Tastes

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.

So good, has the spicy fruit nose and taste of a rye without the rough licorice. One of the best high rye bourbons I've had. I wish they offered this in NC. I picked it up in Kentucky for roughly $30 or $35 and have never seen it on the shelf here, so I have to make it last!

Such a good blend for the price. If you are used to Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, and Dewar's as the main blended Scotch options give this a try. It is a blended malt instead of a blended Scotch, and has more nose and flavor than similar priced options from the 3 big brands I just listed. This can be a good everyday sipping Scotch. Although the Chivas Regal 12 is good as well, but a more subtle nose and easier drinker than Monkey Shoulder.

I've had Jameson a lot, as many of us have at bars for shots. I like it and think it's a good sipping Irish but at $30 it is a little pricy for a base level name brand Irish. So I was skeptical trying their other whiskeys until I saw so many great reviews for this I couldn't resist. It was on sale and also came with a 50 mL Jameson original so I had an easy point of comparison. The Caskmates Stout is utterly fantastic and frankly dangerous to drink with friends. The stout barrel adds a layer of creaminess that smoothes out the original without adding heavy stout notes. I would know this because I'm a huge beer drinker and mostly dislike stouts, and I didn't taste stout up front. I think it just makes Jameson better, and you can sip on this like a heavy beer or wine and finish 2 oz pours in no time. Honestly I'd love to see this released as a cask strength version and see how crazy it gets.

I was eager to try this since it is the only Lowland distillery available in NC, and now that I'm about to finish the bottle I can say this was disappointing. At $40 this is not worth an initial buy before you try it first. Unfortunately the only other bottle I can get is the Three Wood at $70. I imagine that is better. The American Oak has a subtle noise of muted oil and vanilla wood with an oily taste that immediately disappears. In fact, everything on the taste kind of disappears instantly. I don't get any real bourbon characteristics, and hardly any of the nose that is suggested by the expert reviewer. Maybe my novice self can't pick out a lot of the subtleties, but I do know I've had Scotch at this price that is much better.

Solid bourbon for the price, classic taste

This was the well whiskey at a nice cocktail bar in town and for the cheap price this is a great value. They suggested getting this for around $8 a pour compared to the other name brand whiskeys above $10. I think it was a good suggestion.