Tastes

Drinking Blanton’s Single Barrel equates to the warm feeling you experience when a seasoned friend greets you after years of being apart. It’s as if nothing has changed with exception being you’ve grown founder through that distance. It’s a beautiful moment in time. The nose invites dried corn, toasted caramel, candied yams slathered in marshmallow and butter, subtle brown sugar and vanilla rounding out the sweets. Stay long enough to enjoy earthy and oaky notes, polished and crafted with care. You can expect incredible smoothness surrounded by a medium mouthfeel and warm finish. It’s an intriguing balance of sweet against mild bitterness all culminating to a dry finish that stays just long enough. Truth be told, you could probably find a better bourbon if you really needed to; however, to Blanton’s credit, they make you question why you’d even try. (FWF share #51)

Westland Garryana 2|1 delivers in great depth, complexity, and precision and gets you excited for the future of Westland Distillery. First off, the nose is incredibly enticing offering rich vanilla, honey, caramel, oak, sawdust, pie crust, cherry, and even a mild hint of papaya. All this gathers amidst a creamy epicenter. The mouthfeel is full bodied and the description of stewed meats is accurate as the fullness eludes to a bit of iron and spicy bourbon accompanied by black pepper. The finish stands out as long lasting and that’s surprising coming from a dram on the younger side. The heat resonates as the last notes diminish over a few minutes. Garryana, arrives bold and leaves bold. Westland’s offerings tend to be a bit pricy, but this one rides the fence of fully worth it and out of reach. This expression however does an amazing job of leading you to one of those sides. It knows what it is and offers no excuse. There’s none needed. (FWF Share #50 - 50th Dramiversary) Purchased: 08/04/19 Opened: Finished

Drinking Westland Peated American Single Malt is like speaking with a mature teenager. It’s a rare experience and surprises you that such good conversation can come out of something barely grazing the earth’s surface. Truth be told, this whiskey is vibrant and youthful, so if you’re looking for an armchair dram, look elsewhere. If you’re in the mood for something that doesn’t take itself too seriously while maintaining mature composure and future possibilities, this might be your bag. The nose pops with sweeter offerings like brown sugar, maple syrup, ripe fruit, subtle peat notes, a hint of vanilla, candied yams, oak, and toasted caramel. The smoke element for me was noticeably lacking. That was a bit of a disappointment, but considering the list of other aromas, I’m being picky. The palate is probably where this whiskey lacks the most maturity. It’s extremely light. This one is fleeting while offering lovely sweetness and mild peat, almost as an afterthought. Dare I say, this is...refreshing? That would be a first, but yes, it is. The finish is a dry oak and slight heat. What Westland is doing here is great. A bit pricey, but really fun. While this simply won’t cut it if you’re looking for a full-bodied, mature, aged outing, it’s lighthearted and captivates in all the right ways. Alternative Recommendation: Highland Park Magnus (FWF Share #49) Opened: 12/11/17 Finished: 01/14/17

Mars Shinshu Iwai is a good news, bad news whiskey. The bad news? It’s first impression kind of sucks. This alone might turn people away without a second thought. If you’re like me, the first and most dominant thing you’ll get from the nose is acetone. Don’t breathe too deeply unless you’re looking to clear out those sinuses in a severe and unpleasant way. If you’re willing to soldier on through, this is where the good news begins. After a few drops, the acetone is minimal, allowing other aromas to shine through like toasted nuts, wood chips, molasses, caramel and a touch of citrus. The mouth feel is a bit light, offering cherry, oak, cereal grains and a buttery element. The issue here is that these elements are better, more intense, and delightfully defined when no water is added. That however means suffering through the nose if you want a more interesting palate. Sadly, this requires you to make a decision on where to compromise, the nose or the flavor profile. The finish is surprising. While the proof is relatively low, this one lingers, offering a bit more for you buck. It’s a nice way to close out the dram. I wouldn’t call this one overly refined, but if you’re willing to put in the time, this is a really fun, smooth and enjoyable dram to try, at an incredibly stellar price point. (FWF share #47) Opened: 12/08/17 Finished: 01/07/18

