Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-04-23

All right... another Wednesday... another Whisk(e)y Wednesday (: I have been saving 2 oz samples from bottles before they are empty, and now have about 30 of these. They are unlabelled other than a 2 letter code that I can then check against an answer key to see what I'm drinking after I have the sample blind. Tonight is the first of these, let's see how this goes.

On the nose I get malt, a light citrus, ash, tar, a touch of sulfur, some iodine and some alcohol burn. The nose is really pleasant, and at this point I'm fairly confident it is a peaty Scotch (likely) or a peaty American Single Malt (less likely).

The taste is sweet, hot spicy pepper, malt, tar and ash. The finish is similar with a sweet syrup finish followed by a hot spicy pepper that lingers and some ash. Really quite good, but if I was to guess this seems a little young in that the finish is not as impressive as the nose or taste. 

Adding water, the nose is sweeter for sure. It still has a bit of the alcohol burn, along with some ash and tire rubber. The taste is sweet as well, and the pepper is more tame - I'm getting some fruit too - most likely from sherry finishing. The finish is still peppery, sweet, syrupy. 

Overall I like this one quite a bit. I'm wondering if it's one of the Ardbeg one-offs I've had lately as there are several samples in the mix. I will give it a 4.25/5.0 ... quite enjoyable tonight, about my only complaint would be that it seems a bit random and not very well balanced.

Turns out it was the Smokehead High Voltage Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Cask Strength coming in at 58.0% ABV from Ian Macleod Distillers. No Age Statement on this one. I originally rated this 4.25, then dropping it down to 4.00 last week during the Peaty Scotch shootout, and now back to 4.25. Looks like I like it (: Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-04-16

Happy Wednesday, today we have the last of the 4 sample shootouts, tonight trying the Peaty Scotch Whiskies from 2024 24 Days of Whisk(e)y head to head. We have The Smoky Twelve, Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from BenRiach, Talisker Distiller Edition from 2023, Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 10 Year, Original Cask Strength, and Smokehead High Voltage Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Ian Macleod Distillers. The BenRiach was 46% ABV, the Tailisker was 45.8% ABV, the Laphroaig was 58.5% ABV and the Smokehead was 58% ABV - I was interesting to see how the lower proof pours did against the higher proof pours, as I usually enjoy higher proof whisk(e)y more.

As usual, I poured 1 oz samples of these into marked glasses, randomized them, the nosed and tasted each one. Let's see which one came out on top.

Glass 1 : The nose I get ash, meaty bbq, a touch of brine, savory, rich fruit and a touch of floral. The taste is ash, hot pepper that builds, bbq, hint of brine, sherry fruit notes. The finish starts with hot pepper, then goes to ash and sweet bbq, then back to a hot pepper that lingers along with some tar. Overall this is pretty good.

Glass 2 : On the nose, I get sweet honey molasses, a touch of iodine and burnt wood. The taste is sweet, honey, wood, smoke, iodine in the back, and some sherry fruit. The finish has a burst of fruit up front that lingers, then a touch of smoke, a touch of spice, but mostly the fruit. This is really quite good.

Glass 3 : On the nose, I get orange, ash in the back, sweet bbq meat. The taste is orange cream-sickle, ash, sweet bbq meat, hot pepper in the back. The finish is the hot pepper, then sweet, then ash and peppery that lingers along with a little bit of pepper tingle. This one is pretty good as well.

Glass 4 : Here I get some earthy notes on the nose, sweet bbq, and some strike anywhere matchstick sulphur as well. The taste is burnt char, tar, dirt, sweet bbq, leading to hot peppermint eventually. The finish is sweet sherry, sulphur, earthy dirt, it's nice and lingers. While the sulphur notes that I got were unique, at least tonight I found that it did distract from the whisky overall.

This was a bit tough. All these were pretty good overall, and my palate was certainly getting overwhelmed after running through these from the peat and the higher proofs from some of them. I couldn't specifically say which were the cask strength ones, though I was pretty sure glass 3 was one of the lower proofs. Overall, I felt glass 2 and 4 were better than 1 and 3. 

