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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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Breaking & Entering Bourbon
Distiller Score 89
Warm banana nut bread and vanilla caramels dominate the nose with hints of clove, cinnamon and nutmeg rounding out the aromas. One sip will prove that the sweetness in the nose was supremely deceptive as nuttiness and spice pull forward with dominant cinnamon, white pepper, and a touch of menthol. A moderate finish persists with big wood, baking spice and caramel with lingering banana flambé.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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Bully Boy American Straight Whiskey
Distiller Score 82
Lots of caramel and cinnamon on the nose, as well as figs, cherries, and a strong whiff of alcohol due to the spirit's youth. Given the sweetness on the nose, the initial taste is surprisingly more on the side of a bittersweet amaro, with more familiar caramel and rowdy rye spice arriving later, followed by a dry oakiness.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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(ri)1 Straight Rye Whiskey
Distiller Score 82
The spice notes are quite pronounced on the nose and in fact are a bit prickly. Once you jump that hurdle, you'll discover a sticky sweet and vanilla'd underlining. The rye is on the thin side and bitter and dry with a bit of leather on the palate. As you exhale, you'll find lots of char smoke and red apple skins. This is a decent rye, but there are older (and better) whiskeys on the market sold for much less.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Tomatin 15 Year 43% (Discontinued)
Distiller Score 86
Fresh cut apples and pears hit your nose initially followed by the classic heather notes found in Highland whiskies. Char smoke comes through on the palate creating an image of smoldering heather and moss. The finish is just a touch sweet and wood spice filled.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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J.P. Wiser's Legacy Canadian Whisky
Distiller Score 94
J.P. Wiser would be rolling in his grave. Not because this whisky insults the name, quite the opposite in fact – he’d be rolling to bust out and try it. The whisky’s nose pulses from one note to the next where a potpourri wafts in and out like a star-studded movie full of cameos. The cast includes maple, baking spices, vanilla, rye bread, charismatic oak and the full spectrum of orchard fruits. Missing is George Clooney. All of the same notes land in the palate mingled with a sweet and peppery citric zest. Toasted oak comes through and fades into tobacco as Legacy starts rolling its long list of delicious finishing credits.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Temperance Trader Straight Bourbon
Distiller Score 93
Roasted cereal grains and dark caramel along with leather and a hint of cherry are found on the nose. The masculine notes continue on the palate with the soft whiskey becoming spicy and peppery on the finish with a touch of cherry cola. Rye whiskey drinkers should seek out.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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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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Naked Grouse Blended Whisky (Discontinued)
Distiller Score 81
The color has more of an amber appearance than the standard Famous Grouse blend which would be explained by the aging in first-fill sherry casks. The dried fruits that appear on the nose are berry and citrus focused, especially orange aromas. The body is a little slick and peppery hot on the finish with dark honey and a moderate amount of malt on the palate. The finish is pleasant, though the blend is not as integrated and seamless as it could be. With the price hovering in the low $30 range however, it is a solid value.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Leopold Bros. American Small Batch Whiskey
Distiller Score 83
The nose is a nice balance of spice and sugars with notes of caramel, brown sugar, and hints of molasses. This is soon followed by a nice rye and light baking-spice, baked apple, and delicate under-ripe strawberries. On the palate, this whiskey tastes of corn, baking spice, and caramelized sugars with hints of Bartlett pear and vanilla bean. The wood tannins are soft and perhaps a little on the light side for the modern whiskey palate, but perhaps right on for the pre-Prohibition-style that Leopold Bros. set out to recreate.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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Black Bull 12 Year (Duncan Taylor)
Distiller Score 86
This whisky shows a nice blend of fruit and malt. Dried cherry, apples, and sea salt are found on the palate along with vanilla and just a touch of peat smoke and dried grass. The finish is full of caramel popcorn, baking spices, and more dried fruits.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Journeyman Distillery Silver Cross Four Grain Whiskey
Distiller Score 91
The corn and barley are most prominent on the nose, offering complex aromas. You know right away you are about to sip a fine American whiskey. The palate has a lot of heat, but there are respectable showings of dried fruits and almonds. The wheat adds a bit of levity to what might otherwise be a heavy spirit. A drop or two of water opens the spirit significantly. The Silver Cross offers complexity rarely seen in such a young craft spirit.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti