Tastes
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Anejos confuse me. I think I just need to explore the segment a bit more. I've had some that were sweet, almost bourbon sweet. Yet others were herbaceous and spicy, even more so than some Platas I've had before. The nose on this tequila is definitely not of the sweeter variety. Agave, cut grass, mint leaf, basil, black pepper and maybe a tiny bit of caramel. This nose immediately brings to mind all things green. The start of the palate is a bit sweet and fruity. Candied mango opens the taste but quickly becomes overpowered by other notes. It does hang around the whole taste, though. Mid taste, agave and pepper explode on the tongue along with some extremely herbaceous mint leaf. Although there's slight hints of bourbon barrel in the form of tannic oak and vanilla, it is such a quiet tasting note compared to the rest of it. The finish features some rather spicy cinnamon and black pepper, underlined by a drier, more tannic oak flavor. Agave is a pretty strong note on the finish along with that omni present mint leaf (think the actual herb, not a minty cool flavoring). What tasting notes are truer to Anejo and the way it was intended to taste? Is it this? Or more bourbon-like flavors such as vanilla, caramel and chocolate? Being a bourbon man myself; I prefer a much sweeter profile and tend to shy away from herbaceous and grassy notes. So this one isn't a winner in my book but at the end of the day - taste is all subjective, isn't it?37.0 USD per Bottle
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Glenmorangie Triple Cask Matured
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed November 1, 2024 (edited November 4, 2024)Glenmorangie's Triple Cask Matured slipped into the fray when they decided to reinvent their core offering, extending the age statement from 10 to 12 years. I haven't heard much of this release. And at the time of this review, there only seems to be three reviews posted on Distiller. I've always liked Glenmorangie's selections and was very enthusiastic about their offerings early on in my whisky tasting days. How does this new, somewhat budget offering stack up? The nose on this bottling is fruity and spicy. Orange extract, canned pears and grapefruit pith give a sweet if not slightly bitter and citrusy character. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and some tannic oak round out the nose. It smells rather like this will be an intensely fruity palate but I've been fooled before. The taste starts soft and sweet with caramel and almond extract. A very interesting character trait through the taste is how velvety the mouthfeel is, rather surprising for a more budget minded whisky. Tannins and spice hit mid taste underlined by subtle fruit. A surprise considering the nose. Oak is very dominant along with cinnamon sugar and nutmeg. Pears and orange rind are a very faint underlying flavor here, playing second fiddle to the tannins and spice. When first taking down the taste, breathing through the mouth, there is a very interesting clove like spice happening there. Speaking of spice, the finish is long, tannic and full of baking spice. More oak, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg create a strong finish while orange rind creeps into the picture as the finish fades. This isn't the type of finish that has distinct flavors that appear and disappear, they very much bleed into each other. A soft and rather complex taste belied by the rather strong notes on the nose. This selection is a fine budget single malt. In fact, I'd say that this would be a great whisky to try if you aren't completely sold on single malts just yet. Cost of entry is low so it is worth a try in my opinion.41.0 USD per Bottle -
El Padrino de Mi Tierra Añejo
Tequila Añejo — Jalisco, Mexico
Reviewed October 31, 2024 (edited November 3, 2024)I like being toasted on Halloween. I'm not entirely sure of many adults who don't. So in my quest to discover more tequila, I've decided to make this Halloween a Tequila....Thursday? Close enough. Decided to pick up a little taste of this stuff on a whim from Total Wine. Let's dive in. Sugary sweet agave comes to mind on the nose. Agave syrup, caramel and vanilla lead the charge. Some faint spicier notes of black pepper and cinnamon hit the back of the nose. It's an odd tingling sensation on what is otherwise a very gentle, sweet nose. A rather sweet Anejo indeed! But with some interesting notes thrown in there. First off - the palate starts as sweet as expected. It opens with some gentle caramel