24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 24

End of the line - and since today is my birthday, I made sure to make it something I like (:

I've reviewed this one before, and it's very nice - especially at the price point of around $60 - $65 for the store pick cask strength version. This came from Westmoreland, and was bottled on 2021-10-20, so it's been around for a while. Hopefully when they run out of these they will do another single barrel store pick (:

On the nose, I get malt and the bbq sweet meat. Some camp fire and a simple syrup sweetness. It reminds me of Ardbeg 10 Year or the 5 Year Wee Beastie - which is a complement. The taste is a bit of a let down compared to the nose, but that's not too surprising. Some is some minty freshness, some meaty sweet, a little honey and marshmallow - with a nice campfire smoke there too. The finish has a lot of the mint tingle that lingers, along with the campfire.

With water I do find more mint on the nose, the taste is more sweet, and the finish is a bit more flat. Some time I need to compare this to other McCarthy's cask strength bottles I have, and maybe against a few Ardbegs too. Last time I rated this 4.25/5.0 - but tonight I think I'll give it a flat 4.0/5.0. Very good, one of the best of the year - but not quite as good as I remembered...

Until next year!

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 23

Next to last one of the 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... I know how many of the various types of whisk(e)y I bought, so as long as I didn't mess anything up, tonight should be a Scotch (:

On the nose... it sure seems like Scotch. Malty, floral, honey, a hint of smoke. There is alcohol present on the nose, but it doesn't seem overly strong, maybe around 45% ABV or so. The taste is honey, pepper and a little smoke and ash. The finish is black pepper with ash at the end that lingers. 

Water initially brings more alcohol to the nose, but then highlights the honey. The taste seems a bit warmer as well, and the black pepper on the finish seems more like a hot pepper, and there seems to be less ash on the finish too. Overall, this is nice - could sit and sip on this one all evening. I'll rate it 3.75/5.0.

Tonight's bottle was Ardnamurchan, Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.8% ABV, no age statement, from Glenbeg, Ardnamurchan Scotland. This one cost a bit under $70. I don't recall why I bought this bottle - I might have seen a review of it, or maybe it was just a random purchase to round things out. Either way, I give it a thumbs up. 

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 22

Day 22... Happy Monday! We'll see what tonight has in store for us...

On the nose, this is herbal, molasses, black tea, minty... it's a bit proofy, but nothing like last night. Looks like it might be a rye again. The taste, I get the black tea, herbal, sweet molasses - overall this is pretty nice. 

The finish, I get a little pickle juice, a tartness I can't quite place. It lingers for a while. Adding water, the nose, taste, and finish are all sweeter. This is pretty solid, and the best rye I've had in a while... well, if it's a rye (: I'll rate it 3.75/5.0, guessing over 50% ABV but lower than 60%.

Willett Family Estate Bottled Small Batch Rye, Bottled at Cask Strength, Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY, Aged in hand selected white oak barrels for 4 Years, 54.3% ABV. I've had different bottles of these over the years, and some are better than others. This one I'd say is a better one. They usually run around $70, so the price is getting up there a bit, and they are sometimes hard to find. Pretty good overall though, and I'd say usually worth getting.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 21

Day 21 ... here we go. Tonight's bottle is proofy for sure, the nose is hot. After getting acclimated a bit, I do get spice, brown sugar, mint and maybe some orange. The taste is very proofy - I honestly couldn't get past the proof on my sips to come up with anything else. Going back to the nose after a few sips I think I get a touch of dill too - so I'm guessing this is a rye and it has to be 60% ABV or more.

The finish I get some brown sugar in the front, drifting to pepper and then a numbness - likely from the proof. I did a few rounds of adding water to where I could get some notes on the taste, likely proofing it down to 50% or so. The nose got more floral and brown sugar, and more minty as well. The taste finally got to where I got some nice rye spice, which carried over to the finish as well. On a different night, this might hit me better, and it's good overall, but tonight I'll rate it a 3.5/5.0. The bottle tonight...

