Tastes
-
Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed October 2, 2020 (edited January 20, 2021)The rum is upfront on the otherwise tame nose, but mostly sweet banana cream. The malt shines through on the palate with a hint of apple, and some baking spice at the end. While not entirely convinced that this marriage of casks enhances very much (certainly not $90 worth), it is an interesting dram to sandwich between Summer and Fall.90.0 USD per Bottle -
Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed September 25, 2020 (edited October 4, 2020)While visiting my home in Memphis last year, the World's Greatest Liquor Store (as I like to call it) had a sample pack of the Balvenie triplets. With the rum cask and 17 year old included for a similar price as a bottle of the 12 year old, this was an amazing deal (to not have to buy those bottles)... The nose is pear, grapes, nuts & honey, toffee, and a little bit of burnt toast. This is what I imagine a classic Speyside should smell like, if it wasn't trying too hard. The entry follows that subtle breakfast theme with orange marmalade, which develops into a grainy vanilla, and then a finish of average-length. Nothing exciting, just a good malt which demonstrates that you can, in fact, create a regional character without weaponizing sherry.66.0 USD per Bottle -
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
Floral Liqueurs — France
Reviewed September 22, 2020 (edited April 17, 2022)The nose on this was completely unexpected: earthy, dirty, garden, and then evolves into grapefruit rind. There are flowers in here, you say? Ah. the taste is where they are. Ripe peach and clementine, very sweet but not as cloying as it could be, surrounding a floral arrangement in a vase. Daffodils, rose, and honeysuckle come to mind, but since I've never tasted an elderflower, it's probably just that... In any case, this is Mother's Day brunch in a glass!38.0 USD per Bottle -
There is a faint chemical smell, like something chlorinated. Nothing too off-putting, but there. That aside, having worked at Godiva for several years, this smells like the filling of a double chocolate raspberry truffle (and I imagine that's what you would get if you were to mix it with Godiva dark chocolate liqueur...) The taste is much sweeter than the nose suggests, but nothing too complex or spectacular. The sweetness hits strong but fades quickly, and then feels as though you had a sip of cheap raspberry tea, mixed with a small amount of cherry cough syrup. For something that brands itself as "all natural", I've never tasted something that invoked so many "artificial" flavors. Everything fades abruptly at the end, eventually even the sweetness, leaving just a jammy note amid a hint of disappointment. While not quite "unpleasant" (especially if using it to mix), there are much better liqueurs that would accomplish the same general thing for under $35.35.0 USD per Bottle
-
Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
Fruit Liqueurs — Veneto, Italy
Reviewed September 1, 2020 (edited April 16, 2022)While the nose is nothing but a hardcore ch-ch-cherry bomb, both sweet hard candy and tart juice, the palate is almost too complex for what it should be. The entry starts with flowers: violet, honeysuckle, and even a little mint. Then after that, a *very* subtle hint of alcohol introduces what can only be described as sugar water, with a level of sweetness that even the most discerning hummingbird would scoff at. However, the midpalate continues to develop with a hint of rose, and then finishes with saccharine cherry candy, and finally, of course, maraschino cherry. This stuff is WAY too sweet for a normal drink on a normal day, and despite its subtle floral complexities, should only really be paired with copious amounts of gin (at minimum). I also greatly enjoy a dash of this in bourbon, and paired with dark chocolate.40.0 USD per Bottle -
Very sweet and complex nose, with sweet grains but also plenty of fruit: cherry, cinnamon apple and some white grape. A spicy tingle on the entry, with apple juice, cinnamon honey, and sweet corn cake. All the heat is there, but it "flattens the curve" throughout the tasting, making this buffalo a smooth ride. I don't feel like ranking a bunch of bourbons right now, but this is an "ok" one. For the same price, I would personally prefer something like Bernheim Original wheat whiskey for a daily dessert drink though.27.0 USD per Bottle
-
