Tastes

I'm a huge fan of the Jim Beam Small Batch collection. Needless to say, I was excited to see new blood in the lineup. Not to mention, the folks from Suntory apparently had some influence in this one. Should be a good one. Nose: Unlike any bourbon I've had before. If it weren't for the heavy dusty corn note, I'd say it was reminiscent of a single malt scotch. Raisins, fig, date, cranberry; the wine/sherry cask finish is evident. There is also caramel, gala apple, maple, toffee, crumb cake, peanut brittle, roasted nuts, toasted almond, and oak. Cinnamon and black pepper. Even mango, which is a first for me. Awesome. Palate: Sweet and jammy. Specifically strawberry jam. I also get raspberry, cherry, and plum, along with more of the raisin, fig, and date. Concord grape. Some honey, vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar to remind me that this is in fact a bourbon. Some leather, baking spice, and more of those nutty and oaky notes. Very nice. Finish: Moderate-to-short in length. Red fruit from the wine/sherry influence. Raspberry, cherry, apple. Cinnamon and black pepper. A nice touch caramel, baking spice, and oak. You can hardly tell that this clocks in at 47% ABV. Not as exciting as the palate or the nose, but it does nothing to detract from a great experience. Another winner for the Beam SB series, and a superb first output from the Beam-Suntory as collaboration. It hits all the marks. It's completely unique, soundly executed, and a great value for your dollar. I paid $40 for this and I feel like I made off like a bandit. Hopefully this is the beginning of a great new partnership between two formidable distillers. Business and politics aside, I think this proves that a cross-pollination of whiskey culture and craftsmanship can yield amazing results. Often times, when ownership of a distillery changes hands, the quality tanks. However, the quality of the existing Beam lineup has remained in tact; and now, we have this gem. Buy with confidence. Impressive stuff.

Russell's 10 was one of the first whiskies I ever bought that can considered above entry level. At the time, I knew nothing of the nuances and complexity of a whiskey, so this bottle has been a new experience for all and intents and purposes. The label has changed, but I won't be able to draw on my past experiences to determine if the bourbon itself has changed. Nose: Very sweet and oak-driven. Red apple, cotton candy, caramel, vanilla, almond, brown sugar, and new car leather jump immediately out of the glass. Behind that I get toffee, cinnamon, clove, baking spice, cherry, and dry red fruit fruit. Loving it already. Palate: More of those caramel, vanilla, almond, brown sugar, red apple, toffee, and cotton candy notes. It's initially sweet, but ramps up into a spice-bomb on the mid-palate. Cinnamon red hots, black pepper, baking spice, clove, and ginger. And of course, oak. The nose is sweet and leathery with spice in the background, whereas the palate is initially sweet and becomes spice-forward midway through. I read wintergreen somewhere. I can get behind that. There is definitely some mint in here. Very good. Finish: Moderate to long. Surprisingly long for a 45% bourbon. Some cherry and red apple sweetness that quickly fades into a combination of ginger, cinnamon, and oak spice. I really enjoy the ginger notes I've been finding in WT products.As it bows out, I pick up more of that wintergreen and some black tea leaves. I'm continually impressed with Wild Turkey. They have my favorite sub-$25 whiskey (WT 101). They have one of the best bang-for-buck Barrel Proof whiskies out there (Rare Breed). And now this. This stuff kicks ass. In terms of value, I put this one right up with Eagle Rare. Both 10 year, $40 bottles that outclass most things many bottles that are double or even triple the price. For $40, I think this is a must buy. I will definitely keep this one in the rotation. Major points for VFM. Wild Turkey is a dark horse distillery, often written off because of the lackluster reputation of its flagship WT 81. WT wins with a combination of quality and value. And the RR10 is a great representation of these two qualities at work. Well done, WT.