Tasting glass 1 and 3 side by side, I had to give glass 1 the nod. Coming in last place was glass 3, the BenRiach, but even so I would give it a 4.0, which is what I gave it originally as well. In 3rd place was glass 1, which was the Laphroaig. Originally I rated it 4.25 - tonight I would give it a 4.0... a solid whisky for sure.

Drinking glass 2 and 4 side by side, I have to give the edge to glass 2. In glass 4 was the Smokehead. Depending on my mood, I could see this one winning, but I have not been drinking very many peaty scotch whiskies lately, so this might have been a bit too much for me tonight. Originally I gave this a 4.25, tonight I would give it a 4.0.

Leaving us with glass 2, the Talisker. I was surprised by this one during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - it was just so much better than the previous version that I had several years ago. I would rate this 4.25 tonight, which is what I gave it previously.

Good stuff overall, cheers!!! 

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-04-09

All right, what time is it? American Single Malt time... tonight we have Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey, Cask Strength from Santa Fe Spirits, coming in at 59% ABV... vs Stranahan's Original Colorado Single Malt Whiskey, 47% ABV... vs Wanderback Whiskey out of Hood River, OR - for this release they partnered with Balcones in TX, 52% ABV... vs McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt Whiskey, 6 Year, PX Sherry Cask Finished, also from Hood River, OR by Clear Creek Distillery, Cask Strength, 56.13% ABV. 

As usual, I poured these, randomized the order, and then ran through them a few times.

One nice thing about American Single Malt is the variety you can get from different releases - you can have anything from bourbonish to Irish to Scottish to most anything in between. It also makes it a bit hard to compare and rank then though, because they can be so different.

Glass 1 : The nose I get ash, smoke, dirt, rich fruit, malt, touch of sweet bbq. Every time I go back to the nose, it gets better and better. The taste I get sweet bbq, ash, smoke, peppery, it's very nice. The finish I get a hot pepper numbing sensation, a nice mint freshness tingle, sweet bbq, then ash and smoke that lingers... with a touch of sour way in the background. This is really nice.

Glass 2 : The nose is malty, sweet, lemon and some dill and/or pickle. The taste is malty with that dill as well. The finish I get a sweet pickle... it's not the greatest finish but it does seem to linger. It feels a bit off tonight, for whatever reason I'm not particularly enjoying it. It's good, but it's certainly a letdown after Glass 1.

Glass 3 : The nose is malty and sweet with a chocolate fudge note. The taste follows closely - malty, sweet, chocolate, touch of pepper/cinnamon spice as well. The finish I get that pepper spice tingle, then it turns malty with maybe some orange. It's solid but nothing overly special. 

Glass 4 : On the nose I get smoke, ash, fruit, malt... the nose is a bit odd with alcohol burn so I'm guessing this is pretty high proof. The taste is bold, with sweet fruit and a light smoke turning to cinnamon spice. The finish has that cinnamon, smoke, ash and a heat that lingers. This is very nice as well. 

Tasting Glass 2 vs 3 ... 2 is clearly the last place pour tonight with 3 coming in 3rd place. Glass 2 was the Stranahan's ... for whatever reason, this one just didn't wow me tonight. I still gave it a 3.5/5.0 vs the original 3.75/5.0 ... so I still enjoyed it overall. Glass 3 was the Wanderback ... I give it a 3.75 both nights. Originally I got a TON of butterscotch... tonight that butterscotch was chocolate for me. 

For the Glass 1 vs 4 comparison, Glass 1 is the clear winner, everything about it was superior. Glass 4 was the Colkegan... and I rated it 4.0/5.0 both nights. Glass 1 was the McCarthy's ... originally I rated that a 4.5 and tonight I would rate it 4.25. It's still *really* good and I would drink it all night if I could.

