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!