With all the great bourbon and scotch out there, Irish whiskey is generally relegated to the background of the whiskey landscape. Even Japanese whiskey has surpassed Irish in terms of popularity, at least in recent years. Yet, there are some Irish distilleries that can play ball with any the biggest and best in any category. Most know of Redbreast and the Spots. Knappogue Castle is every bit as good those two. Though it isn't all that well known, these guys continue to set the standard for single malt Irish whiskey. Their special barrel 12 is one of the bottles that really got me interested in whiskey, so I'm excited to have worked my way through their lineup and now to finally have this 16 year old. Quick note: This and the standard 12 year have been bumped up from 40 to 43 ABV. This is one of those bottles. Nose: Heavy sherry influence and nuttiness. It's walnut, plum, cranberry, strawberry jam, poundcake, date, fig, and raisin. I also pick up cereal, malt, apricot, orange peel. Some shortbread cookie, but less than I get on most Irish whiskies. There are some baking spices and black pepper, along with the heavy oak I've grown to expect with KC. Solid nose. Palate: Once again, there is a serious sherry influence. That strawberry jam note comes through most prominently, along with the poundcake, fig, and date. Now, there is now ripe plum and milk chocolate. The walnut note remains quite prominent. I also get vanilla, apricot, cantaloupe, honeydew, green apple, malt, cereal, honey, and shortbread cookie. Fruity and floral, and while the sherry makes itself known, it is not overpowering. Toward the end of the palate, it's big oak and cinnamon spice. Awesome. Finish: Traditional sherry-cask finish. It's a cross between a slice of vanilla and chocolate cake, sweet red fruit, and orange citrus. As it fades out, the oak and cinnamon resurface one last time. Moderate length, and a great closing act for a superb whiskey. I'm continually impressed with KC. This may not have the VFM of the 12, 12 SB, or 14, but it is remarkable in its own right. I pulled the trigger on this one when it went on sale for $80, down from $95. At the former price point, this is a no-brainer. At the latter, I'd be on the face, but it's by no means a bad deal. My only criticism is that it doesn't nose like a 16 year old. It's complex, but surprisingly green for what is. This minor flaw is quickly rectified with the palate; this is easily in the top 5 best Irish whiskies I've tasted. Now that I've cleared the original core lineup (as well as the Special Barrel 12), I'll be looking for either the 21 or the new wine cask releases. Either way, I implore any fan of Irish whiskey to give these guys a shot. Once again, a job well done to Knappogue Castle. Subsequent tasting adds a couple new notes (plum, etc.) Felt the need to bump this up to a 5/5 after putting it head to head with some other elite Irish whiskies. This one definitely leads the pack for me. Simply amazing.

I was a huge fan of the Small Batch (along with the rest of the Buffalo Trace collection I've tried to date). I've heard that a good bottling of the SB is remarkable in its own right. Let's put that to the test. Nose: Brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla sweetness. Maybe some honey. Juicy red apple. Behind that is a touch of leather, toasted oak, and black pepper. Very subtle. Some of the classic BT Vicks VapoRub. Butterscotch and raisin and other dried fruits. No alcohol detectable. Classic bourbon nose. Great nose. Palate: Much spicier than the nose. It's mostly baking spice: nutmeg, clove, black pepper, and cinnamon. And it's an oak bomb. Beyond that there is sweet apple pie and cherry. Caramel and butterscotch. Vanilla, brown sugar, and honey. A touch of orange citrus. Some licorice as well. There's a lot going on here, and I'm loving all of it. This powerful, vibrant palate compliments a wonderfully subtle nose. Awesome. Finish: Heavy caramel, butterscotch, and oak. A bit of brown sugar sweetness before it ultimately becomes a long stretch of cinnamon, black pepper, and toasted oak. 50% ABV makes itself known here, and in the best way possible. About as good as they make them. I'm on a roll with Buffalo Trace right now. I gave Elmer T. Lee the same score a couple weeks ago. The only issue I have with BT is their ever-increasing prices and decreasing stock. I know I;m not alone in speculating that the scarcity of these products is a strategy to create hype and trigger impulse purchases at well over MSRP. And it works on me every time. I paid $80 for this one, and it was worth every penny. Just a damn fine product. It's a to see that this one is so rarely available. And when it is, it's often ludicrously overpriced. With that being said, this is has now become one of my absolute favorite whiskies. Very impressed with Buffalo Trace once again. I'll give them this: They're doing something right. It's already up $10 at the store where I purchased this, and I can only assume the price will continue to climb. And ultimately, I'll probably continue to shell out. But if you can find this around $80, it's a no-brainer. You've done it again BT.

