Tastes
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Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon
Bourbon — Indiana (bottled in Nevada), USA
Reviewed December 19, 2023 (edited January 21, 2024)In the quest to search for a higher Rye bourbon to make drinks with ( although I now realize, Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered is probably a bit too nice to mix ), I decided to pick up a bottle of this stuff that a buddy of mine swears by. I had a taste last night, without really stopping to write down notes and I was mightily impressed... Although there is an underlying ethanol hit from the proof, there is some pleasantly sweet caramel on the nose with some herbaceous rye spice and orange pith. Smells like it will be mostly dry and spicy with a little sweetness. What an insanely unique taste this is. It opens with sweet and innocent caramel but is almost immediately engulfed in bittersweet dark chocolate and cherries. The rye hits full strength about mid palate; leather and tannic oak packs a bitter wallop along with some tongue prickling pepper and as these flavors fade toward the finish, that herbaceous rye spice stays. The finish is decidedly dry. Leather and tannic oak finish this rather enjoyable if not slightly hectic and conflicted bourbon. You know, its unique for sure without being offensive. That's HARD to pull off in the world of bourbon. I'd say this is well worth the price of admission for such a unique drink. -
Mi Familia Flores Extra Anejo Cristalino Tequila
Tequila Extra Añejo — Mexico
Reviewed December 14, 2023 (edited December 15, 2023)What an interesting tequila this is. I'm composing these tasting notes along side my tasting notes on Mi Familia Flores' standard Anejo. And it is almost like they are two different tequilas completely. The nose on this Anejo Cristalino is pretty devoid of that familiar agave scent but instead you get a super interesting vanilla pound cake thing going on with maybe some lemon buttercream? But its so faint and so delicate, you can hardly even smell anything at all. The taste is just as interesting as the nose. Luckily, the subtle nature of the nose doesn't carry into the taste and this tequila is full of character. Vanilla and butterscotch kick off the sweetness but some agave is thrown in with spicy cinnamon red hots and some interesting herbal eucalyptus. There's definitely some tongue tingle from the cinnamon as you move toward the finish. The finish keeps the sweetness. There's a vanilla coke thing going here - vanilla with some tongue fizz from the cinnamon that's long gone but has left a signature tongue tingle. Boy this one is very enjoyable too although I'd say the Reposado Cristalino is, so far; my favorite of the bunch. Makes me want to collect them all and try em out. -
Mi Familia Flores Reposado Cristalino
Tequila Reposado — Mexico
Reviewed December 14, 2023 (edited December 15, 2023)You know... I've grown quite fond of the Mi Familia Flores tequila line up. Some die hard tequila snobs turn up their nose at me when I tell them that, but I appreciate the sweet tastes from their Anejo and Extra Anejo albeit they might lean a little TOO heavy in the realm of sweet. These Cristalino tequilas are really quite intriguing to me, especially because I am just starting to venture into the world of tequilas. So I picked up a Reposado Cristalino and an Anejo Cristalino to enjoy. The clear color make my brain think I'm drinking a Blanco which brings back my early 20s and Hornitos ( gag ). Let's just gloss over that, shall we? The agave aroma on the nose is much more prevalent than their Anejo and Extra Anejo offerings but not sharp like a Blanco. Smelling past the agave scent, you pick up a little butterscotch and some sweeter baking spice like nutmeg and cinnamon. There's a wee bit of juicy and zesty orange candy. I think the taste of this Reposado Cristalino strikes the balance between sweet, clean and vibrant beautifully. Where the Extra Anejo was TOO sweet and the Anejo was just a tad on the sweet side, this Reposado Cristalino is, by comparison; bright and vibrant. Deliciously sweet caramel, vanilla and butterscotch open the taste as is the norm for Familia Flores selections. Some fiery black pepper shoots some spice right up the middle of your tongue as that taste nears mid. Some honey, cloves and cinnamon join the fun with your tongue still tingling from the pepper spice as it all leads towards the finish. The finish on this is sweet, maybe a little too sweet still. Sugary bubble gum and agave syrup join a faint tart citrusy flavor. The underlying sweetness and citrus qualities remind me of orange soda, sans fizz. Unlike many Reposados I've tried in the past, this one is distinctly lacking flavors that would be imparted by wood cask aging. And I think that's partly to do with the filtration method to create this Cristalino. But this is indeed a delightfully sweet and spicy Tequila I would whole heartedly recommend to anyone looking to break into tequila. -
Bib & Tucker 10 Year Small Batch Bourbon
Bourbon — Tennessee, USA
