Tastes

Nose - (w/o water) Spicy sweet bbq?, paprika, hickory, salt, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice (w/ water) More rounded, some sweet-savory funk but less bbq, more cloves, allspice Taste - (w/o water) Very drying, bit hot, cinnamon red hots, light salt, pie crust, light graham cracker, dark caramel, hint of black tea (w/ water) Less drying, cherry cinnamon red hots, light salt, dark caramel, hint of chocolate Finish - (w/o water) Lingering cinnamon spice/tingle, sweet pie spices, sweet paprika, vanilla caramel (w/ water) Less tingle, more black tea bitter, vanilla, caramel Score - 89/100 Final Thoughts - This one was quite interesting and not at all what I expected. The nose itself was way out there but it didn't really reflect on the palate. It was funky but in a good interesting way. Flavors not typical in your "standard" bourbon, but still close enough to let you know it's a bourbon. This is an interesting one for sure in that I think it'd pair either with savory foods or a good pecan pie, but seems a bit off for a daily sipper. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - Probably not?

Nose - Butterscotch, cinnamon, vanilla, hint of cherry, oak Taste - Oddly thin but drying, sweet cherry vanilla, caramel, cinnamon spice, oak, hint of woody bitterness Finish - Light cinnamon tingle, light vanilla caramel, hint of bright red maraschino cherries Score - 73/100 Final Thoughts - Surprisingly light on the nose. Fairly typical bourbon notes, nothing really offputting about it other than a faint woody bitterness on the back palate. Nothing too exciting about this one other than it's a fairly easy drinker. Typical bourbon notes, skewing towards a bit more on the fruity/cherry side, but not a rich dark cherry but the sort of fake red cherry. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

Nose - Cherry & strawberry cough drops, canned cranberry sauce, dark honey, dark toffee Taste - Sweet cherry/strawberry/fresh dark stone fruits, hint of dark chocolate, dark toffee, light candied ginger spice, light stone fruit pit bitterness on backend Finish - Long lasting dark stone fruit sweet, hint of bitterness lingers, light white pepper tingle, cocoa nib bitterness Score - 84/100 Final Thoughts - The nose on this one screams dessert dram. I have a feeling this would be the perfect pairing to a dark chocolate cake or anything else that has some sort of berry compote to help complement the light bitterness that this dram has with it. The nose is great but can probably get a bit overwhelmingly sweet for some. Starts out great on the tongue, but transitions to this light metallic bitterness that I occasionally get with some oloroso finished Scotches. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe, with dessert Would I buy a bottle? - Probably not another

2019 Edition Nose - Sweet caramel, vanilla, orange zest, hints of chocolate, toffee Taste - Sweet vanilla caramels, creamy butterscotch, hints of chocolate covered oranges, very rich/creamy for the lower proof, dark chocolate, maple syrup Finish - Creamy caramels, milky chocolate, light cinnamon spice, chocolate covered Werthers candies, light maple syrup, oak Score - 87/100 Final Thoughts - Upon pouring into the glass and the first initial nose, I immediately think of a bourbon with the strong caramel/vanilla notes. There seems to be a fairly high corn content as it drinks like a very smooth amazingly not too overoaked bourbon. Without really knowing the mashbill or anything else it's a very inoffensive, very easy drinking bourbon-like whisky. The maple syrup is funnily very Canadian. That being said, it's very easy to drink, but nothing about it screams amazing. It's nicely balanced, a bit on the sweet side with nice caramel/chocolate/maple syrup notes. Sadly the maple syrup notes make it borderline splenda-like, but not quite. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - Probably not another

Nose - Raisins, figs, fig newtons, dark honey, caramel, flamed orange zest, chocolate, hint of grape soda Taste - Raisins, dark apple cider, sweet peppery heat, ginger, figs, caramel, hint of orange, lightly drying Finish - Lingering fruity heat, syrupy raisins, light metallic like from that of canned fruit, hint of fruity bitter fruit stems/vines Score - 91/100 Final Thoughts - This one didn't disappoint. The nose was incredible and lasts a very long time. I think the slightly higher proof helps with that without being too punchy with the alcohol vapors. The nose just keeps on going. Once it hits the palate it isn't as complex as the nose, but is still quite tasty. You can tell it's a younger spirit as it doesn't have that thick leathery mouthfeel of older Scotches, but is still quite nice. This is something I can see myself sipping on when I want a very nicely sherried dram. Finish could use a bit of work, but it's still quite pleasant. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes

