bottle. Grade; C-/C It is okay, but does not impress.

Canadian Club 12 year, 40% abv. Imported then bottled in the US. Aged in "charred bourbon barrels." Aroma: sweet, vanilla, caramel, maple. Taste: sweet up front, both a pleasant and odd sweetness to it. Light to moderate charred/wet oak notes. Not very complex. Was expecting a little better but its not bad for the price, might revisit in the future. Pretty smooth. Cost: 19.99 plus tax, the same price as the 9 year where I bought both bottles but expect other places to price this higher. Only a slight improvement to the regular Canadian Club but much better than the 9 year expression. Grade: B-

Canadian Club Reserve, 40% abv, aged 9 years. Imported & bottled in the US. Aroma is somewhat alcoholic, not much of a discernible aroma. Taste: medium amount of odd Canadian sweetness, some vanilla and mild rye spice. Minor used/charred white oak in the back end, very mediocre and immature taste, hard to believe its 9 years old. Very smooth and easy drinking. POINTS OFF: metal freaking screw cap would not properly close which TICKS ME OFF since the plastic cap on the regular Canadian club closed just fine. Cost 19.99 plus tax, 5 bucks more than regular Canadian Club. Overall Grade: C range Note: regular Canadian Club is just as good or slightly better in my opinion/tastings.

Canadian Club 100% Rye, 40% abv. Imported then bottled in the US. No age listed, minimum 3 years. Aroma: not really discernible. Taste: rye breadiness, some pleasant sweetness, minor oak notes in the back end, so glad none of that odd Canadian sweetness. It is decent/good but nothing amazing, I might retry it in the future if i can find a smaller size. Light bodied, very smooth. First 100% rye I ever had. Cost me 19.99 plus tax for a 750 ml bottle. Grade: B -

Canadian Club, 40% abv. Use to be aged 6 years, currently aged 5. Imported then bottled in the USA. Aroma is mostly sweet /maple/vanilla but you get a tiny bit of oak. One of the better Canadian whiskies for the price. The sweetness is more subtle, vanilla notes, without any odd taste. A lot of spice up front if drank neat. Minor sharp oak at the back end. Cost around 13/14 before tax. Grade: C+/B-