Reviewed December 13, 2023 (edited December 14, 2023)Bib and Tucker is a brand I know nothing about but when I see their bottles, they've always sort of intrigued me with their tinted glass and wooden corks. On a recent run to Total Wine I decided to pick up a bottle of 10 year although.... that may have been a risky proposition at just under $90/bottle. The nose on this bourbon is quite dry indeed. I tend to prefer mega sweet bourbons, but I suppose this might be heading into a change for the better. Definitely has some tannic oak and leather on the nose along with orange pith and mint. This palate opens quite sweet and innocent with brown sugar and lemon merengue. Tannic oak doesn't make as big a splash as it did on the nose and really all of the tastes are softer and more rounded than the nose suggests. A bit of peppery spice and leather bring some dry character mid taste along with some dark cacao that is both sweet and slightly bitter and leaves the mouthfeel a bit dry and powdery going into the finish. The finish is of medium length but not super oily in the mouth. That tannic oak carries with it some orange pith and baking spice. Its a well balanced finish and dare I say, a finish carrying stronger and sharper flavors than the palate? You know something? This was a pleasant surprise. I don't know that I'd plop down another $90 for this bottle but I'm sure glad I tried it. The palate is surprisingly soft considering both the nose and finish are stronger. But its a very well balanced neat sipper... I can wholeheartedly recommend it. -
Old Forester Classic 86 Proof
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed December 9, 2023 (edited December 27, 2023)Ah, Old Forester classic. Boy this brings be back to a simpler time in my life. I've enjoyed this bourbon for a while and at typical, noisy dive bars ( or really any bar that doesn't tout itself as a "whiskey bar" ) there are a few go to selections I know I can count on. This, Makers Mark, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Woodford Reserve. No matter how basic the selection is, every bar is bound to have at LEAST one of those. But I've never actually wrote a proper taste on it. And it sure deserves one. The nose contains a lot of classic bourbon smell but is unique in its own right. Sweet corn syrup and slightly burned caramel carry the rest of the scents which include a little bit of brown sugar, some charred oak barrel and just the faintest kiss of apricots. The palate opens innocently and very sweet. That corn syrup and caramel mix well to kick things off. The balance of corn syrup to other flavors here meshes much better than Four Roses which I find leans heavily into the realm of sweetened corn syrup. A little bit of dried apricot sweetness ushers in the mid taste which is spicier and drier than the front. Tannic oak and leather mingle with orange pith. The spiciness and dryness pull through to the finish, leaning in the direction of dry. That tannic oak stays, but brings with it some charred sugar, a little bit of tongue tingling black pepper and the zesty and bitter orange pith stays until the end. Yeah, this one is a solid bourbon. For the price point, this classic can be had any which way you choose and it would do well in any setting. In the "budget bourbon" segment, I think this is second only to Buffalo Trace but is much easier to find and at a much more affordable price point. -
Because I've recently started dating someone who bartends on the weekends for private events, I also have the distinct benefit of having her make me some VERY good mixed drinks when we get together in her off time. But as I started getting into various bourbon based mixed drinks, I slowly started to realize that while I COULD make an old fashioned with Blanton's, Weller or Taylor..... I would likely get struck down by the wrath of God the moment anything other than these lips touch those holy nectars. So I've been exploring some cheap and cheerful Bourbons as of late and this one really brings back memories. I've been drinking Four Roses for years but never bothered writing a review. So here goes... I've never noticed just how funky the nose on Four Roses is. Not gross funk, just different. Yes, there are of course the classic honey and vanilla bourbon notes but then some floral lavender? That's a first. Some citrusy tang accents the nose but hard to put a finger on exactly what citrus fruit. As you take in the palate, sticky sweet corn syrup explodes on the tongue. The palate is almost devoid of anything BUT sweet as honey melts in with that corn syrup and right before giving up on complexity, spice makes a bold entrance from mid to the back of the taste. Baking spice with a slightly numbing peppercorn type mouth feel usher in the finish. The finish is pleasantly long for the low proof and even lower price point. As the spice subsides on your tongue and roof of your mouth, brown sugar and some tannic charred oak bring the experience neatly to an end. Yea, this would be a GREAT bourbon for a Tennessee Mule. The sweet and spice would mix so well with the tart of limes and spice of ginger beer. But all on its own, this should be a dive bar staple.