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye, bottled 2024-02-23, distilled in Lynchburg, TN, No age statement, but most estimated put it about 8 years. This one came in at 66.05% ABV - Yes, 132.1 proof. I have had other bottles of this in the past, and enjoyed them more than this one tonight - so I'll have to give this another try another night and see what I think. 

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 20

Closing in on the end of another 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - always a good time (:

Tonight's pour has a really nice nose. It's malty, and I get honey, bread, orange furniture polish, and cereal. At first I didn't think there was peat or smoke, but it's there, just in the back quite a bit. The taste is peppery, honey, malty and a light ash. This seems under 50% ABV, I'd guess around 45%.

The finish is peppery, sweet, honey and then turns to ash and dirt (in a good way). With water, the nose seems the same, the taste is quite a bit sweeter and the finish is sweeter as well. Overall, this is really nice - I'm guessing it's a Scotch, and will rate it a 4.0/5.0

We were drinking Deer, Bear & Moose 2011, Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Distilled at Isle of Jura Distillery, Scotland, aged 11 Years ... Natural Cask Strength at 59.2% ABV. I did *not* get the proof on this one, it drinks surprisingly smooth for nearly 120 proof. These are Flaviar exclusives, and I believe I bought this one on sale for about $70 and it is certainly worth that. Cheers!

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 19

Friday! Hmm, what should I do this evening? Oh yeah, drink some Whisk(e)y (:

For this one, on the nose it's pretty mild, but interesting. I'm guessing it's below 50% ABV, I get some sweet tea, mint, herbal, maybe some malt as well. Nothing is overpowering, but there feels like there is a lot going on. On the taste I get peppery up front, then sweetness, juicyfruit gum, maybe some orange. It's nice - but now I'm thinking maybe under 45% ABV. If it is - it has a lot of flavor a low proof offering.

The finish is sugar, pepper, brown sugar along with a touch of bitter at the tail end. Overall this is enjoyable for sure. With water the nose seems to have more proof initially, but then that fades, and I still get the sweet tea, maybe a bit more of it and the malt is still there too. The taste seems to have more tea now... the finish is a little more dry and bitter. This is quite nice - it's not too complex, but it's interesting enough for sure. I'll rate it a 3.75/5.0 ... I'm not really sure what it is ... a rye from the sweet tea and pepper? An Irish with the malt? Or maybe an American Single Malt... 

So American Single Malt it is. Wanderback American Single Malt Whiskey, Batch No. 6, 42.4% ABV. This comes from Wanderback Distillery in Hood River, Oregon, but it's distilled by Balcones Distillery in Waco Texas, 100% malted barely, aged a minimum of 3 years. We tried the Batch No. 5 last year, but that one was 52% ABV, and it really screamed butterscotch. After knowing what this is - I do get more of the malt for sure... and I can maybe get some butterscotch too (: Overall quite enjoyable, and the low proof doesn't hold it back. I look forward to drinking this one again and I may have to try it against Batch No. 5 sometime, which I rated 3.75 as well.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 18

Day 18 ... getting near the end of things here. What will tonight bring? Let's find out...

On the nose, this seems rather mild. There is some alcohol on the nose, but not in a high proof kind of way. I do get malt, caramel, maybe some apple and a touch of minty freshness. The taste has some heat up front, spicy - not proofy, along with some brown sugar, malt, and a touch of bitterness - maybe some wood. I would guess this is around 50% ABV or so.

The nose has a peppery spice, brown sugar, and sweet that lingers, along with a touch of bitterness again. With water, the nose is minty and floral, the taste is more sweet and maybe some more oak, and the finish is more sweet. Overall, this isn't doing it for me tonight, and I'll rate it a 3.5/5.0. It might be a Scotch or an American Single Malt - which is the way I'm leaning due to the fact it feels a bit off from a typical Scotch. It could also be a rye, but it's really malty.

