Tastes

My God. Does bourbon get much better than Blanton's? Maybe for some but right now and for a while now, this has been by far and away my favorite bourbon. A sweet and luxurious nose envelop you with vanilla, caramel and a tiny bit of pipe tobacco. Its warm and inviting, just waiting to be sipped. The front of the taste hits you with a faint bit of saltiness washed over by an ocean of sweet. Reminds me a bit of peanut brittle. The taste opens up to a bit of citrus underlying chocolate and toffee. That sweetness melts onto your tongue, creating a long lasting, oily finish as it fades off your tongue with some creamy butterscotch and just a hint of leather throughout. Bourbon's typically aren't as complex, satisfying and long lasting as Blanton's and that is precisely why its top 10 for me and a rare 5 of 5.

I struggle with Van Winkle 12 year. I know its a very special and pricey bottle of Bourbon, and difficult to find these days. I hear so many good things about Van Winkle of all vintages. But after trying this as part of a very expensive whiskey flight, I just can't seem to wrap my head around this Bourbon. Don't get me wrong: Van Winkle 12 year is great. But nothing about this Bourbon stood out as unique or different. It was a very straightforward bourbon. Not overly sweet, a little spicy and goes down smooth. But around Southern California, you'd have to shell out over $1,000 for a bottle and I just can't imagine paying that much for a bottle of this stuff. On its own merits, Van Winkle 12 year tastes like distilled essence of good Bourbon. It fits well with an experienced and discerning Bourbon drinker's palate, but first timers would struggle to find the difference between this and much less expensive Bourbons. In the end, worth a pour if you happen to see this on a whiskey menu at a restaurant but not really worth the incredible price this commands to purchase a bottle.

This Bourbon reminds me of smoky licorice. Although I've not decided whether or not I love it, it does seem quite smooth. Contrary to what others are saying, I don't feel that this bourbon is harsh or unplesant in any way. Seems to have a slightly herbaceous finish. The challenge here is the price point... not sure if its worth the money but hard to find bourbons that taste similar. Very unique taste.

Marker's Mark special edition bottles never seem to disappoint and this one is no different. A nice fruity zing mixed with the familiar sweet Maker's Mark flavors served up high proof. This one was a stand out in my book, and its a crime that it won't be readily available for years to come.

The nose is soft and sugary with a hint of fruit. Smells like you got freshly dipped caramel apples and sprinkled cinnamon sugar on it. The taste is just as sweet with butterscotch, vanilla and a bit of cinnamon sugar through a somewhat thin mouthfeel. The finish starts to lean on the side of bitter dark chocolate with the tiniest bit of mint. Not the cooling toothpaste type mint, but more the herb itself. You know, this is really quite a smooth, soft and superior whiskey. I'd say it holds up against more expensive selections any day of the week.

This was a rare miss from Woodford. I generally like anything Woodford Reserve and think their entire lineup is awesome value for money. But there was something... off about this selection. There was a certain astringency about this Bourbon. Very uncharacteristic of Woodford. It almost tasted like some cheap swill. Yes, there were enjoyable qualities of this Bourbon, notably the initial taste is that familiar Woodford woody sweetness, but then you're overwhelmed with a wallop of bitter alcohol. It was bad enough that I wonder if I just got a bad bottle. Still, if you do not take into account the fact that its Woodford Reserve and compare it, large scale with other bourbons on the market, this sits solidly at average. For the price, just get Double Oaked.

The full name of the bottle could not fit in this listing but this particular taste is for Marker's Mark Private Selection: Sugar Cookie for Total Wine Socal Stores. The initial nose of this unique bourbon smells of its proof. But as you take a drink, you get sweet, sugary notes mixed with some rich chocolate hints. Some whiskies in this proof tend to coat your mouth or feel velvety but not this bottle. The entire taste is underlined with a spicy alcohol burn indicative of its proof but not unplesant. Special edition Marker's Mark bottles really never disappoint and this is definitely a crowd pleaser. Tasted neat in a whiskey glass.

Nose is rich with dark red fruit drizzled with honey. Some sweet and tart berries on the taste and a little bit of herbaceous spice. Almost a minty undertone but without the cooling effect of mint. The finish leaves on a decidedly tart note, with the faintest hint of sweet honey.

Although the smell can be strong and off putting initially, this whiskey is not harsh at all. There is a bit of an alcohol bite as you swallow but there is something distinct about this whiskey that can't be found in many whiskies. Sort of reminds me of the good qualities of Nikka Coffey Grain. A unique one to have in your collection for sure.

Basil Hayden is light, smooth and easy to drink neat. It is well balanced and doesn't lean too heavily toward one direction or another and is a great bourbon to let friends try who've not tried much bourbon in the past.