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Dalwhinnie 15 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed December 7, 2023 (edited December 20, 2023)I get a lot of emails from Total Wine for their "whiskey of the month" promotions and most of it is Spirits Direct swill that the sales staff are paid a spiff to sell. And most of the time, they aren't great. But imagine my delight when this month's email hit and featured a whisky from a distillery I've heard of but not yet tried? Enter The Dalwhinnie 15 year... The nose opens extremely sweet and gentle. Reminds me of Aberfeldy sans fruit. Honey and toffee are super sweet and swirled with some deeper scents like peaches and custard. The nose ends with a quick and gentle hit of peat smoke. A gentle and cool ( lacking alcohol burn ) taste brings honey and malty sugary cereal with some zingy citrus. As that taste progresses, it does become a bit drier with some tannic black tea and finally just a hint of the peat smoke that was almost undetectable on the nose. The finish is medium length and moderately oily. Some nuts and malty cereal carries through with just a tiny bit of baking spice. This whisky is about all things sweet but very faint hints here and there of complexity. You know what? I rather like it and for sub $100/Bottle + this bottle always being readily available, I think it makes a fine dessert dram. -
Mi Familia Flores Extra Anejo Tequila
Tequila Extra Añejo — Mexico
Reviewed December 1, 2023 (edited March 9, 2024)After trying Mi Familia Flores' Anejo, I decided it was worth the extra coin to give their Extra Anejo a try. Yeah, this line might be viciously, almost cloyingly sweet, but there's a time and place for all things. I could see these tequilas being great after dinner sippers. The aging process of their Extra Anejo significantly softens the agave hit on the nose. You do get some still but overwhelmingly the nose smells of sweet desserts. Citrus, cinnamon, caramel and brown sugar all dance in your nose and hints at the taste to come. The taste starts super mellow and almost undetectable. Caramel, butterscotch and brown sugar all burst onto the scene. Again, some may find this cloying but like I mentioned - there is a time and place for all tastes. Vanilla mingles in a bit mid taste but then, cinnamon and black pepper bring a familiar tongue tingle. Significantly less so than their standard Anejo. The finish is sweet with a whisper of tart. Overwhelmingly, butterscotch and toffee play out on the finish with a tiny bit of the citrus that was present on the nose. The finish is long and oily, incredibly reminiscent of a good scotch. A solid sipping tequila for sure. Maybe a little TOO sweet - this one hits even sweeter than their Anejo. Perhaps their Reposado might be the perfect mix. -
Heaven's Door Homesick Blues
Bourbon — Minnesota, USA
Reviewed November 30, 2023 (edited January 21, 2024)Heaven's door continues to bring some pretty good bourbon at a decent price point that *gasp* you can actually find on shelves. Their most recent offering, Homesick Blues is bottled at a fiery 122.7 proof. Will it be a bit TOO hot for those of us that insist on tasting neat? The nose smells quite hot indeed. Ethanol runs deep here but if you take delicate whiffs, sweet caramel and vanilla bean served up with some slight herbaceous basil ( weird... ) and just the slightest hint of dried apricots all lead up to a really interesting nose profile. The palate is very very hot and peppery. A bit expected for the proof. There are some high proof bourbons that don't really make their potency known... this is not one of them. The overwhelming taste here is tongue stinging peppercorns. When you first take in the drink, before the taste explodes with pepper and proof, you do get a very soft and sweet hit of caramel and vanilla that was present on the nose. As the spicy heat subsides, in comes the interesting drying herbaceous notes found on the nose but it tastes almost like rye spice. Weird... because this bourbon's mash bill is 70% corn and 30% wheat. The finish keeps that spice going, but definitely allows that initial heat to die down significantly. It's a tad dry and flashes some leather in there as well as a little spice drop candy ( you know the gummy ones that don't quite taste like dried fruit and don't quite taste like spice? ). This is a bourbon that's potent and will definitely wake you up. Not impossible to drink neat though - I've had similar proof whiskies and bourbons that burn much deeper than this. Maybe this Christmas season, I'll finally give in and buy a water pipette for stuff like this. Overall a solid stomach warmer. -
Blood Oath Bourbon Pact No. 9
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed November 24, 2023 (edited November 25, 2023)The Blood Oath line has always garnered some serious hype. The one and only pact that I've tasted until today was Pact 7 and although that selection was a fine bourbon in and of itself, it left me feeling underwhelmed. I felt that it was just a bit overhyped and overpriced for what it offered. As I'm perusing one of my favorite local spots for their Black Friday specials, I came across Pact 9 at $149.99. Which is seemingly a pretty solid price. At approximately half the price that many other retailers in my area are asking, I thought it would be worth a taste. The nose mingles rye with sherry quite well. Initially, some dark cherries and vanilla swirl on top of leather and baking spice. It is just balanced enough to not lean too heavily one way or another. The taste opens creamy and sweet. Throughout the taste, the mouth feel of this bourbon is exceptional. Thick and oily - it really coats the tongue. Vanilla and caramel make a brief appearance to open the taste but quickly blossom into tongue tingling cinnamon candy. As that spice sits on your tongue, some leather and tannic oak slide in from the higher rye content. The finish remains dry and as is the case with drier, slightly higher proof whiskies; the mouth feel goes a bit powdery. Along with that, a faint hint of dark cherries creeps in, settling nicely with the leather and oak from the back of the taste. What a well rounded bourbon this turned out to be! But alas - now I'm going to seek out some of the previous Pacts that sound like they'd be right up my alley which can be an expensive proposition. RIP to my bank account.
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