Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-10-28

Another Whisk(e)y Wednesday, but then I will be doing a break for November to let my taste buds reset before 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2026. It's a pretty good line up ... and so I'll try to be ready (:

On the nose, I get sweet molasses, mint, maybe some dry cookie, strawberry fruit... quite a bit of proof too. The taste is cherry and fruit with some peppery in the back. The finish is hot, cherry ... a fruit bomb for sure, lingers for some time. I'm thinking this might be a cask strength Bourbon, maybe with some good age. 

With water, the proof gets tamed some ... seems more minty. The taste just seems muted, with the finish sweet but does have some wood now. This is all right, I'll stick with my CS Bourbon guess, and I'll rate it 3.75/5.0

Well, I didn't see this one coming. But looking back at my previous reviews, maybe I shouldn't be surprised. Both previous times I knew I was drinking Irish, but the tasting notes are fairly similar to tonight. This was the Blue Spot, from Mitchell & Son, Cask Strength with a blend of 7 to 20 year casks, 58.4% ABV. I rated this 4.0/5.0 during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, but then rated it 3.75/5.0 when I tried again a bit later... so it sounds like 3.75/5.0 is the final answer. This is hard to find and costs $150 or more, so clearly I don't need to go hunting for one.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-10-21

Time for another Whisk(e)y Wednesday... always fun, here we go (:

On the nose, I get cherry, with some toffee and brown sugar. Seems mid-proof, maybe around 50% ABV... nose screams bourbon to me. The taste ... more of the same - cherry, toffee, maybe a touch of floral ... not enough to get me to budge from bourbon though. The finish, more cherry, then it turns to some wood bite in the back.

With water, the nose is similar but a bit more soft, taste as well. The finish I seem to find more proof and wood. I'll stick with bourbon, around 50% ABV - this seems pretty nice overall, I'll rate it a 3.5/5.0.

This was Old Forester, Oregon Single Barrel, WHSE H Floor 1, 50% ABV. This one cost $60 ... not sure if it's better than the standard Old Foresters that are easy to find, but it wasn't bad. Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-10-14

Another Wednesday ... time for a random sample for Whisk(e)y Wednesday, let's go!

On the nose, fruity, cherry, bubble gum, sweet, mint. The taste, molasses, bubble gum, proof, pepper, fruit, heat... and the mint. The finish ... minty as well, sweet, syrup, heat that lingers. This strikes me as a high proof (60%+ ABV) bourbon ... but I guess with the minty it could be a rye. 

With water, the nose is more sharp, then more sweet. Sweeter on taste and finish, with lots of heat. This is pretty good, I'll rate it 3.75/5.0 ... it does have a *lot* of heat though. This was the Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye, coming in at a toasty 66.05% ABV. I rated this 3.5/5.0 during 2025 's 24 Days of Whisk(e)y... that night I just couldn't get past the proof. Maybe it mellowed with age a bit (:

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-10-07

Here we go for another Whisk(e)y Wednesday. I was traveling last week, but I'm back and ready for some Whisk(e)y.

On the nose, this one is mild, not getting much other than alcohol. Nose seems a bit flat overall. The taste, fruit, sweet, ash, pepper, bbq, spicy. The finish has heat up front, then sweet, then back to the heat with some char.

With water, the nose is similar, I get some more heat on the nose now, so maybe it's not as low proof as I thought. It is sweeter on the taste, and the finish does linger nicely and has some ash now too. I'm not sure what to think, it feels a bit flat and young. The nose is oddly a let down compared to the taste, and usually I think peated Scotch (which I'm guessing this is) has a better nose than taste. I'll rate this a 3.75/5.0 tonight.

