Tastes
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Sagamore Spirit Straight Rye
Rye — Indiana (bottled in Maryland), USA
Reviewed March 2, 2020 (edited March 3, 2020)Sagamore Spirit. While it may be sourced from MGP, it seems that they do their own blending and finishing (the former of which applies to this one). While they may not be putting out their own stock just yet, it seems that the Maryland-based distillery is aging their own distillate and well inevitably have its own product, from start to finish, out on the market. For now, let's take a look at the current, MGP-sourced base product. Batch 7A, Bottle 284 Nose: Standard "bready" notes that I often find in ryes. Obviously rye bread, but also a bit of sourdough. Some apple cider, gala apple notes. Black pepper, nutmeg, and allspice. Dill pickle and spearmint. Hints of pistachio and vanilla. Some roasted nut.Greenish, cedar notes. It's mild but enjoyable. Balanced as opposed to sweet or spicy. Palate: Caramel and vanilla. Black licorice. More of those apple notes, now accompanied by apricot. Still bready and green. Dill pickle. A bit sour, but nothing that I would consider off putting just a touch in that direction. Maybe even a bit of orange citrus. Cherry, ginger, and honey. There's a good amount going on here. Finish: Short kick of spice. There's more of the rye breadiness and then a quick burst of cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, and clove. Suffers from a lack of ABV, as it's gone as quickly as it hits. Calling it short-medium would be generous. Tough one to score. I think this was designed to be a background sipper. If that's the case, they certainly hit their mark. It's just unique enough to be noteworthy, but isn't exactly an attention-grabber. At 41.5% ABV, I think it's safe to say they were going for a more subtle approach. Subtle it is. And while I very much enjoy this whiskey for what it is, I don't score these types of drams all too high. This is the Michelob Ultra of rye whiskey. And I'm not on a diet. While the nose and palate are surprisingly enjoyable, there is virtually no finish here. The Maryland whiskey scene is the Wild West as far as I'm concerned. Pikesville is now distilled at Heaven Hill, and Sagamore's portfolio is technically Indiana whiskey. I remember trying the Sagamore Port Finish at a tasting; and I remember being impressed. Will have to try again. And while I give this 2.75 stars for now, I must say that I'd be willing to give them another go with the Port Finish. As for this, it's decent whiskey but nothing to go out of your way to try.37.0 USD per Bottle -
Laphroaig 10. I've reviewed so many bottlings from this distillery, and somehow am just getting around to reviewing its staple product. The first peated whisky I had ever owned. Or tasted for that matter. And I absolutely hated it. I actually thought it was expired. Slowly, it grew on me. And the rest... Nose: Classic Laphroaig notes. Seaweed, sea salt, brine, iodine, and band-aid. Peat and campfire smoke. Black pepper and oak. Ash and charcoal, grapefruit and lemon citrus. Smoked meats, rib, and brisket. A bit of custard and vanilla sweetness, maybe even mint chocolate. Some of the classic Laphroaig chestnut note, though it disappears after about 10 minutes. But brine, smoke, peat, meat, oak, medicinal notes, and citrus dominate here. Very complex for 43% ABV. Palate: Campfire smoke, ash, charcoal, and peat take the forefront. Brine, salt, seaweed, iodine, and band-aid remain. Surprisingly, I'm getting strong fruit notes: the lemon is still there, but takes a back seat to apple, pear, peach, and apricot. Still getting the meat notes, as well as the vanilla. Some dark chocolate appears with time in the glass. The custard is gone, and it's a bit thinner than the nose let on. Still getting oak and black pepper, now with cinnamon. Very good. Finish: Medium-long. Heaps of charcoal, ash, smoke, and sea salt. Dark chocolate carries over, even stronger than on the palate. Then it's black pepper, cinnamon, and oak. The spice also presents as a red-pepper e chili here. Impressive finish, especially considering the proof. And there it is. The fact that I now enjoy this stuff, which I once considered undrinkable, is a landmark in my whisky journey. I've enjoyed this for years at this point, but this is the first time I've put those thoughts to pen and paper, if you will. This is one of my defaults at bars. It's very common, which means I've almost always got a top-notch pour available. This is one of the great flagship products in all of the whisky world. Worth the time of experienced peat heads and beginners alike. And it's easily one of the best VFM purchases one could make. Nothing but good things to say about this one. If you haven't tried it yet, and can handle a bit of peat, make buying this one a priority.42.0 USD per Bottle
