REVIEW: WESTWARD OREGON STRAIGHT MALT WHISKEY

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Color: Toffee

Nose: Sweet Honey And Vanilla, Malted Cereal, Maple, Spice, and Light Oak

Taste: Honey, Barley, Maple, Spice, Caramel, Dried Apricot, and Oak

Finish: Short, but smooth finish with lots of spice, oak, and a tinge of spearmint.

Score:
Rick- LOVED IT!
Sam- 9.5/10.0
Overall- 9.5/10.0

The fine folks at House Spirits sent me this excellent Westward straight malt whiskey. This is made from 100% malted barley grown in the pacific northwest and is fermented with ale yeast that really changes the character. It is also double pot distilled and matured in two-char american oak barrels, giving it an Irish twist. Finally, it is aged for two years before being bottled without chill filtering.

The nose on this goes straight to the head. It is intoxicating on it’s own. The sweet honey and vanilla stroll casually up to greet you,. The barley and maple arrive together reminding me of Maple and brown sugar oatmeal. The spice and oak hang out in the background, there but not boisterous. I enjoyed the bouquet from this extensively. It is just one of those whiskeys that beg to be inhaled.

The first sip is sweet at first but doesn’t last long. Westward has a nice mouth-feel that really coats your tongue, bathing you in all of it’s richness. I have to give credit to my lovely wife yet again. The woman doesn’t like whiskey, but her taste buds are extraordinary. The best I could come up with was dried fruit, but one sip and bam! She nails it. Dried apricot, as soon as she said it I knew she was right. These folks are definitely on the right track with this fine whiskey.

The finish has its’ own secrets. It is a bit short, but by no means inconsequential. The spice really hits home at the end along with a nice smoky oak in the background. The real surprise is the taste of spearmint that lingers on the tongue. the short finish is due to this being a relatively young whiskey. A few more years in the barrel will cure that.

I know I say this quite often, but this seriously would be in my liquor cabinet at all times. Except, for the price tag. This really is the only downfall for Westward. At $50 for 375ml bottle, I find that a little hard to cough up for a 2 year old bottle. I can pick up 22 year old 750ml bottles for the same price. I’m not saying don’t try it, because I definitely loved it. I’m just saying invite me over to enjoy it with you!

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome. Contact info can be found HERE

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

P.S.-That is Rick in the background. He needs some encouragement to add his voice to our blog. Let him know that you’d love to hear from him!

 

REVIEW: FOUR ROSES SINGLE BARREL

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Color: Deep Copper

Nose: Alcohol, Corn, Oak

Taste: Sweet Corn, Caramel, Vanilla, Pepper, Oak, Green Apple, Orange, and Pecan

Finish: Long smooth finish with oak and butterscotch

Score:
Rick- 8.0/10.0
Sam- 8.5/10.0
Overall- 8.25/10.0

Thanks to the beautiful folks at Four Roses for yet another wonderful dram. I love that they continue to feed my obsession. Four Roses is one of my go to’s for when I go to the bar and order Bourbon. They really make a great Bourbon, and when I am at the bar I want something that tastes good but won’t break the bank. My local bar has this and the small batch and it is what I order when I go.

I realize that Four Roses makes a couple different expressions of their single barrel. Unfortunately these sample bottles did not come with the neck tag to tell me. So if what you have tastes a little different, that is why. On to the review.

The nose on this starts off with a very heavy alcohol kick. This is a bit of an anomaly, one that was helped by letting it sit for a few minutes. I also found that adding a small hit of water would open up the nose too. After letting it rest I was able to get a better bouquet from it. The aromas balance out nicely once it has had time to rest, the aroma is what you’d expect from Four Roses. I am going to chalk this up to the small sample bottle.

The flavors aren’t affected at all. The sweet corn, caramel, and vanilla are the first to greet the tongue, followed by the green apple and orange. The pecan, oak, and pepper finish out the flavor profile. This is what you would expect from a great mainstream Bourbon. It is very balanced on the tongue, none of the flavors try to jump up for a solo, they seem to mix on the palette in a very nice symphony.

The finish is long and smooth with oak and butterscotch being the prevailing notes. It doesn’t have the bite that I like from Bourbon. It is one of the smoothest Bourbons I have had. The addition of water makes it go down like honey.

I wouldn’t mind having a bottle of this in the cabinet. I’d definitely recommend it to someone looking for a good pour. Like I said earlier they carry this at my local establishment and when I pop my head in it is what I order.