Sherry-bomb time. My bottle comes from Batch 60, which clocks in at 60.3%. It's my strongest Scotch whisky to date. This has been high on my list for some time. Though I've heard the latest batches are not up to par with its mighty reputation, I was still excited to get into this one. I'm now right around halfway done with the bottle, so it's time for an assessment. Nose: As one might expect, it's a wave of red fruit off the bat. Rather than sweet and juicy, it's much drier than I expected. Sun-dried cranberry, fig, date, and raisin. Behind that are hints of zesty orange and golden apricot. Otherwise, it's a whole lot of spice. Cinnamon red hots, nutmeg, and allspice, as well as a monster oak note. With time in the glass, I pick up a cola note. It's hot, but feels closer to 50% than %60. Quality nose. Palate: More of those dark red fruits. Cranberry, fig, raisin, date, dark cherry, and rich plum. A bit of pound cake and leather behind that. Orange peel and bitter dark chocolate. Heavy cinnamon and baking spices remind you that this is a beast of a dram. Big oak. Golden apricot, ginger, and cola show up after the 20 minute mark. My only qualm with the nose is that some of the notes were a bit of artificial. On the palate, those same notes come across as perfectly organic, making this one hell of an experience. Finish: Long as they make 'em. Cinnamon, oak, and an array of baking spices. Black pepper kicks in just when you think it's finally over. ABV is apparent, but not overpowering. Solid finish. This is great stuff. I've noticed of late that prices have been coming down for this one. I used to see this from $100-115 on average; now, however, I've seen it more frequently around $85. According to some, this may be fitting, as there has apparently been a dip in quality. I found mine for $78. At that price, I'd say this is a no-brainer. A great showcasing of sherried scotch, especially that sublime palate. I'm happy to say that this one met my expectations. I'd known about this one fairly into my Scotch-drinking career, but always shied away because of price point. This particular batch is well worth the money I paid. I'd pay up if I had to. Maybe I got lucky with Batch 60. If this is really inferior to the previous batches, then this must have truly been a godly whisky. Well done, Aberlour.

I recently stumbled upon this one for $55. And while I assumed that this would not be a particularly great value, curiosity got the better of me. This one was a core component of the Macallan portfolio until it was recently discontinued, seemingly replaced by the NAS double cask Gold Edition. Let's see if Macallan made a mistake or were right to let this one die off. Nose: Floral, fruity, sweet, and "perfumey." Standard Speyside notes of vanilla, honey, toffee, malt, sugar cookie, banana, and apple. There are also the classic Macallan date, plum, fig notes, evidence of sherry cask aging (no leather notes, surprisingly). Notes of caramel, butterscotch, walnut, hazelnut, and dense oak aromas suggest bourbon barrel presence. Decent. Palate: Sweet, light, floral, fruity. More apple, vanilla, toffee, honey, caramel. Walnut and hazelnut as well. There are now distinct notes of zesty orange, milk chocolate, and truffle. Maybe even a slight pineapple to compliment the orange citrus. Reminiscent of the 15, just not quite as impressive. Nevertheless, it's tasty. Sherry notes are largely the same, plum, fig, raisin, date. But despite the presence of this darker notes, this drinks as a lighter Speyside. The lower percentage of sherry casks used in the Fine Oak line causes this to deviate from traditional Macallan. Finish: Moderate in length. Here, it's completely oak driven. Cinnamon and baking spice. Quality oak. Lighter notes of vanilla and honey persist. It's perfectly pleasant, but lacking. 40% ABV was not the right choice here. 43 likely would've made a considerable improvement to what is an acceptable but unremarkable finish. And here we are. Middle of the road. Nothing really to write home about. I'd never complain about receiving a pour of what I'd consider a decent whisky, but you also won't find me lobbying Macallan/Edrington for the dismissal of this one from the lineup. Everything that this one does, the 15 year does much better. It's deeper, richer, and more refined. The extra 5 years and 3% ABV do wonders for this one. Even though it's almost double the price, it's a much better VFM. This would've been a solid deal at $40 or less, but at $55, I've gotten both 12s for less. And those statements end any discussion on the merit of keeping this one around, at least for me. It's a shame to see an age-stated staple disappear, but I won't cry over spilled Macallan. Not this one at least.