I have a huge backlog of tastes that I try to trickle in occasionally. This one simply completes the VS/VSOP versions of what I call the "Big Four" Cognacs: Hennessy, Remy Martin, Courvoisier, and Martell. Each one has its own distinct character. Martell VS has a hot nose with sweet grape and raspberry jam, very similar to Hine actually, but less dry. There isn't much to say about the taste, except that it follows the nose, and does not have that slight lime note that crept into the VSOP (I should resample it at some point). In fact, this might actually be the sweetest of the "Big Four" Cognacs. If Courvoisier has an orange and rose character, then Martell is defined by sweet red fruits, whereas Remy is spiced apple, and Hennessy is stewed prunes (Hennessy Black is honey blossom). Each one is best suited for whichever mixed drink or sipping mood is compatible with those flavors, but all of them are likely much too overpriced to use for mixing. Martell VS is the cheapest of these, but for goodness' sake, just buy Eagle Rare for the same price...35.0 USD per Bottle
-
Auchentoshan American Oak
Single Malt — Lowlands, Scotland
Reviewed June 13, 2020 (edited October 5, 2020)My first lowland! Since it was basically between this and Glenkinchie, where the difference is like $50... The nose on this is unlike anything I've smelled in a scotch whisky; fruity yet floral, with lychee and heavily perfumed rose petals. There is a distinct whiff of banana pudding that somehow blends naturally into the rest. This just may be the prettiest smelling whisky ever. It has the gentlest entry, like a breeze, very sweet, with coconut and vanilla cream, bananas foster topped with cinnamon, stopping just short of rum-like. It finishes with just the vaguest suggestion of grassy hay and lemony tea leaves. The novelty wears off after a while though (probably the unusual coconut note), and I ended up using the last part of the bottle to make a few "Bobby Burns" a.k.a. the "Scottish Manhattan". I can't wait to try other lowlands though, particularly Ailsa Bay, if it ever decides to release a dedicated single malt stateside - or maybe just the Three Wood of this because the pickin's are quite slim.35.0 USD per Bottle -
#1 in the vodka lineup. Practically no nose, neither flavor nor alcohol. I can almost fully inhale deep in the glass with no effect. This makes the flavor nothing short of a magic trick: sweet vanilla custard, almost ice cream hits you immediately. Even a creamy vapor is present in the mouth as you taste it, but then disappears without leaving a trace of hardly anything. Complete stillness throughout. Quite remarkable the way so much flavor is delivered so stealthily. Conclusion: All vodka is fine for whatever purpose; just find a cheap one that doesn't smell like gasoline. This one happens to provide an actual good drinking experience neat though. It is also smooth enough to drink like water, can still mix with anything, and ~$5 cheaper than Jack Daniel's (just think about that for a second). As an added bonus, the distillery is also one the most eco-friendly. This is the only vodka I will ever need (perfect for White Russians!), and certainly the last one I care to go out of my way to try. Character: Vanilla custard and the stillest waters of Shangri-la Smoothness: 5, Overall: 4.2520.0 USD per Bottle
-
#2 in the vodka lineup. The nose is both peppery and a little sweet, a little more "brooding" than a typical vodka, if that makes sense. The palate is surprisingly full, with a pleasantly oily mouthfeel, punctuated with vanilla and wheat flavors. After a moment, the initial flavor subsides and becomes more neutral. A creaminess comes through at the end with a sharp note (probably wheat related), and a little dryness and heat. This placed #2 on my list because it really is the "standard" of vodka: neutral enough to pair with anything, and interesting enough to taste, yet not eccentric. It is also under $20, and doesn't pretend to be something that only nobles should drink. You can clean a flask with this stuff without feeling guilty. Have I ever used it to sterilize a wound? Of course I have. Who hasn't? It is highly-distilled "nothing" juice, further matured in absolutely nothing. But it does its job well WHILE exemplifying what typical notes found in vodka should be, and that makes it successful in my opinion. It does help to propagate that annoying (and completely false) anecdote about Dmitri Mendeleev "inventing" 80 proof liquor, but I'll let that one slide if it means that more vodka drinkers will Google "Dmitri Mendeleev". Character: Vanilla and pepper Smoothness: 2, Overall: 3.519.0 USD per Bottle
Results 21-30 of 110 Reviews