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: BOZEMAN SPIRITS MONTANA 1889 WHISKEY

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Color: Yellow Gold

Nose: Caramel, Vanilla, Oak, Pepper, Fruit

Taste: Caramel, Peppery Rye Spice, Malt,  Oak, and Citrus

Finish: Long finish with a heavy hit of pepper and oak

Score:
Rick- Likes it, but has nothing to compare it to for a rating.
Sam- 9.0/10.0
Overall- 9.0/10.0

Thanks to Jim and the fine folks at Bozeman Spirits for this bottle! I really enjoyed this one. It isn’t bourbon or scotch, it’s Montana whiskey. According to Jim, their 1889 whiskey is a blend of a 6-7 year old whiskey made in Indiana with a whiskey they have distilled on site, barreled and aged. Bozeman Spirits’s mash bill is corn, montana malted barley and montana rye. They then do a few other processes (deliberately vague here) and then it is blended into a 300 gallon tank. The finished whiskey blend is run back through a distillation process in their Arnold Holstein still. The whiskey is then proofed down to 90 proof and bottled! The final product is outstanding!

The nose has a heavy hit of caramel. I’d have to say it is predominant. The other aromas hang out in the shadows and really have to be looked for. I was a little worried that this was so caramel forward. I pictured something like a Brach’s  caramel chew in liquid form. Please don’t misunderstand though, it really does smell wonderful, just not what I have come to expect from whiskey. My experience with American Whiskey, which is how I would classify this, is limited at best. I have had a few bottles here and there that are just labeled whiskey, some good most bad. That wasn’t the case with this one though.

This whiskey starts out sweet, but it isn’t as sweet as I had anticipated. The caramel on the tongue is quite nice and the other flavors that were not as predominant are now right there giving this a nice mouth feel. The spicy Rye really comes forward on the tongue giving this a nice all around taste. I found that the differences this whiskey brings to the table are what makes it stand out.

The finish is long and full of that spicy rye that makes it really bite the back of the throat. It wasn’t to spicy though, just enough to let you know that it is there. The oak seems to help settle it and make it one of the best American whiskeys I have had to date.This is usually where I end with a recomendation, but not this time.

My wife sometimes joins Rick and I when we drink, only she can’t stand whiskey. For her it’s rum. While we were talking about this she asked to smell it, this isn’t anything new, she does it quite often. More times than not this ends with her making a stink face and handing it back. She took one sniff and downed the contents of the glass. I was stunned! When she uttered her next sentence I almost hit the floor. Her exact words, “That’s good!” Now please don’t think for a moment that this tastes anything like rum, or is as smooth as rum, because it’s not. This is whiskey through and through, she says that she liked the caramel and pepper. I can’t give it any higher praise than that.

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: COPPER FIDDLE DISTILLERY BOURBON

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Color: Light Toffee

Nose: Strong Vanilla, Caramel Corn,  Fresh Buttered Popcorn, Spice, and Oak

Taste: Vanilla, Corn, Apple, Caramel, Spice, and Oak

Finish: Long smooth finish with spice, vanilla and hints of oak

Score:
Rick- 8.0/10.0
Sam- 9.0/10.0
Overall- 8.5/10.0

Special thanks to Nancy at Copper Fiddle for getting this to me. Jose Hernandez and Fred Robinson, an architect and a PGA professional, started this distillery in 2012 using a 13 gallon stainless steel still. After many attempts, Jose created a bourbon whiskey and two gin recipes that had their friends and family singing his praises.The Name, Copper Fiddle Distillery comes from the handmade copper pot they use to distill all their spirits. The “Fiddle” is from a family heirloom violin made in 1906. Their spirits, just like the violin get better with age. All of their spirits are handmade; grain to bottle, at their facility in Lake Zurich, IL.

This was really a nice adventure. The way this begins and the way it ends are so vastly different. I was almost put off by the way this started. I will say that at first sip you want to write it off as a nice try and move on, but this is where the story begins.

At first the nose on this is quite heavy on the vanilla with a little oak in the background and a large hit of alcohol. Pretty typical of a young bourbon. The trick with this particular bourbon is letting it sit. This needs the chance to open up. We took our first sip and continued our discussion. It was when I went to drain my glass that I realized the heavy vanilla was gone. It was replaced by what I can only describe as Fresh buttered popcorn. Rick says Caramel corn. Agree to disagree. Bottom line, it was outstanding. A very new experience for us.

The first sip was again a little off, almost tart before mellowing into vanilla with a nice bite. Yet again, letting it sit does wonders for the taste. It opens it up and really brings around all the flavors you would expect from a good bourbon. The fact that it needs to open for a few minutes does not deter from it at all. In fact it is our opinion that the adventure from a 3 at best to a solid 8.5 is one that is quite fun to take.

The finish on this is long and smooth no matter how soon you partake. I was expecting the finish to change too, but it never did.

If you see a bottle please pick it up. It’s a fun experience. I wouldn’t mind having a bottle to keep on the shelf for myself. Definitely a keeper. I think that a bourbon this good at this young is really going to be better with more age.