Until next time... cheers!!!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-04-02

Here again for a 4 way tasting - this time trying the four 'unpeated' Scotch Whiskies from the 2024 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. Which one will I like the best? I'm going to skip the photo and get to the taste test. I poured about an ounce of each into glasses that were labelled and then randomized them.

Glass 1 : On the nose I got fruit, honey, malt, some perfume ... this was very nice overall. The taste I got the floral along with honey and malt - some black pepper as well. The finish was peppery and honey. Overall this was very nice and I'd rate it a 3.75/5.0 tonight.

Glass 2 : On this one, the nose I got sulfur and strike anywhere matchstick, some orange furniture polish, creme brûlée. The taste tonight the matchstick just took over and it was a little bit bitter. I've not been drinking things like this lately, so maybe I wasn't prepared for it. The finish I found burnt molasses, pepper, and that matchstick note as well. If I was in the mood for this, it would have been the winner, but tonight it's getting a 3.50/5.0.

Glass 3 : I get malt and a touch of smoke along with some honey. The taste I get the honey and some fruit... I'm enjoying this one. The finish has a nice numbing quality to it, peppery. Very nice finish here. Tonight this is getting a 3.75/5.0.

Glass 4 : The nose was fairly tame, some pear and honeydew, a touch of perfume, but just not much there overall. The taste I got some pepper, honey and perfume. The finish is mild, perfume and some green pepper, a sour note that seems to linger. This one was just a bit dull overall, but still enjoyable and I'll give it a 3.5/5.0

Tasting Glass 2 and 4 against each other, Glass 2 is a bit better, it is certainly more unique. This was the Black Bull, which I rated 4.0 previously. On a different night I could see this one being my favorite. Glass 4 was the Deanston 12 Year, which I rated 3.5 both nights.

Tasting Glass 1 and 3 against each other, I have to give the win to Glass 3. Glass 1 was the anCnoc. I rated this 4.0 originally and 3.75 tonight. I know last time I really enjoyed it. Glass 3 was the Compass Box Glasgow Blend. Tonight it just hit the right notes for me, though I did rate it 3.75 both nights. 

These were quite enjoyable ... until next time, cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-03-26

Here we are again... yes I know this photo looks familiar,

But it is what it is... cheers!

Tonight, we're tasting 3 Ryes along with the Trit from the last 24 Days of Whiskey. Which is the best Rye... we're about to find out. We have the Whistle Pig 10 Year Small Batch Rye at 50% ABV vs. the Jefferson's Ocean Aged Double Barrel Rye, Voyage 26, 48% ABV vs. the FEW Spirits Straight Rye Whiskey, 50% ABV, vs. Branch Point Trit Straight Whiskey, 46% ABV. Of the 4 ... which is the best rye?

I poured these into glasses and then randomized them so these were blind other than knowing they were all 'rye' and what boozes they might be. 

Glass 1 : On the nose I got a touch of black licorice, baking spice, rye spice an touch of chocolate, and some dust. The taste I got cinnamon, black tea, licorice, baking spice, wood, it was a touch hot. The finish was similar - baking spice, cinnamon with a wood dryness at the end. This was a very "rye" rye... and over all very nice.

Glass 2 : The nose was baking spice, cinnamon, rye, brown sugar and a touch of dill. The taste was similar, with cinnamon and brown sugar leading things off, with some baking spice and dill in the background. I got more cinnamon and baking spice on the finish, along with a heat that lingers... and lingers ... and lingers. Pretty good overall, but not as 'rye' as the first rye.

Glass 3 : On the nose I got a bit of an odd grassy note, along with cinnamon, hay, molasses, honey and malt. After I notice the malt... it's a lot of malt. So much so that this reminds me of an Irish Whiskey more than a Rye. The taste is similar : honey, cinnamon, touch of spice, hay, grassy, malty... nothing too surprising. The finish is the same - cinnamon, honey, wood dryness. Overall this is really good, but in a rye flight it just doesn't pull it's weight. 

