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.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-07-09

Welcome back... time for another blind sample. This has been fun so far, we'll see if it stays fun (:

The nose is a bit hot at first... then I find orange, honey, and a touch of malt. Overall the nose is nice. The taste it's sweet in the front along with honey, then it's woody, then there is a hot cinnamon in the back that takes over. The finish is minty, honey and along with cinnamon.

Overall I enjoy this, but I don't have a good guess what it is. It might be a rye, an Irish ... unsure. I'd guess around 110 proof due to the hotness of the nose... and rate it a 3.75/5.0. Turns out, it was Whistle Pig 10 Year Small Batch Rye, 50% ABV. Back during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y I rated it a 3.5 ... so same ball park. Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-07-02

Another random sample to try this evening... let's see if this one is any good (:

On the nose, I get some honey, orange, sweet apple, brown sugar, some malt. My first impression is it's an Irish Whiskey. The nose is a touch hot, but not overly so.

The taste - I get some spicy heat, brown sugar, a rye like spice, cinnamon, honey... and malt ... so much malt. The finish has a cinnamon heat that lingers, and lingers. It's very nice. I am guessing this is an Irish, and I like it quite a bit, tonight I'll rate a 4.0/5.0.

Turns out it was Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength, batch B1/22, 58.1% ABV. Back during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2024 I rated it a 4.0 then as well... it's really good stuff, biggest issue is it's north of $100 a bottle, so I pretty rarely buy one... cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-06-25

Here we go.... Whisk(e)y Wednesday... tonight ... another random sample from my collection. Let's see if it's any good ... ok, I wouldn't have saved a sample if I didn't think it was good - so let's see how good it is tonight (:

On the nose, initially and up front I get some malty notes, musty, apple, orange, brown sugar ... for lack of a better word it is "bright". The taste I also get the orange, along with brown sugar, candy, baking spice and on the backend I get some hot cinnamon. I'm having a hard time nailing this one down.

The finish I get the brown sugar, cinnamon, oak dryness ... some spice. Overall this feels ... dark (?) ... fruity... it seems to go back and forth between fruity and spicy. It almost feels like an Irish Whiskey like maybe a Cask Strength Red Breast - but I don't think it's quite that good. Can't quite nail this one down.... but I'll rate it a 3.75/5.0 tonight.

Turns out - this was Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Rye, Doubble Barrel Rye Whiskey. Back during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y I rated this one a 3.75 as well. That time I found some licorice on the finish, which had me leaning towards rye - if you go looking, you can find that black licorice on the finish, and once you find it - it's hard to miss. Overall, this is pretty good - but at $80 or more, it would be hard to buy another one. Cheers!