Tastes

Sazerac Rye is like an eager puppy, ready to please. There’s no denying the youth of the Dram. However, that youth also brings vibrancy. It’s very refreshing. Does it leave a bit to be desired? Yeah, but it’s cost to enjoyment ratio is what allows me to look past that deficit. Each sip leaves me with a smile. The nose brings spice, caramel, and subtle maple. A drop does mellow things a bit but even that might not be necessary depending on your mood. On the tongue, light with enjoyable heat. It’s a rich flavor but doesn’t last all that long. The finish is fleeting with nuance here and there. Not a lot to talk about. All and all, considering you can snag a bottle for under $20, this is fun, light and a great entry for those new to whiskey. (FWF share #41)

More like The Macallan 15 Just Fine. This dram reminds me of a Broadway show using the same cast for 15 years. Capable? Absolutely. Talented? No doubt. Provide entertainment? Sure. Passion and soul within that performance? That’s where this one seems to get lost. It just seems kind of soulless. That’s disappointing from a scotch of this caliber. The elements are there. On the nose, rich vanilla with subtle citrus, dried fruits and candied notes. It’s smooth on entry with a medium mouth feel. However, that smooth entry morphs into a bolder heat that is simultaneously calming and harsh at times. This scotch isn’t terrible. In fact, what’s here, makes for some fun discussion. Sadly, it feels like this one is phoning it in or distracted and that keeps it from reaching its full potential. This leaves you feeling short changed for the price of admission. (OOtB September)

In true poetic fashion, a few well placed drops brings The Spice Tree to life. There’s no doubt this one has a lot of branches to ponder. On the nose you’ll be greeted with lush caramel, almond, and an almost specter-like brine. Those drops then usher in vanilla, brown sugar, and deep sweet tones. On the tongue, there’s some bite behind that beautiful label. You may find black pepper and a spicy, kind burn. It’s staggering how long the heat stays while your palate dries out. That’s all accompanied by a dry nut finish. Truth be told, The Spice Tree isn’t for everyone. However, if you want a daring dram with some robust character, this will meet the need and then some. (FWF share #38) Opened: 09/19/17 Finished: 10/05/18

Hedonism succeeds in putting Compass Box on my whiskey map with striking craftsmanship and a giant ‘X.’ It’s truly delightful. I genuinely wish I could keep this one around at all times. On the nose, you’ll find rich toasted notes, vanilla, caramel and coconut. On the palate this dram is creamy and incredibly smooth. The essence of vanilla cake batter, as called out by my fellow tasters, brings an airy lightness. The whiskey itself isn’t thin, rather, this element brings a full mouth feel and a welcomed presence without being overbearing. This one enters with humility, then opens up with intriguing confidence. As you finish, Hedonism lingers, allowing you to enjoy the experience in stereo. There’s a lot of depth to explore and this one doesn’t leave you wanting more. Simply stellar. (FWF $10 Dram [4th] share #39) Opened: 05/08/20 Finished: 09/02/20

Peat and brine lead the way but make room for some exciting tones. If you're willing to stick with it, you'll find a hint of apple and plum. Stay even longer and you'll reap the rewards of vanilla fudge. The mouth feel is a tad lite. That's not a bad thing, but I do like a bit more chew in a scotch. One need not worry about heat. It hardly makes an appearance. Each sip is incredibly smooth with smoke laced elegantly throughout. That does make up for some of the vanishing on the palate. As the least expensive of any Highland Park, it's still very much Highland Park. It's easy to enjoy, very shareable and a great entry level scotch. The only real flaw with Magnus is that Highland Park 12 Year does everything slightly better for a few bucks more. Still a treat nonetheless. (FWF share #37)

Project XX starts off a bit briny. You'll find a woodier profile with subtle sweetness. Water drops opens up more earthy tones followed by pecans and what I detected as papaya. It's incredibly smooth, almost soothing as it hits the palate and leaves. That might have something to do with the mild honey you can find hidden upon swallowing. The linger is short lived, not vanishing, but doesn't make a home either. This is straight up enjoyable without a lot of bells and whistles and that stability is a wonderful thing. (FWF share #27) Opened: 7/13/17 Finished: 9/4/19

On the nose, you find banana, walnuts, baking spices and a hint of vanilla after a drop or two. It's not long after that first impression however that you realize this is the best part of what Corbin Cash Blended offers. This one, for me at least, was lost on the tongue. While it's nothing awful, the heat of this whiskey sizzles in the mouth and hurts your chances of finding the character you saw on the way in. It's sad really because the nose is genuinely enjoyable, but the mouth on this feels flat and boring. Similar to the Assassins Creed movie, this begins with a lot of potential and never finds its footing. You're better off looking elsewhere if you want and nice blend. This one simply didn't bring all the elements together, especially for the price (FWF share #34) Opened: 09/08/17 Finished: 04/04/18

As a hidden gem on the bottom shelf, Henry McKenna deserves a better PR agent. You can pay a lot more for a lot less and this dram makes you wonder how something so enjoyable is flying below the radar. The nose is balanced with toasted grains, banana bread and a hint of black pepper. A drop of water seemed to invite warm caramel out of nowhere and helped to enrich the banana present. Expect hearty boldness. My initial greeting was sweet which quickly transferred into a satisfying warmth, present but never choking. As noted before, a few drops will smooth some of the rigidity but still leaves this one unbridled, providing a solid smile between each sip. This one stays with you. For this price, a "hooray" is in order. This is one I'll drink neat from here on out. And that price, well it makes me less inclined to say "no" when my wife asks to use it in cocktails. (FWF share #36) Opened: 9/1/17 Finished: 3/8/21

Initially, I quite enjoyed this. It's smooth with notes of vanilla, caramel and extremely subtle heat. I first tried Green Spot early into my whiskey journey. However, upon returning to it months later, I feel my tastes have changed substantially, and this one now comes up short where it once used to be a knock out. I found myself longing for more as a sipped. The body is light and if you prefer something less defined, this might be right up your alley. The vanish on this one seems borderline ninja status. It's almost as if it doesn't show up at all. While this isn't a bad dram by any stretch, enjoy this one early in the evening. A strong finisher, this is not. (FWF share #10) Buy #2 Opened: 3/12/19 Finished:

Age gives Yellow Spot some much needed life over the less expensive Green Spot. One thing is for sure, the nose of this immediately reveals a lot more body and substance. The tones are rich and enduring. The color is beautifully crafted from the aging process and all of those things play crucial parts in making this option better in every way. As a generalization, I find that Irish whiskey is less bold then other varieties and this usually hinders me from pursuing them. However, this dram provides more in all areas, most importantly, a fuller mouth feel and lingering flavor profile. You'll find deeper caramel, vanilla and a much bolder and more vibrant wood and heat. These all played their parts with laser precision. Yellow Spot's main issue is one of limitation. Once you enjoy the craftsmanship of those elements, you're done. There just isn't much to experience and that forces one to ponder whether the cost is justified. (FWF $10 Dram [3rd] share #31)