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: COLONEL E.H. TAYLOR SMALL BATCH

Color: Toffee

Nose: Peaches and Cream Corn, Vanilla, Oak, Caramel Apples, and a bit of spice

Taste: Corn, Orange Peel, Nuts, Oak, Spicy Rye, and Caramel Apples

Finish: Smooth Long Finish sweet with a nice strong Oak note.

Score: Sam – 8.5/10.0

I got to try this while I was in Topeka for yet another round of training for work. This definitely helped to ease my time there. A little back story before we start. Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. is considered to be one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry. His started distilling at the end of the Civil War when he purchased O.F C. Distillery. He was an innovative distiller that invented some of the very same methods that we use today. Colonel E.H. Taylor is made by hand, and aged inside some of the original warehouses constructed by E.H. Taylor, Jr..  We have to assume that a Bourbon named after a distiller with this kind of legacy has to be exceptional. It earned a score of 97 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, which is  2 points higher than the Pappy Van Winkle 23.

This has a nice toffee dolor. The first smell is sweet corn, reminiscent of peaches and cream corn. The corn is followed by orange, nuts, oak, and caramel apples. The spice rye note was very nice, and complimented the other aromas quite nicely. After a few minutes of nosing it was time for the first sip.

I started neat as usual. It has a lot of the rye spice that dominates the taste and is a little to heavy for my palette. I like spice but this was a little to over the top for me. Next, i added water, just a little added vigorously. This was in my opinion the best way to drink it. It has a nice balanced flavor that really seems to open up with water. I also tried pouring it over ice, this made it to sweet in my opinion and washed out the other flavors to much.

The finish seems to be the best with just added water too. Neat, it is all spice and a hint of oak. With water it is sweet with a nice strong oak finish. Over ice it is just sweet and watery.

I was really quite impressed with this Bourbon. I can’t say it is the best I have ever had, but it is definitely one of the good ones. I’d love to try some of the other expressions, but this is one of those Bourbons that are hard to find. If you see it on a shelf pick up a bottle, you won’t regret it. I personally will be keeping an eye out for this one and the other expressions when I hit the liquor store.

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: CLEVELAND UNDERGROUND UNCOMMON BARREL COLLECTION

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Color: Deep Gold with Pale Amber Highlights

Nose: Vanilla, Corn, Tart Cherry, Citrus, Spice, Cinnamon, and Oak

Taste: Tart Cherry, Corn, Vanilla, Spice, and Oak

Finish: Long Fruit finish with cherry, oak and hints of vanilla

Score:
Rick- 8.5/10.0
Sam- 9.5/10.0
Overall- 9.0/10.0

I am starting to tire of eating my words. I stated emphatically that I detested flavored whiskey. I even said that I hated it. So, what do those jokers from Cleveland Whiskey send me? Cherry Flavored bourbon! Didn’t I already do a review on cherry flavored bourbon? The nerve of some people. This guy must have a set of cojones on him. It takes a special kind of person to pull a stunt like that. Fact is, he read my review on the cherry flavored Bourbon and still sent this to me. I couldn’t believe it.

But, I am so glad he did!

          When we first heard how Cleveland Bourbon was made, we like a lot of others went “NO WAY!!”. we also thought” We’ll try it”. Tom Lix, the man behind Cleveland Whiskey is turning the bourbon world on its ear by aging whiskey in a fraction of the time. It is put in a barrel for six months, then put into some kind of proprietary pressurization chamber with a barrel that from what I gather has been run through a wood chipper to finish for a week. There is more to it than that, but I’m sure that is a trade secret. It doesn’t matter how he does it, all that matters is the end product. So, without further ado.

The color is exquisite, deep gold with ribbons of pale amber floating through it. The nose has a distinct cherry note that for the first time doesn’t detract from the other aromas. This really pleased the nose and was already better than some straight Bourbons we have smelt. It is a nice balance of cherry, corn, vanilla, spice and oak. The cherry is definitely there but it isn’t overpowering at all.

          This is bottled at 94 proof so it is a bit stronger than your typical bourbon. We found that the perfect way to enjoy this is to put the bottle in the freezer overnight. The next day pour 3 ounces into your favorite glass and add 6 ml of water to it. This is how we found we enjoyed it best. Adding ice waters it down to much, adding water is good, but to us it just tastes best cold. The forceful addition of 6 ml of water also helps to open the nose when it is served cold. Without water it is a bit bland on the nose. All in all great flavor of cherry and oak at the forefront followed by the more delicate flavors of corn, vanilla, cinnamon, and spice.

