Tastes

This has been on my list for a while, and frankly it hasn't been overhyped. This stuff is like custard melting on your tongue. Vanilla, roasted nuts, tobacco, and a bit of alcoholic vapor on the nose. Chocolate, cherries, marzipan, fall spices, butterscotch on the palate. Long slow finish, like a distant rumble of thunder, suprisingly nuanced for the high proof. Delicious.

A very approachable and high value single malt. Definitely recommended. Nose: a fruity bouquet with pineapple and cherries, and faintly floral like lilac. Taste is a sweet with honeysuckle, lemon, sweet tea. But then it backs off to a bit of brine and oak wood. Surprisingly long finish with a hint of white pepper. Would buy again.

Candied fruit, orange zest, toffee on the nose. Pecans and almonds, a bit medicinal, chocolate covered cherries, balsamic on the palate. Very smooth sipper and deceptive for the proof. Very tasty.

The first hit tells me this has to be part of the Monkey Shoulder blend, if it isn't it's doing a great impression. Ultimately Cardhu seems to be in the Glenmorangie 10 end of the spectrum, with orange peel, flowers, and honey. But it doesn't have the formers depth or sunshine in a bottle quality. It's pleasant but not notable.

This opens up with a very tropical paradise nose, I get coconut, honey, and bright fruits like pineapple and citrus. The flavor a bit in the other direction, toffee and vanilla, a surprising coffee note, and a bit of black pepper, almost bourbon like. More of a lingering smolder the the proof would suggest. An interesting pour, not one that would necessarily more conventional scotch or bourbon that I enjoy.

My initial impression was that there was nothing to distinguish this from the 86 proof. But I have learned to give new whiskeys a few tries before I make judgement. This one definitely had more to say after I gave it some time. The Rye presence is much more pronounced, there is a lot more of the pumpernickel funky notes and black pepper and cinnamon than I remember from the 86 proof. I would not put this on a pedestal with respect to other low-cost Bourbons, however given the proof and the spicy rye presence it would be a great dram to have on hand for cocktails, and it's a more than decent drink on its own. 3.5

After trying to find it for a good while, I got a 2 oz. pour for $9 at Cooper's Hill Public House in Peterborough, NH. Given its rarity, kind of amazing. The nose is a bracing shot of citrus at first. I get a little bitter astringency, so my thought is grapefruit or bergamot. Followed closely by a soft, round nuttiness and maple, with crumb cake, and chocolate. Palate is glazed pastry, pecans, and a stiff peppery follow up. Finish is medium short, but the black pepper lingers. I would not add it to my Mt Rushmore of fav bourbon, but it's a great choice, and worth a dram if you can find it.

Whoa this is sweet on the nose, butterscotch candy and capri sun. The palate isn't too complex with raisins and caramel. Not much else, and no burn. This is very one note, not recommended.

Interesting to find a peated dram apart from Scotland. This certainly goes against the floral and apple notes I typically found in Irish whiskey. The peat presence on the nose and palate is more subtle than most Islay pours. It leans more to the rubber and iodine end of the spectrum rather than charcoal and bacon. There aren't a lot of other flavors that assert themselves after peat, beyond a light honey sweetness. I can't say I'd opt for this over ardbeg or laphroiag, but it's an enjoyable peaty whiskey for the modest cost.