Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-09-17

Hey... yet another Wednesday. This time, something slightly different. I went to save off a 2oz sample of Baker's 7, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Batch 03-2015, Aged 8 Years, 0 Months, Single Barrel, 53.5% ABV ... and, it was more like 1oz. So ... I couldn't put it with the rest of the 2oz samples and have it as a random sample later, because I'd know what it is ... so instead, I drank it tonight unblind. I rated this on 3.75 originally... and then 3.25 later on (both times blind) ... let's see what I think tonight.

On the nose, I do find the proof right away, spearmint, brown sugar, a touch of cinnamon, and maybe a bit of stone fruit like apricot. The taste, I get cinnamon, heat and wood. I'm a little surprised that I didn't get the typical Beam peanut, but I didn't really get it the last time I had this either. The finish is nice. Brown Sugar that lingers, dry oak in the back, and some cinnamon. 

It's nice, but not outstanding. This is pretty solid, and generally easy to find in Oregon for around $65... so not too expensive for what it is. I'll rate it a 3.5/5.0 tonight - would pick this up again, but I won't go hunting for it.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-09-10

All right - time for another random sample ... see what I think.

This one is quite light - and so right away I'm going to guess it's a Scotch Whisky with no added coloring. The nose I get honey, some ash, a bit of matchstick, very sweet. Chocolate as well. This one seems fairly mild, but I did just come off a warm up pour that was high proof.

There is more ash on the taste, some matchstick as well. It's a bit prickly, and the honey comes through as well. There does seem to be something a little off on it, but I can't really place what exactly - can't seem to pin it down.

The finish has sweet in the front, and turns ashy in the back. It has a touch of malt sourness as well that I sometimes get from more recent Lagavulin Distillers Editions - but I can't see this being that. There is a little bit of pepper on the finish as well. My best guess is this is one of the one-off Ardbegs I've bought over the years. 

I'll rate this a 4.0/5.0 ... if I was in the right mood, I'd rate it 4.25. This ended up being the Ardbeg Heavy Vapors Committee Release, 50.2% ABV (which I believe was cask strength for this one). As many of the Ardbeg one-offs, it wasn't cheap - coming in at about $160 in Oregon. It doesn't look like I've reviewed this before - I have a little bit left to try again sometime to see if I like it more or less than this evening. While I don't think I have a sample remaining, I'm pretty certain I prefer Corryvrekan or even Uigedail over this, and those you can find easily and they are cheaper. 

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-09-03

Well, I've missed a few weeks ... been busy. Anyway, time to get back in the game (: Tonight... another random sample. Nose it, taste it... give some thoughts, and then check to see what I'm drinking.

On the nose, it comes across a bit punchy, this is likely higher proof, at least over 50%. It comes across malty, ashy, along with some mint, brown sugar, some bright fruit, and a savory BBQ meat. Really quite nice. My first guess is a higher proof Ardbeg.

On the taste, I get bacon, bbq meat and bbq sauce, there's some spice as well. The heat builds on this, but I do get the ash and sweet fruit too. The spice has a numbing quality to it as well. The finish I get the ash and the spicy tingle that has a numbing sensation, molasses, sweetness that lingers. It's a nice long finish that hangs around for quite some time.

I'm guessing this is a peated Scotch or maybe an American Single Malt - either way, it's really good. I am enjoying this quite a bit, and I hope I have some left on the shelf to drink another time. I'll rate this a 4.50/5.0 - some of the best I've had for sure.

I was drinking McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt 6 Year Cask Strength, 56.13% ABV, finished in PX Sherry Cask Finished, made in Hood River, OR by Clear Creek Distillery using Peat-Malted Scottish Barley. I originally rated this 4.5/5.0 - and it held up tonight for sure. This is one to enjoy throughout the evening, cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-08-06

Time for Whisk(e)y Wednesday... tonight another random sample from the collection. On the nose, I get honey and spearmint bubble gum, orange citrus, cherry, not too hot on the nose. Bourbon-ish for sure. The taste, I initially get dusty wood, burnt brown sugar, some cinnamon heat, and I believe some dill. The more I drink, the smoother this gets, seems to be lower proof, 50% ABV or lower. 

