Tastes

Fruity, sweet, and airy. Nothing special. Smooth, sweet, and inoffensive.

Dried pear, smoked honey, spice Not overly complex, but enjoyable. Becomes more smokey and spicy as it opens up. Medium sweetness makes for a pretty balanced dram.

I was drawn to the minimal design of the bottle and hype from other local whisky enthusiasts. The dark color is unusual for a whisky only 3 years old, but this is likely due to the teeny tiny barrels this whisky is aged in. More complex than it is enjoyable, the palate is loud, drifting between sweet and savory. The prominent notes of baked pear, anise, and orange were nice, but lots of funky notes like crushed wet leaves distract from the dram. Opens up pleasantly with a little water or ice, but too much and it just tastes like barrel and leaves. Initially similar and pleasant like Balcone's Single Malt, but not quite as structured, still an interesting pour. Aroma: Candied orange, caramel, dates, & warm leather Flavor: Lime zest, baked pear, brown sugar, charred oak, overripe apple, & anise Aftertaste: oak, honey graham, & damp vegetation Body: Med-high & round

I love a good single malt and I love a good bourbon. What excites me about this whisky is the combination that makes Balcone's special and my favorite craft distillery. The nose hit me like fall. Woody, leathery, but sweet and tinged with crushed leaves. A fresh trip to Colombia forced the fruity and spicy notes into my favorite dessert of Bananos Calados. The flavor is very long and complex. Water opens it up, but the dram is still smooth for the heat at 106 Proof. So happy to see Balcone's offerings more widely available here in Arkansas. Aroma: Wood, Fig, leather, & bananos calados (banana, cinnamon, orange, vanilla) Flavor: Charred oak, dried fruits, spiced pear, & sweet cereal malt. Aftertaste: Burnt sugar, clove, malt, & oak. Body: Heavy, & silky

This isn't anything to write home about. Frankly, I can't believe I'm taking the time to write about it here. Not enough heat for a cocktail, not enough flavor for neat. Relatively boring.

Nuanced, sweet, and smooth, Hedonism tastes more refined than over-indulgent. Compass Box managed to bottle the pursuit of pleasure without pressing their luck. First impressions present a cloying aroma of vanilla marshmallow than settles down and turns to sweet vanilla and basil followed by a palate of sweet vanilla creme and butterscotch. As you allow the whisky to open up there's more basil and sweet florals. I was impressed with the toasted-roasted marshmallow note I found throughout, with just enough heat and herbal/floral to make sure the sweetness doesn't unbalance the blend. A British blending company using Scottish grain whiskies and American ex-bourbon barrels, it tastes like Japanese grain whisky meets Kentucky Bourbon. To improve the score, I would like more body and aftertaste, for sure. Aroma: Vanilla bean marshmallow & basil Flavor: Vanilla creme soda, butterscotch, toasted marshmallow, & honeysuckle. Aftertaste: Medium length and sweet with hazelnut candy, marshmallow & toasted coconut. Body: Light

I really enjoyed this, but I had high expectations that weren't met. I'm a big Weller fan, having collected and enjoyed for awhile, now. But, have never ventured into Van Winkle territory. I have heard Weller 12yr is Pappy that doesnt meet the profile, and that Lot B is Pappy that doesnt quite make the cut (Special Reserve). That said, at least for 2018, Weller 12 is hands down better than this. Lot B was great, but was a little too corn forward on the nose and palate for me and slightly astringent on the finish, like a whisky that hasnt quite been aged enough (I know its the same age). All together, I would never above retail for this, but now I know. Aroma: Cherry, kettle corn, & caramel. Flavor: Orange rind, floral & herbal, caramel, & dried berries. Aftertaste: Oak, candy corn, & astringent Body: Med and dissipating.

There is something special about Japanese whisky. Temperature differences and unique barreling techniques set them apart from both scotch and american whiskies, although distilling was borrowed from both. Suntory Distillery runs through my Top 10 favorites and this 12yr Yamazaki is still in my top 5. It's allocated now and hard to find, but it's absolutely worth it. The sweet and full aroma is impressive but is only a teaser for the rich and complex palate. This 2018 release is fuller in flavor and more balanced than I remember which bumped it into my Top 5, but still a farcry from its older brother the 18yr. Aroma: Orchard fruit, peach, & caramel. Flavor: Baked apple, apricot, clover honey, malt, & sandalwood. Aftertaste: Toasted coconut & lightly peaty. Body: Buttery, smooth, & round.

Pretty unimpressed with Act 6 Scene 5, but have heard amazing things of the previous acts. Immediately, the nose was unpleasantly dill and alcohol. As expected with a fairly high proof. Opens up to allow cinnamon toast to take over with some warm plum, but the dill remains. Burn and wood assault the palate like a young whisky might, but the calm down and allow pleasant rye and barrel characteristics. I found red fruit, speaking to the port finish, with warming spices and rye, but plenty of alcohol burn and airiness with a maple syrup sweetness throughout. The aftertaste bites at first with more alcohol, but warms with spiced pear and oak, unfortunately the dill note returns, overshadows, and feels discordant with what could otherwise be a very pleasant dram. Aroma: Cinnamon toast, dill, & plum. Flavor: Red fruits, alcohol, oak, cinnamon spices, & maple syrup. Aftertaste: Spiced pear, dill, & oak. Body: Medium-heavy, thinning as it opens up.