Tastes

2020 release, sample given to me by @trentoniousmaximus thanks brother! Appearance: pale amber, legs are thin and run down the side of the glencairn fast leaving copper droplets behind Nose: I have to say this is one of the most interesting noses I’ve encountered. I can’t name every aroma, but immediately after removing the challenge coin I’m getting vanilla frosting on a sweet moist vanilla cupcake. How can that not scream DELICIOUS. After the initial sugar rush, I get stone fruit, a little banana, tart blueberry and a base aroma of iron..almost bloody minerals. I’m also having trouble discerning if this metallic iron has an iodine background, or if I’m insane. Palate: the stone fruit definitely continues. Not as juicy sweet as nectarine, closer to apricot that still has some tartness. There is a slight musty peanut that balances out the fruit. Big brown sugar on the tip of my tongue and slight barrel char on the roof of my mouth. Finish: I had high hopes of a big finish, but the thin body just can’t hang around. Typical oak and brown sugar, but the interesting note I can only describe as the smell of the dusty crumbs in a vanilla wafer box. I sure wish I knew what this tasted like straight from the barrel.

This bottle was generously given to me by @tbran19 thank you!! Nose: faint cherry, typical oak, sweet vanilla Palate: cherry is definitely here with brown sugar, has a nutty characteristic that reminds me of a candied pecan. Definitely has some rye spice with a nice warming Kentucky hug. Finish: initial finish is black pepper but fades to more brown sugar with baking spices To me this is a no brainier buy it if you see it. The UU is a whole other level, but this is certainly worth the price.

Getting into a rye for a Father’s Day review. Nose: very pleasant nose happening here, getting lemon, banana bread, clove, and a slight medicinal note Palate: really nice caramel sweetness on the tip of the tongue along with bitter lemon zest on the mid-palate. Finish: shorter than expected, I get a big flash of spearmint followed by buttered rye bread Solid rye for the price, I dig the finish but wish it was twice as long! #DAD

Nose: slight musty funk, orange peel, yeast, caramel, ethanol tingle Palate: wow I was surprised at the blast of flavor coming though! This is so drinkable and balanced. Nothing is truly shining through, instead is a balance of toasted buttered bread with orange marmalade, brown sugar, a caramel I can only describe as caramel 60 or caramel 80 from brewing. There is a slight grainy texture that reminds me of Ezekiel bread, but with a little dusty rickhouse funk to balance out the sweetness. Finish: medium body full flavor finish is delicate tobacco, caramel, brown sugar, and black pepper. I did not expect this to be so drinkable and delicious. I can’t wait to do a blind comparison with rare breed (my current all time favorite)

Nose: vanilla, caramel, corn Palate: cinnamon, and tons of dusty peanuts, corn Finish: dry astringent peanuts I was hoping this was going to be really good but it is not really up my alley

Nose: sweet chocolate covered cherries followed by a faint ethanol tingle, very sweet smelling Palate: this is almost overwhelmingly fruity from the cask but really well done. Plenty of cherry (my favorite fruit to find in a bourbon) but also has some overripe nectarine sweetness to it. The high rye was definitely necessary to balance out the sweetness, getting some tasty rye bread in the background. Finish: the fruity finish is much brighter than the palate with mixed berries finishing it off, and the sweetness lasting even longer than the rye spice. @tbran19 was generous enough to crack this bottle with me to celebrate closing on his new house! It paired really well with a Gurkha cellar reserve 15.

About 1/3 of my way though this pinkies barrel pick, I know this is one of my favorite whiskeys I own. Appearance: deep copper, legs are slow to form and thick running down the glass Nose: musty wood, dark garden soil, and a hint of Swedish fish Palate: immediate burst of spicy cinnamon, ethanol, and a deep dark oak that sticks to the roof of my mouth Finish: browned butter, vanilla, cinnamon, bitter cherry pit, and baking spices finish it off

Nose: orange marmalade sticky cinnamon bun Palate: cinnamon, and orange are there but doesn’t have the mouthfeel or body I expected from the rich nose, there are some herbal notes I cannot put a name to as well Finish: very pleasant vanilla, orange, and cinnamon This is a great budget sipper that you won’t feel bad mixing with, very pleasant experience, thanks for the sample @thechad

Appearance: deep ruby mahogany, extremely think oily legs ooze down the glass Nose: this smells like a sweet musty barn, charred oak, gooey pecan pie, and Swedish fish candy Palate: deep oak, cinnamon, clove, candied cherries, and toffee coat the palate with an oily slickness, love the mouthfeel that sticks to your mouth Finish: there is a hint of sweet buttery pie crust mixing with the sweet musty oak and cherries This sample was given to me generously by @trentoniousmaximus and is the 2021 release. Thank you!!

Nose: ethanol, green apple, light oak Taste: sweet mint, pepper, clove, allspice, spearmint, vanilla, rich oak Finish: vanilla, cinnamon gum and oak leave you wanting another sip