2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 15

Hump Day!!!! Whisk(e)y Wednesday, Day 15 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... today I'm having Ry3, Private Reserve, 61.82% ABV. Is it a Rye? Is it a Bourbon? Who knows... let's try this (:

Ry3 is a bit limited on information, it says it a blend of 3 mashbills - but then doesn't say what or who or where the mashbills are from, so it could be more or less anything. On the nose, I get some initial alcohol burn, after that I get vanilla, chocolate, dark fruit, toffee, spice.. and way way way in the back some dill. 

The taste - it's a bit hot, but this is over 60% ABV, so it is to be expected. Does have some hot petter spice, rye, also get the sweetness, along with some oak in the back. The finish is spicy, hot dry wood, hangs around and eventually turns into more wood. Occasionally on the finish I get some coffee - but not always. 

With water, the nose is similar, maybe more sweet. The taste is very spicy, sweet in the back, touch of wood too. The finish is more wood and seems to drift off quickly - I think this is better neat. Overall, this is very flavorful, there is a lot going on. Comparing to my highest rated rye - Willett 4 Year - this doesn't quite get there, but it's also much different. Biggest surprise of the year, rated 3.75 / 5.0.

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 14

Treat Tuesday - and today is day 14 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. We're having 10 Year Ledaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky, coming in at 46.3% ABV. Let's see how it is...

On the nose I get brine, sweet honey, touch of citrus, faint smoke. Coming back to the nose after a bit, I do find a touch of peat too and maybe some rubber cement. The taste is toffee sweetness, black pepper, spicy pepper, light smoke and peat. The finish is sweet and earthy, brine, oak, pepper lingers, along with a touch of that rubber cement. 

With water, the nose has a little more smoke, along with everything else, and the taste has more brine along with more pepper in the finish. Overall, this is good - not great, but good. It could be a good gateway to more peaty Scotches. It reminds me somewhat of the Balvenie Week of Peat 14 Year - which can be hard to find. I'd say the Balvenie is better, but the Ledaig isn't far behind. Will rate this 3.5 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 13

Made it through another Monday, time for Day 13 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. Tonight I'm having Wild Turkey Rare Breed Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 56.1% ABV. I like the standard Wild Turkey Rye - will I like the barrel proof big brother?

On the nose, I get caramel, citrus, apple, some baking spice, and a touch of dill in the back, especially if I let it set for a bit. The taste I get caramel toffee, black pepper, touch of rye spice, and some mint. The finish I get some rye spice, hot cinnamon and it lingers for some time.

With water, the nose has more citrus for me, while I get some wood on the taste and finish, but otherwise pretty similar, good either way. Overall, I probably like the Willett 4 Year Rye I have better, but this holds its own versus other higher proof, rated 3.75 / 5.0, cheers!

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 12

Day 12 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. I drank this and took notes last night, but then was busy and didn't get a chance to write up the review.

Trying another Bull Run offering, this time a 7 Year Single Malt Whiskey, then finished in Cognac casks for 13 months, 59.98% ABV. This one does say 'Distilled by...' on the back, the 13 Year did not, meaning it was most likely sourced.

On the nose I get mint, a black tea note that's a bit funky (similar to other Oregon Single Malts), cherry, and some sweet fruit. The taste, I get the malt, tea, some spice and a low level sweetness. The finish I get that funk coming back. With water things are very similar. for nearly 60% ABV this doesn't really drink that hot, but the water does tame it down a bit.

Overall this is good and fairly unique, but I do think the 13 Year I had the other day was better. Rated 3.25 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 11

Saturday! Rainy windy day in Portland, good day to hunker down with a cask strength Whisk(e)y! Today, I'm having Balcones Peated Texas Single Malt Whisky, 2020 Edition, Aged 3 years, with a 62.9% ABV. While I've not loved every Balcones I've tried, they have been unique and interesting, and I really love the nose on the Balcones Brimstone - so when I saw this one I picked it up.

On the nose I am getting smoke, ash, burnt wood, and sweet BBQ. On the taste, I find smoke, wood, cherry (but not a sweet cherry), hot pepper spice - overall not too sweet. The finish it hot with spicy tingle, lingers - with char on the backend. 

Adding water, there is less smoke on the nose and there is more BBQ sweet - almost Teriyaki. The taste is not much different, but the finish is hotter, spicier, and has more heat. I could take this either way.

Overall, this is quite good, and I'll be looking for the 2021 edition. I'd say it's similar (but different) to higher proof Ardbegs or such, same wheelhouse anyway. I'd rate this 4.0 / 5.0 - would buy again, cheers!

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 10

Friday! Woot Woot! Day 10 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, tonight we have Bull Run Distilling American Whiskey Aged 13 Years then finished in Cabernet Casks for 6 more months. Cask Strength at 62.47% ABV. This is a barrel pick from Westmoreland Liquor not too far from my house I picked up on clearance at $41 - is it worth it?

On the nose I first get the alcohol -125 proof is hard to ignore, but then I get sweetness, molasses, caramel, vanilla and fruit. The taste is fruit, cherry syrup, but with a proof kick too. The finish is sweet, wood, cherry and lingers. 

With water, this does get tamed down a bit. Still sweet on the nose with brown sugar, similar on the taste, and more woody on the finish. Overall this is really interesting. Doesn't drink as hot as the proof is, but isn't boring by any means either. The best value so far for the year, that's for sure. Rated 3.5 / 5.0 - cheers!

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 9

Thursday! Day 9 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, today, we have Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond, 50% ABV, 100 Proof, aged at least 4 years (rumored to be around 7 years). I bought this one about a year ago and it's getting really hard to find anymore - is it any good?

On the nose, I get caramel, corn, spice and a hint of dill. On the taste I get butterscotch, cinnamon, spice, wood and apple. The finish I get vanilla, some wood, spice, and it lingers for some time. With water the nose is more wood and spicy, while the taste is sweeter overall. 

This in nothing fancy, but it's really well balanced and the sum is better than the parts. It's from Buffalo Trace, but comparing either Buffalo Trace or Eagle Rare to this is just not fair - this is significantly better overall. If you can find this at retail, it's an instant purchase - but good luck. I have not seen this in a store since I picked it up. Rated 3.5 / 5.0 - better than all budget bourbons, not quite in the barrel proof bourbon category.