Tastes

The nose has a sweet and caramel smell to it. Oak is the forward flavor, with a caramel sweetness behind it. There is a subtle complexity in the transition. For the proof, the finish is much shorter than I would expect. Overall, this is a very pleasant pour. The oak is pretty forward but the sweetness that I love comes back through that is very enjoyable.

It might be after the other whiskeys that I have been reviewing today (only 2 so far) but I am not getting a smell off it other than the alcohol. Maybe a hint of bittee coffee? The taste does have an herbal bitterness to it. After a few sips, there is a leathery taste that comes through. The finish is decently lengthy and not pleasant. Overall, I didn't find anything that is redeeming about it.

The nose is very vanilla forward, caramel and the sweet corn behind it. The taste is spice forward with a light toasted oak note coming into the finish. After a few more sips there is a sweet molases that comes through. The finish is longer than expected but not overwhelming. Overall, it is a good taste is good not as sweet as I like but it is a tasty pour. Not really complex.

VA AbC Store pick, Barrel 17-3309 The nose has an initial smell of caramel, but after a few smells of toasted oak and spices. The taste has a nice toasted oak with some spices in the mix. After a bit licorice comes into play and the some hints of cinnamon. The finish is on the shorter side, but it continues to bring the spice.

VA ABC Store pick, that my wife gifted me for a birthday or christmas one year. The nose has a nuttiness and slight banana to it. Behind this is a dark caramel and a hint of vanilla. The taste shows its full character bringing in a full body of the nuttiness and baking spices behind it. After a few sips I pick up some buttery notes with the banana quietly lurking in the shadows. The finish isn't as long as I would expect from this high of proof. It screams with the nutty flavor. Overall, the nuttiness is a bit overwhelming to the rest of the offering here. It is pretty complex as it goes which a really good thing to have behind that punch of the nut. It doesn't get sweet enough for my sweettooth but it is a good overall.

The nose has the port forward note, there is some oak. Not much other than those comes out, this is an older bottle in my selection. Might be weakened with oxidization. With the first sip I get the light oak and hints of the port coming through. Beyond the fist sip I get a hint of chocolate and a really dark cherry. My guess is that is coming in through the port. It is sweet. The finish is on the lighter side. Overall, it isn't as I remember it and I probably need to review this again with a fresher pour.

Note this is based on a neck pour. Caramel and the corn sweetness comes through on the nose. There is an oakiness at the start with the sweetness from the nose coming in after. The finish is there but doesn't linger. Overall it's oakier than I would like but isn't bitter like some oak forward whiskey.

Retrying this with a big rock. Nose has some spice to it and the taste has some nice orange and caramel. With the rock it is really smooth. The finish is close to nonexistant. There is a bit of pete in it but overall this is a very nice drink.

Note this is based on a neck pour. The nose has a vanilla and overall sweetness to it. Caramel notes comes through after smelling it. The oak is forward with a bitterness that I am not a fan of. Behind that oakiness is a sweetness and caramel. The finish is on the shorter side but it follows that bitter oakiness. Overall, the bitterness is a real turn off for me. Other than that is sips nicely and has the sweetness I enjoy.

Last of this year's birthday pours, not a neck pour this time. Orange and a strange oak note are the main smells from the nose. The oak smell is almost burnt but maybe it is peat coming through? The taste follows the nose in a smoky peat & oak flavor into a orange with spice, like a orange cider. The orange comes with a sweetness that mellows out the rest of the whiskey. Taking addition sips the flavor changes a bit from the orange to more of a focus on the spice. The finish is mild with the orange notes lingering with it. Overall, there is complexity here that is tasty but doesn't follow my palete. The peat is not something I enjoy.