          The finish is long and lingering bringing a heavy hit of cherry and oak. Very pleasant. I also found that it packs a decent mule kick at the end. I love a good mule kick. It wasn’t bad enough to close the throat just enough to let you know you were drinking whiskey.

I’d definitely recommend this to the guys that are feeling adventurous. Everyone is different so if you don’t like it the way I do try something different. This is a bottle I wish I had more of. It is flavored naturally using cherry wood, instead of some saccharin imitation flavoring that has no business in whiskey. I applaud you Tom Lix, you have changed my mind. If you have tried Cleveland Whiskey please feel free to comment, if not try it first!

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: WHISKEY ROW BOURBON

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Got to love the bottle it came in!

Color: Deep Copper almost burnished

Nose: Vanilla, Corn, Caramel Apple, Citrus, Clove, Spice, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, and Oak

Taste: Vanilla, Corn, Citrus, Spice, Cinnamon, and Oak

Finish: Long finish with hints of vanilla and oak. Little bit of Alcohol burn too

Score:
Rick- 8.5/10.0
Sam- 9.0/10.0
Overall- 8.75/10.0

There are days when I really love my hobby. The day we got to try this was one of them. This is a blend of 3 different Bourbons, all at least 6 years old. The gentlemen at Whiskey Row seem to have it together. I am a bit of a purist, I prefer single barrels, single malts, and single grains. I love the differences you can get in character traits from these. It’s fun to grab two bottles of single barrel Bourbon and find the differences between them. For example, I have had a bottle that no other could touch, then bought another bottle I use to cook with. The best thing about blends, is that if they are done right they are a force to be reckoned with. Whiskey Row is going to be that force. It is one of the most balanced Bourbons I have had the pleasure of trying. The bad news for you guys and now me, since I am out. It isn’t available on the market yet that I can find.

The smells coming from the bottle alone are drool worthy. Once poured they get even better.  It’s a all the smells you associate with Bourbon right there in one spot. They aren’t to hard to pull out, and they are married well. The nose is well balanced with out some of the more predominant smells you’d get from a single barrel.

The first sip was a surprise, I expected the same balance as the nose, but this was more of a progression. First the sweet, then grains, followed by fruit, spice and oak. The mouth feel is quite nice almost like warm honey. The flavors once they’ve greeted you settle together and blend nicely. The second sip is more balanced.

The finish is smooth and long. The finish is also where some of the balance falls away. I got a nice hit of vanilla and oak on the finish that really lasted. It was nice to get a hit of Oak with a tinge of vanilla. Just about right for a Bourbon. There’s a bit of a kick as well, not as much as I’d prefer, but not bad.

If you like extremely balanced Bourbons, this is the bottle for you. It is a well rounded bourbon that will satisfy most any Bourbon aficionado. I’d like to keep a bottle on hand myself. Something this well balanced makes it an easy choice for a sipper. I’d again like to thank Jeremy from Whiskey Row for the samples. Without guys like him….I’d have to wait for them to hit the shelves like you guys! Sorry had to have a little fun.

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: HIGHSPIRE PURE RYE WHISKEY

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Color: Tanned Leather

Nose: Honey, Spice, Floral, Cinnamon, and Oak

Taste: Vanilla, Lots of Spice, Cinnamon, Floral,

Finish: Medium Spicy finish with hints of vanilla and burns all the way to the toes

Score:
Rick- 8.5/10.0
Sam- 8.5/10.0
Overall- 8.5/10.0

This was my first step into the world of rye, and still my first 100% rye.I went into this with a little trepidation, I haven’t had Rye, but I liked the way it smelled. I was sent this sample by the great folks at Highspire. This was quite an experience.

A little history.  Robert Wilson was an Irish immigrant that originally founded Wilson Distilling Company and Highspire Pure Rye Whiskey in 1823. Prohibition caused it to be shut down for a while. Austin Hope has taken his expertise from wine making and turned to rye whiskey. He re-opened Highspire Whiskey and is bringing back the classic taste of American rye whiskey. They make their rye from 100% rye mash, grown less than a mile from their distillery, and then quick age it in ex-wine barrels. I think Mister Wilson would be proud of what Austin has accomplished.

The color is reminiscent of tanned leather. A rich dark color that is quite enticing. The nose threw me off completely. I was expecting something akin to Bourbon. Instead I got a smell like no other. It was a little untamed like roses growing next to jalapenos. Spicy, sweet, floral notes, and cinnamon. A different combination, but not unpleasant in the least. I really enjoyed the nose on this and kept sniffing it as I drank. It was at this time that I realized that I was going to have to put rye on my list.

The first sip is almost heady. It’s tricks you with a quick vanilla note before blasting you with a nice floral spiciness and cinnamon. The oak makes an appearance too, but it is more reserved and more of a background vocalist than a frontman. I loved it. This was even more reason for me to jump into Rye. It has a decent amount of spice, but nothing that I can’t handle. It isn’t overpowering at all, it is very enjoyable.

