Tastes
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This is my favorite in the $20 Irish price range. The nose has tart white winegrapes and sweet lemon pie, along with a touch of ethanol. It's got a very gentle body, too- caramelized pears, apples, and a touch of the characteristic copper. Higher proof would serve very well. Finishes short with mild dryness on the tongue. It's simple and pretty good, with more character than the competition. Albeit, not by too much.
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Bombay Original London Dry Gin (40%)
London Dry Gin — England
Reviewed May 26, 2017 (edited May 27, 2017)Tastes of pine tree, down to the leaves, bitter bark and soil. It's earthy and forward, with loads of juniper on the tongue and the finish. It's distinct, and you will be tasting it in whatever drink you mix it in. I like to use this when I mix with sweeter liqueurs as it cuts through and balances out well. -
Spicy citrus would be a good way to describe this. Aside from the piney juniper, I get lemon zest, grapefruit, black tea, calamansi, celery stalk, and a vaguely floral aroma, like dandelions or something. It's bright and soft, drinks easy neat, and mixes in very very comfortably. It's a go-to if you want a harmonious blend, but not if you want your gin to leap out.
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Yeah this just isn't gin. Treat this as an orange-infused vodka. If you think of it that way, it's actually not a bad flavor. I mentioned notes of orange creamsicle in the New Amsterdam vodka, but good gravy that taste is here in spades. It's a very one dimensional flavor profile, finishing with some lemongrass and barely a wisp of juniper. Works rather well in mixed drinks due to the creamsicle nature, as long as you're able to build around the orange profile. For ten bucks it ain't bad, just be aware of what you're buying.
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Very, very sweet. There's not a huge depth of flavor here, only caramel, cherry cola, butterscotch and a touch of bubblegum and clove. There's almost none of the oak spice that was advertised. Stands out very sweet in a drink, so be careful when adding sugar or syrup. I'll definitely stick to the Kraken.
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This is a tough one. It's sweet, spicy and peppery, with a vegetable flavor and some smoke hiding under that. It actually reminds me of a corn moonshine, with all the good and bads that brings. As a mixer, it's better than cuervo, but it still tastes like a corn whiskey with zucchini or something. It isn't terrible per se, but it won't be my first pick. It's very forward and stands out.
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Familia Camarena Silver Tequila
Tequila Blanco — Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico
Reviewed May 20, 2017 (edited May 22, 2017)The nose is a bit sickly, and there's certainly some cough syrup on the palate. It's sweet and creamy but leaves with an oily finish. It's simplistic and a bit not the best sipper in my opinion. However, it's a very good mixer. The sweetness works very well in any drink with citrus; it's rather muted when mixed in but it's very balanced. A 2 as a sipper and a 3 as a mixer. -
Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon (NAS)
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed May 19, 2017 (edited April 10, 2018)Updated this after I tried the NAS and compared to KC Reserve. This is rich, bold, dark, and savory. It tastes of hearty oak and scorched sugar backed by some salted caramel. It's rough around the edges, but unlike Beam's other, younger offerings, it's in a good way- this is a "puts-hair-on-your-chest" bourbon. Straightforward but damn good! There is alcohol burn but, for me, it is forgivable here. Definitely pay the extra few for the Single Barrel Reserve, though. That offering is much more refined. -
I'm revisiting this now that I've had some time to develop a palate for whiskey. Sweet? Soft? We must have a different drink here- it's very astringent, woody, and alcoholic, and not in a complex and enjoyable way. More of a mouth-numbing way. There is, in fact, an underlying sweet character, but it's very difficult to pick out. But to its credit, the finish is rather easygoing, if not bitter on the tongue. Crown makes pleasant offerings but this is not one of them.
Results 31-40 of 59 Reviews