Westland American Single Malt Whiskey, made in Seattle, WA, 46% ABV, no age statement, other than saying a minimum of 40 months, using 100% malted barley. I'm wondering if it might be finished in something other than Oak to give it a bit of a different flavor, unsure. I'll have to try this again to see if I enjoy it more.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 17

Hump Day.... yet again. Tonight ... something tasty I'm sure (:

On the nose, it's a bit soft at first. I get fresh fruit, a touch of orange, apple, malt... it's floral, I think I get some chocolate or caramel as well, maybe a fruit syrup... but overall the nose is somewhat subdued. The taste ... first thing that comes in is the proof - this is probably around 55% ABV. It's sweet, fruity, reminds me of an overripe apple. Malty... brown sugar, creamy - but spicy - either from the proof or there is some hot spice there.

The finish, more of the hot spicy, fruit juice, fruit syrup, the finish lingers and is very nice overall. With water, I get some cereal on the nose, more malt on the taste, more sweet as well, but also more spicy. The finish seems more sweet and is like a fruit syrup. This is really nice, I'm guessing it's a high proof Irish Whiskey, and probably a well regarded one. I would rate this on 4.0/5.0. Try as I might, I can't forget all the bottles I bought to be in the 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - so I have a pretty good guess what this might be...

And that is what I was thinking - tonight's bottle was Mitchell & Son Blue Spot, Cask Strength, 58.4% ABV, Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, Aged 7 Years (rumored to be a blend of casks that are 7 to 20 years in age). This is a blend that was aged in bourbon barrels, sherry butts and Madeira casks. I've been wanting to try this for some time - but it can be hard to find. I got a bottle for right around $150 - so it's not cheap. I'll have to try this side by side vs some different Redbreast Irish Whiskeys to see how it fairs, but tonight - I liked this one quite a bit.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 16

Tuesday Whisk(e)y Time! Tonight... on the nose, peaty! I get the malt, ash, medicinal, toffee, some chocolate. I keep going back and fining more, including some savory bbq meat, really quite nice, the nose is excellent. The taste I get the sweet and savory, peppery heat, toffee, smoke and ash... and then even more pepper. As I acclimate to this, I also find on the taste the bbq meat I found on the nose. The finish has a spicy heat tingle on the tongue, char and ash that drifts away to be replaced with sweet toffee ... and then finally the heat comes back to linger.

With water the nose is similar, the taste seems more spicy and the finish is more sweet. This is quite excellent overall and well balanced. I'm pretty sure it's a peated Scotch, and I think it's probably around 55% ABV so likely cask strength. This is the best of the year so far... I don't think I can quite go to 4.5 for this, so I'll call it 4.25/5.0 - tonight bottle is...

Kilchoman Batch Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. 57% ABV, no age statement. I've had other Kilchoman Scotch Whiskys before, but I'm pretty sure this is the only Cask Strength one, and this is certainly better than the other ones I've tried. A winner for sure, cheers!

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 15

Happy Monday to all of those that celebrate (: Day 15 ... we're starting the 3rd week of this - let's begin. On the nose, at first it seems rather nondescript, mostly neutral. If I go digging, I get vanilla, honey, frosting, malt, and maybe some spearmint too. The taste seems wine-ish, like this is sherry finished... along with some fruity and peppery and sweet. The finish is fruity as well, sweet that drifts off and leaves some oak bitterness. Everything about this seems to be pointing at sherry finished Irish or Scotch.

With water, I get some sour malt on the nose, the taste is similar and the finish seems more sharp with some oak bite and dryness. I enjoy this, but don't love it. I'm going to guess Irish at around 50% ABV and give it a 3.75/5.0 - tonight's bottle was ...

I did not see that coming - it didn't seem like a bourbon to me, but I haven't had many double oak (or toasted oak) bourbons ... so maybe I just don't have a good feel for these. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, finished in a second toasted oak barrel. No age statement, but estimated to be 6 - 8 Year old, 45.2% ABV. I bought this on sale for under $50 ... and I'd say it's certainly worth that price.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 14

Lazy Sunday ... was nice enough out I walked down to Arch Bridge for a flight in the afternoon. It will be nice when the days start getting longer... sooooooooon!