The finish is spicy with a slight bit of kick, not bad for an 80 proof. A nice medium finish with that strong floral spice and a dash of vanilla.

It saddens me to be out of the sample that they sent me. I went to my local retailer to try and procure some more but was told it wasn’t available. I guess the next time I get to a larger city (damn small town life) I’ll have to look it up there. This is definitely a bottle I would recommend. I really enjoyed it. If you see a full size bottle don’t hesitate to pick it up and give it a try.

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

THE WHISKEY EXTRAVAGANZA

As I am sure most of my returning readers are aware. I went to a gala event on May 1^st in Dallas hosted by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, it is called The Whisky Extravaganza. What an awesome experience. As a surprise, I took my Father-in-Law. We had a blast.

I found out about it trolling the internet looking for whisky shows. At the time I didn’t know if such a thing existed. Well, it does and there are quite a few. I chose this one based on proximity and date. As well as the fact that the Dallas/Fort Worth area is home to me. I purchased the tickets and made my hotel reservations February 19^th. That’s when the waiting and dreaming began. I’d sit around daydreaming and searching for photos from the events trying to get an idea of what I’d be walking in to. I started to worry that my daydreaming would lead to a letdown. I’m happy to say that I was wrong.

On April 21^st I received an email to get into a Masers Class presented by Dewar’s. They would be providing samples of Dewar’s 18, Aberfeldy 21, and Craigellachie 23. The only catch, I had to be one of the first 70 people to respond to the e-mail. I responded within 4 minutes. I was on pins and needles waiting to find out if Rick and I were going to be able to attend. I had to wait a full day, but we got in. This was a unique experience for us. Gabriel Cardarella, Dewar’s Brand Ambassador, was extremely knowledgeable, and quite the comedian. He started with a very lively history of Dewar’s and then led us through the tasting and gave us background on each glass. Leading our senses, and pointing out certain eccentricities. I really enjoyed the Aberfeldy 21 followed by the Dewar’s 18 and lastly the Craigellachie 23.

The extravaganza was right after the tasting. On a quick side note, if you get to the hotel early it is NOT a good idea to go and see if you can see them setting up. It leads to a very dismal two hours of eagerness that in turn leads to watching Maury Povich to kill the time. Really, I don’t recommend it. I was an idiot, and forgot to take pictures. The one above is from the website, the guy in the picture is Ricky. He is another very funny guy, that I had the fortune of meeting. Alright I suppose I better get on to the experience.

The Extravaganza was great, it surpassed my expectations. It also taught me a lot. I suspected going in that I wouldn’t care for the heavy peat. I was right. I was also right in thinking that Rick would love it. I did enjoy the mildly peated Arran. The amount of whiskey available was unbelievable. There were roughly 200 plus different bottle to choose from. It wasn’t just Scotch. There was also Bourbon, Single Malts from Asia, American Whiskey, Rum, and a few others for color. I tried the peat a little too early and had to stop and eat to refresh my palette.  I skipped the peat after that and tried everything else. I won’t go into a blow by blow. I couldn’t have gotten through them all if I had tried to do a review on each of them. I did however find my palette and found some good names to purchase later. Sorry, not going to give any clues.

By 9pm we were pretty well hammered. Leaning on one another we were able to make it to the room. We performed the time honored tradition of the drunk dial. Sorry honey! The best part about drinking really good Whisk(e)y…No hangover! We are also planning our next event and can’t wait to do it again. These guys really know how to put on an amazing show. I have links to both the Scotch Malt Society’s website and the whiskey extravaganza in the first paragraph. If you see them coming to your area you need to go. It is well worth the money.

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: FEW SPIRITS BOURBON

Color: Dark Copper
Nose: Sweet Corn, Spice, Vanilla, Anise, and Caramel
Taste: Corn, Charred Oak, Something Herbal, with hints of citrus and a bit of warmth.
Finish: Long Herbal finish with spice and heat
Score:
Rick- 6.25/10.0
Sam- 8.25/10.0
Overall- 7.25/10.0
Rick and I were split on this one. I thought it was decent. He didn’t care for it much. It’s different, probably from the Minnesota Oak that it is aged in. It has an almost herbal gin undertone to it that just kind of throws it off. I wouldn’t turn down a glass if offered, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to purchase it either.

The color was a surprise, it has the look of a well aged bourbon. I was kind of excited when I looked at it. I like dark Bourbons, they seem to have better flavor.

The nose was really good on this, the kind of nose you would expect from a good bourbon. The herbal notes were there, but more of a background note. undetectable until after the first sip. Then it becomes more noticeable.