Elmer T. Lee: yet another elusive Buffalo Trace bourbon that continues to increase in cost and decrease in availability. When I saw this one, I knew I had to pull the trigger. It's a single barrel, sour mash release, making it a little unique to the BT portfolio. Nose: Spicy but refined. Clove, black pepper, and baking spices. Classic Buffalo Trace leather and cherry jump right out of the glass. There's also vanilla, toffee, Gala apple, cocoa, honey, and caramel. Maybe even a little peach in there. And of course, a very prominent aroma of quality oak. Phenomenal. Palate: The cherry and leather are still present, but they take a back seat to apple, vanilla, caramel, raisin, and toffee. Very mild orange citrus. Here and there I pick up a nice slice of apple pie. The spice from the nose is still detectable, but the sweeter notes really take over here. There's even some maple syrup and honey. Once again, big oak, and it's damn good. While the nose delivers a profile that is distinctly Buffalo Trace, the palate encapsulates what I'd call the classic bourbon character. Finish: Moderate. Cinnamon, black pepper, and baking spice provide a kick. Once again, the oak shines here. About as good as it gets on a hot summer day. This is subtle, nuanced, and one of the most drinkable whiskies I've had to date. Dangerously easy. Yet, there's enough going on here to distinguish this one from some of my other favorites from Buffalo Trace. I nabbed this oen for $70, though I've seen it for about double. $70 is fair; maybe a bit high, but I understand the game BT is playing here. It's still one of the more affordable options in their lineup, even considering inflation. It's so good that I'd gladly overpay, though anything north of a C-note is absurd. Either way, this is one hell of a dram. For now I'll leave it a 4.75. It's simply amazing. Of course, I'd highly recommend this to any fellow BT fanboy or for anybody who appreciates a subtle, nuanced bourbon. Might add to this post in the future. I've got Col. Taylor SB and Rye, as well as Weller 107. Can't wait to get into some comparisons between these heavy hitters.

The Valknut is the second installment of what I'll call the Highland Park 'Valk Series.' It follows the Valkyrie (which I've yet to try). The third is the Valkfather, which I don't think has been released. There has been a recent proliferation of HP NAS releases. This one is of the more affordable and abundant of the lot. The Valk series feels like it's one level below the core range, if that makes any sense. They're not quite part of the core range, but aren't one-off, random releases either. Let's get into it. ***I came back to this one about a month or two later. A handful of reviews I did around this time came out strange and I'm thinking I burnt out my palate. I came back, and it's much better.*** Nose: Hardly any peat smoke is detectable. Instead its more of a sulfuric note. There is also some sweetness. Bubblegum, green apple, honey, toffee, and vanilla. There is also some cinnamon, black pepper, and clove spice. Walnut and sun-dried tomato round this one off, giving it a unique profile. Palate: Butterscotch, honey, vanilla, caramel, and toffee. Red berry (strawberry, cranberry). More of that sulfur note, but otherwise very little peat influence. Virtually no smoke. Some milk chocolate on the back end. Nutty and oaky. Finish: Moderate-long. Hot with cinnamon, black pepper, baking spice. Oak heavy. More of the sulfur and some delicious dark chocolate. This is a tricky one to rate. When I first cracked this a few months back, I thought that was a pretty good dram. Fast forward to last night, and I found it be atrocious. I had to postpone my review until tonight because it was so wildly different than I had remember it. I even compared to HP 15, which I'm quite fond of, and it held up. The nose, which was initially my favorite part of the dram, seems completely disjointed. That and the palate are overrun by the sulfur notes. I love those notes in Laphroaigs, but this one is too thin to in other areas to compensate for such a strong and potentially off-putting note. The finish was too harsh for 46.8%. I really wanted to like this one. And, strangely enough, I did when I first cracked it. But unlike with most bottles, I found that this one got significantly worse with time. I've had the HP 12 and 15, and now this Valknut. The score is: Age-Statement releases 2-NAS 0. I love the homage to Nordic culture as much as the next guy, but dammit Highland Park, focus less on the bottle design and more on what you're putting into it. ***Came back to this and I'm convinced that my previous assessment was a symptom of a burnt palate. The notes are much the same, but the nose is now pleasant, the palate robust, and the finish much more satisfying. Confidently bumped up from a 2.75 to a 3.5. I'm happy to see that as I'm finishing the bottle, my initial liking to this bottle was warranted.

