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Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon
Distiller Score 95
This bourbon offers a surprisingly gentle and aromatic bouquet for a spirit at 55% abv. Aromas of oak, cinnamon spice, vanilla pound cake predominate, with orange peel, coconut macaroon and grain notes playing a secondary role. On the palate, this is a flavorful, multilayered whiskey, with an initial hit of alcohol burn and a strong cinnamon and oak note giving way to vanilla, almond, toasted coconut, and mint before the cinnamon and baking spice notes return. The finish is long and enjoyable, with a distinct apple pie note followed by oak, baking spices, chocolate and finally, freshly baked snickerdoodle cookies before dissipating.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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Glen Moray 12 Year
Distiller Score 85
This is a sweet one. The nose is big on vanilla and honey and cereal grains--Honey Smacks, actually. The scent of fresh cut grass lingers somewhere beneath all the sweetness. On the palate, it's lighter than the nose suggests. Crisp and fruity with white chocolate, toffee. Softly malty with some floral character. Finish is short and fruity. It's a solid baseline Speyside, not overly complex, and with an ABV that is well-suited for enjoying the whisky neat. Perfectly suited for casual sipping.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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West Cork 10 Year Single Malt
Distiller Score 87
A fragrant mix of caramel and apples on the nose gives way to cereal (think Corn Flakes). The taste has a lot of those same cereal notes, alongside toffee, apple, and chocolate. Being non-chill filtered gives it a more viscous mouth feel, making for an Irish whiskey you feel like you could chew for dessert.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye
Distiller Score 89
A very unusual bouquet for a rye whiskey, very fruity, with plum, apricot, baked pears, and a hint of spearmint. Very light oak and just a hint of the grain are also apparent. The entry on the palate is quite sweet, reminiscent of Juicy Fruit chewing gum, with vanilla, moderate oak, baking spices and orange marmalade. The finish is moderate, with big cinnamon, oak, grain notes and a bit of an alcohol burn.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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Old Fitzgerald 12 Year
Distiller Score 88
Soft, sweet corn, rolled oats, buttery cinnamon sugar cookies, vanilla, and toffee dominate the nose with subtle aromas of oak in the background. Big flavors of gooey vanilla toffee, cinnamon toast, and maple syrup stand up front with mild hints of spice, wood, and red delicious apples rounding out the palate. The finish lingers with all the spice and oak that was missing in the first tastes with round and sweet mouth-coating memories of buttery toffee.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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Gibson's Finest 12 Year
Distiller Score 88
Honey and strawberries on the nose. There's also a bit of citrus zest, caramel corn, and it has a waxy astringent character. Lots of rye, bitter orange peel, wood varnish, and caramel come next. Both caramel and strawberry notes assert themselves as it sits. The finish is warm but doesn't stick around very long. A thoroughly pleasing example of a refined, complex, but smooth and familiar tasting Canadian whisky.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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George Dickel Barrel Select
Distiller Score 91
A nose full of oak and cocoa, with a nice whiff of banana lurking in the shadows. Taste is sweet but not overpowering, nicely balanced by a warm rye spice. There's also oak and char, cherry, and vanilla. Dry with a nice, warm finish characterized by caramel and juicy tropical fruit. For the price, the very definition of an exceptional "go-to" whisky.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel
Distiller Score 93
Not a lot of oak on the nose on this whisky, instead, the bouquet shows butterscotch, flambéed bananas foster, freshly-baked cinnamon rolls, and maple syrup covered flapjacks. The palate starts sweet, think divinity, with walnut and a touch of oak before going into a very soft grain-forward profile. Ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg notes follow behind. The finish is smooth and lingering, with warm gingerbread, black pepper, oak, spearmint and a bit more cooked banana. There is a bit of heat from the alcohol, but it is balanced and provides a good counterpoint to the sweetness of this whisky.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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Crown Royal Limited Edition
Distiller Score 85
The nose opens slowly on green apples sprinkled with nutmeg powder and cloves, and displays the dustiness of rye with the sweet vanilla of bourbon. Dry brown hay and dusty grain round it out. The toffee-sweet palate is rich with gingery spices and crisp oakiness on a creamy vanilla custard base. Spicy hot pepper balances a zippy citrus zest. A slight tannic pull precedes a classic grapefruit pith finish.
Reviewed by Davin de Kergommeaux
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Hirsch Small Batch Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Distiller Score 87
The first whiff carried a lot of alcohol and promises a fiery, and perhaps a rough-around-the-edges bourbon. After that initial assault, caramel corn, honey, oak, vanilla, and spice emerge. The palate boasts a lot of oak and warm spice, and is just a little rough, but in an enjoyable way. Lots of corn, vanilla, and cinnamon are in there as well. The finish is short but pleasant, with a little spicy orange zest joining the chorus.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Knappogue Castle 12 Year Bourbon Cask Matured
Distiller Score 91
Golden honey emanates from the glass with notes of menthol and grassy herbs. The palate is rich with nougat and malt with moments of wood spices and mint.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack
Distiller Score 91
The nose, palate and finish can be summed up in one southern dessert: your grandmother's banana pudding. It's got it all, from the homemade vanilla pudding, to the Nilla Wafers and sliced bananas. There's even toasted meringue on the top coupled with a warm finish from the alcohol.
Reviewed by Rob Morton