Tastes

Peaty but smooth. A contradiction, but not a very complex or interesting one.

Booker ain't joking around here. I drink my whiskey neat, but this stuff, I just kept adding water. It burned so much on the first sip, all I could taste was fire. As I got used to it, and let the water do it's work, it improved dramatically. Still, I'll stick with more complex whiskeys, and save this for when it's time to scare off a friend who's dipping too deeply into my collection.

I'm not a fan of original Jim Beam, the white label. It's not bad, there's just much better whiskey in the world. I find their specialty labels to be hit or miss, and this is one of the hits. A fuller, more balanced bouquet than many Bourbons, there are strong fruit tones that balance well with the vanilla. Definitely recommended.

So smooth, you can barely tell you're drinking alcohol. I'm a scotch and bourbon drinker primarily, and in my experience, Irish whiskey is always smoother, but Black takes it to an extreme. Good, just not my preference.

My absolute favorite. Complex, smoky, so savory it's almost meaty. I was gifted a bottle when I first ventured from Bourbon to Scotch, and though I continue to explore, I don't think I will ever find something I love more than Lagavulin. I suggest whatever tasting you do, end your night with this one. Notes linger on the palate for hours. It's a delight.