Tonight's sample is quite malty on the nose. Bready, apple, honey, cookie. It's a touch spiky on the nose, probably from the proof, but overall this nose is very good. The taste is a bit of a let down in comparison. The malt is there, but it's sweet and vanilla for days. Very sweet. I thought I was getting a popcorn ball type flavor for a bit, but no... it's just sweet. The finish is sweet as well and lasts for a very long time.

With water it is more spicy on the nose and taste, it might open up some with water and I probably enjoy it a bit more. I'll rate this one 4.0/5.0 for the nose alone, it's really fantastic. I had a brief thought that this might be an American Single Malt - but I'm pretty sure it's Irish, and I'll guess in the 50% - 55% ABV range. 

Tonight we were drinking Redbreast Cask Strength, Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 57.2% ABV, Batch No B1/23, aged 12 Years. I would not have guessed this one... but recent batches have been a bit different than the old ones I recall. I'll have to give it another try on a different night and see if I get anything different.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 13

Today was reasonably nice, got out and about for a bit, even got in a 5K run around the neighborhood - and now, time to drink some booze (:

The nose is malt, honey, molasses, marshmallow... I do seem to get a little sulfur or something earthy I can't quite place. At first I thought it might be peated, but the more I smell, the less I'm leaning that way. The taste is peppery, sweet molasses and fresh orange peel. The finish is malt, some pepper and then sweet at the end.

With water, it seems more peppery on the nose, and I think I do get some sulfur too. The taste is sweeter while the finish seems to get a little ashy. I'm guessing this is around 50% ABV and I will rate it a 4.0/5.0 - I do think it's Scotch, and it seems a little thin overall and I think it could be better balanced, but I do enjoy it. 

Ok, not what I was expecting. In the past, I have found Macallan Whisky to be smooth and a bit boring ... but still quite tasty, just not too exciting. This one seemed a little more interesting overall. Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Sherry Oak Cask, 43% ABV, 12 Year Old. This one cost right about $100, and while I enjoy it enough, I doubt I would buy it again.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 12

Friday! Weekend! Tomorrow is my 1 Year Anniversary from retirement ... at times the year has flown by, other times ... slow (: At the half way point... Let's give this bottle a try!

On the now, there is a light fruity note, peaty, ash, smoke, savory bbq, it's very nice. Very very nice. The taste initially strikes me a little thin, but very tasty. Ash, burnt wood, char, savory bbq meat, touch of matchstick. The finish is ash and char with a malty after-taste. I would guess this is around 55% ABV, and likely peated Scotch (or American Single Malt...). 

With water, the nose is less sharp, it's probably better. The taste seems more pepper and heat ... very spicy with water. The finish is more bitter and a lot of heat too. I like this quite a bit overall, with my only complaint is the mouthfeel seems thin. I'll rate it a 4.25/5.0 tonight. The bottle was:

Compass Box, The Peat Monster Cask Strength "Origin Story" - Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 56.7% ABV. Bottled Dec 2022, Edinburgh, Scotland, no age statement, but a blend of 9 - 12 Year Whiskies according to the blend wheel. I'll have to try this again to see if I like it as much as I did tonight, because it really checked all the boxes this evening.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 11

Thursday ... here we go! On the nose I get matchstick, spicy heat, sweet frosting and burnt rubber. I could nose this a long time as it's quite inviting. The taste is hot cinnamon, sweet frosting, hot pepper, char and ash. Mouth feel seems a little weak, like it might not be overly aged. 

The finish I get hot and spicy early on, the back end is very sweet with a hot pepper tinge, then drifts to a char and finally back to the pepper that lasts a long time. With water the nose has more fruit and sweet with a touch of fudge, the taste is more peppery as is the finish. It's worth trying both ways. I'm going to guess this is either an American Single Malt or Scotch that is peated, around 55% ABV. I will rate this a 4.0/5.0 ... it's good but doesn't seem well balanced overall. Tonight we were drinking ...

McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt Whiskey, Oloroso Cask Finished, Batch No. 5, 56% ABV. This is aged 6 years, distilled by Clear Creek Distillery, Hood River, Oregon, cost was $120. I was *really* looking forward to this on as the 6 Year PX Sherry Cask finished one from last year was the best of the bunch... so I'm a little disappointed here. It's still really good, and I will have to come back to it to see what my thoughts are on another night.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 10

Hump DAY ! ! ! Wednesday evening, day 10 ... time to taste some booze (:

This one the nose if malty and reminds me of juicyfruit gum. It's really fruity. The taste ... same ... fruity, maybe grape-ish, sweet. There is a touch of heat and maybe peppermint that builds a little. The finish is fruit juice sweet, a bit thin on the finish. 

Water adds, amazingly, more fruit on the nose - a touch of bitterness and less heat on the taste, and the fruit seems to last longer on the finish. With all the fruit, I'm going to guess this is a bourbon around 45% ABV. It could be sherry finished Scotch as well. It does seem to be one note - and tonight that one note gets a rating of 3.5/5.0 from me. On a different night if I was in the mood for it, this might be rated higher. Tonights bottle... 

Stranahan's Diamond Peak Single Malt Whiskey. This is Batch No 2, Aged between 5 - 8 years and then finished in Extra Anejo Tequila Casks for 2 years. Distilled in Denver, Colorado. After knowing what this was and going back to it - I should have known from the malt that it wasn't a bourbon. Adding water to it I could be convinced I am getting a touch of tequila, however, I haven't had hardly any 'good' tequilas, so I'm probably not the best to gauge such things. This did grow on me and I'll have to try it again on another night to see what I think.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 9

A rainy Tuesday here in Oregon City ... time for some Whisk(e)y to brighten the day (:

The nose on this one is very light - it's hard to get much of anything out of it. Seems like it's likely low 40% ABV range. If I really go looking I get a touch of mint, some floral and maybe some sweet frosting. The taste - a touch of spice, a little prickly, and maybe a touch of dill. The mouth feel is very watery - my first reaction when taking a sip is I'm drinking water before the alcohol kicks in to remind me it's not water. 

On the finish I get some pepper, some heat, maybe some wood and I think some pickle juice. It's brief and not all that impressive. With water, not much changes. I do get some more burn on the nose, so maybe it's a bit higher than 40% ABV, maybe a bit of wood on the nose too. Taste is similar, finish I seem to get a touch of cherry.

Overall, this is unimpressive. It's not bad, but there just isn't much going on. I'll rate it a 3.0/5.0 ... it's an easy sipper when you don't want anything interesting. I'm pretty sure it's a rye, but it could be a bourbon... hard to say for sure. Tonight we were drinking ...

Uncle Nearest Rye, 50% ABV, aged at least 4 years, sourced from Canada, aged in New York and Tennessee. It was all right, but for $45 it needs to be better.... might as well buy Old Forester Rye for $25 and save yourself some money (:

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 8

Happy Monday to those that celebrate ... starting week 2 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, here we go!

Tonights offering is certainly sharp on the nose, seems high proof, at least 50% ABV. When I get past the alcohol, I do find some mint and some baking spice, but the proof is hard to miss for sure. The taste I get an initial hot spiciness (possibly from the proof), baking spice, and wood. On the taste is is certainly a proofy one - maybe over 60% ABV. I'm thinking rye because I'm not really getting any bourbon notes.

The finish is woody, it has a spicy tingle and some mint. This seems to be screaming rye, that's for sure. I added a dash of water and things didn't change much, so I added a little more water - and with that the taste did get sweeter and it seemed like I was getting some cherry too. I would rate this 3.75/5.0, and it was more enjoyable with some water that likely brought the proof down below 50% (I'm guessing...) Anyway - tonight bottle was ...

Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - 57.4% ABV, Aged 9 Years 8 Months. This was a store pick, recipe OBSK, and cost $100. It was a good addition to 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, but I don't think I would pick up a bottle of this for myself at that price.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 7

Sunday ... wrapping up week one of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... time to see what tonight will bring.