and butterscotch. But soon after, it explodes with cinnamon and black pepper, making the center of your tongue tingle spreading outward. The agave is there, but isn't the star of the show the way it is Don Julio's Anejo. The spice lingers for the finish. And that finish is decidedly drier than the rest of the taste. Finally, some tannic oak makes its appearance alongside the spice. Pepper decisively sticks around till the end. This is a decently long lasting finish, not unlike a good whiskey. This Anejo strikes a tasty balance of sweet, spicy and herbal. It's rather good, even more so when considering the relatively affordable price point. Pick up a small taster from Total Wine and see for yourself!9.0 USD per Pour -
Corralejo Reposado Tequila
Tequila Reposado — Guanajuato, Mexico
Reviewed October 20, 2024 (edited November 3, 2024)I'm on a personal mission to diversify my at-home liquor shelf. With my bottle selection absolutely dominated by bourbon with whiskey coming in a close second, I couldn't help but notice the other day the distinct lack of anything that isn't one of those two. I personally don't find it a problem. However, friends who aren't fans of whiskey or bourbon do find it bothersome. So just get new friends, right? Lol. Enter - Corralejo Reposado Tequila. A surprisingly affordable and highly regarded tequila. I was all too stoked to give this a shot. The nose is very light and sweet on this Reposado. Yes, there is the classic agave smell albeit significantly toned down vs other Reposados I've had. Caramel adds a thick sweetness and there's a slight tinge of charred oak. There also seems to be some citrus in there but its a bit hard to pick up at any distance from the glass. The beginning of taste is quite sweet and lovely. In fact, through most of the taste, caramel and simple syrup carry most of the other flavors. The agave taste is very muted on this Reposado. Toward mid taste, a bit of tannic charred oak mixes with citrus pith. On the back of the taste, the spice opens up a bit to include cinnamon which creates a rather dry and spicy opening act for the finish. As the taste fades, the spice leaves your tongue tingling. Breathe through your mouth and there is the inherent tannic charred oak and leather but deep within the finish, some of that tart citrus resurfaces. The finish is pretty much completely lacking of sweet notes, surprising considering how much sweetness was on the front of the taste. Wow! What a complex and delicious sipper. This reposado doesn't have overpowering flavors and boasts wondering complexity but would probably be completely annihilated in a mixed drink. Proof that price doesn't necessarily mean taste - even for a sub $30 bottle, I'd happily keep this on my top shelf as a neat sipper only.28.0 USD per Bottle -
Glenmorangie The Original 12
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed October 14, 2024 (edited October 17, 2024)The Glenmorangie will forever be a core single malt for me. In the infancy of my whisky tasting days, I thought Nectar D'or was just the most magnificent liquid I'd ever had the pleasure of tasting. Indeed, that selection is quite palatable. Recently, The Glenmorangie revised their core offering, bumping the Age Statement from 10 to 12 years. I'm still a bit thrown by the new bottle graphics, expecting to see that good ol' gold label. But that's just me being grumpy and resistant to change. The nose has gained some complexity with the added aging. Citrus peel and granny smith apples add a tart bite. Velvety honey still exists but with it some aromatic vanilla bean. The taste still begins soft, velvety and sweet with honey but with some pleasant nuttiness up front. Honey roasted cashews. This nuttiness was formerly found toward the back of the taste. Toward mid taste, a burst of citrus pith and white peach creates a vibrant fruity note. Surprisingly some tannic oak now joins the party mid-back of taste that was completely lacking on the 10 year. The tannins continue to the finish and actually bring some tingly cinnamon with them. As the initial spice and tannins fade, the nuttiness from the taste slides more towards dry roasted walnuts. Nutty and slightly bitter. Right at the tail end, just before the finish tapers off, there is a surprising hint of dark cocoa powder that was much more prevalent on the 10 year original. With the additional 2 year aging, this bottling seems to have picked up some additional complexity and it's better for it. It is a wee bit more expensive, yes; but well worth the price increase. Delicious.42.0 USD per Bottle -