I haven't watched GoT, but I've seen bits and pieces of the show. From what I do know, House Targaryen would've been the most logical selection to pair with Lag with their connection to dragons. That aside, I was skeptical of these releases. I figured that they'd be simple and inoffensive, ideal for the whisky novices that would inevitably buy these releases in droves. That being said, age-stated Lagavulin is age-stated Lagavulin. Loved the 8 so I can actually justify having expectations for this 9-year. Nose: Classic Lag campfire-peat smoke. Sea salt and seaweed give this some maritime quality. There's also quite a bit of cirtus: grapefruit and lemon. Smoked brisket and spicy cinnamon (from the respectable 46% ABV). Also heavy chili note. A nice touch of oak in the background. Classic Lag. Great start. Palate: Oily and smoky. It's that same campfire smoke, smoked brisket, and spicy chili. The sea salt is still present, but it becomes less prominent as the cinnamon and black pepper spices step to the forefront. Lemon and grapefruit citrus notes are ever-present. There are some unexpectedly light notes of green apple, vanilla, custard, toffee, and maybe a slight honey and milk chocolate. Oak presence is still strong. Finish: Long, smoky, and spicy. Big cinnamon, black pepper, and oak notes. Some drying sea salt on the way out. I can't speak on any of the other releases (I'd expect good things from the Talisker as well). But I'll say this: this is not just some gimmick. I'm sure that most of this lineup was little more than a cash grab, but Lagavulin did not take this assignment lightly. It may well be my least favorite Lagavulin, but that really isn't much of an insult. The 8, 12, 16, and DE all scored at least a 4.5 if I remember correctly. Lagavulin has always done me well, and nothing changes with this one. $80 is a bit steep for what this is, but I understand that this release is tied to the greatest cultural phenomenon of the decade. If you're a Lag fan or a peat-head, this is worth your time if you can spare the money. It's the most subtle of any Lag expression I've tried, but still holds its own as a worthy dram. Re-tasted a few days later and decided that the 4.5 is more appropriate. Still may rank it last on Lag list, but once again, it doesn't mean much when I rate everything from them through the roof.

Quick note before I get started. Distiller has this one listed at 43 ABV. But my bottle is only 40. In doing some research, I see that my bottle is the normal proof. Maybe it used to be 43 ABV (and it really should be). Nose: Fruity and floral. Apricot, pear, green apple, peach, and orange. Honey and vanilla sweetness. Brown sugar, pecan, and caramel from the bourbon cask. Butterscotch and toffee as well. The sherry cask adds a layer of plum, fig, and a big-time raisin note. It's a nice combination of lighter and darker fruit. Heat is nonexistent. Nice nose. Palate: Peaches and cream is the big note here. There's also a heavy dose of classic notes of honey, vanilla, caramel, and toffee. Beyond that, it's a slightly toned done version of the nose. Orange, apricot, apple, plum, raisin, and fig. A touch of leather just before the finish. Not nearly as cohesive as the nose, and also lacks of the depth. Not bad, but adds nothing substantial outside of that peaches and cream note. Finish: Moderate in length. It's more of the same from the rest of the experience. Light fruit complimented by dark fruit, rounded off with vanilla and honey. A nice touch of oak and a puff of clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon stays with you until this one cuts out. I was compelled to buy this when the price dropped from $90 to $65. At the former rate, this is a decent value. However, at $65, it's worth every penny. Of course, I'd love to see what a slight bump in ABV could do for this one. Sure, Aberlour going for subtle and pleasant, and they hit their mark. But I think that a bump to 43 ABV would bolster what is a relatively shallow palate. Perfect if you're in the mood for something easy-going and approachable, but just complex enough to distinguish itself from the herd. I've come to love in-your-face Islay and cask strength bourbons, but I can still appreciate a subtle, friendly Speysider every now and again. This is exactly that. If you see it for around $65 and are in the mood for a date that's easier than she is interesting, I'd say pull the trigger without hesitation. 5 months later and I've put this through some comparisons. Decided to drop to a 3.5. 40% ABV hurts this one. I think this would be a stellar malt at 43-46%. Still enjoying it otherwise.