Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-07-01

Whisk(e)y Wednesday time ... a random sample from the collection, let's see what we have tonight.

On the nose - this seems pretty laid back. I get some cherry and molasses, some alcohol in the back, but not too much so I'm guessing around 45% ABV. This feels finished, but not exactly sure in what. It might just be from the color - which has some red hue to it. The taste is woody and cinnamon, with some burnt sugar as well. The finish is cherry and vanilla with some cinnamon in the back. Almost feels like Wild Turkey 101, although I'm getting some spearmint too.

Water doesn't seem to change things too much, about the same really. It's fine, but not great. Guessing a mid priced, 45%-ish proof bourbon, and I'll rate it 3.5/5.0. 

So this was the Woodford Reserve Double Oak. I had this during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2025, and I rated it a 3.75/5.0 for that and I thought it was an Irish Whiskey ... at least I got that part right tonight (:. 45.2% ABV - so I was on those nose for that too. Until next week, cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-24

Time for another random sample Whisk(e)y Wednesday... here we go!

On the nose, this is brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, touch of malt. My first hunch is crafty bourbon or maybe an Irish. It seems a little proofy on the nose too. The taste is molasses, fruit, peppery, with a finish that is sweet cherry - leaning towards a cask strength bourbon.

With water, this is more sweet on the nose, more orange and fruity on the taste and finish. Overall this is quite enjoyable, I would rate it 3.75/5.0 - solid for sure. This was the Trail's End 8 Year Bourbon Van pick, coming in at 56.85% ABV. This was finished in a McCarthy's Peated and Smoked American Single Malt Barrel ... I didn't really find that this came through the finish, but it was quite tasty regardless. Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-17

Whisk(e)y ... WEDNESDAY!!!

Random sample time - let's see what we have this evening. On the nose, I get hits of orange, malt, a touch of sulfur I think - but just a touch and some vanilla. The taste I get orange, malt, some black pepper and vanilla. The finish is malty and vanilla. This feels maybe mid proof, around 50% ABV I would guess, and my first hunch is Scotch, maybe something like Compass Box Glasgow Blend.

With water, the nose is very similar, but more sweet. The taste is more sweet too but feels more plain as well. On the finish I now get a touch of sulfur. Overall this is pretty nice.. I almost gave it a 4.0/5.0 - but I'll call it a 3.75/5.0 instead. 

Turns out we were drinking Ardnamurchan Highland Single Malt Whisky, 46.8% ABV. I did almost scream "SCOTCH!" so I'm glad I got that part right (: Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-10

Another random sample for Whisk(e)y Wednesday - let's see what we have tonight.

On the nose, this is honey, mint, malt ... fairly mild. I would lean Irish, maybe an American Single Malt ... I suppose possibly a non-peated Scotch. Seems pretty low ABV on the nose, 90ish proof I'm guessing. The taste is bright-citrus with some spice too. The finish is malty, honey, cereal, fruit on the back end... I don't think it's apple, but maybe? I'm thinking maybe *not* Irish, hmm.

With water, the nose is still minty, with floral and honey too. The taste and finish seem more mild and malty. My final thought is this will be a middle of the road Irish - lower proof, maybe even 40% ABV as that's a popular point for Irish Whiskies. Tonight I would rate this a 3.5/5.0 - it's good but not great.

Turns out this was Compass Box, Glasgow Blend, Blended Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV, no color added, non-chill filtered. I originally had this in 2024's 24 Days of Whisk(e)y and at that time I rated it 3.75/5.0, so in the same ball park... cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-03

Back from vacation - time for another Whisk(e)y Wednesday, so here goes another random sample.

On the nose, peaty, rubber, phenol ... the nose is very nice, I could just sniff this all night long. It seems very Ardbeg - it's sweet too. The taste is sweet bbq along with the char and ash and peat. This has to be an Ardbeg. It seems a bit high proof so many it's a Cask Strength Committee Release. 

The finish is heat and sweet with smoke in the back. With water, the nose is similar though it may have more char. The taste is very sweet then more char. The finish is spicy and nice. This is really good and I would rate it 4.25/5.0.

Well, it is an Ardbeg... but not a Committee Release. It's Ardbeg Wee Beastie - Aged 5 Years, 47.4% ABV. This one keeps surprising me how good it is when I have it blind. I really need to pick up a new bottle (:

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-04-29

Hump DAY! Whisk(e)y ... WEDNESDAY ! ! ! Another random sample today, let's see what we think.

On the nose, I'm getting honey, apple, sweet, vanilla, fairly mild overall. The taste I get bright fruit and a touch of heat - the finish is fruity and honey ... again a touch of heat. I don't think this is 40% ABV - maybe closer to 50%.

With water, more honey on the nose, taste is sweet with less heat, and the honey on the finish seems to linger longer. This is pretty nice overall, I'm guessing Irish - 50% ABV ... though there are not many at that ABV so it might be higher and Cask Strength. It's solid and tasty, I'll rate it 3.75/5.0

Today's sample was Knappogue Castle 12 Year California Blend, 46% ABV. I had this during 2024 24 Days of Whisk(e)y and rated it a 3.5 that time - so I seemed to like it a bit more now. Or I was wanting some Irish Whiskey (: Either way ... cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-04-22

All right, here we go with another random blind tasting. I saved off 2oz samples of past bottles before finishing them, and I grabbed one to try tonight - let's see what I think.

On the nose, this has spearmint, dark brown sugar, and honey. It seems maybe more rye that bourbon, but I think it could be either one from the nose. The taste I'm getting wood, brown sugar and some spicy heat. I would guess this is around 55% ABV or so. The finish is brown sugar, has a proof hug here too - might be even higher proof. 

With water the taste is more spearmint, nose is more brown sugar - finish is brown sugar and spearmint. It did tame down the heat considerably. Overall this is pretty good, and I would rate it a 3.5/5.0 tonight.

This was the Uncle Nearest Rye - 50% ABV. When I had this during the 2025 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, I was not a fan, and rated it 3.0/5.0. It just seemed flat and that night I thought it was around 40% ABV. Just goes to show that tastes can change night to night.