This is my first time trying Mezcal. A buddy of mine bought a bottle and I've been keen to try Mezcal. As I'm a whiskey head through and through and am starting to dip my toes in the Tequila pool, many Tequila/Mezcal faithful have told me that I'm likely to enjoy the inherent smokiness of Mezcal. The nose is dominated by Umami smoke. It isn't an acrid, charred wood type smoke like some heavily peated whiskey. Rather, an earthy and rich, savory smoke. Reminds me of those underground ovens, slow roasting Barbacoa. There's also some tart tomato on the nose, cutting nicely through the salty rich smoke. Upon first taste, there's definitely a salty and savory quality about it. Cured ham, barbacoa, oceanic sea salt and fire roasted tomatoes. It is rather difficult to taste each flavor individually - the complexity doesn't come in stages the way a good Whiskey would. The umami lives on through the finish but along with it that, briny and salty sea water as well. A little longer through the finish, as you breathe through the mouth; a bit of tartness lives on. I'm not sure if its that tomato from the nose and taste, as its such a faint whisp that just catches the end of the finish. I don't have a basis to score this Mezcal on, as it is my first but I'm happy to give this an agreeable 3.75. I am quite interested to try others now and obviously as my palate expands, this score may change in the future.40.0 USD per Bottle
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I grew up watching Top Gear UK. And that wasn't always an easy feat. A lot of the time, I'd have to stream it or download episodes to get my car fix. Jeremy, Richard and James made car culture humorous, fascinating and approachable. Everyone loved the trio from the older generation all the way to the kiddos. I've watched every Top Gear UK episode, special, non Top Gear specials, Grand Tours and Grand Tour specials all the way to the very last one that released on Amazon Prime just a month or so ago. And although I typically HATE celebrity endorsed products, I know that James is quite the Gin connoisseur. Additionally, all of the online reviews of this Asian Parsnip Gin are rave. Given my relatively novice tongue when it comes to Gin, I wanted to give it a honest go and see how this stuff stacks up. The nose is really really interesting. Embarrassingly, I don't know that I've ever had a parsnip but let me tell you what this nose reminds me of. You ever step into a grocery store's produce section right when the sprinklers go off on the root vegetables and there are citrus fruits near by that section? That's the nose on this Gin. Zingy bright citrus peel mixes with earthy root veggies like potatoes, carrots, radishes and obviously: Parsnips. It reminds me of the bright sun beating down on wet soil. A surprising sweetness tips off the taste. Not candy or chocolate sweet but more along the lines of sugary canned yams. Parsnips give this an earthy flavor but there is an interesting peppery spice. It doesn't make your mouth prickle but it's definitely there, hitting center tongue. Citrus, although more prevalent on the nose, plays a smaller role in the taste and really exists more at the back. Some ginger adds, what I suppose could be the "Asian" part of the Asian Parsnip. The finish goes decidedly dry and with that, the faint citrus that existed on the taste now turns to orange pith. Peppery spice lingers but with it, the parsnip lends an almost.... Umami quality to this spirit. Being a whiskey fanatic through and through, I can't say I'm even close to being an authority on all things Gin. But what I do know is what my mouth likes and my mouth likes this VERY much. Complex, earthy, peppery, citrusy... it's really run the gamut of tastes. James has said repeatedly that this would be a limited run product. I'm sure I'm not the only one in saying this but: James May. Please continue to produce this wonderful Gin. And for God sakes, please put this in more stores in the US. ( As if he'd ever read my lowly review lol ).43.0 USD per Bottle
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Don Julio Añejo Tequila
Tequila Añejo — Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico
Reviewed October 12, 2024 (edited October 14, 2024)My mission to expand my palate and truly appreciate some good sipping tequilas has driven me to compare community scores with availability in my local area and I was surprised to see a brand I actually recognize score so high. Odd as that may seem, I know as much about Tequila as an average potato. So if I recognize a brand, I assume it to be rather mainstream. That said, it is WAY too early in my tequila game to be brand snobbing anything, so here goes: The nose on this Anejo rides heavily on grassy agave. Although I initially hated that smell, I'm starting to come around. Dig a little deeper and you'll get a sweet creamy vanilla and caramel swirl and some chocolate covered orange candies ( don't laugh it's a real thing. I had it once and don't recall what country its from ). On the taste, there is quite a bit of sweet up front. Chocolate covered caramels with the softest touch start off the first taste. But be forewarned - about 95% of the taste and finish aren't this sweet so after each successive sip, these softer notes fade away. Grassy agave makes its presence known throughout the taste and as it goes down, spice opens from the center of your tongue outward. Prickly sweet cinnamon with some underlying citrus pith brings a tannic and zesty quality about the taste. The finish assertively hangs on to the spice and tannins. It's odd to call it oaky, because the overall tasting experience is so much brighter than most whiskies but all I can really compare this to is tannic oak, cinnamon and once again - that herbaceous, grassy agave flavor. Like I mentioned before, that agave flavor is not my absolute favorite and for an Anejo, I was really hoping for a sipping experience with more sweetness and complexity. This actually reminds me more of Reposados I've been given than an Anejo. It's good but... not my favorite.7.0 USD per Pour -
Paul John Nirvana Single Malt
Single Malt — India
Reviewed October 11, 2024 (edited October 15, 2024)Forever trying to turn me on to Indian whisky, my buddy had me try some of this bottling: Paul John Nirvana. Now: I won't discount Indian whiskys completely but I've yet to have one I actually enjoyed. Let's have a taste... The nose on this single malt leans toward sweet and grainy. Honey, pear, pineapple and some tannic oak round out the rather interesting nose, if not a tad bit on the soft side. Taste begins sweet: simple syrup and vanilla bring an interestingly sticky mouth feel. Tannic oak hits mid palate and carries with some spiciness through to the end of the taste. Actually, that spice leans more toward peppercorn, making the mouth tingle just a bit. Faint whisps of pineapple and pear are in there but buried under the other notes. There's a bit of herbaceous cut grass that actually carries into the finish... As the finish begins, your mouth is left a bit prickly from the spice on the palate. Cut grass, honey and tannic black tea mixes with a little bit of hay. It's a sweet and earthy finish but quite short. This is a single malt, but it sure tastes like a blend. However that said, this is okay whisky and in fact, quite a bargain at such a low price point. Will I buy a bottle on my own some day? No, most definitely not. But then again, I'm more a bourbon man myself.34.0 USD per Bottle -
A buddy of mine was given a bottle of this stuff for his birthday. Knowing nothing about this blended whisky, I could already tell this was going to be some rough stuff. When you see labels like "Finest" and "Extremely Rare" you know you're likely to be in for a bad time. I'm very confused on the connection with Glenfiddich and Balvenie, though - do they really also distill those brands? I'm on their site as I write this review and I can't quite believe they're also responsible for those two brands. The nose smells like a cheap blend. Ethanol and bready yeast fill your nostrils. A little deeper still brings apple and.... burnt candy corn? Palate begins light and indeed the whole taste is quite light and one dimensional. I'm getting some spicy cinnamon, dry brush, honey and as the taste comes to the finish some faint musty prunes. The finish is.... well where exactly is it? Perhaps that close to the taste with the mildly musty prunes was it. I hesitate to take a bigger sip to see if I get more of a finish but as I do, I discover a deeply bitter, almost medicinal quality creeps in with the musty prune flavor. Reminds me of very bad cough syrup. Yuck. I guess if I was given a bottle of this stuff I'd be thankful it wasn't Scoresby or Glen Ness but lord is that bar low. I hear they bottle this stuff as "Grant's Triple Wood" now. Whatever the case, please don't ever spend money on this stuff. I had a look online and discovered a 1.75 of this is $26. Look ~ if you've only got $26 to spend on whisky, maybe just buy some less expensive hooch and forgo this stuff.
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