Tastes

Wow, for 110 proof you only get one quick punch of alcohol. This is a fantastic creamy tasting bourbon with a subtle nose that is less harsh than others I've had between 100-120 proof. It is a little pricy but I highly recommend for a special occasion. I was originally going to get something like Baker's or a name brand cask strength, and I'm so glad I went with this instead. At 110 proof this is basically a cask strength anyways since most are between 110-130 proof. I'm anxious to try Rare Breed next and compare the two. Update - I've had this open for nearly 2 months and it has mellowed out. The nose is really soft now, but it is so drinkable. If I didn't know the proof I'd say it was 95-100. I barely get any alcohol burn even with swishing around my mouth. This is a fantastic bourbon.

Larceny is touted as a great cheaper sipping bourbon and that's exactly what it is, an affordable bourbon that is easy to sip without nuanced flavors. I only bought a 50 mL to try it, and that was enough. I'm not sure I'd go out of the way to buy a bottle of this in the near future.

It's been a long time since I've had Knob Creek in any form, so I picked up a 375 since I've become an overeager whiskey enthusiast. Honestly this was underwhelming compared to other recent bourbon purchases. I mainly get alcohol bite on the taste. It's fine but I think are better options around this price. I'm glad I only bought 375 mL.

This surprised me because I think Maker's Mark is an easy drinker without much character and I was skeptical that the same whiskey with an extra few months of French oak staves would be worth $10 more. So I bought the 375 mL instead, and I can safely say this is clearly superior to the original version. You can get some higher proofs and single barrels around this price, but I haven't had many as flavorful as the Maker's 46. The nose is fantastic, slightly better than the taste. I can definitely taste the additional oak, which leaves a long pleasant aftertaste compared to the original version. I'm so happy they have a 375 for this btw, so you can try that for half the price if you're unsure you'll like it.

After riding high on Caskmates Stout I bought this on sale, normally priced at $39.95. It has been a little underwhelming compared to the Stout. It is nice to sip on but not enough bourbon barrel comes through. It is creamy but more subtle on the taste, and the oak or fruit doesn't come through prominently. It almost disappears on the finish immediately. You have to drink this at the beginning of your night, otherwise you'll barely taste anything after a bourbon that is over 85 proof. I bet if Jameson didn't dilute this to 80 proof, maybe 86 or 90, it would be sooo much better.

Really solid, affordable blend that is light on the smell and taste. Good way to introduce others to scotch. I see that it is supposed to have peated Scotch in the blend, which I never tasted in the 50 mL sample I bought. I think this is better than similar priced Johnnie Walker and Dewar's, but I'd buy Monkey Shoulder over this. If you like lighter Scotch than try this Chivas Regal 12 because it is never offensive or difficult.

This has a soft spot in my heart since Four Roses Small Batch and Single Barrel were some of the first mid-shelf bourbons I've purchased. I always think the nose is superior to the taste, which is more much bite than you expect for 100 proof. It could be the combination of high rye and oak barrel that contributes to that burn, sometimes it is hard to distinguish for someone like me with a middling palate. Still a really good whiskey and an affordable single barrel option.

It smells so good, mainly salt and barley. Taste is not as exciting as the nose, a little too mellow compared to other expensive Scotch whiskeys. Definitely overpriced since it is nearly $80 in North Carolina and you can buy a ton of Scotch below that price. I know the age is a factor but Oban is everywhere and most 12s and 14s are cheaper than this. I see this as a good gift Scotch for those who are familiar with better, lesser known brands.