Tastes
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I.W. Harper 15 Year Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed August 22, 2023 (edited March 17, 2024)This was truly a random grab for me. Usually I put a lot of thought into buying bottles. I bought this a long time ago, but there was no rhyme or reason to the purchase. I just bought it. Consequently, I have no expectations for it, though it was the oldest bourbon I had ever purchased (at the time.) With that in mind, let’s give Stitzel-Weller a go. Nose: Heavy, heavy, heavy oak. The age statement is unquestionable here. Pipe smoke. Clove, nutmeg, and loads of black pepper. Cocoa. Gala apple, caramel, vanilla. Fudge. Almond. Dried apricot and orange citrus. Banana walnut muffin. I mentioned both individually, but I have to throw in caramelized apple. Mint chocolate. Awesome nose. Palate: Gala apple and caramel. Vanilla. Sawdust. Dried apricot and almond. Peanut brittle. Cocoa. Black tea and a light tobacco smoke note. Orange citrus. Raisin. Strong leather note. Toffee, cotton candy, and graham cracker. Fudge. Oak. Black pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Bitter, but not in a bad way. Finish: Cocoa, black tea, and heavy tobacco smoke. Vanilla, milk chocolate, fudge, and caramel. Orange citrus and sawdust. Cotton candy. Red Hot Tamale. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and, if you hadn’t already guessed, a ton of oak. Moderate-to-long finish, which is surprising considering the 43% ABV. It serves as a testament to the aging process. I’m sure many people out there have bought this for the sole purpose of using as a decanter (the IW Harper labels are literally stickers that are meant to be peeled off.) Maybe I’ll even do the same. But man is the juice inside the bottle worth the squeeze. This was an absolute steal at $90. Even more so when you consider that this a 15 y.o. That alone caused me to bump this a half star. The nose was fantastic—I have to say that again. And it holds up remarkably well considering the low proof. Awesome stuff. 4.75/5.90.0 USD per Bottle -
Glen Grant 10 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed August 18, 2023 (edited August 20, 2023)This was a good find. Glen Grant 10 was discontinued a few years back, along with the 16. They were replaced with a new lineup, from which I have reviewed the 15 year and found it to be significantly better than the 16. So far, my information is limited, but I’m going to have the old lineup another chance with this here. Nose: Vanilla, honey, and orange citrus. Toffee and almond biscotti. Gala apple, pear, and a little apricot. Some golden raisin. A bit of mint in the background. White pepper, clove, nutmeg, and faint oakiness. Notice I used a slight of words that suggest that this is subtle. That’s because it is. But what I can grasp is solid. Palate: Gala apple, pear, grape(white and red,) apricot, and raisin pop at the forefront. Orange and lemon citrus. Vanilla, toffee, and honey. A little bit of what I’d call soapiness (not in any way a negative, just a note I find here and there.) Vanilla frosting. Light cashew and almond. Not a hint of spice, outside of some faint oak. Not quite as inspiring as the nose, but still pleasant. Finish: Vanilla and toffee. Honey and sugar cookie. Caramel. Apple, pear, grape, apricot, and raisin. Melon and some tangy plum. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Short-medium length. Good whisky. I tasted this while watching the second to last episode of The Wire. No spoilers because I may not finish the show by the time you’re reading this. Anyhow, the events of this episode were definitely the most interesting part of writing this review. Like I said, the whisky is good enough. Really enjoyable. But I’d wager a guess that I wouldn’t have plowed through a whole episode whilst writing a review of the 15 year GG. In summation, the old Glen Grant lineup was fine. But after having the 15, I’m okay with letting this 10 and the 16 go in favor of the 12 and 18. As for this one, I liked it. Glad I bought it, and happy to be partaking in the enjoyment of something that is technically dated, much like the show I am about to finish. 3/5.47.0 USD per Bottle -
