Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2021-02-24

Whisk(e)y Wednesday ... back at work this week, so I've been looking forward to this all day (: Tonight I'm tasting Mars Iwai Whisky 45, an "American Style" Whiskey coming in at 45% abv. I've had very few Japanese Whiskies - so let's see how this one tastes.

On the nose, I get apple and other fruit and a hint of butterscotch. The taste is sweet - not overly sweet, but it's the biggest note I'm finding - it seems very clingy too. It has some young alcohol burn to it as well - there is no age statement but this seems pretty young. The finish is candy sweet that hangs around for quite some time. 

With water, the nose opens up some - not finding anything different really - but more seems to be there - more present. The taste is similar, and the finish seems even longer. This one is all right - not great, but certainly drinkable. Got this for about $35, so while pretty low cost - there are many bourbons/ryes/etc that are similar in price and I prefer over this one. Still - I can't think of anything that this reminds me of - so I guess it's somewhat unique. Rated 2.5 / 5.0

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2021-02-17

I thought I'd be missing Whisk(e)y Wednesday this week, as we had ice storms around here in suburbia Portland, and I was without internet access until... today! It's a Whisk(e)y miracle! So... the show must go on... 

Today we have three Irish Whiskeys - having two Jameson Whiskey variants, and then a Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength to compare to. The Redbreast is one of my favorite Irish Whiskeys, so the two Jamesons have their work cut out for them (:

First up, Jameson Blender's Dog. This is triple distilled and comes in at 43% ABV. On the nose I find fresh cut grass, floral, cinnamon and some vanilla. On the taste I get caramel, pepper and wood. The finish is sweet and spicy. With water the nose is similar and the taste is less peppery with more wood. I could drink this either way. Overall this one is pretty good - I don't have the standard Jameson on hand, but from memory I would say this is quite a bit better and more interesting. Rated 3.0 / 5.0

Next we have the Jameson Distiller's Safe, triple distilled, 43% ABV. On the nose we have floral, herbs, almonds and vanilla. The taste I find citrus zest, clove and other baking spices, sweet fruit, and oak. The finish I get spice and dryness that lingers. With water the nose is similar and the taste has a bit more wood sourness and I'm finding nutty as well. Probably better neat. This isn't as good as the Blender's Dog in my opinion, Rated 2.75 / 5.0

Finally, Redbreast Single Pot Still 12 Year Cask Strength Irish Whiskey, Batch B2/19, 55.8% ABV. On the nose I find apple cider, pear and bread. The cask strength is present as you'll want to take small sips for sure. The taste I find butter, spice, baked fruit pie, and wood. The finish I get spice and oak wood that lingers, along with some high proof burn. With water, I found this hotter on the nose, and I find some mint on the flavor that I didn't notice before. I could drink this either way - and for me this is one that deserves to be sampled neat and with water. Overall I find this one really good, Rated 4.0 / 5.0 - it's a keeper for sure.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2021-02-10

Hump day! Half way through the week ... I might make it to Friday and actually get a few things done as well (: Relaxing with Compass Box Oak Cross this evening. This is a blended malt of Highland single malts, aged in American Oak, and then some of it is moved to first fill French Oak - before being combined back together. Does all that work make for good whisky?

On the nose I find sweet fruit in the front, some spice as well. This seems to have hints that reminds me of a ginger beer or a ginger flavored hard apple cider. Touch of brine as well. The taste I get sweet with some baking spice, along with vanilla. I get some oak and some spice in the finish that hangs around. Adding water doesn't seem to change things much, the nose is more mellow and there is a bit more spice on the taste, but not really much. I probably prefer this neat. 

This is quite nice. I would say it's a little better than Compass Box Great King Street Artist's Blend - but not by much. It has a little more flavor going on. It's almost twice as much as Artist's Blend though - and it's not that much better (: Rated 3.5 / 5.0 

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2021-02-03

Hump Day ! ! ! Tonight for Whisk(e)y Wednesday I'm reviewing something I've enjoyed for many years - but have never actually reviewed - Lagavulin 16 Year.

I decided to taste this side by side vs some other scotches. The Lagavulin Distillers Edition (2019 4/508) is one of my favorites, so it's a good baseline to compare to, while the Bank Note Peated Reserve Blended Scotch (5 Year) is a *budget* blend - costing around $25. Where on the scale between these two will the Lagavulin 16 fall? (:

First up, Lagavulin Distillers Edition, Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky - distilled 2013, bottled 2019, lgv. 4/508, 43% ABV. On the nose I find some mint and floral, a touch of ash and peaty smoke in the background, sweet, vanilla and caramel. On the taste I get some peaty smoke, touch of brine, sweetness and vanilla. The finish I find a fresh mint tingle and a nice sweetness that lingers for some time. Water brings out more mint and floral on the nose, the taste is a bit more tame - I would prefer this neat, but could see people enjoying it with a dash of water. Really well rounded and easy to drink. This one is so good and would be what I would offer a visiting friend or relative if they were visiting. Rated 4.5 / 5.0

Next, Bank Note Blended Scotch Whisky, Peated Reserve 5 Year, 43% ABV. I bought this mostly to see if a $25 Peated Blend would be half way decent. On the nose I get some smoke, sweet fruit, toffee and a bit of floral. The taste I get ashy smoke, some sweet and a hint of dark chocolate. On the finish I find it a bit bitter and harsh. Some spice with a sweet aftertaste turning a bit metallic. With water the nose is similar, a touch less harsh on the taste - might prefer this one with a splash of water. Overall - this one tastes a bit off at first, but by the time you're finishing the pour, it seems all right. There are things that are not much more, Compass Box Great King Street Artist's Blend, for example - that are much more enjoyable - though not peated. Rated 2.5 / 5.0

Onto the Lagavulin 16, 43% ABV. On the nose I find sweet caramel, some peat smoke, vanilla and iodine. The taste for me is salt and pepper, some earthy smoke, and nice balance. The finish I get mint freshness and pepper that hangs around for some time. With water I get more spice on the nose, and it tames the taste a bit - I prefer this one neat. Overall this one is well balanced, and will always be on my shelf. I don't enjoy it as much as the Lagavulin Distiller Edition - but it's close. Rated 4.25 / 5.0