Glass 4 : On the nose I get some brown sugar and some cinnamon, a touch of dill, and some heat. The taste is brown sugar and some cinnamon ... it honestly reminds me of a bourbon rather than a rye. The finish is cinnamon that lingers, oak dryness, brown sugar... it's good. But it's also the least rye of the bunch, so for this flight it's going to come in last place.

So overall Glass 3 and 4 were in the back of the pack. Glass 4 was the Jefferson's Ocean Aged Double Barrel Rye, Voyage 26.. 48% ABV. It's easy drinking, but it's just not that interesting for a rye. Tonight I rated this a 3.25 ... originally I rated it a 3.75... it just fell flat. Glass 3 was the Brach Point Trit Straight Whiskey, 46% ABV. This might have been the best whiskey overall, but it would have done better vs Irish Whiskeys than vs Rye Whiskeys. In this line up, as a rye, I rated it a 3.25 with the original rating being 3.75. 

Which left us with glass 1 and 2. Tonight glass 1 was the winner. Glass 2 was the Whistle Pig 10 Year Small Batch Rye 50% ABV... it was good, but for which was the best Rye, that goes to the FEW Spirits Straight Rye Whiskey, 50% ABV... it was just the best Rye overall. The Whistle Pig I rated 3.50 both nights, and I'd give FEW a 3.50 both nights as well.

Good stuff - see you next Wednesday (: 

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-03-19

OK - at it again, tonight I am drinking the four Bourbons from the 2024 24 Days of Whisk(e)y in a blind flight. We'll see what I think this time...

I poured 1oz samples into each of the glasses that have been labeled on the bottom and mixed them up. I then nosed and tasted each one, came up with my favorite two, tasted those again side by side, and decided on the best of the bunch and rated each one again as well. 

Glass 1) On the nose, I get some peanut, cinnamon, brown sugar, molasses and a touch of dusty along with some dill. On the taste - this is the first drink of the day, and it initially came across hot - red hot cinnamon hot. With a few more sips, it does tame down a bit, and I get some brown sugar, a touch of lemon, a touch of wood, and the dusty note again. The finish is cinnamon, a touch of spice, brown sugar, some tingle near the end, and a bit of dill way in the back. Overall this is solid - I put it on par with my go to budget Wild Turkey 101 - so I'll rate it a 3.25/5.0

Glass 2) On the nose, I get some floral, honey, brown sugar and some spearmint. The taste is brown sugar, hot cinnamon and mint. The mint carries over to the finish, along with some spice, a touch of wood as well. The finish hangs around for some time and builds. The more I drink this, the more I like it - leaning towards 3.5/5.0 for this one.

Glass 3) The nose I find bubble gum, cherry cough drop, light molasses. The taste is a bit flat, but the cherry cough drop does come through. The finish is not very strong, but it does linger. The cherry sweetness is the biggest note, but I do get a little wood/oak in the back as well. This one just isn't hitting for me tonight, and I'll give it a 3.0/5.0

Glass 4) The nose I get cherry, brown sugar, touch of menthol and maybe some tobacco - though that could just be the menthol suggesting tobacco to me. The taste is a bit watery, some baking spice, cinnamon heat that builds over time. The finish I get a cherry menthol cough drop note, come wood, some cinnamon heat. It's all right overall. Initially I liked this the best, but the more I went back to it, the more I found it lacking, giving it a 3.25/5.0

Glass 3 was the Tin Cup 14 Year. It just didn't do well head to head with higher proof offerings - at least in a quick shoot out format. I enjoyed it more a few months ago, but tonight it just fell flat. Original rating was 3.5, tonight it was a 3.0. Glass 4 was the Cooper's Craft. It wasn't bad, but there was nothing unusual about it. Standard bourbon. Rated 3.00 originally, 3.25 tonight.

Which left glass 1 and 2. Glass 1 was the Baker's 7 Year, 107 Proof. This was solid and tasty, but glass 2 was a touch better, which was the Maker's Mark Cask Strength, 55% ABV. Tonight it was the most interesting. Originally I gave the Baker's a 3.75 rating, tonight I gave it a 3.25. And the Maker's received a 3.50 rating both nights.