This ended up being Lagavulin 12 Year Cask Strength, 57.3% ABV. I had this back in 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2023 and I rated it a 4.5/5.0 that night. I do have a woozy of this saved so I'll have to give it another try - but this is one of those Whiskies that if I know I'm drinking it, I enjoy it more because I know more what to expect and I know historically I enjoy it - so I try enjoying it, if that makes sense. Anyway ... that's the fun part of blind tastings.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-09-23

Whisk(e)y Wednesday ... random sample yet again. Let's see how this one goes (:

On the nose, this is sharp at first, but I do get some sweet and some fruit as well. Maybe apple or pear? The taste, minty, sweet orange marmalade ... I think I get a hint of matchstick as well. The finish, fruity that clings and stays. It hangs around for some time.

With water, the nose gets more sharp, and maybe a hint of the matchstick too. I am getting some malt. The taste is still sweet, and the finish is similar. I'm going to guess this is an unpeated Scotch or maybe an American Single Malt... maybe around 50%. I'll rate it a 4.0/5.0 tonight.

This was Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey, matured in California Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels, 46% ABV. I had this during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2024, and rated it a 3.5/5.0 that night, so I was in the right mood for this one tonight, Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-09-16

Whisk(e)y Wednesday Time - cheers!

A random sample tonight, let's see how this goes. On the nose, this one gives me brown sugar, vanilla, ripe fruit... strawberry or cherry? Some sting as well if I try to go in to far. Some sulfur as well, touch of malt too. The taste - brown sugar, hot pepper, vanilla, wood, dry, and some matchstick as well. The finish I'm getting brown sugar, hot pepper tingle, some sweet and some matchstick here too.

With water, it seems to have more proof on the nose. Still sweet, maybe a touch of leather too. Sweeter taste - probably too sweet. Some pepper and brown sugar too, along with wood. The finish is hot and dry with some sweet in the back. This feels like a low-ish Cask Strength peated Scotch. I like the nose quite a bit, for whatever reason, the taste is a bit off this evening, and I'd rate it a 3.75/5.0

This was the 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 had this during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2025 and rated it a 4.0/5.0. I was a little disappointed with it at that time, and I guess I am still a little disappointed (:

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-09-09

Whisk(e)y Wednesday Time - random sample, let's see what I think.

On the nose, this is peaty, phenol, rubber... this is my type of whisky for sure. The taste, I get sweet bqq meat, savory. The finish, sweet bbq meat, some ash, hot pepper, lingers nicely. I'd guess this is mid proof, 50% ABV or so, and I am thinking peated Scotch.

With water, there seems to be more proof and pepper on the nose, sweeter taste, and a hotter finish. I am enjoying this, I'll rate it a 4.25/5.0 ... I'll guess it's a one off Ardbeg.

Turns out it was the Port Askaig 110 Proof, no age statement. I had this during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2025 and rated it a 4.0 that night. Pretty tasty stuff, might have to pick up another bottle sometime. Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-09-02

Happy September! Whisk(e)y Wednesday time yet again ... here we go!

On the nose, this seems a bit proofy, but it is the first drink of the night, so I could just need to acclimate too. I am getting brown sugar, touch of orange. Maybe this is a high proof rye, but it could be bourbon ... maybe the orange should steer me to Irish or even Scotch. I seem to get a little dill and wood on the nose too. The taste ... malty, brown sugar, wood, touch bitter, and a bit of heat too. On the finish, I get the heat still, with brown sugar/molasses in back. The sweet lingers, bitter wood in the middle. I'm thinking Cask Strength Irish - likely Redbreast.

With water, the nose is still sweet, but I also get some spearmint now. The taste, sweeter, honey, molasses, woody, malty. The orange has seemed to go away. The finish is malt and wood. Overall, I'm enjoying this - I do think it's CS Irish, and I'll rate it 4.0/5.0

It was Irish - but not Cask Strength. Redbreast Lustau, 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 rated this 4.0/5.0 during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2025, but then during the Irish Whiskey Shootout, I rated it 3.5/5.0 ... tonight I enjoyed it (:

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-08-26

Hump ... DAY! Whisk(e)y Wednesday Time. Random Sample Time ... here we go (:

On the nose, this is super peaty. Phenol, rubber, seems mid proof... 45%-50% I'd guess. The taste is sweet, meaty, rubber and some band-aid too. The finish is medicine and sweet. At first I was thinking Ardbeg for sure, but with the band-aid... maybe Laphroaig, but there I would think the Cask Strength instead of the standard 10 Year, and it doesn't seem that high proof.