Bunnahabhain Toiteach
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed August 12, 2023 (edited August 15, 2023)Based on my experience with Bunnahabhain 12, this distillery may be one of Islay’s underrated gems. Their flagship 12 year is unpeated, while this Toiteach serves as a peated alternative. I’m hoping this delivers and that Bunna isn’t just a flash in the pan. Nose: Moderate peat smoke, brine, seaweed, and sea salt. Red pepper, black bean chili. Ash, bandaid, and a touch of iodine. Some soft notes of honey and toffee behind the more intense ones that jump out of the glass. Caramel and a big-time butterscotch note. Heavy notes on dark chocolate and vanilla as it starts to open up. Palate: More of the coastal and peat notes. Brine and sea salt. There are now some additional earthy peat notes, more ash and some rubber. Some smoked meat/brisket notes. Black bean, red pepper chili adds some nice heat. Heavy butterscotch and peanut butter. Sugar cookie. Vanilla and caramel. Cinnamon and white pepper. Finish: Mix of briny and earthy peat and smoke. Red pepper, black bean chili. Caramel, vanilla, sugar cookie, malt, and toffee. Cinnamon and black pepper. Moderate length. Solid. Across the board. Good nose, good palate, good finish. Respectable ABV. I appreciate the non-chill filter. Great balance between coastal and earthy peat. At $70, this is exactly where this should be priced—not a dollar more or less. It’s a strange one. It fails to exceeds expectations in any one place, but simultaneously checks every box. Bunnahabhain, as a distillery, seems to be game. Definitely going to dig deeper. 4/5 even. -
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed August 8, 2023 (edited February 1, 2024)Old Forester is often overlooked in the Brown-Forman portfolio. I really enjoyed the rye, and now I’m making it a priority to tackle their bourbon lineup. Up first is this 1870 Original Batch, which, as the name suggests, is their imitation of the distillery’s original recipe. Note: This bottle is from before OF changed the label. It’s the one with the diagonal print, meaning it was bottled a couple years ago at the very least. Nose: Lots of cocoa, black pepper, black tea, and pipe tobacco. Toasted almond, macadamia, and walnut. Apple cider. Cola. Rye spice, cinnamon, white pepper, and oak. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, and gala apple. Brown sugar and toffee. A big dried apricot note. Golden raisin. Black cherry. Plain glazed doughnut. Finish: Brown sugar. Apple cider. Toasted almond and macadamia. Black cherry and dried apricot. Black tea and tobacco. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, black pepper, white pepper, and oak. length. Moderate length finish, maybe even slightly above, which is respectable at 45% ABV. I’m off to a good start with the Old Forester line. Admittedly, this isn’t the most complex bourbon, but it’s also far from boring. There are some unique notes, and this is a well-rounded, easy-going sipper. I think it’s a good place to start with this line. At $48, this was a solid VFM purchase. I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the line has to offer, especially consider the intensity ramps up pretty steadily from here. As for this one, 4/5 even.48.0 USD per Bottle -
I’m tearing my way through the Dalmore core range. Here is the newest member to the lineup. 14 years old, aged in PX sherry casks—the latter of which is a departure from their standard use of Olorosso if I remember correctly. Let’s get right into it. Nose: Cranberry, raisin, date, and fig. Apple, apricot, and pear. Cherry and cola. Black currant. Plum and orange citrus. Milk chocolate, toffee, and vanilla. Cocoa. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Plum, raisin, date, fig, and cranberry. Milk chocolate, vanilla, toffee, malt, and orange citrus. Gala apple and red grape. Some pound cake and some chocolate/vanilla ice cream cake. Pear and apricot appear a bit later. Butterscotch. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Plum, grape, gala apple, raisin, fig, and date. Butterscotch, caramel, milk chocolate. Pear. Cranberry. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Moderate length. This is a very strong addition to the Dalmore lineup. Between this, the 12, 12 SS, Port Wood, and the 15, I think this is the winner of the bunch. At $100, this is a fine deal. Pedro Ximinez is an interesting wrinkle in the Dalmore lineup, which typically features Olorosso. I like how it interacts with the spirit. A welcome addition to the core range. 4.5/5.100.0 USD per Bottle