The first taste starts out really good, sweet corn and charred oak seem to push to the front. Then the herbal note makes its entrance completely surprising the taste buds. It wasn’t expected. I like to go blind into tastings. I don’t read reviews or research, because I don’t want other opinions to sway me. I Think , that if I had been ready for the herbal note I would have liked it more. It was just so different from what I am used to that it detracted from the bourbon. Not a bad flavor by any means, just out of my comfort zone. Ice mellows the herbal note out some making it better to me.
The finish has a strong Herbal note that seems to stick around. It’s almost like Gin. I’m not a big fan of gin, it’s just one of those things that I can say I tried.

If you like gin, or just wanting to try something different. go for it. It is definitely a new experience. I wouldn’t turn it down, I’d just ask for ice. THis is my last FEW review for now. I did try their Gin and Single Malt, but I didn’t care for them so I am going to leave it at this. Thanks to the folks at FEW Spirits for providing the samples for these reviews. I hope we can work together again in the future.

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: PINCKNEY BEND RESTED AMERICAN WHISKEY

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Color: Tawny
Nose: Honey, Sweet Corn, Cinnamon Spice, Vanilla, Caramel, Dark Fruits, Green Apple
Taste: Corn, Vanilla, Cinnamon and Peppercorn Spice, Apple, Dark Fruits, Charred Oak, with hints of citrus and a bit of warmth.
Finish: Long smooth finish with a bit of spice and some decent heat
Score:
Rick – 9.25/10.0
Sam – 9.25/10.0
Overall – 9.25/10.0
I can see now why these guys at Pinckney Bend won double gold. I worry that I won’t do them justice. This is hands down the best Whiskey I have had in a while. Not the best, but top 5 for sure. The amazing part it is a rested whiskey, in the barrel for less than a year. I’d put this in a blind tasting against bourbon and I think you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference.

The guys at Pinckney Bend did me a great honor sending me this. Being as they are my next door neighbor, I might have take that 5 hour drive across the border to go see them in person, they have a Port Cask Finish that I am now really want to try. I know I am gushing a little, but this really was that good. On to the review before I embarrass myself more!

The nose on this is sublime. There’s no fight for dominance, just a harmonious blend of aromas that seduce you into taking another whiff. The biggest problem was trying to draw out each note one at a time. The honey, sweet corn, cinnamon spice, vanilla, caramel, raisins, plums, and green apple all come at once to greet you. I expected a little alcohol burn from a 100 proof, but it wasn’t bad at all.

The first sip starts out with a nice corn flavor, not to sweet, and is followed by the rest. The flavors are quite easy to pick out on the tongue, they don’t meld together, it is like they are dancing, sometimes together, other times apart, but always in perfect rhythm. The charred oak is a surprise seeing that it is barely in the barrel, but it does nicely. I was really expecting a sweeter whiskey, but was pleasantly let down. If you have read my blog, I really don’t care for overly sweet whiskey.

The spicy charred oak finish again was a surprise from a 100 proof bottle. I did expect more of a kick, and to be honest this was a bit of a let down. I like a nice mule kick on the swallow. It had some decent heat, but it was so smooth that I almost missed it.

Rick and I both will be buying a bottle of this in the future. We’d recommend you buy one too.

I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: FEW RYE WHISKEY

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Color: Dark Amber
Nose: Honey, Spice, Green Apple, Alcohol

Taste: Vanilla, Lots of Spice, Cinnamon Apple, Walnut, Hints of Sweet Corn and Oak

Finish: Medium Sweet finish with hints of spice and a warm glow

Score:
Rick- 8.5/10.0
Sam- 8.5/10.0
Overall- 8.5/10.0

This was my second rye. I’ll get to the first later in the week. I went into this with a pretty good hunch that, while I hadn’t had Rye, I was going to like it. I was sent a plethora of samples by the great folks at FEW. They were very generous. I will admit there was one that I didn’t care for, and 3 different Gins that, although good, I have decided are better left to Gin enthusiasts to review.

A little bit of back-story on FEW. FEW is located in the heart of prohibition, Evanston, Illinois. This town doesn’t have a single bar or liquor store to this day. Paul Hletko, the Few Spirits founder and distiller, doesn’t let that stop him though. He might have even gone as far as thumbing his nose at the temperance movement, by coincidentally naming his distillery FEW. Frances Elizabeth Willard(FEW) was the co-founder and president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. But, like I said that’s just coincidence right?

On to the review. THe nose of this was very pleasing. It was also quite different from what I am used to. Second time having Rye. The aromas seem a lot more gentle than most american whiskey. I loved the Wild Honey, and cinnamon apple. It also had another essence that I was not able to determine, kind of a sweet malty smell. I am guessing that may be the Rye.

