Tastes
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Doesn’t smell like a rum, doesn’t taste like a rum. Eugh, it’s like the cheapest grain alcohol I’ve tasted. Medicinal, cherry, some kind of molded cake on the palate. Absolutely disgusting; you’d be surprised it didn’t come out of a plastic bottle. Don’t ever buy this. Even at the price point there’s much much better things. You don’t have to live like this.
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Ron Zacapa 23 Sistema Solera Rum
Aged Rum — Guatemala
Reviewed November 23, 2017 (edited April 10, 2018)Probably the best rum I’ve had so far. This has the bar set pretty high. Molasses and prunes with brown bananas and a touch of dusty wood on the nose, and on the dense palate there’s caramel, apricot, raisins, oak spice and butterscotch. More oak shines on the finish. This goes damn well in a traditional daiquiri, too, with just some lime and sugar. It’s very approachable; it would serve well to introduce non-rum drinkers to the realm of actually decent rum. -
Excellent for the price; I paid $10 and it’s better than Hennessy’s low offering, so I’m sold. The nose is sweet with brown sugar, raisins and pears, which persist on the palate with maple and prune. A touch of wood peeks in on the finish with a dry raisin taste. And at mixing price, I can say it mixes pretty well too. Inoffensive and on the sweet side, with no cheap alcohol taste. A go-to for a mixing brandy.
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Patrón Silver Tequila
Tequila Blanco — Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico
Reviewed November 21, 2017 (edited April 24, 2018)Light and sweet on the nose, following gently onto the palate. There’s a mineral crispness that creeps up after the initial taste, with a powdery feeling on the finish leaving a clean feeling. It’s quite enjoyable, entirely inoffensive, and somewhat devoid of character. It’s very refreshing though not much to muse over neat, so I’d have to say it’s strength lies as a mixer, but I know I’d rather not pay sipper prices for a mixing tequila, however gentle and easygoing it may be. Would be four stars at half the price. -
Definitely noses and tastes just like a bitter iced black tea. There’s a rounded edge to the taste with the gentle elderflower backbone providing a touch of sweetness and complexity, which lingers a long while on the finish. Boy, does the complexity open up when it’s mixed. With some lime and sugar, the bitter tea turns almost savory, letting the elderflower stand out pleasantly. With other mixed elements, it stands out both assertive and harmonious. This is excellent to add a dark floral aspect to your cocktail.
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Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond
Rye — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed November 18, 2017 (edited September 19, 2018)Distiller staff tasting notes are impeccable here. This could best be described as toasty, perhaps a little burnt. But in a good way, like a slightly singed pie crust. Smores and molasses on the nose, extending onto the palate with some spicy wood, caramel, espresso, and raisins. And the finish is odd, it opens up in a pleasant direction that I wasn’t expecting. Originally I was thinking key lime, but honeysuckle feels more accurate, strangely. It’s pretty good, if a tad sharp on the tongue. -
Macallan Double Cask 12 Year
Single Malt — Highland, Scotland
Reviewed November 17, 2017 (edited July 31, 2022)The nose on this gets me excited for a sweet oak palate. Specifics are hard to pin but I get things like caramel, tart dark fruits, dusty oak with a metallic brightness. Onto the palate, however... initial impressions were not favorable. It feels empty and hot, with way more bitter wood in the taste than anything else. I still don’t care for this neat. Water or ice makes it much more bearable, though still not redeemably so in my opinion. I taste chocolate and caramel accompanying rich notes of some tropical fruit like papaya, which segues into the bitter, spicy oak wood. I suspect it’s my palate’s preferences, but I would much rather prefer the vanilla Macallan to this expression. Especially at this price. -
Aberfeldy 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed November 17, 2017 (edited January 21, 2018)Agree entirely with the expert notes. It’s got a gentle nose with some faint tart sweetness that reminds me of apples and white wine. The mouthfeel is really where it shines though, it feels silky and thick, playing along with the palate of sweet honey with a citrus taste like... lemon merengue? Finish is both dry and nutty with a faint wisp of warm peat. It’s simple, gentle and easily enjoyable while remaining satisfying.
Results 11-20 of 59 Reviews