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Ardbeg Grooves is my third go with the Ardbeg annual releases. The Perpetuum and the Kelpie were both solid. The older releases are hard to come by nowadays, and are usually only available for twice the original MSRP, so I’ll try to keep that in mind when I consider VFM. Let’s get into it. Nose: Vanilla custard, toffee, and dark chocolate. Bandaid, iodine, sulfur, campfire smoke. Tennis ball. Hookah and ballpark soft pretzel. As it rests, the coastal notes break through. Seaweed, sea salt, brine. Black bean red pepper chili adds some spice. Oak. Palate: The dark chocolate, vanilla custard, and toffee are pronounced once again. This time accompanied by grapefruit, lime, and lemon citrus along with agave. More seaweed, brine, and sea salt. Bandaid, iodine, sulfur. Hookah and ballpark soft pretzel. Something like raspberry or strawberry jam. Fudge and milk chocolate. Chestnut. Black currant. Black bean red pepper chili. Black pepper, cinnamon, and oak. Finish: Agave, lime, and lemon. Dark chocolate, vanilla custard, and toffee. Chestnut. Sea salt, brine, seaweed, campfire smoke, bandaid, iodine, and tennis ball. Mint chocolate. Hookah and ballpark soft pretzel. Black bean red pepper chili. Black pepper, cinnamon, and oak. Long finish. Fantastic whisky. Ardbeg peat plays well with the ex-red wine casks. It offers a great blend of brine, smoke, and earth and rich sweetness. 4.75/5. Like I said before, I bought this years after its release. Naturally, I can’t dock this too hard for the price hike ($180) when I’m the one who was late to the party. I’m a sucker for a one-off—they’re the bane of any collector’s existence and yet can prove to be some of the greatest gems. I’m glad my compulsion to try them led me to buy this. Well done, Ardbeg.180.0 USD per Bottle
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I’ve had solid experiences with Kaiyo so far. It seems they source their juice, but they do plenty to keep it interesting. It looks they’re going to be continuing that trend because this is labeled as entry No. 1 in their Ariake Wood Collection. Chestnut cask is a first for me—looking forward to it. Nose: Vanilla frosting. Sandalwood. Licorice. Wild berry. Sugar cookie. A massive lavender note. Toasted almond. Orange and lemon citrus. Honey. Cashew. Caramel. Pound cake. Clove, nutmeg, white pepper, and oak spice. It is quite literally all over the place, but very, very good. Palate: The lavender and sandalwood transfer over in a big way. Honey. Kiwi. Vanilla frosting. Dried apricot. Toasted almond. Caramel. Pound cake and sugar cookie. Malt and toffee. Maple syrup on pancakes. Banana. Walnut and pecan. Grape and raisin. Smarties candy. Finish: Sandalwood. Maple syrup. Walnut and banana. Sugar cookie. Toasted almond. Raisin and grape. Coconut. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and wood. Moderate length. This a fantastic experiment. Chestnut cask is a winner. Kaiyo continues to prove that they can come up with unique and interesting ideas. It’s a necessity considering they have very little age-stated whisky. And they’re delivering. 4.5/5. $70 is a steal for this level of quality. I am very much looking forward to checking out the rest of the Ariake Wood Collection and am glad I got in at the beginning. Hats off to Kaiyo.70.0 USD per Bottle