On the nose, this is really pleasant. I get some yeasty bread, sweetness I can't quite place, clove and fruit. I could nose this all night, it is really nice. The taste I get honey, malty and sherry. The taste is really nice as well.

The finish is a dark brown sugar with some clove and bright cherry that lingers. With water there is more cherry on the nose, taste, and finish. It probably doesn't need water, but I figured it might be interesting to try it that way. I'm guessing this is around 45% ABV and an Irish Whiskey. It's quite tasty, and I will rated it 4.0/5.0 Tonight's bottle was...

Redbreast Lustau Edition, 46% ABV. Matured in traditional bourbon and sherry casks for a period of 9-12 years, then finished for 1 additional year in first fill hand selected sherry butts that have been seasoned with the finest Oloroso sherry from the prestigious Bodegas Lustau. I had tried this previously in 2019 and rated it a 3.75/5.0 that time. I noted I felt it was a step back from Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength - and I'm not sure if I would say that now. It's certainly different than the Cask Strength version, and depending on my mood, I might prefer this one.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 6

Day 6 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... let's see what we have tonight.

On the nose, this is soft and subtle, with some soft notes of floral and honey. The taste is mild as well, with some honey and spices with some wood as well, but everything is light. After a sip I can get a little bit of the spice on the nose, mild baking spice.

The finish I get some bread, honey, wood dryness, and some warmth that builds over time. I would guess this is around 45% ABV, and I'm thinking it's an Irish Whiskey. Adding a little water, the nose is similar, more baking spice on the taste, and more of that spice on the finish too. 

I'd rate this a 3.75/5.0 - I do like it better than the bourbons that we've had so far, and I enjoy it like the Scotch last night, so I'll rate it the same. Tonight's bottle is ...

Well, Irish... Scotch - they're close on the map, right? Compass Box Spice Tree, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, all coming from the Highlands and about 11 to 12 years of age. After knowing it is Scotch, the tasting notes are not too surprising. A solid offering from Compass Box, we'll see what tomorrow brings.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 5

Happy Friday! It's booze-o-clock ... so time to drink some whisk(e)y and see if I like it or not.

This one has a nice color to it, and the nose has honey, a touch of nail polish, toffee, floral, a touch of talcum powder ... overall it's light. The taste - I get sweet tobacco, pepper, that talcum powder again, and if I'm looking for it, some ash.

The finish brings the tobacco, some wood, some hot pepper, a touch of sour malt, maybe even a light hint of dill. This does have some heat that builds as well, but I think it's just from the spice - not the proof - I would guess the proof is 46% ABV... and this sure does seem like an unpeated Scotch.

Adding water, it's sweeter on the taste, more pepper on the finish, and the nose has more toffee. Overall, I would rated this a 3.75/5.0 ... it's good, nothing offensive, but also nothing overly great about it. I am enjoying it though. Tonight we were drinking ...

Highland Park Viking Honour, Single Malt Whisky, 43% ABV. Distilled by Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland. This is generally considered peated - and I guess if I go hunting for it, I can find some peat, and I will say, the more I drink, the more the peat seems to be there. I have not had this one for a while, and was curious how it would do blind. At $59 a bottle - there are better things to buy, but this is still a solid whisky.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 4

Thursday... let's see what tasty liquid we have for tonight.

On the nose, I get minty, sweet, strawberry, brown sugar - overall the nose is pretty mild though. I'm guessing this is under 50% ABV. The taste is cherry, sweet, some pepper, pretty good overall, and I'm guessing a bourbon. 

The finish has cherry and some oak. It's medium in length. I added some water and the nose is more fruity, the taste is more sweet, the finish is more peppery and probably has more wood too. Overall this is pretty good, I'd rate it a 3.5/5.0 - it tastes a step above 'budget' bourbon. Tonight, we were drinking ...

Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey, 46.5% ABV, no age statement, but reported to be around 7 Year. Distilled (for now?) at Nearest Green Distillery, Shelbyville, TN. I picked up for a bit under $50 - similar to price as the Wild Turkey 70th we had on night one. I probably like the Wild Turkey more, but would have to compare them in a blind tasting sometime.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 3

Hump ... DAY! Whisk(e)y Wednesday (:

Ready to check this one out. The nose is faint and malty. First thought is an Irish or Scotch. I get some apple, pear and honey as well. The taste is apple and malty - but it seems more like a Scotch than an Irish Whiskey, that's for sure.

The finish is nice - malty, does hang around for a while with a touch of spice on the backend. This seemed around 45% ABV so I was hesitant to add water - and water turned it even more sweet, certainly better without

Overall, I like this quite a bit, giving it a 4.0/5.0. 

Tonight we were drinking Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair, Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.3% ABV, Distilled on Islay, Scotland - no age statement, but estimated to be a blend of 7 to 10 year, unpeated. I tasted it a bit more after knowing what it was - and I did find a little bit of talcum powder as well, which is something I have found in unpeated Scotch before. This cost me just under $50, at that price I give this a thumbs up, cheers!

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 2

Happy Tuesday ... Treat Tuesday? Most certainly! Tonight ... it looks like Scotch ... it smells like Scotch ... I'm betting it's Scotch. (or American Single Malt...)

On the nose... it's got the rubbery peat, some bbq meat, something sweet like molasses. It doesn't seem too proofy, I can go in pretty good while nosing. Some honey too, and I thought I might be getting some brine/salt as well.

The taste ... ash that comes out of nowhere up front, a little bit of peppery hot, spicy, then sweet. It feels a little disjointed. I like it, but ... it seems to lack something. Going back to the nose after the first sip - I am getting the ash on the nose as well now. The finish is more ash, some pepper heat, sweet in the back.

Adding water, I get more proof on the nose, and more sweet on the taste, and a LOT more sweet on the finish. Overall, this is OK. I tend to like peaty Scotch - even ones that are not that great or balanced. This one seems to be a bit random, but I'd still give it a 4.0/5.0. Tonight ... the bottle was...

Port Askaig 110° - Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, no age statement, coming in at 55% ABV or ... 110 proof (: Distilled on Islay, Scotland - apparently Port Askaig isn't the distillery... it's just the name of the Whisky and they source from various distilleries on Islay. I've had a few other Port Askaigs in the past, including a 100° that was really 114 proof that was a bit harsh when I had it early in my Scotch journey, an 8 year that I thought was OK, and a 19 Year that I rated a 4.0 but at the time I wasn't doing quarter ratings and I'm guessing I would have given it a 4.25 as I do recall enjoying it quite a bit. Overall I'd say Port Askaig isn't quite as well rounded as the larger distilleries on Islay (though who knows who they source this from...), but if you really like Islay Whisky - it's worth checking out.

24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 1

And so it begins... 24 days, 24 different Whiskies ... Whiskys? Whatever. I poured these back in April and they've been waiting since then. After pouring the samples, wrapping the bottles in paper, and then randomizing them... at this point I've forgotten what most of the bottles are - so this will be going in fairly blind.

On the nose, I get some proof initially, but then that seems to dissipate. I get brown sugar and some spearmint ... leading to a bit of cherry as well. The taste I get brown sugar sweetness, along with some cinnamon and some heat. It doesn't seem low proof - but not too high of proof either, so I'd guess around 100 proof. 

The finish I get spearmint and the sweetness - I don't really get much oak so maybe this is on the younger side. Adding a little water seems to bring out some oak on the nose and finish, while the taste is more sweet. Overall, this is pretty good, I would guess it's a bourbon, though it could maybe be a rye. I'd rate it a 3.5/5.0

We were drinking Wild Turkey, Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary Release, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 50.5% ABV, bottled on 2024-08-27 in Lawrenceburg, KY, Aged 8 Years. Wild Turkey 101 is my favorite 'budget' bourbon, and when I found a bottle of this, it was a bit tough to not just open it and start drinking it... it is certainly better than the standard WT 101 - but at $50 a bottle it better be an improvement over the $25 WT 101.