2023 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 7

Thirsty Thursday... tonight we are drinking The Blue Note, from The Whistler, Aged 7 Years, Single Malt Irish Whiskey, crafted by Boann Distillery, coming in at 46% ABV. I saw this on Flaviar and I figured a 46% ABV 7 Year Irish Whiskey was worth a try.

On the nose, there is the malt along with a lemon frosted cookie. The taste I get the malt again, along with some bright fruit and orange peel. The finish has a little bit of wood, along with malt for days and days. This was aged in bourbon barrels for 5 years, and then 2 years in a sherry cask ... I'm not really finding any sherry notes. 

With water, the nose is similar, the flavor gets some hot spice and pepper added to the mix, and the finish is still malty and long. This is pretty good either way, and it might do well over ice too. This cost about $43 and I'd say it's interesting enough to be worth that. I rated it a 3.25/5.0

2023 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 6

Hump DAY ! ! ! Whisk(e)y Wednesday... today, we are drinking Bunnahabhain Toiteach a Dhà, 46.3% ABV, Islay Single Malt Whisky. Toiteach a Dhà means "Smoky Two" in Gaelic. I had a sample of this a few years back and enjoyed it - time to give it a review.

On the nose, I get some fine ash at first, along with a very light peat, then in the back I get a blackberry, some sea air, malt sweetness. The nose is really nice, and it seems like every time you go back to it, you can find something else. Comparatively, the taste is a bit of a let down, but it's still really tasty overall. There is a brininess that I get, some fruit syrup, malt and a little floral too. The finish I get some pepper, a blackberry syrup, malt... it does seem to hang around for some time and has some warmth at the end.

With water, the nose is more floral and has a bit more alcohol burn. Same with the taste too, the finish seems a bit more mellow. This is probably better neat in my opinion. Overall - the nose on this is really good. So good that it would be hard for the taste to match it. The finish is enjoyable as well. I'll rate this one a 3.75/5.0 ... good stuff!

2023 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 5

Tuesday ... and so much rain today (: Day 5 ... doing something I used to drink a lot of, but have not had this in quite some time, and never for a 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, so here we go. Drinking Templeton Rye, 4 Year Rye Whiskey. This is distilled in Indiana by MGP, and then bottled in Templeton, Iowa. There is a big ol' story on the back of the bottle talking about how Templeton Rye was "the good stuff" during prohibition. Given the fact that for years they were not being truthful in the fact that they were just sourcing the booze from MGP - who knows if any of the story is true... probably not, heh.

Templeton Rye was my gateway to other whiskeys, so despite the deception from the company, it will always have a special place in my heart. On the nose, I find some dill pickle notes, molasses, and rye spice. The taste for me is more molasses, spice and some pepper. The finish is a bit thin, which is likely due to the 40% ABV (the first few batches were 43% ABV) but it does finish with a nice warmth that lingers. 

This probably doesn't need water - but I did try it with a dash. The nose was more molasses sweetness, the taste was about the same. On the finish I am now finding a bit of wood as well. Overall, this is enjoyable enough, and it's a lot easier to find than it was early on, and it runs about $30. The biggest issue is Old Forester Rye is a bit less - and certainly better. Woodford Reserve Rye is around the same price and better as well. This still comes in at 3.0/5.0 for me.

2023 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 4

Overcast most of the day today, but I did manage to get in a 6 mile or so walk, so it could have been worse. Tonight we have Bushmills Prohibition Recipe Irish Whiskey, 46% ABV. I was interested in this one as it's a bit higher proof than the usual 40% ABV of most other Bushmills and similar Irish Whiskeys. Will the extra proof help or hurt?

On the nose, I get apple, a hint of floral that reminds me of deodorant soap, and a malty sweetness. The taste has a bit of a bourbon sweetness on the front, turning very malty with a bit of oak sour on the finish that doesn't hang around for too long.

With water, the nose is more dull, the taste is more floral, and the finish has some pepper and spice coming through. This might be better with some water, and would probably be good over ice too. Overall, it's not great... but I don't mind it. I'll rate it a 2.75/5.0

2023 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 3

Sunday ... Funday? Rainday for sure. Anyway, tonight we're having The Classic Laddie, from Bruichladdich, a Scottish Barley Unpeated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 50% ABV. Most Islay Scotches are peated, and Bruichladdich certainly makes some mighty fine peated scotches, but I've been interested in trying this one out.

On the nose, this one is quite malty, with some bread, fresh fruit and a bit of salt coming through as well. The taste is similar, and quite nice. The finish does have a touch of ash, floral and sea salt, but mostly I find a citrus zest and black pepper lasting for some time.

Water makes the nose more candy sweet, more malty in the taste, and more malty in the finish and it seems to weaken the duration of the finish as well. For me, this one is better neat. I usually stick with peated Scotch when I drink Scotch, but overall this is quite enjoyable. I'll rate it 3.75/5.0.

2023 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 2

Saturday... Day 2 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. Tonight I'm reviewing something I've had many times before, but have never actually reviewed... so tonights the night. Plain ol' Buffalo Trace, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45% ABV. Let's see how this shakes out.

On the nose, I get some citrus, reminds me of orange furniture polish. I also get some caramel, and a touch of spice. The taste is mostly brown sugar bourbon sweetness, along with some vanilla, oak and some spice as well. It drinks fairly easy, as you might expect at 45% ABV. The finish is decent, with oak and a touch of mint freshness as well, it does hang around for a bit too.

With water, on the nose I get more spice, the taste is more sweet and easier to drink, and the finish seems to have more wood. This is similar either way, I probably prefer it neat. Overall it's what you would expect and at $25 a bottle or so it does fall into the daily drinker. My main complaint is that it's simple enough you might end up drinking more of this than something more interesting. I give this a 3.0/5.0 

2023 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 1

December! The weather is sure feeling more like winter in in the PDX area... rainy, chilly... exactly as expected. We are starting 24 days of Whisk(e)y 2023 with this one - we're starting things off with Blackened, Blend of Straight Whiskeys Finished in Black Brandy Casks, coming in at 45% ABV. This is listed as a blend of bourbons and ryes - so it falls into the "American Whiskey" category.

On the nose, this one reminds me of simple syrup, and some spearmint or similar. The taste I get the same neutral sweetness, some baking spice, and the mint shows up as well. The finish is better than I was expecting it to be - with mint freshness and a clingy feeling that sticks around for some time.

Adding some water, the nose is a bit more open - the taste is a bit more mellow and the finish is similar. I could drink this one either way, and this would likely be nice over ice as well. Overall, I give this a pretty good. It's not great, but there are no real faults for me, and it did have some interesting things going on. I give it a 3.5/5.0 - cheers!