Tastes

This was my first Four Roses experience, and it was a strong like for me. The nose was delicate, but complex. Vanilla, a bit of egg not spice and sweetness of apricot. The palate was a bit thin for me. It was agreeable and easy drinking, I was just hoping for something with a bit more depth. The vanilla and apricot were noticeable, there was also some baking spice. For $59, I'm glad I gave it a ride, but I'll pass next time.

The is a very interesting whiskey. I have never had anything quite like it. First the nose: This bottle smells like my first living space after the dorms. The one where I shared a shabby 3 bedroom house with 3 guys, their girlfriends and whoever crashed on the couch. We didn't even have a dining room table just a foosball table, and the kitchen sink was always filled with dirty dishes. Now for the palate: right up front you get this overpowering liberal arts class schedule that won't really help you out in the real world. As you sip it, it has a mouth feel that can only be described as "surviving off of ramen for a month so you can afford beer". The finish is very quick, doesn't last very long at all, kind of like, well... I certainly didn't remember it in the morning, and neither will she. Overall this is a bottle full of nostalgia. A lot of nostalgia I would like to leave in the past. Let's agree not to talk about this in front of our children. Cool?

I wanted to wait until my second bottle to write this review. I love Willett 4 year, but this was a flavor explosion, with a lot less raw heat. This, in my opinion is better than batch #3, but I may not be in the majority there. I was late getting into KO for better or worse, everyone has their own taste, but I went home and cracked my bottle of this, and the next day, I went and scored a second bottle because I loved it so much. The nose is classic. It is honey, grass, green herbs (specifically dill and mint). The dill stands out to me because I don't pick that up often, and I do not like pickles, but for some reason, I key in on in it here, and I really enjoy it. The palate is totally bonkers. I love how smooth it is for the proof, it glides along and stays with you for some time. It lingers longer than most rye I've had. I must admit, and it was the reason I waited to write this review until I cracked my second bottle, I didn't get the KO rye at first. It took me a few glasses before I really started to crave it. Now its hard for me to not reach for this. Those grassy and honey notes show up on the palate they hit right up front than that dill shows up with the age of this 11 year rye. The finish is really what separates this from other delicious ryes I've had. I admit, I do not look at this as a rye for everyone, I look at this as a rye that is 100% for me. A lot of people may never try this because of the price tag, but if this bottle cost $80 you would never be able to find it. I'm not going to tell you the taste commands the $180 price tag, but I am on my second bottle. I also went scooped a rye batch #3 and that led me to the bourbon Batch #9, my unicorn. I think the best part of this rye is drinking it as it opens up. It is a lovely journey, pour a nice big glass and let it do its thing over 40 minutes or so.

It was a bit salty with a thick finish and mouthfeel. Not for me.

This is one of the best I have ever had. This is what bourbon should taste like. The nose is a gentle Salted Nut Roll in the pocket of your brand new leather jacket. The palate is sweet and satisfying, brown butter spice cake, white pepper, toffee and leather all unfold on you tongue. The finish is medium long, with some nice spice on a foundation of oak and umami. This is near perfect. It isn't as complex as I prefer out of a top shelf dram, but it stays in its wheel house and does what it does perfectly.

I have found that the Japanese whisky is kind of my jam. Generally, if peat is present, its manageable for me, bit I generally dislike that flavor. This juice is relatively easy to drink. I get some sweet and some earth on the nose, maybe lime a candied shiitake mushroom, there isn't a lot of depth on the nose beyond that. The taste on this is really agreeable and non offensive. There is a light spicy peat on this one, but more spice than peat. The main flavor is honey and sweet orange marmalade. The finish is where the so ice lives on this, it lasts a medium-short time. Generally a nice dram, not my favorite though.

If I were to taste this blind, I don't think I would have pegged this as a 10 year age statement. The reason is it is pretty boozey and hot. The nose on this is really nice, the alcohol doesn't get you. Caramel, oak and fresh herbs come out right away, if you let it open up a bit I start to get some leather. When you sip this one be ready for the spice and heat, the alcohol is very prevelant and in the front of the pallet. The burn has to go away before you can unpack all the flavors. Herbs and mint jump out at me after the alcohol fades, but the herb also fades quickly and leaves a dry toffee on your tongue. Over all I like this, I'm not so sure this will be a go to for me, but I could see myself buying another bottle at some point.

This particular dram was fairly easy to sip for me. It didn't have some of the Scotch flavors I find challenging. Although enjoyable, it was not special. It felt a little thin and the mouth feel was not very satisfying. The nose on this delicate little dram was golden delicious apple and honey. When you taste it, it felt thin, but creamy. The overwhelming flavor on this is a very generic brand of sweet. Over all not bad and not great IMO.

I am not too experienced with Tennessee whiskey, although I did live in Chattanooga for first and second grade. I was pretty young and my grade school mascot was The Awesome Opossum of Signal Mountain Elementary School. I remember I took karate lessons and held a fight club behind the baseball field back stop. Those were simpler times, at least for me. Apparently not for my dad, he owned a small business in town. We started getting letters at the house saying Jews shouldn't own businesses in town, so we stayed there about 2 more minutes and moved back to Minnesota where they are a little more shy about their racism. Anyway, about the sauce! I really like this! Its spicy and smooth, it has a nice mouth feel and a really great spicy medium-long finish. Far too sophisticated for the Klan members of Tennessee to really appreciate. I love how it really contrasts itself a few times. Its spicy and sweet, it is also dry and oily and there is also this amazing apple Jolly Rancher on buttered bread. Its just not boring. I really only know basic Jack Daniels from Tennessee. I think I will have to explore some more in the near future! Also, abolish racism! That stuff sucks!