With water, the nose is similar, maybe getting some ash and char now. The taste is more sweet and mellow, though some hot spice and ash in the back. The finish I am finding ash as well, with the sweet and meat. 

The nose on this is fantastic, the taste and finish is a bit one note. This does seem better with water, I'm going to guess it's one of the one-off Ardbegs I have, and it's hitting my taste buds tonight and I'll rate it 4.25/5.0.

This was the Ardbeg Heavy Vapors standard release (46% ABV - no age statement) from a few years ago. It doesn't look like I've reviewed this one before, and the bottle is long gone, so this sample was the last of it. It cost $131.95 when I bought it. Even though I rated it high tonight, I'm betting any of the standard Ardbegs would have been as well rated tonight (:

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-08-19

Time for another Whisk(e)y Wednesday ... you know the drill - a random pour from the samples I've saved over the years, give a blind impression.

On the nose, this is malty, some floral, spearmint, seems young, not too high in proof either. The taste... malt, some wood, molasses, spicy ... cherry? The finish I certainly get cherry, sweet, syrup, spice that lingers. I'm getting American Single Malt vibes from this, but it could be Irish as well ... I don't think it's a Scotch.

With water, the nose is more tame with some fruit showing up mostly. The taste seems more cherry and more wood. The finish ... more wood as well. I'm going to guess this is ASM, around 45% ABV, and I'll rate it 3.5/5.0 - It's fine, but nothing special.

Tonight I was drinking Stranahan's Original Colorado Single Malt Whiskey. This is 100% malted barley, double distilled in copper pot stills and aged in virgin American Oak casks. 47% ABV, no age statement. I had this back during 2024's 24 Days of Whisk(e)y and rated it a 3.75/5.0 at that time. It sells for $50 here in Oregon, maybe I'll pick up another bottle sometime.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-08-12

Whisk(e)y Wednesday time... I grabbed a random sample and will give it a spin.

On the nose, this is punchy... I get molasses, sweet, brown sugar, some fruit, seems high proof. The taste I get the molasses and fruit, along with some wood... second sip seems more dry. I am finding some chocolate and maybe a rye spice, which is leaning me to think this is a rye, not a bourbon. The finish I have coca cola, mint, some rye with a sweet that lingers. I get wood on the finish too. 

With water, the nose is sweeter, and easier - not as proofy. The taste is sweeter, more woody for sure. Finish is wood with a sweet that lingers... I'm still leaning towards a high proof rye around 60% that might have some age on it too. I occasionally get a bit of an odd note that I can't quite place, and then it fades. Overall I am enjoying this and I'll rate it a 3.75/5.0 tonight.

Turns out we were drinking FEW Bottled In Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, 50% ABV. I had this back during 2024's 24 Days of Whisk(e)y and at that time I rated it 3.5/5.0. I was getting some licorice that night from this that I wasn't getting this evening. It's nice to revisit something after a while and see if you're thoughts have changed ... cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-08-05

Happy August ... hopefully we get some rain here in Oregon soon, dry days of summer are upon us for sure. Another random whisk(e)y sample for Whisk(e)y Wednesday, let's see what we have today.

On the nose, sharp, peaty, meaty. Seems high proof on the nose with some ash in the back, earthy. Once acclimated a bit to the proof, more sweet and with plenty of smoke an ash - less sharp. The taste is hot and spicy, earthy, peaty, sweet bbq, ashy. The finish is sweet, bbq, dry at the back. It has a nice heat that lingers for some time. I'm thinking this one of the Ardbeg Cask Strengths I have, or a different CS Peated Scotch, or it could be McCarthy's too. Guessing 55% ABV - 60% ABV though, it does have a nice punch.

With water, things are similar - a bit more sweet on the nose and taste, but still plenty of ashy goodness. Finish flips, with the heat up from and sweet and wood in the back. Overall the nose is amazing, the taste is a bit of a let down, I'll rate it 4.25/5.0. 

Turns out this was the McCarthy's Cask Strength, Single Barrel - Westmoreland Store Pick, Barrel #375, 56.2% ABV, bottled back in 2021. I went through several of these bottles as they were in the $60-$65 range and just really darn tasty. I think Westmoreland finally ran out of these, and I don't know if they'll be doing another single barrel or not. If they do, I'll jump in for sure (:

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-07-29

Whisk(e)y Wednesday time yet again. I pulled out a random sample to try blind and see what I thought.

The nose - minty, brown sugar, spearmint. It feels a bit sharp, touch of cherry too. I'm thinking bourbon or rye... more thinking rye with the mint, but unsure - seems low-ish proof, around 45% ABV or so. The taste is brown sugar, minty, bit of spice. Taste feels more rye so I'll lock that in - feels young too. The finish has a nice spice that lingers along with a good heat.

With water, this seems more minty, the taste is sweeter and more plain. The finish gets a bit more heat. This seems like a fairly standard rye, and I'll stick to 45% ABV. I'll give it 3.25/5.0 - feels pretty middle of the road.

Tonight I was drinking Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 45% ABV. Right on proof - wrong on Rye, heh. This was a sample from a friend and I had not rated it before. It costs around $35 - but at that price point there does seem to be things I like better to buy before this one. Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-07-22

Here we are yet again ... Whisk(e)y Wednesday ... random sample, blind tasting, you know the drill (:

On the nose, I get malt and honey, a slight touch of sulfur in back, apple, vanilla ... even some molasses. At first I thought Irish - but I'm leaning towards unpeated Scotch. The taste ... apple, honey, with some spicy petter. The finish is honey, vanilla and malt.

With water, this is more fruity on the nose. It also feels a little more spicy on the taste and finish. Overall this is pretty good, but also a bit simple. I do think it's a fairly low proof Scotch, maybe a Compass Box blend, and I'll rate it 3.75/5.0 tonight.

This was the AnCnoc, 12 Year Highland Single Malt, 43% ABV. I had this during 2024 24 Days of Whisk(e)y and rated it a 4.0/5.0 that evening. It's pretty good, but I doubt I'd pick up another bottle.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-07-15

Whisk(e)y Wednesday yet again ... let's see what our random sample is this time (:

On the nose, malty and fruity ... almost artificially fruity. This carries over to the taste... seems like grape jelly or such? The finish ... more fruit (:

I don't think I have any in the random samples, but all that grape reminds me of Eagle Rare - though this seems way too malty so most likely an American Single Malt or possibly an Irish. With water ... everything just seems more and more fruit. 

Overall, this feels a little flat and one note - I do think it's an American Single Malt, probably around 45% ABV, maybe even lower. I'll rate it a 3.25/5.0 tonight. This was the Stranahan's Diamond Peak Single Malt, 45% ABV. I had this during 2025 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, and this one is Batch No 2, Aged between 5 - 8 years and then finished in Extra Anejo Tequila Casks for 2 years. Distilled in Denver, Colorado. I rated it 3.5/5.0 previously and thought I might like it better on a different night, but it doesn't look like it, cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-07-08

Time for another random sample Whisk(e)y Wednesday - here we go...

On the nose, I get campfire, ash, brine... I am getting some floral too, but it's in the back. The taste is sweet up front, charred wood, charred fruit, charred meat and some heat. Lots of char for sure. The finish is heat at first, then brine, charred oak ... maybe some mint too?

With water, everything to toned down a bit, seems more floral on the nose with some more bbq as well, taste seems sweeter, finish still has the char but I think the mint zing is more present. Overall this is enjoyable, I'd rate it a 4.0/5.0 very good, but not quite great... seems around 50% ABV. If I was going to guess, I'm betting it's one of the Ardbeg One-Offs that I have bought over the years.

