Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-11-19

Hey... another Whisk(e)y Wednesday - another blind sample, here we go...

On the nose, brown sugar, mint, orange peel, not too sharp on the nose, but it does have some proof. My initial thought here was rye ... but it might be a bourbon. The taste is a bit dusty, sweet upfront, a bit spicy, hot red pepper, the spice builds. I would lean towards bourbon over rye though, it just feels more like bourbon - it does seem to have some proof, I'd guess 110 or so.

The finish I get cherry, wood dryness, cinnamon, medium length and it turns more dry over time. Overall, this is pretty good - I don't have a good guess as to what it could be though as I can't think of anything I saved a sample of that would fall into this category. It's probably a good thing that over time I'll forget what I have saved samples of... will make it more blind (: I'd rate this a 3.5/5.0 tonight.

Turns out it was Baker's 7 Bourbon... which I had not blind a few weeks back when I didn't have enough to save a sample of. I had an older bottle of Baker's from around 2020 ... and I don't know if this sample is from that bottle, or the newer bottle. Either way, I didn't really get the usual Baker's peanut notes while sampling it - it's there if I really go looking for it I guess. I rated both of them 3.75/5.0 initially.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-11-12

Here we are again, Whisk(e)y Wednesday. Let's see how we like this one tonight.

On the nose, it's malty and I get some sulfur, marshmallow, honey, an artificial sweetener note as well... which sounds a bit odd, but it's what I was reminded of. Going back to the nose after acclimation I don't really find the sulfur as much. The taste I get some matchstick, peppery, hot, malt, sweet, candy. It feels over 50% ABV, but it is the first drink of the evening, so it could just be drinking a bit hot. This does seem to get sweeter the longer I drink it, along with being jammy.

The finish is sweet initially, malt that lingers, with matchstick, hot pepper, and a bit of artificial sweetener like I get from rum. Very sweet, jammy. Overall this struck me a pretty good, but not quite great... I'd rate it a 4.25/5.0 tonight, but I can't quite place what it might be. Not Ardbeg, I don't think it's Laphroaig either... don't have any great guesses. 

Turns out it was BenRiach, The Smoky 12, 46% ABV. I originally rated it 4.0/5.0, so I just liked it a bit more this evening. At $60 I might want to pick up another bottle sometime, though Ardbeg 10 comes in around there too, and I probably like that one more.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-11-05

Getting back to things, doing a blind sample from the shelf. Let's see how this one is. On the nose, it's fairly mild, alcohol in the back, malt, maybe some apple. It's light, floral, maybe some honey.

On the taste I get brown sugar, honey, pepper spice, molasses, seems low proof, not much above 40% ABV. I initially found it too simple, but over time I did get some light smoke and ash. The finish is pepper in the front, then sweet that lingers along with some apple. 

I was thinking this might be Irish, but the light smoke and ash had me leaning towards Scotch. Tonight I would rate it a 3.75/5.0. Turned out to be Talisker Game of Thrones House of Greyjoy, 45.8% ABV. I had this back in 2019 and had similar tasting notes, and rated 3.75/5.0 then as well. I believe this is the last of the bottle, and as it was a one-off I doubt I'll ever see it again.

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!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2025-08-06

Time for Whisk(e)y Wednesday... tonight another random sample from the collection. On the nose, I get honey and spearmint bubble gum, orange citrus, cherry, not too hot on the nose. Bourbon-ish for sure. The taste, I initially get dusty wood, burnt brown sugar, some cinnamon heat, and I believe some dill. The more I drink, the smoother this gets, seems to be lower proof, 50% ABV or lower. 

On the finish I find a sweetness that lingers a long time, brown sugar, some oak dryness, and some odd savory sour note that I can't quite put my finger on. The finish hangs around for some time, so I'm guessing this is well aged. Overall, I'm guessing this is bourbon. Usually dill notes make me think maybe rye, but it was very light, so I'll stick with bourbon. This drinks middle of the road, I'll rate it 3.25/5.0 tonight. 

Turns out, I was drinking Tin Cup 14Year, 42% ABV, Indiana produced, bottled in Colorado. After knowing what I was drinking and going back to it - the age certainly comes through. I rated it originally 3.5 during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, then 3.0 during the four way bourbon tasting... and so tonight I split the difference (: I think I would like it better higher proof, 50% ABV would probably help it some.