Tastes
-
This is the second night in a row that I’m reviewing a 16-year single malt from a line from which I’d only previously had the 12-year. The Mortlach 12 definitely made more of an impression than the Aberfeldy 12, so hopefully this one here can even out the score. Nose: Honey, butterscotch, vanilla, toffee, and caramel. Floral notes. Apple, apricot, and pear. Orange, tangerine, and golden raisin. Almond. Sugar cookie. Light clove, nutmeg, and oak spice. Cinnamon and white pepper as well. It’s on the lighter side; which comes as no surprise at 40% ABV. Palate: Caramel, toffee, vanilla, butterscotch, and honey. Gala apple, golden raisin, and grape. Apricot. Sherry notes and almond. Almond butter. Oak and baking spice. Finish: Almond/almond butter and macadamia. Honey, butterscotch, vanilla, toffee, and caramel. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Short, maybe short-moderate finish. I’ve said it many times, and I really don’t like saying it because it makes me feel like I’m discriminating against the 40% ABV bottlings. But it is always true. They are always relatively simple. And while this is a perfectly good whisky, it is extremely evident that it would be far superior at a higher proof. Why take the time and care to age this in quality barrels for more than a decade and a half, only to water this down to the absolute bare minimum? This is a fine whisky. Perfectly pleasant, nice balance, solid profile. But at 40%, there isn’t enough complexity here give it the score I’d like to when I’m really being critical. And that’s a shame, because it’s an objectively good whisky at a great price when you consider the age statement. At $90, I just need more complexity. This is a 3.25 or a 3.5 whisky on its face. But I need more punch, and VFM drags this down despite the incredible age statement at the cost. 3/5 even.90.0 USD per Bottle
-
Elijah Craig 18 Year Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed April 19, 2024 (edited April 22, 2024)Elijah Craig 18 was one of those bottles I saw in the case that I was attracted to at the very beginning of my whiskey journey. It was only a matter of time until I got my hands on it. Trying the standard EC bourbon and rye and various batches of the ECBP only solidified my interest in this bottle. And here we are. Bottled: 9-27-22. Barrel 6133. Nose: Caramel, nougat, vanilla, and toffee. Almond and pecan. Some apple, dried apricot, golden raisin, and a blueberry/blue raspberry candy note. Parfait. Peach tea. Clementine, tangerine, and even a bit of lemon citrus. Honey and bubblegum. Espresso. Cocoa. Black tea, a touch of pipe smoke, newspaper, and a trace of sawdust. Loads of oak. Palate: Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, and maple. Peach tea. Dried apricot and golden raisin. Apple cider. Cherry and even plum. Orange rind and tangerine/clementine. Bubblegum. More berry parfait. Almond, hazelnut, and pecan. White and black pepper combined with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and oak. Finish: Almond, hazelnut, and pecan. Gala apple, clementine/tangerine citrus. Caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar. Gala apple and cherry. Parfait. Black tea. Rye spice. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and oak. Moderate length. This delivers to my expectations established all those years ago. It’s vibrant, delicious, and avoids the stigma of being “over-oaked,” which gives some older whiskies aged in hot climates a bad rap. Instead, the quality grain and the careful aging process shine. In fact, the profile is on the lighter side for bourbon—especially for Elijah Craig. It’s much more fruit forward and generally sweeter than the other EC offerings. At $200, I’ve got to say this was worth the price of entry. It’s a lot—for anything—but in the context of bourbons that are in this general age ballpark, this is a steal. This could’ve been a 5-star bourbon if the ABV were a bit higher, but this lands comfortably at a 4.5.200.0 USD per Bottle -
Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch 005