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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A119
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed February 10, 2020 (edited February 21, 2021)This is my second batch of ECBP. The C917 is one of the top few whiskies I've ever had. Hell, even the standard Small Batch is some really good stuff. With the 92 rating on Distiller, I've got some expectations going into this one. And as a side note, I'd like to point out this is the strongest bottle I've ever owned in any category, clocking in at a whopping 67.6% ABV. Nose: Caramel and cocoa jump right out of the glass. Toasted marshmallow and roasted coffee. Butterscotch. Some dry fruit and citrus notes. Pencil shavings and a touch of leather that I can't quite compare to any particular item (somewhere between a new baseball glove and an old book cover). I even get some of the carrot cake I get in Henry McKenna and even a bit of tobacco ash. Loads of cinnamon, allspice, and oak. Some barrel char. A bit of a burn but enticing nonetheless. Great start. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, cocoa, and cola sweetness are accompanied by something that I can only describe as a Hawaiian Punch Gusher. Oddly specific, but I cannot deny that it's there. Carrot cake and candy corn. A bit of cherry and some dried fruit. Hazelnut, almond and maybe some roasted pecan. Barrel char is now out in full force. Just a touch of milk chocolate. It's very oaky, and some of the cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and allspice notes start to creep up at the tail end of the palate. Finish: Black pepper, gloce, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice. Loads of oak. A real spice bomb. Caramel and vanilla, roasted coffee and tobacco smoke. Barrel char and lemon and orange citrus notes. Some more carrot cake. Even though it's a spice bomb, there's a lot more going on in what makes for an extremely long finish. Well done. Superb. 5/5. Not sure if it's better than the C917, but I'll tell you why it's worthy of similar praise. This takes some of the best aspects of the C917, which is ultimately darker and more decadent, and combines them with some of the sweet and tangy notes typically found in Henry McKenna. This Batch tows the line between two of my all-time favorites and presents that combination in a uncut, unfiltered, and unprecedented expression. At $75, this is a steal. I'd gladly pay more. There is much to love here. They've moved pretty far past this one, as I think it's already over a year old. If you can still find it, I highly recommend buying on sight. After two 5-star batches, I'm a batch or two away from crowning ECBP as on the greatest lines in all of whiskey. Cheers!75.0 USD per Bottle -
Oban Little Bay. Translates to Little Bay Little Bay. This is Oban's NAS "budget" offering. I'll call it a budget offering, but the reality is that this leagues better than most single malts relegated to this category. Let's get into it. Nose: Honey, floral, and fruity. Lots of honeydew, pear, green apple, apricot, and orange. Plenty of toffee and malt. Touch of brown sugar. Some walnut and almond, and a touch of plum. Another sweet note that I can't quite place. Akin to jelly. Really no salinity or smoke. A touch of oak and a complete absence of ethanol. Extremely pleasant and approachable, yet also full. Palate: Kicks things up a notch from the nose. The walnut and roasted almond come in strong. Now there's a bit of salt, but it's table salt instead of the expected sea salt. Still very floral. Caramel, vanilla, milk chocolate, brown sugar, and graham cracker. Still plenty of orange, pear, apple, apricot, and honeydew. Clove, nutmeg, and oak provide spice. Very nice, dangerously drinkable. Finish: Vanilla and milk chocolate. Orange and apricot. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and oak add more spice. Still very easy-going, but brings some extra intensity. Moderate-length. I didn't leave any room for suspense. I think this is a really good whisky without considering price. And if you take the latter into account, this is an absurdly good value. I paid $40 for this, and I can confidently say that there are no Scotch whiskies that can even compete with this that I've ever seen for $40 or less. This is one hell of a deal. I compared this to my bottle of 2018 Oban DE. The latter won that comparison. Not by a wide margin, but it is was quickly evident that that is my preferred Oban expression. This definitely has a place in the lineup though. It punches well above its price point. I noticed "Small Cask" printed on the packaging. After doing a little research, it seems that this is Oban's answer to Laphroaig Quarter Cask, another one of my favorites. Whatever they've done here, it's resulted in a damn fine product. One of the truly remarkable examples of bang-for-buck in the whisky world.40.0 USD per Bottle
