Tastes

Whiskey Extravaganza #4 This was my first time have the 18 and I probably drank it a little too fast and didn’t give it enough air/time to do it justice. So I will revisit but my initial reaction is that I prefer the 14.

Whiskey extravaganza #3 This is good - it’s more interesting than standard Jameson but even an 18 year old whiskey can only be so good when it’s been neutered down to 40%. I’ll save my money and grab a Redbreast 12CS or Tyrconnell 16 instead.

Whiskey extravaganza #2 This is good; the quality of the sherry cask is very evident and it makes up for a lot of what Macallan does wrong with this whiskey (most importantly watering it down to 43% and chill filtering it). It has beautiful spiced chocolate and rich fruit flavors. Is it worth the price tag? NO! Not even close. We’re living in the golden age of whiskey, there are incredible options out there for a fraction of the cost. Would I turn down a glass if offered - no, of course not; it’s delicious. But I wouldn’t buy a bottle.

Whiskey extravaganza #1 This is one of the whiskies that got me excited about scotch. I hadn’t had it in a while so I was wondering if it would hold up. It does; it’s just butterscotch deliciousness! Do I wish it was bottled at a higher abv, yes ... but it’s still really good. Also, of any scotch I’ve had, the empty glass the next day smells incredible. Great value and anyone you serve it to will dig it; can’t miss on this one.

This is a young one (4-5 years old) but because of the extreme heat in Indian, it ages faster than other whiskies. I had a 10 ounce sample and, when I first opened it, I was surprised by the lively flavors. I got caramel, applesauce with cinnamon, almonds, and a touch of smoke. The 50% abv definitely helps punch things up a couple of notches. I had hoped that it would continue to develop as it oxidized but that didn’t really happen. It started losing its energy, the flavors became more muted and it started showing it’s youth. Overall, it’s interesting enough that I’ll look to explore other, older Amruts in the future but don’t plan to buy a full bottle of the Fusion.

This is an interesting bourbon. I like the wine influence but it’s a little unbalanced - the flavors are good but the palate transitions are disjointed. The experience doesn’t match up with the price tag.

Woah! This was a neck pour so going to wait a while to do a full review but this is good.

It’s a bummer Old Pulteney 17 has been discontinued because it’s delicious! I opened this bottle 4 months ago (bunkered a backup) and have been slowly making my way through it. It checks all the standard quality boxes; it’s non-chill filtered, no color added and 46% abv. But it’s more than that, this has great mouthfeel, balance and incredibly nuanced flavors. I get the same things on the nose and palate ... toffee, fresh flowers, berries, dry leaves and a touch of brine. The finish is medium and salty/sweet. Wonderful!

This is rich and flavor-packed bourbon with a really nice mouthfeel. On the nose, I get chocolate covered cherries, vanilla, orange zest and a spice that I can’t quite put my finger on. The nose gets better and better as it sits in the glass. On the palate I taste milk duds, light molasses, cream, oak and flashes or dried tart cherry. The finish is not super long but there are nice molasses and citrus notes. Overall a really enjoyable whiskey.

This is a light, easy-drinking bourbon. Good as a summer pour-n-drink whiskey. Flavor-wise, I get fiddle faddle, vanilla and figs. It’s not overly complex but pleasant enough to drink.