Lot No. 40 greets you with deep spun sugars and rich tones. Warm caramel seems to drip slowly as you take it in. This dram is silky on the tongue, but don't relax. Smoothness is soon replaced with a peppery caress on your sinuses. This isn't a bad thing. It's really a way for the whiskey to make sure you're still paying attention. A drop or two of water took most of that away making it a bit less interesting. On the way out, buttery with a hint of maple, reminiscent of fresh buns just taken out of the oven. This one makes you long for Fall. Opened: 12/22/17 Finished: 9/28/18

Hibiki 21 Year falls victim to unmerited exclusivity while defining how amazing Japanese Whiskey can be. First things first, I love Suntory and I’ve never tried anything from the Hibiki line I didn’t like. These are always well crafted and never cease in creating smiles and beautiful memories. You’ll Instantly find a rich nose, sugary with sherry notes evident. This dram is a tad earthy, highlighting wood, sawdust, dried fruits like plum and dates and an elegant floral aroma. Lowlights reveal vanilla, almond, dried nuts and caramel. The mouth feel is mild to medium bodied with a fine heat. Entry carries a dry finish, approachable and smooth. There’s no mistaking the aging on this one. The finish stays a while and delivers on the satisfaction you’re hoping for. Simply put, this is definitively Hibiki and it’s amazing. All that said, at $500 a bottle, this is way too expensive. That price point prohibits many from this experience and while it is incredible, one can find similar experiences at less than half the cost. (FWF $10 (40) Dram [6th] share #46)

Appropriately, Noe Secret needs to be shared. I’ve tried Booker’s in the past and the experience wasn’t all that enjoyable. It was harsh, clumsy and felt like the guy crushing cans on his forehead near the pool. Fun to have at the party, but definitely not what makes the party great. This entry forced me to look at Booker’s with new eyes. Truth be told, this has an incredibly smooth entry, great flavor, and precision sweetness. You’ll find your standard lineup: rich caramel, buttery toffee, oak, and some intense spice. On the palate, this one enters rather mildly and slips down easy. What comes next might make you giggle a bit. This one is a coal in your chest, comical and surprising while still maintaining a semblance of craftsmanship and composure. I couldn’t help but smile and thoroughly enjoy the experience. While this isn’t for everyone, if you want an intense bourbon outing, this one is for you. (FWF Share #45)

Yamazaki 12 Year is exactly what one is hoping for when desiring a full beginning to end whiskey experience. Patience is rewarded in spades. The nose leaves no stone unturned. While there’s no question the theme is sweets, I’ve never had a dram with so many layers. Don’t be afraid to linger and appreciate the deep amber hue before tasting. You’ll find vanilla, melon, honey, oak, toasted marshmallow, banana, walnut, pie crust, tropical tones and mild baking spices with a creamy finish. Loosen those up with a drop or two to really draw from the lightness of that mallow. On the tongue, medium mouth feel with an airy sophistication. Sweet and warm, hitting dry and with satisfying charm, less aimed at identifiable flavor profile and more on experience. The finish is unique, offering a smooth exit. The best part however is that it returns as if to provide a beautiful encore. Heat raises from you stomach back into you chest as if to say “we weren’t done.” Experiencing it for the first time was alarming. Then I looked forward to it after every sip. Yamazaki 12 offers something for everyone, regardless of whiskey experience level. It’s fun, delicious and leaves you feeling special. (FWF share #48) Opened: 10/09/18 Finished: 02/12/18 Bottle #2 Opened: 12/13/19 Finished:

The Macallan Edition No. 2 is really quite nice. I genuinely love the nose. It’s vibrant with spices, maple, vanilla trace caramel and a touch of peat. It’s all quite alluring. On the palate, a surprisingly dry opening with mild oak. It’s smooth with light toasted notes abounding. The body carries medium weight and a deep amber color. On the back end you’ll find dried nuts, walnut, water chestnut and a hint of salt that leaves you mouth salivating. It was a fun experience, but not one I’d go out of my way to own. (FWF $10 Dram [5th] share #43)