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Lagavulin Offerman Edition 11 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed January 29, 2020 (edited April 14, 2021)Ah, Lagavulin. You never let me down. 16, 8, DE, 12 all knock it out of the park. Gimmicky GOT 9-year old? No gimmicks there. Damn fine stuff. At this point, even though I'm inherently distrustful of the celebrity-branded whiskies, I've actually got quite a bit of faith in this one to deliver. Nose: Heavy campfire smoke and peat, light brine and sea salt. Caramel, vanilla, custard, butterscotch, gala apple. Banana, walnut, and toffee. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak spice. Some lemon and grapefruit citrus notes. A bit of smoked meat. Nice blue raspberry. Good start. Palate: Heavy campfire and peat now accompanied by some iodine, bandaid, and ash. Smoked meat/brisket is written all over this one. Sea salt, seaweed, and brine are now more prominent. Still getting the caramel, vanilla, and gala apple, as well as the cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Spicy salsa/black bean, red pepper chili as well. Grapefruit and lemon. Roasted almond. There's also dark and mint chocolate. Plenty of spice and sweetness, smoke and brine, but above all else, the smoked meat notes stand out. Very nice, and notably darker and heavier than the 8 and 9, and even the 12. Finish: Mint chocolate, dark chocolate, custard, and vanilla cream. Hits like a bite of ice cream cake. The blue raspberry from the nose reappears. If the palate is the main course, the finish is dessert. Of course, there's still some of that sea salt, smoke, cinnamon, black pepper, black bean and red pepper chili, and oak. With some brisket. It's Lagavulin after all, and as is customary, those are the last notes detectable before this long finish concludes. Lagavulin, Ron Swanson, you did not let me down. Unique enough to be earn a spot in the Lag lineup. But it embodies the spirit and the quality that one expects of the vaunted Lagavulin name. It tastes much older than the 8 and 9. Even older than the 12-year bottlings I've had. Don't get me wrong; this one couldn't contend with the 12 line by any means. But the oak presence is noticeably more present. I'd put this on par with the younger bottlings of Lag. I prefer the 16, DE, and far and away, the 12. But I don't think I've ever given a rating less than a 4.5 to Lag expression. And it certainly contends with the 8 and 9, both of which I really like. At $65, I feel I got my money's worth. No complaints here; this is a fine offering and a vindicator of the celebrity-branding movement in my eyes. Ultimately, Lagavulin is Lagavulin. Great stuff. 4.75/5.65.0 USD per Bottle -
Laphroaig Cairdeas 2016 Madeira Cask
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed January 24, 2020 (edited May 14, 2020)Fresh on the heels of my review of the phenomenal 2018 Cairdeas, I've got this one for the 2016 Madeira Cask. This was a pretty lucky find; the store I found this at a couple months back has an entire row of dusty bottles of this stuff. Never seen it elsewhere. Let's see if this one can hold to the precedent of excellence set by the 2017 and 2018 releases. Nose: Lots of typical Laphroaig notes: seaweed, brine, sea salt, ash, lemon, grapefruit, iodine, band-aid, tennis ball, ash, campfire smoke. Custard and chestnut. A nice bouquet of scents that wouldn't work well together in any other context. Black pepper, cinnamon, and oak. The Madeira cask imparts some red fruit notes; notably, it has more impact than the Fino casks in the 2018. Strawberry, red grape, cranberry, raspberry, and other dry red fruits. Also some apricot and a hint of melon. More briny and sweet than smoky. Good start. Palate: Initially, it's a blast of charred meats and peated notes: brisquet, bacon, campfire smoke, ash, and peat. A real peat bomb. Then I'm abruptly hit with a rush a fruity and desert sweetness. It may sound weird, but the burst of flavor is akin to biting into a Gusher; it's an explosion all at once. Citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit combine with strawberry, grape, raspberry, apricot, peach, fruit punch, cola, jam, and dark and mint chocolate, making quite an interesting flavor bomb. Red pepper and black pepper chili and chestnut. Of course, there's more sea salt, cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Finish: All of the smoked meat, bacon, ribs, brisket carry over. Same with the brine and smoke. Red pepper and black bean chili and chestnut. Some licorice now. Cinnamon, black pepper, oak, and all of the citrus. Long finish. Fantastic. Absolute winner. I will point out that this took the longest to open up out of the 3. I wasn't really blown away by this one until tonight's tasting. But it hits every note. Especially the absolute home run of a palate with that explosion of flavor midway through. So, here I am in 2020, giving Laphroaig the esteemed title of a three-peat champion. 2016-2018, all knockout bottlings. Long live the Cairdeas line. Now I need to go out and buy the 2019 Triple Wood CS. If you're lucky enough to see this, snatch it up. 5/5.75.0 USD per Bottle -
