Tastes

Jefferson Ocean is a really enjoyable and mild mannered dram. Heavy on vanilla, smooth on the tongue. It’s well crafted and really fun to sip. (FWF Share #59 [2/16/2018]) (Jess)

Old Pulteney 12 Year is warm, welcoming, and makes you want to dwell with it, almost recalling fond memories that in actuality, never happened. First off, the sound of this pour is priceless. The shape of the bottle provides this beautiful “glug glug,” which even before nosing or sipping brings a huge smile across your face. The nose is alluring, with many tones showcasing vanilla, caramel, citrus, creme, sugar cookie, dried cherries, waffle cone, ripe banana, and tad of chard wood. One need not add a drop of water, but it does open the scotch up a touch and does mildly enhance those elements. In the mouth, it’s sweet, pleasing, and inviting, fairly smooth, yet carrying enough edge to keep things interesting. I found some subtle heat toward the back of my tongue. That gradually transitions to a more matured glow in the chest. The finish is clean, displaying oak as a primary characteristic as things end. What you get with Old Pulteney 12 Year, is lovely single malt experience for an unbelievable price. It’s worth every penny. (FWF Share #58 [2/1/2018])

Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Bourbon does two things really well: 1) it divides opinions on whether is a good bourbon or not and 2) it divides money from your wallet. I happen to be in the camp of thinking it’s quite good. That price tag however, claims greatness and while there’s much to be loved in my opinion, great it’s not. On the nose, a lovely vanilla resides taking up residence along side candy apples, caramel, creme brûlée, sour candy, black pepper and a freshly built wooden fence. Those are all enjoyable enough, but there’s one tough note to pinpoint and once you land on it, there’s no going back. What I detected and attributed to candy corn, other tasters with me identified as “Play-Doh.” Once that happened, the dram become less of a pleasant experience for them and more of a chore to get through. This one is smooth on the tongue with a medium mouth feel. A nice residual heat is unearthed a moment after swallowing, reminding you that it’s humble, but still 94 proof. The finish is super dry offering dark woody notes and dried nuts. This Single Barrel Bourbon has the potential to be a really fun experience. Hopefully, you land on candy corn. (FWF $10 Dram [7th] Share #57 [1/26/2018])

No other brand breaks my heart as much as Macallan. For me, it’s all about consistency. While they offer some great scotch, Rare Cask has some amazing elements, but essentially falls flat where it counts. The highlight by far is the nose. Extremely rich, offering deep red hues and cherry. The sherry is expertly displayed. A moment later, vanilla accompanied by brown sugar, soil, citrus, and a brilliant vanilla fudge make their appearance with pristine elegance. This is easily one of the smoothest scotches I’ve ever had. There delicious caramel and a medium to full bodied mouthfeel. There’s even hints of tide and a touch of salt. It’s quite enjoyable. Rare Cask has virtually no heat. I mean, it’s barely there at all. That makes it incredibly easy to sip, but... also kind of boring. This is really good. That much is for sure. However, yet again, the “soul” of this dram seems to be missing. I mentioned as much with their Fine Oak 15 Year. How is something crafted so well missing this crucial element? It’s a true shame. In my opinion, this shifts it from being worth $300+, to being something I wouldn’t buy at $120. I expect some to disagree. The finish is dry, lingering a bit but doesn’t stay all that long. The package is wrapped up in almond and oak on the tongue. Should you try it if the opportunity presents itself? Absolutely. Just be aware that it may not be all you were hoping for. (OoTB January)

Floki is indeed unique. It’s not everyday you get to have a dram from Iceland. Being honest though, it’s not everyday you’d want one. The nose is interesting, offering a very nature driven profile. It’s ripe with sappy and herbal tones immediately present. You’ll find honey and a deep molasses at the center. The bow wrapped around it all is leaves, forest and wet saw dust. Floki carries and extremely light palate with varnished wood and a clean rinse on the tongue. It’s there and it’s gone. That’s probably due to its very young age of 9 months. On the exit, you’ll find some vigor in the form of belly heat returning a few seconds after swallowing. This dram is a one and done. There isn’t any real reason to go back to it. Try it if you have the chance, hang you hat, then move on. (OoTB January)

The Classic Laddie is vibrant and just plain fun. Details exist in moderation, making this one simply drinkable without much thought. On the nose, vanilla, a variety of citrus tones accompanied by soft cream and light, ripe fruit. The palate offers a mild tinge of subtle heat revealing itself mostly in the chest after you swallow. The mouth feel is medium light to medium and sharp in just the right places. Wrapping all this up is a dry and clean finish, lingering for a brief moment to show off lovely barley elements. This one isn’t a show stopper. While other scotches are an experience all their own, Classic Laddie enhances the event, but isn’t the event in its self. That’s what makes it such a valuable dram to have available in one’s back pocket. (FWF Share #53 [2018]) Opened: 01/05/18 Finished: 01/21/18

The Hakushu 12 is a Japanese expression that leaves one with a positive expression all their own. Right away, fruity notes like ripe pear, green and Fuji apple tantalize the senses. You’ll find subtle florals rounding those out. Medicinal elements carry those aromas. You’ll detect band-aid, gauze, and a tinge of rubbing alcohol. None of these overpower the dram, but they do make up a healthy portion. Incredible smoothness is crafted into each sip. Age reduces any of those jagged edges you might find from those medicinal notes. The taste is delightful, offering a malt and smokiness accompanied by a touch of salt and brine. These make up the last moments of clean finish. If you can find it, Hakushu will make a worthy addition to any whiskey collection in need of a strong Japanese option.

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit is a fun dram. It’s far from perfect, but it’s blatant deviation from the bourbon status quo allow the bourbon category a broader reach while staying true to it’s roots. Speaking of roots, the nose is a wet forest, oak, soaked leaves, earthy tones reflecting dark soil, vanilla, and almond. This isn’t overtly bold. There’s a mild to light mouth feel, but solid heat and warm amber make one think of sitting by the fireplace wrapped in a toasty blanket. The finish is pleasantly dry with walnuts and a slight saltines lingering just a second after you’re done. Definitely worth trying if you have the opportunity, but I’d hesitate going out of you way for it over some of Wild Turkey’s other offerings. (FWF share #52)