On the finish I find a sweetness that lingers a long time, brown sugar, some oak dryness, and some odd savory sour note that I can't quite put my finger on. The finish hangs around for some time, so I'm guessing this is well aged. Overall, I'm guessing this is bourbon. Usually dill notes make me think maybe rye, but it was very light, so I'll stick with bourbon. This drinks middle of the road, I'll rate it 3.25/5.0 tonight. 

Turns out, I was drinking Tin Cup 14Year, 42% ABV, Indiana produced, bottled in Colorado. After knowing what I was drinking and going back to it - the age certainly comes through. I rated it originally 3.5 during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, then 3.0 during the four way bourbon tasting... and so tonight I split the difference (: I think I would like it better higher proof, 50% ABV would probably help it some.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-07-30

Here we are again, another Whisk(e)y Wednesday, let's see what we have today.

On the nose, I get sharpness, and then spearmint, honey, brown sugar... I seem to find a little dill too - which often means rye, but the other notes are making me think bourbon. The taste I get the heat and the spice, sweet honey, a burst of cherry, drinks hot for sure. Going back I get corn syrup, it's quite sweet overall.

The finish is honey, cherry and corn syrup. It tends to linger. As I get acclimated, it tastes and noses less hot, but I'm pretty sure this is high proof. Overall this is quite enjoyable. I'm guessing it's barrel proof bourbon, but I don't recall what all are in the mix of the sample bottles so I can't make an actual guess. I would rate it a 3.75/5.0 - which is generally what I give high proof bourbons I really like.

It turns out this is Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey made with Blue Corn, 67.10% ABV from Hazelwood Spirits Co, aged 5+ years according to their website. I picked this up on a bourbon excursion in Vancouver, WA as it isn't something that is carried in Oregon. It did cost a bit north of $100 after sales tax (ugh...), but I would probably pick up another bottle if given the chance.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-07-23

Here we are again for another random sample for Whisk(e)y Wednesday. Let's dive in and see what we have tonight.

On the nose, I get sweetness, honey, strawberry jam, burnt sugar and some burnt popcorn - similar to what I get from Balcones Brimstone, though I don't think I have a sample of this in the random sample box. 

The taste - spice and heat take over initially. On the second sip, I find honey, strawberry jam, some botanical notes. The sweet trails into heat. The finish I get a hot cinnamon, honey sweetness, dry oak in the back.

Overall, this is pretty enjoyable. The nose isn't too harsh, but then the taste brings the heat - so I'm somewhat lost to guess at proof. Maybe 50% ABV ... or maybe higher? Unsure. My best guess is this is a higher proof bourbon or rye - it's spicy enough I guess I'd go with rye. I'd give it a 3.75/5.0 ... it's pretty tasty overall.

Well - sometimes you're on, sometimes you're off. Tonight I was off. I was drinking Santa Fe Colkegan Cask Strength American Single Malt, 59% ABV. During 24 Days of Whisk(e)y I liked this one quite a bit, rating it a 4.0/5.0. Tonight, I just didn't get the malt or the smoke... not sure why. I have some of this left in a Woozy - I'll have to try it again at some point to see what I find, Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-07-16

Hey look ... another Wednesday. Time for another blind sample to try...

On the nose, I get vanilla, honey and some orange. The taste is similar - vanilla, honey, along with some spice in the back. The finish I get the honey, a little pepper spice, then sweet at the end.

Overall, this is enjoyable enough. I'm guessing it's a non-peated Scotch, though it could be an Irish I suppose. It's likely in the 40%ABV to 45%ABV range, it's pretty simple overall - I'd rate it a 3.5/5.0 this evening.

Turns out I was drinking Deanston 12 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.3%ABV. I've rated it 3.5 in the past - it's nice, but at $65 a bottle there are better options out there that are more interesting.