Here's a review that's long overdue. College parties, dive bars, family reunions, weddings--you name it, Maker's has been there for me when I'm in a pinch. Generally, when attending some function with an open bar, this is the best drink that will be available. Maker's has been a part of some really great times, and has gotten me through some events that I was less-than pleased to be dragged along to. Time to give ol' reliable a proper review. Nose: Brown sugar, caramel, and toffee are the dominant notes. There's also vanilla, Gala apple, cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. A little leather and tangy orange citrus. And touch of walnut/toasted almond. Standard bourbon profile--it does nothing to amaze but there's also nothing to complain about. It's quite nice. Palate: More of the leather, brown sugar, and caramel. Now with some cocoa. Vanilla and toffee. The walnut/toasted almond make a much more prominent appearance. A bit of apricot. I read "lemon tea" somewhere on internet--I can't take credit for that but I must say that it fits perfectly. Cinnamon, black pepper, oak, clove, nutmeg, and allspice round off the sweetness with a bit of a spicy kick. Finish: Cocoa and roasted almond. Brown sugar, caramel, and brown sugar remain a constant. More of the cinnamon, black pepper, baking spices, and oak from the palate--though now the oak presents itself as bitter as opposed to the barrel-char I got on the palate. Medium-length. Always enjoyable. It was one of the first whiskies I really enjoyed, so I'm certain this one has shaped my preferences to this day. At $32, it's one of the cheaper high-quality whiskies I can buy in my area. It's standard, it's simple, but it's always a safe bet. 3.5 stars for Maker's Mark's flagship bottling. Worth keeping in any home bar. We've all been dragged places we really do not want to go. For me, no matter where I find myself, the sight of that red wax seal is a good omen. A true classic.32.0 USD per Bottle
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Laphroaig Cairdeas 2018 Fino Cask Finish
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed January 19, 2020 (edited November 6, 2022)The Cairdeas line is quickly becoming one of my favorite lines in all of whiskey. The 2017 Quarter Cask Cask Strength is one of my all-time favorites, and I'm quite liking this 2018 Fino Cask. Let's just jump right in. Nose: Seaweed, sea salt, ash, and peat smoke jump out of the glass. Campfire smoke. Iodine, band-aid, and ash. Tennis ball. Vanilla, honey, and butterscotch sweet notes. Almond and hazelnut. A bit of lemon, apricot, and pear. Caramel, brown sugar, nougat, and milk chocolate. Soft pretzel. It's primarily briny and salty, but there is also some secondary smokiness and sweetness. Palate: More sea salt and brine, campfire smoke, ash, and iodine. Now with some smoked brisket. Toffee, malt, vanilla, sugar cookie, honey, and butterscotch. Dark chocolate cake. The Fino cask starts to come through here. Some plum, red grape, cranberry, golden raisin, and poundcake. There's also lemon and orange citrus, as well as pear, apple, and apricot. Big ashy notes at the tail end of the palate. Like waking up the morning after a campfire in the woods. Superb. Finish: Salt, cinnamon, black pepper. Classic black bean, red pepper chili note. Nice and spicy as a high-proof Scotch should be. More of the orchard and citrus fruit. Vanilla and caramel sweetness. Long, phenomenal finish. Awesome stuff. The nose is a bit reserved for a Laphroaig, but is quality nonetheless. The palate and finish are as brash and compelling as any Islay malt I've had. Top mark for this one. Edit: I grabbed a second bottle of this and find the nose to be significantly more compelling. If you force me to choose, I'd give the nod to the 2017 Quarter Cask Cask Strength. But my preference is marginal. The fact is that this is a spectacular whisky. 5 stars. Stay tuned for my review of the 2016 Marsala Cask release. Well done, Laphroaig.90.0 USD per Bottle -
West Cork Glengarriff Series Peat Charred Cask Single Malt
Single Malt — Ireland