The taste is like no other, I have to thank Few for opening my eyes to Rye. It is wonderful stuff. This is a 70/20/10 blend of Rye/Corn/Barley, so it is a bit sweeter than what I have read about most rye. Not to sweet though, more of a vanilla background to the spice, cinnamon, walnut, and oak. RIck and I have to say that this is our favorite rye to date and one that will be used to judge others.

The finish is where that 20% corn stops by to say hi. It’s a little sweet, with just the barest hint of spice. It gives a nice warm glow that really seems to linger. Going to have to find some more near me! Definitely recommend this.
I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: JEFFERSON’S RESERVE GROTH RESERVE CASK FINISH

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Color: Polished Copper

Nose:
90.2 Proof- Bright and Pungent, Peaches and Cream Corn, Caramel, Vanilla, Blackberries, Oak, Toffee, hints of smoke and raisins
Cask Strength – Sweet at first, but then the alcohol numbs your nose

Taste:
90.2 Proof- Sweet Corn, Toffee, Raisins, Red Wine, A little spice and smoke
Cask Strength-Sweet Buttery Corn, Charred Oak, Vanilla, Dark Red Wine, Spice, Dark Fruits, And a bit of crisp Apple, and a slight hint of Blackberries

Finish:
90.2 Proof- Smooth Finish, Sweet corn, caramel, a little burn
Cask Strength Nice Long finish, with Lots of Sweet Corn, Spice and Oak

Score:
Rick- 90.2 Proof 8.75/10.0
Cask Strength 9.5/10.0

Sam- 90.2 Proof 9.0/10.0
Cask Strength 9.25/10.0

Overall- 90.2 Proof 8.875/10.0
Cask Strength 9.375/10.0

Note: We added 4mL of water to a 30mL sample of 119 proof to achieve roughly 90.2 proof. Hopefully my math was right.

We received this sample to review while I was away. Love the fact that it came in a plain bottle, simply marked Bottle #1. The air of mystery made it even more intriguing. This is the first time we have had any of the Jefferson’s products, and if this is any indicator, we are definitely missing out! We were told that this was sent to us at cask strength, and would need to be diluted. We decided to try it both ways.

Hopefully someone at Jefferson’s is reading this, PLEASE DON’T DILUTE IT! This is a beautiful pour. One of our favorites to date. Without water, it is a little harsh on the nose, but the flavor profiles are much better like this. Water smooths out the bite, but also dilutes the flavor sending some of the more delicate notes packing.

The nose is the only place that the added water was better. The water really brought out the aromas of Sweet Peaches and cream corn, Caramel, Vanilla Bean, and a Myriad of other enticing scents. Without water we were only able to detect the corn before the nose was burned by the alcohol.

When it comes to flavor, undiluted is definitely the way to go. The more delicate notes such as raisins, the char of the oak, and crisp apple seem to fade with the addition of water. The Cabernet cask finish is very subtle, mostly came out in a slight blackberry note that was very pleasing. It was still a wonderful pour with water, and one that we’ll will definitely be looking for this when it hits the shelves in our area.

The finish to this one is a lot of fun. At cask strength it’ll kick you in the back of the throat on the way down. Some might see this as a detraction, but we really enjoy a good bite. The cask strength also allowed for a broader flavor profile on the way down too. The water smooths out the kick, not taking it away, just softening the blow a little, and making it sweeter.

As stated earlier this was our introduction to Jefferson’s, and after this we are planning to expand our portfolio. Jefferson’s seems to make a fine bourbon, but only more testing will verify that for sure. It will have to wait though this weekends testing was quite a lengthy one, and next weekend is the Whiskey Extravaganza. So much whisk(e)y so little time!
I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Review suggestions are welcome.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: Four Roses Bourbon

Color: Rich Copper with Amber Highlights

Nose: Sweet Corn, Oak, Citrus, floral, and Slight Caramel

Taste: Sweet corn, Oak, Vanilla, and Citrus

Score: 6.5/10.0

Finish: Medium Smooth finish, with a little smokey oak, and just a bit of burn

 

Review: Jim Beam Red Stag

Color: Pale Amber

Nose: Mostly Oak and Cherry

Taste: Cherry NyQuil

Finish: Sweet and Lingering

Score: I will not be scoring this as it would be unfair!

This was the last bottle of the four pack of samplers I bought. I want to preface this article with the simple statement of: “I DON”T LIKE FLAVORED WHISKEY”. With that said, I thought I would go ahead and try it again. My first time was Fireball, which I didn’t like either, but I like cherries and whiskey so what the hell…

The color is a decent pale amber color you would expect from Jim Beam. That is where the comparison stops. This is a college drink. Something frat boys keep around for dates. No discerning Whisk(e)y drinker would enjoy this. I took a sip and had to fight the urge to spit it out.