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With this, I will officially have covered Ardbeg’s entire core range. Thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample. This has truly been one of the best core ranges in all of whisky. Let’s see if Wee Beastie can round it out the right way. Nose: Big-time vanilla custard. Cinnamon red hots. Sea salt, brine, and seaweed. Campfire smoke and peat. Band-aid and iodine. Chestnut, toasted almond, and cashew. Lemon citrus and black pepper. Oak. Palate: Grapefruit and lemon citrus. Ash, campfire smoke, and peat. Brine, sea salt, and seaweed. Bandaid, iodine, and tennis ball. Dark chocolate. Vanilla custard. Honey and toffee. Black bean, red pepper chili. Mint. Apple cider. Not-quite-ripe banana. Black pepper and oak. Finish: Ash, campfire smoke, peat. Sea salt, seaweed, brine. Black bean, red pepper chili. Dark chocolate. Custard. Black pepper, cinnamon, and oak. Moderate-long finish. Wee Beastie is a fitting name for this one. It’s young, yet it is undeniably a power puncher. And it’s a quality malt. A bit brash at times, but offers plenty of depth and character. The VFM is another major plus with this one. $45 is a small price to pay for a bottle of this caliber. So much so that I’ve boosted this from a 3.75 to a 4.25 with VFM as a final consideration. Thank you again to @PBMichiganWolverine — this completes the set you sent me. Some damn good whiskies in there. Unlike the other samples, this is an easily accessible whisky. And a solid one at that, so I’ll be buying a bottle to bolster this review.45.0 USD per Bottle
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Redbreast 12 Cask Strength Batch B1/15
Single Pot Still — Ireland
Reviewed January 31, 2023 (edited April 3, 2023)This is my second run-through with this particular batch. It blew me away the first time, and made me an instant fan of the RB12 CS. Let’s see if this batch holds up to my memory. Nose: Big-time shortbread cookie. Gala and green apple. Golden raisin and cranberry. Plum and apricot. Floral notes. Walnut, almond, macadamia, and cashew. Orange citrus. Cocoa. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, and toffee. Apple, plum, and cola. Cranberry, red grape, golden raisin. Orange and apricot. Vanilla frosting. Cashew, walnut, and almond. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Caramel, toffee, vanilla. Cashew, almond, walnut. Apple, grape, golden raisin, plum, orange citrus, cranberry. Cinnamon red hots, clove, nutmeg, and oak. It’s a long finish—an absolute beast at 57.4%. It’s as good as I recall. Maybe better considering I can handle the heat better than I could when I cracked my first bottle of this. Nose, palate, and finish see barely any variation between them. Yet, the flavor profile embodies the quintessential Redbreast spirit, and that puts this in fantastic company. At $90, this is a bargain. It’s as good as any whiskey in that price range—and as good as many above it for that matter. I’m glad I got two bottles of this batch. If I’m ever lucky enough to stumble across another, I’ll be buying on sight. 5/5.90.0 USD per Bottle -
Jura is an interesting one. Their old NAS stuff was solid. But the 18-year was marginal. That doesn’t give me the highest expectations for this one here, but I’ll give it a fair shot. Nose: Macadamia, cashew, and toasted almond. Vanilla, sugar cookie, and toffee. Big orange citrus note. Butterscotch. Caramel. Apricot. A bit of apple and pear. Green grape. A touch of smoke and sea salt. Big oak. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, toffee, honey, and butterscotch. Vanilla frosting to boot. Apple, pear, apricot, orange citrus. Golden raisins. Honeydew and lime. Apple juice. Cashew and toasted almond. More of the macadamia, cashew, and toasted almond. Sea salt, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Finish: Caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, sugar cookie, and toffee. Menthol. Apple, pear, apricot, orange, and golden raisin. Sea salt. Oak. Short-to-moderate in length. This is a pretty good whisky. And a pleasant surprise. The finish is a bit lacking at 40% ABV, but the nose and palate have some pop to them. The 18 may have a slight edge in quality. Yet, I’m scoring this a quarter star higher because of VFM. The fact that I can buy 3 of these for the cost of one 18-year and still have a few bucks left over means something. 3.75/5. As I’ve said, this offers fantastic VFM at $40. It’s a solid flagship offering, and though I’m disappointed that Jura abandoned the rest of their old core range, I’m glad they at least kept this. Good stuff here.40.0 USD per Bottle
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