Reviewed January 17, 2020 (edited November 21, 2021)A while back, I expressed interest in trying some unique Irish whiskies. @LeeEvolved gave me a nice list of Irish whiskies that stray from the norm. On this list were a handful of West Cork bottlings, a distillery I've been seeing more and more but have yet to try. Upon finding this, I decided to buy. It's a very interesting concept (not peated like Connemara but aged in peat-charred casks) and comes in one of the coolest of whiskey bottles I've seen to date. Nose: Very green and grassy. Some vanilla sweetness. A bit of spearmint. Some rubber; somewhere between tire rubber and the rubber on a turf football field. Cinnamon and black pepper. Hay, wet grass, and tree bark. Citrus notes of orange and grapefruit, along with banana. Faint smoke. Confusing nose, but has grown more cohesive as I've worked through the bottle. Palate: Vanilla and caramel. More of the grassy, earthy, green notes. Tree bark and hay. Some more spearmint. An interesting cured ham note. Pear, and, instead of apple, I'll go with Mott's apple sauce. More banana and grapefruit. Toffee and malt. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Faintly smoky and ashy. Like with the nose, this has improved significantly since I've opened it. I initially got the rubbery notes from the nose, but am not getting them on this tasting. Finish: Almost like banana Laffy Taffy. Toffee, vanilla, and honey sweetness. More banana. Spearmint and wintergreen. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak carry out this surprisingly long finish. Tough one to score. Admittedly, I came into this tasting ready to beat this one up. I had tried on three separate occasions, including earlier this week, and had not enjoyed it all. Yet, tonight, I had a very different experience with this one. Apart from the rubbery nose, everything just seemed more cohesive, balanced, and interesting. Not for nothing, this is the first time I've tasted this out of glencairn. I've said this before, but glassware can have a massive impact on your experience with a particular expression, some more than others. For this reason, I only write my reviews when using a glencairn. I've got a little over half a bottle left to figure this one out. Initially, I had this pegged at 2 stars flat. After having the benefit of time and a tasting from a glencairn, I've settled on a score of 2.75. I will likely update this review at least once. It's certainly a unique whiskey. Maybe not one I'd recommend, but it's growing on me.42.0 USD per Bottle -
Knappogue Castle 12 Year Château Pichon Baron Cask Finish
Single Malt — Ireland
Reviewed January 15, 2020 (edited November 6, 2021)Here we've got the first of the entries in Knappogue Castle's Cask Finish Series. I did the Marsala finish a few weeks ago, which greatly impressed me. This time it'll be French Oak. Keep in mind that all 3 releases are 12 years old and bottled at 46% ABV. This is one of 1100 bottles, which is 100 less than the Marsala. On to the tasting. Nose: Ripe strawberry and sweet marshmallow pop out of the glass. Golden raisin with a bit of apricot, cranberry, and plum. Some cola and a healthy dose of vanilla, toffee, and malt. I get an Irish soda bread which I also feel like I got on the Marsala cask, but couldn't place it at the time. And of course, plenty of oak. It's worth noting I get none of the classic Knappogue Castle green apple. Very nice, nonetheless. Palate: Fruity and tart. Red berry/fruit all day. Cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, red apple, red/purple grape. Raisin as well. Sweet and tangy. Somewhat similar to a sherry cask-finish but distinctly unique. Less velvety and more oily. There is also pear, honey, malt, toffee, vanilla, and a touch of caramel. Almond and walnut. Orange peel. Also some cinnamon and oak spice. Brilliant. Finish: Raspberry, cranberry tang out of the gate. Followed by some orange citrus, then more neutral sweet notes of caramel and toffee. Finally, cinnamon, baking spice, fine oak carry this to its conclusion for what makes for a medium-long finish. This is unbelievable stuff. I'm glad I got one just before it disappeared, yet very sad to know that I won't be getting it again. It's probably the best Irish whiskey I've ever had, and is easily one of the best whiskies I've had. It tows the line between dangerously easy and remarkably complex. It takes a great base stock and ages it in what are obviously the highest quality barrels. 5/5. I give it the slight edge over the Marsala finish, though I still need to do a side-by-side comparison. If you do happen to see this one, buy on sight, though it's safe to say that this is all gone. Looking forward to the Barolo cask to wrap up my review of the Cask Finish Series, Phenomenal stuff here.79.0 USD per Bottle
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