This was the Ardbeg Scorch Single Malt from 2021, 46% ABV. I rated this a 3.5/5.0 during 2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... so it looks like I enjoyed it a bit more tonight, or it had more competition back in 2021 (: Either way - I'm not seeing this one again, so it was nice to revisit, cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-07-01

Whisk(e)y Wednesday time ... a random sample from the collection, let's see what we have tonight.

On the nose - this seems pretty laid back. I get some cherry and molasses, some alcohol in the back, but not too much so I'm guessing around 45% ABV. This feels finished, but not exactly sure in what. It might just be from the color - which has some red hue to it. The taste is woody and cinnamon, with some burnt sugar as well. The finish is cherry and vanilla with some cinnamon in the back. Almost feels like Wild Turkey 101, although I'm getting some spearmint too.

Water doesn't seem to change things too much, about the same really. It's fine, but not great. Guessing a mid priced, 45%-ish proof bourbon, and I'll rate it 3.5/5.0. 

So this was the Woodford Reserve Double Oak. I had this during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2025, and I rated it a 3.75/5.0 for that and I thought it was an Irish Whiskey ... at least I got the bourbon part right tonight (: 45.2% ABV - so I was on those nose for that too. Until next week, cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-24

Time for another random sample Whisk(e)y Wednesday... here we go!

On the nose, this is brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, touch of malt. My first hunch is crafty bourbon or maybe an Irish. It seems a little proofy on the nose too. The taste is molasses, fruit, peppery, with a finish that is sweet cherry - leaning towards a cask strength bourbon.

With water, this is more sweet on the nose, more orange and fruity on the taste and finish. Overall this is quite enjoyable, I would rate it 3.75/5.0 - solid for sure. This was the Trail's End 8 Year Bourbon Van pick, coming in at 56.85% ABV. This was finished in a McCarthy's Peated and Smoked American Single Malt Barrel ... I didn't really find that this came through the finish, but it was quite tasty regardless. Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-17

Whisk(e)y ... WEDNESDAY!!!

Random sample time - let's see what we have this evening. On the nose, I get hits of orange, malt, a touch of sulfur I think - but just a touch and some vanilla. The taste I get orange, malt, some black pepper and vanilla. The finish is malty and vanilla. This feels maybe mid proof, around 50% ABV I would guess, and my first hunch is Scotch, maybe something like Compass Box Glasgow Blend.

With water, the nose is very similar, but more sweet. The taste is more sweet too but feels more plain as well. On the finish I now get a touch of sulfur. Overall this is pretty nice.. I almost gave it a 4.0/5.0 - but I'll call it a 3.75/5.0 instead. 

Turns out we were drinking Ardnamurchan Highland Single Malt Whisky, 46.8% ABV. I did almost scream "SCOTCH!" so I'm glad I got that part right (: Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-10

Another random sample for Whisk(e)y Wednesday - let's see what we have tonight.

On the nose, this is honey, mint, malt ... fairly mild. I would lean Irish, maybe an American Single Malt ... I suppose possibly a non-peated Scotch. Seems pretty low ABV on the nose, 90ish proof I'm guessing. The taste is bright-citrus with some spice too. The finish is malty, honey, cereal, fruit on the back end... I don't think it's apple, but maybe? I'm thinking maybe *not* Irish, hmm.

With water, the nose is still minty, with floral and honey too. The taste and finish seem more mild and malty. My final thought is this will be a middle of the road Irish - lower proof, maybe even 40% ABV as that's a popular point for Irish Whiskies. Tonight I would rate this a 3.5/5.0 - it's good but not great.

Turns out this was Compass Box, Glasgow Blend, Blended Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV, no color added, non-chill filtered. I originally had this in 2024's 24 Days of Whisk(e)y and at that time I rated it 3.75/5.0, so in the same ball park... cheers!