This stuff tastes like nasty cherry flavored off-brand NyQuil. I love Jim Beam, my last two reviews have been great. The Jim Beam Black, and the Jim Beam Devils Cut were awesome. I actually bought 2 bottles of Black and one of the Devils Cut I liked them that much. This stuff on the other hand was a total disaster.

I finally got it down and the finish is saccharin cherry sweetness, and like cough syrup, it seems to coat the throat. I was completely disgusted with this. I poured the rest down the drain. Not something I would by or accept even if it was free. I have definitely learned my lesson.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

DIET WHISKEY?!?!?!?!

I wrote the title right, I promise. I just came across a website that is offering diet whiskey. I am flabbergasted, and a little intrigued. I am a lover of all things whiskey. I’ll even admit, I could stand to lose a few pounds. I’m just not sure if I am ready for this. I ‘d be willing to give it a shot though, pun intended.

The company is called Sinfully Thinn, and they are based out of Genoa, Ohio. The bottles are actually kind of cool looking, but it does obstruct the view of the contents, giving no clue as to color, which is a big factor for me. I like whiskey that I can see. To be honest though I generally prefer clear bottle, I know it isn’t always possible, but it is what i prefer.

I like where they are going with this, I am just worried about what it might take from the flavor. I think we can all agree that we drink whisk(e)y for the enjoyment of it, and rarely consider our waistline as we enjoy. They use a vacuum distillation process that they say gives the “purest and best tasting whiskey” you can get. Thinn comes in flavors too. They have original, blueberry, and cinnamon.

Well guys, check them out and get back to me. I’d love to hear your reactions.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!

 

REVIEW: Bushmills Original

Color: Pale Golden Hue

Nose: Mostly Vanilla Bean, Oak, and Hints of Citrus

Taste: Sweet Vanilla, Spice, Oak, and Citrus

Finish: Smooth finish, Spice, and just the slightest burn

Score: I will not be scoring this as it is the first Irish whiskey I have had. I have Nothing to Compare it to

 

REVIEW: Jim Beam Black

Color: Toffee

Nose: Caramel, Sweet Honey, Spice, Oak

Taste: Oak, Sweet corn, Orange peel, Vanilla, And Spice

Finish: Long smooth finish, Smoke, Caramel and a bit of Spice

Score: Sam- 7.0/10.0

 

REVIEW: Jim Beam Devils Cut

Color: Rich Amber

Nose: Oak, Sweet Honey, Spice, Orange

Taste: Oak, Sweet corn, Cinnamon and Orange peel

Finish: Long smooth finish, Oak with a bit of Spice

Score: Sam- 6.0/10.0

 

REVIEW: Glenfiddich 18-year-old

Color: Burnished Copper

Nose: Oak, Dried Fruits, Smoke, Citrus, Honey, Cinnamon and Spice

Taste: Sweet Sherried Oak, Honey, Orange peel, Apples, Raisins, Black Pepper, Tobacco, Sweet Caramel and Vanilla

Finish: Long smooth finish, Raisins, Dried Fruit, and Spice, perfectly balanced with a slight burn

Score: Rick- 9.25/10.0

            Sam- 8.5/10.0

            Overall – 8.875/10.0

This is now one of Rick and I’s favorite Scotches. I know I have said that before, when talking about the Glenfiddich 15, so let me clarify. This is my favorite 18-year-old scotch to date. On to the review.

We cracked The bottle Saturday night. The moment we popped the cork, the nose was there. This was the first time I have opened a bottle and could smell the contents before I even poured the first glass. Rick was actually very scared based on the smell. He had been burned before by an outstanding smelling drink so he was leery to say the least. The nose in the glass was sweet dried fruits, oak, cinnamon and spice. It is a very balanced and harmonious nose that really fills your nose. I really enjoyed it, savoring each smell trying to pull out the individual scents.

I like to take small sips, swirl them and then swallow when tasting. This bottle epitomizes balance. The smell and the taste are almost identical. It starts out sweet and morphs into oak with oranges, apples, raisins, black pepper and tobacco all equally represented. I sometimes gargle to see what differences I can get, with this I was surprised by strong pepper, and citrus.

The finish was long, smooth, and sweet with a perfect burn. It warms from the tips of the ears to the bottom of the stomach. I really enjoyed this expression. It really is perfectly balanced. It a complete mouth experience. I was surprised by the way the oak bites the tip of the tongue, and then caresses it on the way down.

I was really impressed with this and would definitely buy again. Have anything you’d like to add? Hit me up in the comment section below. I’d love to hear what your first experience was.

Until Next Time,

Slàinte Mhath!