Tastes
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Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Voyage 23
Bourbon — USA
Reviewed December 12, 2021 (edited February 17, 2022)The premise of this bourbon is that its voyage at sea would make it subject to a variety of climates (plus the waves agitating the barrels, etc). So you might expect the end result to be a bourbon with some scotch flair, and some Balcones/Texas flair. But really you get neither of those, just some salty bourbon. Now it does taste quite nice, not bad at all. And it makes a great old fashioned, but it’s just not worth the $80 price tag. Have some at a bar before you get a bottle80.0 USD per Bottle -
I’ve had three releases so far. Two of them quite good, one of them not good. Generally what you’re gonna find, aside from your “classic bourbon” flavors, is a strange creaminess (like homemade whipped cream) contrasted with the right amount of woody dryness. The bottle I have right now has a slight sour cherry note as well. Complex and lots of flavor. Does not come across as watery despite the low proof. Pretty easy to find, and better than some stuff that’s twice as much, provided you get a good barrel.28.0 USD per Bottle
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Kirk and Sweeney 23 Year Rum
Aged Rum — Dominican Republic
Reviewed November 15, 2021 (edited October 11, 2022)The platonic ideal of what I imagine good aged rum to be. It’s on the drier side of things. Pretty woody and spicy, like you’d expect after 23 years. And the woodiness plays well against the rum itself, which is pretty rounded and mellow (not Jamaican). If I were to criticize it, I would mainly want it to be higher proof. As it is, it comes across a little flat and one-note, which is a shame for such an old product. But nothing about it tastes bad. Snag a bottle if you can find it.18.0 USD per Pour -
Ron Zacapa 23 Sistema Solera Rum
Aged Rum — Guatemala
Reviewed November 13, 2021 (edited February 10, 2022)Tastes 50% like good aged rum, and 50% like a good sherry scotch. Really over-performs for its price. Not sure how much utility it would have for cocktails, but it’s a very good sipper. It runs a little sweet but nothing like El Dorado sweetness. Big fan of this stuff12.0 USD per Pour -
Calumet Farm 15 Year Single Rack Black Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed October 24, 2021 (edited February 11, 2022)Mostly, it’s just harsh. 15 years is too much for a bourbon. Very woody, in the same way Maker’s Mark special releases are. Now it is pretty complex, and depending on the day sometimes you can tease a great glass out of it—it makes a surprisingly good old fashioned—but it’s always a challenge. Not really worth the money, and it’s certainly no Pappy 15, which is kinda what it wants to be. Maybe give the Barton distillery a few more years and they’ll have some better barrels, but until then… Tl;dr the Calumet 12 is better and cheaper105.0 USD per Bottle -
I like this stuff. Compared to other orange liqueurs, it’s a bit sharper and more floral, but I generally like the complexity it adds to a drink. I usually find myself preferring it over Ferrand dry curaçao too, which is the fan favorite of the cocktail world. It’s kinda hard to find, but it’s pretty cheap if you can get it. Can’t go wrong30.0 USD per Bottle
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I’ve been making a ton of rum cocktails lately, and this has been coming up short consistently when compared to the Plantation 5 year. This is drier, spikier, and younger tasting, which might be preferable to fans of drier rum styles, but I’m not a fan overall. For what it’s worth, I do think it tastes fine neat, but you’re probably not gonna buy this to be a sipper.
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