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed April 19, 2024 (edited April 20, 2024)Tamdhu’s Batch Strength line has put them squarely on my radar. I really enjoyed the 3rd Batch, and the 4th was an all-timer. Let’s see if Tamdhu was able to generate a three-peat with this one. Nose: Gala apple, pear, ripe banana, white grape, and apricot. Raisin, fig, date, plum, cranberry, blackberry, and cola. A honeydew/cantaloupe note(s.) Peach. A nice blend of light and dark fruit. Shortbread cookie and vanilla custard. Caramel and toffee. Almond. Cinnamon. Hot tamales. Clove, nutmeg, white pepper, and oak spice. Palate: Vanilla custard. Plum, date fig, raisin, blackberry, and cola. Clementine and orange citrus. Caramel, honey, butterscotch, toffee, and malt. Gala apple, pear, apricot, and white grape were up front on the nose, but they are ever so slightly relegated to the background on the palate. Mango. Irish baking soda bread. More hot tamale. Cinnamon, white pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Cocoa. Date, fig, plum, cranberry and raisin. Blackberry. Gala apple. Pineapple, clementine, and orange citrus. Caramel, toffee, vanilla, and Irish baking soda bread. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Long a finish as they make ‘em. Another solid installment in the Tamdhu Batch Strength line. Interesting notes. Nice balance despite the incredible. Uncut quality for a reasonable price. 4.25/5. This ties Batch 003, with 004 taking the lead as the best of the bunch. That’s no knock against this one though. 004 was one of my absolute favorites. This is great in its right. At $80, the VFM is on point. Hopefully 006 is still available. It’s worth combing hole-in-the-wall stores to find based on my experiences with its three predecessors. Well done, Tamdhu.80.0 USD per Bottle -
Little Book Chapter 6: To the Finish
Blended American Whiskey — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed April 18, 2024 (edited April 20, 2024)2-5 were all winners for me. Can’t remember which was my favorite, but maybe I’ll go back and check when I get done tasting this to see how installment 6 stacks up. I won’t bore you with the details of the barrel staves used, but the short story is that the theme here is stave experimentation that combines 4 4-year old malt whiskies and a 5-year old bourbon. Nose: Sawdust, pipe smoke, rye spice (interesting, because rye should be extremely low in this blend.) Kettle corn. Baked apple. Dried apricot. Almond. Green apple Jolly Rancher and Cinnamon Apple Jacks. Nail polish. Pumpkin spice. Malt, toffee, vanilla, and honey. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. A ton of notes, but some of them don’t mesh quite well. It’s a bit too sweet, but maybe this just needs time to open up. Palate: Cherry. Cola. Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and fudge. Maple bacon. Tangy BBQ sauce. Green Apple Jolly Rancher. Peach and sweet tea. Spearmint and wintergreen. Dried apricot. Some plum, date, fig, and raisin. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Cocoa, black tea, pipe smoke. Caramel, toffee, malt, fudge, vanilla. Cinnamon Apple Jacks. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Long a finish as they make ‘em. I can say without reservation that this was the least impressive installment of Little Book line besides 1 and 7 which I’ve yet to try. It feels young. Disjointed. Too sweet at times. This is also the first malt-dominant expression I’ve had from Beam, and it hasn’t yet become their forte. I know it sounds like I’m tagging on this one. It’s actually a pretty solid whiskey. The diversity of notes kept me on my toes and made for an interesting experience. The heat was respectable but not a turn off either. There were plenty of good qualities to report on with this one. I said earlier that I’d go back and check to see how this stacks up against 2-5. No need. I know those all were 4 stars or above. I’m going to keep this at 3.5.150.0 USD per Bottle -
I was a big fan of the two Davies County wine barrel releases, so I figured I couldn’t go with this. Lux Row almost always impresses me, so let’s hope this continues that trend. Nose: Caramel, fudge, vanilla, toffee, and brown sugar. Gala apple and dried fruit. Black cherry. Black tea, peppercorn, and tobacco smoke. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Pumpkin spice. Rye spice. I really like this. It’s a standard flavor profile, but it’s rich and powerful. Palate: Caramel and fudge once again, maybe even some dark chocolate. Some mint chocolate. Pistachio. Rye notes. A little pipe smoke, cocoa, and black tea. Brown sugar. Cola. Cocoa. Gala apple, dried apricot, golden raisin. The faintest cherry note. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Caramel, toffee, vanilla. Brown sugar. Fudge. Cocoa. Dried apricot and raisin. Mint/mint chocolate. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate-long finish. Another winner from Lux Row. Like I said with the nose, the entire experience does not deviate much from the standard bourbon profile. But it really doesn’t need to do anything different, this is a masterful expression. The barrel char from the white oak cask finish adds an amazing touch. At $55, this is a bargain and then some. Lux Row is doing some fantastic things with this Daviess County line, and they’re making it easily accessible to the average person. I have to appreciate that. It’s a 4.5/5. VFM gives it that extra push. Well done.55.0 USD per Bottle
