Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-09-17

Hey... yet another Wednesday. This time, something slightly different. I went to save off a 2oz sample of Baker's 7, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Batch 03-2015, Aged 8 Years, 0 Months, Single Barrel, 53.5% ABV ... and, it was more like 1oz. So ... I couldn't put it with the rest of the 2oz samples and have it as a random sample later, because I'd know what it is ... so instead, I drank it tonight unblind. I rated this on 3.75 originally... and then 3.25 later on (both times blind) ... let's see what I think tonight.

On the nose, I do find the proof right away, spearmint, brown sugar, a touch of cinnamon, and maybe a bit of stone fruit like apricot. The taste, I get cinnamon, heat and wood. I'm a little surprised that I didn't get the typical Beam peanut, but I didn't really get it the last time I had this either. The finish is nice. Brown Sugar that lingers, dry oak in the back, and some cinnamon. 

It's nice, but not outstanding. This is pretty solid, and generally easy to find in Oregon for around $65... so not too expensive for what it is. I'll rate it a 3.5/5.0 tonight - would pick this up again, but I won't go hunting for it.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-09-10

All right - time for another random sample ... see what I think.

This one is quite light - and so right away I'm going to guess it's a Scotch Whisky with no added coloring. The nose I get honey, some ash, a bit of matchstick, very sweet. Chocolate as well. This one seems fairly mild, but I did just come off a warm up pour that was high proof.

There is more ash on the taste, some matchstick as well. It's a bit prickly, and the honey comes through as well. There does seem to be something a little off on it, but I can't really place what exactly - can't seem to pin it down.

The finish has sweet in the front, and turns ashy in the back. It has a touch of malt sourness as well that I sometimes get from more recent Lagavulin Distillers Editions - but I can't see this being that. There is a little bit of pepper on the finish as well. My best guess is this is one of the one-off Ardbegs I've bought over the years. 

I'll rate this a 4.0/5.0 ... if I was in the right mood, I'd rate it 4.25. This ended up being the Ardbeg Heavy Vapors Committee Release, 50.2% ABV (which I believe was cask strength for this one). As many of the Ardbeg one-offs, it wasn't cheap - coming in at about $160 in Oregon. It doesn't look like I've reviewed this before - I have a little bit left to try again sometime to see if I like it more or less than this evening. While I don't think I have a sample remaining, I'm pretty certain I prefer Corryvrekan or even Uigedail over this, and those you can find easily and they are cheaper. 

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-09-03

Well, I've missed a few weeks ... been busy. Anyway, time to get back in the game (: Tonight... another random sample. Nose it, taste it... give some thoughts, and then check to see what I'm drinking.

On the nose, it comes across a bit punchy, this is likely higher proof, at least over 50%. It comes across malty, ashy, along with some mint, brown sugar, some bright fruit, and a savory BBQ meat. Really quite nice. My first guess is a higher proof Ardbeg.

On the taste, I get bacon, bbq meat and bbq sauce, there's some spice as well. The heat builds on this, but I do get the ash and sweet fruit too. The spice has a numbing quality to it as well. The finish I get the ash and the spicy tingle that has a numbing sensation, molasses, sweetness that lingers. It's a nice long finish that hangs around for quite some time.

I'm guessing this is a peated Scotch or maybe an American Single Malt - either way, it's really good. I am enjoying this quite a bit, and I hope I have some left on the shelf to drink another time. I'll rate this a 4.50/5.0 - some of the best I've had for sure.

I was drinking McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt 6 Year Cask Strength, 56.13% ABV, finished in PX Sherry Cask Finished, made in Hood River, OR by Clear Creek Distillery using Peat-Malted Scottish Barley. I originally rated this 4.5/5.0 - and it held up tonight for sure. This is one to enjoy throughout the evening, cheers!