Nose - Poached pears, pineapple, caramel, vanilla, light cinnamon, hint of orange zest Taste - Vanilla, caramel, pineapple, light cinnamon, poached pears, coconut milk creaminess, orange zest very briefly at the front of the palate Finish - Lingering velvety cinnamon vanilla caramel, light bitterness but pleasant, sweet orange immediately after the initial swallow Score - 85/100 Final Thoughts - This was surprisingly good and I don't think I would've pegged it as a Glenlivet if tasted blind. This doesn't really have that much of the classic fresh apple/pear that I typically get from most Glenlivets. This was a completely different beast in a good way. I think I prefer this over the standard 12 as this seems to have a slightly darker, more caramel notes that I typically get with older Scotches (although it could be the slightly higher proof talking). I could see this being a great intro Scotch for some people as well as being a great budget mixer as well. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - Yes

Nose - Oaky vanilla, toasted orange peel, strawberries, caramel, subtle peanut, kind of muted nose Taste - Bit dry, light oaky bitter, fruity caramel, light orange peel with pith bitterness, cinnamon heat, peanut funk emerges late Finish - Light cinnamon heat, light honey roasted peanut butter sweet, peanut skin bitter, fruity grape skin tannic Score - 80/100 Final Thoughts - So this one started out with a fairly muted nose & that was a bit disappointing. Sadly this one tastes exactly as I expected it to being a Jim Beam distillate, which was a slightly fruity/tannic Jim Beam. It has a classic Beam peanut-funk backbone with hints of fruit & tannins from the red wine & sherry cask finishes. It's a nice change from standard Beam but isn't really anything spectacular. I wouldn't mind sipping this neat or mixing it into a more fruity Old Fashioned or making a "PB&J" Old Fashioned by maybe adding some creme de cassis or something to it. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - Probably not another

John Howie Steak Barrel #2 - 55.4% ABV 3x Seared French Cuvee, Maker's 46, Roasted French Mocha 1x Toasted French Spice Nose - (w/o water) Sweet vanilla, gentle cinnamon, hint of chocolate, caramel, sweet brioche, vanilla frosting (w/ water) More sharp vanilla sweet, more caramel, less chocolate Taste - (w/o water) Buttery/oily mouthfeel that transitions to a lightly dry leather, sweet buttery vanilla caramel, hint of cinnamon, mocha foam, faint hint of sweet cherries (w/ water) A lot thinner/drier mouthfeel, drying oak, cinnamon heat, oaky caramel Finish - (w/o water) Lingering waxy/buttery mouthfeel, sweet caramel, light caramel mocha, sharp sweet cherry (w/ water) Lingering drying mouthfeel, brown simple sweet, chocolate returns Score - 81/100 Final Thoughts - So this one does not really do very well with the addition of water as it seems to throw everything off balance. This drinks surprisingly below its proof neat. That being said, it doesn't taste that much different from standard Maker's even with all of the finishing staves. The only benefit is that it's slightly higher proof and doesn't drink like it. Sadly the addition of water kind of throws it off balance so not sure how this would do in a cocktail. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - Not another

Nose - Dark chocolate, leather, dark toffee, light cinnamon Taste - Sweet toffee, very drying initial mouthfeel, sweet oak, chocolate, brown simple syrup, hint of sweet leather, maple syrup, espresso crema Finish - Sweet toffee, sweet mocha, tiny bit of heat/tingle, maple syrup, leather Score - 86/100 Final Thoughts - I quite liked this one as it hit on at least 2 or 3 of things I like together which is chocolate, coffee, & maple syrup. This is definitely on the sweeter end of the spectrum, very similar to Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and I would treat this as more of a dessert dram than a daily drinking dram. Nice chocolate & gentle coffee/mocha notes throughout. Doesn't really drink like the proof and is overall quite tasty. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes if it's around the same price as Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Nose - Freshly cut apples, dark apple juice, light apple skin bitter, light caramel, faint raisin, chocolate Taste - Light "tingle" with very little heat, chocolate, apple juice, caramel, light spice, light apple skin bitter, toffee, light raisin, cooked apples Finish - Light fruity bitter, dried apples, chocolate, light raisin Score - 82/100 Final Thoughts - So this one fit the "standard" Glenlivet profile of heavy on the apples but it did add a hint of chocolate & raisins that I attribute to the portion of cognac cask finished Scotch in this single malt blend. It's tasty on its own, but doesn't really make you go "wow, this is incredible" in any way. This is something best neat when you don't really want to think too much about what you're drinking. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - Only another if I could find it for about $40 USD