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.