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Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Four Wood Bourbon
Distiller Score 96
The nose on this bourbon couldn't be more complex. Vanilla, caramel, red wine, freshly chopped firewood, candied citrus, the list goes on. The first sip is like taking a drag off a slightly harsh cigar, and then instantly mellows. The palate then explodes and coats the mouth with sweet citrus, well integrated wood, cool smoke, and a non-cloying sweet, lingering finish. Gorgeous, meticulously complex, yet still approachable.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength
Distiller Score 88
Very sweet and somewhat forceful on the nose, this whisky is chock full of vanilla, Ceylon cinnamon, and creamy tropical fruit. The palate is deeply layered, with flavors both exotic and familiar: mango lassi, wintergreen, candied pineapple, licorice root and sweet toffee cookie. Adding water tames the heat somewhat, but also mutes some of the flamboyant tropical flavors and brings out a more conventional cereal background note.
Reviewed by Duncan McRoberts
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The Glenrothes 1995
Distiller Score 91
For those that like their whiskies on the sweet side, step right up. This is a creamy and rich whisky with notes of almond covered toffee. Ripe apple fruits covered with cinnamon syrup and hints of orange zest round out the flavor profile.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Parker's Heritage Wheat Whiskey 13 Year
Distiller Score 94
Heaven Hill seems to have turned their Bernheim Wheat Whiskey up to 11 with this special release. Almost twice the age, this is the bigger and bolder older sibling with caramel, vanilla, and milk chocolate notes dominating without venturing into carnival candy land. The barrel spices are well integrated with just a slight cinnamon prickle towards the finish. Adding water expands these flavors, but isn't absolutely necessary.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Heaven Hill Select Stock Bourbon
Distiller Score 84
The high ABV makes itself immediately known in the nose, with a strong whiff of fiery spirit. Past that, there's orange oil, raisins, and something floral. In the mouth, it's fiery due to the high proof. Tamed by some water or left to breathe, one gets a very fruity bourbon, with apricots, banana, chocolate covered cherries, and caramel corn. Finish is hot, with some citrus bitterness. An odd bird, more ambitious than successful.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Balblair 1990 2nd Release
Distiller Score 96
This silky smooth Scotch has a lot going on - tart berry fruits, dark chocolate, marzipan, sweet pipe tobacco, baking spices, black pepper, even a touch of root beer. The bourbon casks lends just the right amount of leather to tie everything together. It's complex, but it's also tidy and easy to get along with, finishing smooth and strong.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Balblair 1999 2nd Release
Distiller Score 94
This whisky is a lot of fun to drink - definitely parties like its vintage year suggests! Ripe apple and orange mingles with spice and caramel. Then malted chocolate shows up fashionably late and everyone mixes it up into the wee hours. You'll definitely want more sips to keep the festivities going!
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Blanton's Single Barrel Silver Edition
Distiller Score 89
Classic nose for a Blanton’s, with maybe a softer approach than the Gold and Straight From The Barrel bottlings (both only available outside the US). Aromas of tropical fruits like pineapple come through a first layer of honey. The palate is very smooth with more fruit, this time including quince and mandarins. There are enough soft spices such as cinnamon and vanilla to give structure to the whiskey and the finish is perfectly sweet and smooth.
Reviewed by Julien Le Doaré
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Jim Beam Signature Craft Brown Rice Bourbon 11 Year
Distiller Score 89
An exceptionally pleasant nose full of brown sugar, toasted marshmallow, dark fruit, and honey. The taste boasts caramel and oak, candied walnuts, plums, and even an odd but not unwelcome tartness. It's rich and oily, and there's spicy wood and caramel on the finish, which is warm and medium-length.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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High West Bourye (2015 Release)
Distiller Score 89
The spirit opens with spiced honey and caramel followed by whiffs of vanilla bean. Baked pear commands the glass on tasting; imagine the fruit drizzled with creamy toffee/butterscotch and dusted with white pepper for a lilting accent. The moderately long finish offers up oak and toasty spice that the incautious might be tempted to call curry-like, a quality, real or imagined, that helps make for a mean Perfect Manhattan.
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol
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Glenmorangie Astar
Distiller Score 89
The wood really comes through on the nose followed by pears and citrus peel. The dram is fairly smooth on your palate, but the proof intensifies the cinnamon and coffee aspect. With water, you get more of a honey sweetness and brighter fruit.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Tullibardine 20 Year
Distiller Score 89
The nose is wonderful and brings honey and vanilla, allspice, oatmeal cookies, even something a little tropical like cocoa butter and papaya. The taste follows suit, with lots of vanilla, salted caramel, malt, orange oil, and oak. The wood threatens the other flavors but never goes overboard. The finish is medium and sweet, and full of Tullibardine's signature vanilla note as well as gingerbread and raisin.
Reviewed by Keith Allison