-
Glenlivet 12 Year First Fill
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed April 15, 2024 (edited April 16, 2024)I can’t tell if this is part of their current core range, a discontinued member of that range, or a one-off. I even read somewhere that this is a travel retail exclusive. I bought this at a local store, so I know that not to be the case I unless it’s a recent development. Regardless, this seems a cool variation of a whisky that I used to love but has become mundane over time. Let’s see what the First Fill American Oak does for The Glenlivet. Nose: Apple, pear, apricot, and floral notes. Some golden raisin and apple citrus. White grape. Honey, butterscotch, toffee, vanilla, malt, and caramel. Very standard Glenlivet/Speyside notes. Coconut and almond. Black pepper. Light cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Gala apple, pear, apricot, cranberry, raisin, and orange citrus. Toffee and banana. Vanilla and caramel. Coconut and almond. Butterscotch and honey. Marshmallow. Light lemon/lime citrus. It’s subtle. Maybe even a touch of cherry. The faintest cinnamon and spice. Finish: Vanilla, toffee, caramel, honey, and marshmallow. White grape and golden raisin. Almond. Raisin, dried apricot, and cranberry. Peppercorn. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Medium length. Definitely an improvement over the standard 12-year. It’s the same flavor profile, just dialed up a bit. It’s a classic Speyside malt. I won’t call this an absolute steal, but it $65, the uptick in quality over the standard 12 is worth the $10 extra bucks. I’ll give this a 3.75/5. Fun release from Glenlivet.65.0 USD per Bottle -
Clyde May's 5 Year Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon — USA
Reviewed April 11, 2024 (edited April 15, 2024)This was a gift, so I didn’t really have expectations either way. Not that gifts aren’t nice—it’s just that this was not really on my radar when I got it. I’ve had the standard Clyde May’s, which I don’t particularly recall though I do think I found it to be decent. Barreled 02/03/17. Barrel No. 642. Nose: Vanilla, caramel, and toffee. Cocoa. Sawdust. Black tea. Lemon/lemon rind. Tapioca. Almond and walnut. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, milk chocolate, fudge, toffee. Almond and pistachio. Golden raisin and caramelized apple. Dried apricot. Sweet tea. Cola. Cocoa. Black tea. Pipe tobacco. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak spice. Finish: Kicks off with Lemon-Lime—almost like you’re washing down a Sprite. Followed by pistachio and almond. Caramel and fudge. The same black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak spice notes round this one out. It’s a long finish. Interesting bourbon here. The nose had my expectations a little low. It gives off a young-ish aroma. But the palate was a marked improvement, and the finish was fantastic. Unique profile, again, especially true of the finish. It’s very respectably proofed at 51% ABV and while doesn’t boast a substantial age statement, it’s nice to see one at all. The body and finish certainly drank like an older bourbon. 4/5. At $46, it’s a fantastic value. It’s a single barrel, so mileage may vary, but I recommend it based on this one. Looking forward to exploring more of Conecuh Ridge.46.0 USD per Bottle -
Finally getting around to this absolute classic. It’s one of my first go-to bourbons, and has always been an incredibly well-priced option. It’s worth noting that this bottle is from the old packaging style, so it was bottled at least a couple years ago. Without further ado, let’s dive into the famous Wild Turkey 101. Nose: Toffee, vanilla, and caramel. Cocoa. Black tea. Sawdust. Caramel used apple and dried apricot. Ginger, peppercorn, pipe smoke, and orange rind. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, rye, and oak spice. Nice nose, and an extremely spicy one at that. Palate: Gala apple, vanilla, toffee, caramel, and brown sugar. Fudge. I’m greeted with a surprising sweetness as compared to the nose. Dried and regular apricot. Cocoa. Peppercorn. Leather. Almond and pistachio. Orange citrus. Ginger, wood, sawdust. Cinnamon, black pepper, rye, clove, nutmeg, and oak spice. Finish: Cocoa. Peppercorn. Pipe tobacco. Black tea. Almond. Vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, and toffee. Ginger and rye spice. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Long.Beast of a finish. Just when you think it’s done, another spice wave comes crashing down. Awesome. VFM matters. And this is a strong whiskey whether you consider VFM or not. Especially the finish. It’s powerfully spicy and trades the refined notes that define the Russell’s line, and presents as an incredibly brash beast of bourbon. I paid $27 for this bottle, and I’ve seen it for less. I was going to give this a 4.0, but as I said, VFM is important. 4.5/5 for this. There is simply no better whiskey at this price or lower. It’s tangy, and it’s spicy. If that description doesn’t appeal to your palate, this may not be for you. But if that sounds like something you’d be interested in, do not let the name dissuade you. Your money is well spent here.27.0 USD per Bottle
-
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition
Single Pot Still — Ireland
Reviewed April 6, 2024 (edited April 15, 2024)The Redbreast Kentucky Oak got kind of lost in the sauce when Redbreast started their wine barrel Finishing Series. I’m not sure if this is a fixture or just a one-off, but they’ve done so well with the limited releases I figured this couldn’t fail. Nose: Sandalwood. Shortbread cookie, vanilla, and honey. Apple, pear, and white grape. White chocolate. Toasted almond, pecan, macadamia, and walnut. Cocoa butter. Cinnamon, white pepper, peppermint, and heavy oak. Palate: Vanilla custard, toffee, shortbread cookie, and honey. Caramel and fudge. Sandalwood. Toasted almond, macadamia, and walnut. Pistachio. Cocoa and tobacco smoke. Black pepper and a faint hint of orange rind. Ginger. Apple. Dried apricot and cranberry. Peppermint. Finish: Toasted almond, macadamia, and walnut. Golden raisin. Cocoa, tobacco smoke, and orange rind. Ginger. Clove, nutmeg, black pepper/white pepper, cinnamon, and oak spice. Long finish.Awesome stuff. Yet another great NAS one-off from Redbreast. This profile actually reminds me more of Mizunura Oak than Bourbon Oak. Doesn’t change the fact that this is really good, in fact, it just make it that much more unique. My only critique is the price. It’s not unreasonable based on the quality, but it’s also not getting any awards for VFM at $120. Otherwise, I like the product here. I feel like Irish whiskies can go one or two ways. They are either bottled at cask strength, or have relatively low proofs. 101 proof seems like a nod to Kentucky, and it’s nice to see a non-CS expression that punches with the power that this does. 4.5/5.120.0 USD per Bottle -
Mortlach 16 Year "Distiller's Dram"
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed April 2, 2024 (edited April 4, 2024)Mortlach 12 was solid. They earned my business going forward, and the next logical step was to move up to their 16-year. I had no expectations when I tried the 12, but now that I’ve had it, I’m very much looking forward to this 16-year. Nose: Macadamia and toasted almond. Orange and tangerine citrus. Vanilla, shortbread cookie, and toffee. Graham cracker and honey. Peanut butter. Stella D’oro. Raspberry, apple, blackberry, raisin, and plum. Pomegranate and cranberry. Cinnamon and black pepper. Plenty of baking spice and oak. Rich nose. Palate: Honey, vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, and toffee. Milk chocolate. Stella D’oro. Almond butter and toasted almond. Walnut. Orange and tangerine citrus. Apple, pear, apricot, plum, and golden raisin. Honeydew. Raspberry and blackberry. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Pomegranate juice. Apple, pear, apricot, golden raisin. Plum, raspberry, and blackberry. Vanilla, caramel, toffee, Stella D’oro. Almond butter and toasted almond. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg. Oak. Moderate length. This is awesome. Allegedly a sherry bomb. The packaging tells me it’s exclusively aged in sherry casks. It drinks like a bourbon-sherry hybrid. I’d guess more bourbon than sherry influence. And I can appreciate this. Sometimes a sherry-aged malt is too plush—the casks completely overpower the spirit. The Mortlach profile takes center stage with this one—to the benefit of the whisky. A 16-year old single malt for $95? Steal. As if it wasn’t good enough on its face, the VFM is exceptional. 4.25/5. Looking forward to trying the 20 year to complete the core lineup. As for this, it’s a great, unique, and well-priced Speysider.95.0 USD per Bottle
Results 1-10 of 359 Reviews