Next week, we have 4 Rye Whiskies head to head... we'll see which one I enjoy the most, cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-03-12

Ah, here we are... Whisk(e)y Wednesday. For the sampling today, I'm putting the four Irish Whiskeys from the 2024 24 Days of Whisk(e)y into a blind flight. Let's see how they do and if my thoughts are any different from before...

I poured 1oz samples into each of the glasses that have been labeled on the bottom and mixed them up. I then nosed and tasted each one, came up with my favorite two, tasted those again side by side, and decided on the best of the bunch and rated each one again as well. 

Glass 1) On the nose I got caramel, creme brulee sugar, some orange as well. The taste - malt, initial pepper heat, brown sugar and bright citrus. The finish is peppery in the front, it's sweetness that lingers a long time, malt in the back. Going back to the nose after tasting - I find the malt there as well. Overall, this is pretty good, and I'll rate it 3.75/5.0 in this tasting.

Glass 2) The nose is bright orange, honey and sugar. The taste is peppery heat, somewhat intense. I get the sugar in the back as well. I was caught a bit off guard on this one. I've not been drinking much whisk(e)y lately and this one initially punched me around a bit. But after some acclimation, I started enjoying this one quite a bit. The finish I got a tingly heat and malt. Pretty robust and the finish did linger nicely. While the nose was a bit soft, the flavor and finish was surprisingly good. Overall I'll rate this 4.0/5.0.

Glass 3) I found soft flower, perfume, orange citrus, cugar candy and it seemed a bit dusty on the nose. The taste was flat, a bit malty, some floral, heat if I waited for it, some brown sugar and some orange. The finish was a touch of spice initial, then floral, perfume, that dusty note I got from the nose comes back as well. It lingers some, but overall this was underwhelming. Just not enjoying this one to much this go around, and I'll rate it a 3.0/5.0.

Glass 4) The nose I got some initial funk - not exactly sure what it was, but it wasn't pleasant, along with some acetone, apple and molasses. The taste I was getting the acetone and molasses. And the finish followed with acetone, floral, candy sugar and a touch of heat. For whatever reason, tonight this one was really a miss for me - rated 2.75/5.0.

Glass 3 was Knappogue Castle 12 Year California Blend - originally I rated that one a 3.5, so 3.0 is lower. Glass 4 was the Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey - which I did originally rate a 3.5 as well... so I just wasn't feeling it.

Trying Glass 1 and 2 side by side, the clear winner was Glass 2. It was just more interesting overall. Glass 1 ended up being the Powers Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, Jonh's Lane, Aged 12 Years... which I rated 3.75 both times. 

And the winner in Glass 2 was Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength, Batch B1/22. While overall I didn't think this Redbreast CS was as good as some past ones, it's till good, and I rated it 4.0 both times. Next time I'll be putting the 4 bourbons from the 24 Days of Whisk(e)y up against each other in the same format - we'll see which one comes out ahead for me... cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-02-26

Hello! 

I'm going to try to get back to these Wisk(e)y Wednesday reviews, mostly revisiting things I've tried before, seeing if my thoughts have changed. Sometimes these will be blind, sometimes I'll know what I'm drinking.

So today ... I'm drinking Deanston Highland Scotch Single Malt Whisky, 12 Year, 46.3% ABV, Un-chill filtered and aged in ex-bourbon casks.

On the nose I get butterscotch, floral, candy vanilla, orange sherbet. The taste is orange marmalade and orange cream sickle. The finish is butterscotch, molasses, an orange note - but not overly citrus, like maybe an orange cordial. 

With water the nose is very similar, maybe a bit more sweet butterscotch. There is some honeysuckle on the taste, and a bit more bite with some green pepper on the finish. Overall, this is a good, solid highland scotch - good entry level Scotch Whisky. Rating this a 3.5/5.0, which is the same as I reviewed previously.