Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2021-01-27

Woo! Hump Day ... Whisk(e)y Wednesday yet again. Note that I got lazy last night and didn't get around to posting this review - but I have all my notes so here goes. I thought I'd run through some different Westward Single Malts - I have samples of the Pinot Noir Cask 45% ABV and the Cask Stout 45% ABV, along with a bottle of the Single Barrel Women of Westward 45% ABV release. Will one stand out among the others? Will there be much difference?

I did this blind, but it was easy to pick the Pinot Noir Cask out - and I was pretty sure between the Single Barrel and Cask Stout versions as well. First up, the Single Barrel Women of Westward release. This came out in 2017, and I picked up a 375ml bottle a month or so ago. The nose I get fruit along with some dark chocolate in the background. The taste is licorice and tea, the tea note being similar to the standard Westward Single Malt release. On the finish I get grass and some spice. With water, the nose opens up for me and has more chocolate, a little less bite on the taste and a bit more sweetness, I could have this either way. This is better than the standard Westward, but the cask strength Westward is better in every way. Given the price of this, I can't see buying again. 3.5 / 5.0

Next up was the Pinot Noir Cask version. On the nose I found sweetness, fruit, and grass. The taste I got grass, fruit and old leather in the background. The finish was a touch of fruit, not too heavy, and some tobacco. With water the nose is more interesting - ripe fruit, multilayered, but sadly the taste is more dull. I could drink this either way. Of the three tonight, this was probably my favorite, 3.5 / 5.0

Finally I tried the Cask Stout. I didn't really find any stout on this one in the nose, taste, or finish. The nose was fruit, some citrus and cinnamon. The taste I got the bitter tea like the standard Westward, some nuts, a hint of brine, and some wood. The finish was dry with some tea. Water brought out some citrus on the nose, and some fruit on the taste, but still heavy on the tea. This one was the most like the standard Westward Single Malt - but I probably like this a little better. It was my least favorite of the three, but possibly because it was the least different. 3.25 / 5.0

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2021-01-20

Hump Day!!! Time for another blind taste test. Today I'm trying Black Maple Hill Small Batch Limited Edition, 47.5% ABV vs. Starward Two-Fold Double Grain Australian Whisky 40.0% ABV vs Westward American Single Malt Whiskey, 45.0% ABV. I poured the three glasses and then mixed them up until I didn't know which was which...

Sample A: On the nose I found cinnamon and honey, wasn't overpowering, fairly subtile. The taste was rye like spice, floral, herbs, caramel and some maple. The finish had spice that lingered for quite some time - but wasn't overly strong. A dash of water made it more floral on the nose and more rye spice, with the taste becoming more bitter - I would prefer this neat. Rated this 3.5 / 5.0 - This one turned out to be the Black Maple Hill. While it was good, at about $90 a bottle it would be hard justifying purchasing.

Sample B: On the nose I got eucalyptus and tea coming through. The taste I found bitter tea, some grain funk, orange and some ripe fruit. The finish gave me a long herbal finish, bitter tea, and some wood. With water I found the nose more enjoyable - relaxed and inviting. Still got the bitter tea on the taste with some spice as well, I probably liked this one a bit more with water. Rated 3.25 / 5. 0 - This was the Westward. Once I noticed the bitter black tea it was hard to ignore, but I thought it was pretty good overall. At about $70 a bottle I can't see buying this again though.

Sample C: On the nose I got pepper, mint and orange juice. The taste was suite fruit and wood. The finish was dry wood with some spice heat as well. With water I got a bit more sour on the nose - possibly wood along with apple. Fruity on the taste, but the finish seemed more thin, would prefer this one neat. Rated 3.25 / 5.0 - This was the Starward , and was all right overall. At about $32 a bottle, it held its own vs the two other higher priced Whiskies tonight. 

While the Black Maple Hill was the best of the three in my opinion - the Starward was clearly the best value. They make a single malt that I might have to try. Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2021-01-13

Yet another hump day, woot! Whisk(e)y Wednesday - or more accurately Whisk(e)y Monday as I had these Monday but didn't get around to posting until tonight. We're going to try 3 high proof whisk(e)y - 2 American Single Malts and 1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon. 

We have Balcones Texas Single Malt Whisky, Single Barrel, Cask Strength. This one is coming in at 64.9% ABV, barrel 15961, European Oak, Distilled 2017-01-10, bottled 2020-08-04. Next we have Westward American Single Malt Cask Strength, 62.5% ABV (NAS). Lastly we have the control whiskey - Old Grand Dad 114 Straight Kentucky Bourbon (at least 4 years), which given it was a bourbon, I was likely going to be able to pick out. If the $80ish Balcones and the $100ish Westward don't taste any better than the $30ish Old Grand Dad - it's time to stick with lower priced pours (:

I poured these and shuffled them around to do a blind taste test. First glass, on the nose I had toasted marshmallow, touch of smoke or campfire char, molasses and some alcohol punch. On the taste I got candy corn, caramel, sugary, oak and some grain funk. The finish was punchy with some minty freshness that seemed to linger. A dash of water tames the alcohol on the nose, ramping up the sweetness. The taste got a bit more sharp - I probably prefer this one neat. Overall I enjoyed this quite a bit, and I could see sitting with a glass for a nice relaxing evening. Rated 3.75 / 5.0

Second one was a bit bland on the nose, getting some caramel, brown sugar, citrus and some baking spice, but somewhat having to reach for them. The taste was sweet, caramel, spicy and peppery. The finish was somewhat thin, with some alcohol burn, pepper and some oak. Water opened the sweetness on the nose, and I found some nutmeg as well. It smoothed out the taste, more wood on the finish, probably would prefer with a splash of water. This is good overall, and worth keeping around - my guess is this was is the Old Grand Dad 114 (spoiler - yep). Rated 3.25 / 5.0

Last one ... this I find sweet candy, fruit, oak and a hit of spice on the nose. The taste I find butterscotch, brown sugar and frosting. The finish was lingering, fruity, spice and wood that goes on and on. With water the nose turns to nothing but sweetness for me, more spicy on the taste. I prefer this one neat. This is shockingly easy to drink despite being over 120 proof. Rated 3.75 / 5.0

#1 and #3 are very close for me preference wise. They are different, I'd lean towards #1. I guessed #1 was the Balcones because of the touch of smoke on the nose, #2 I thought was Old Grand Dad, and #3 I thought was the Westward. Turned out I had The Balcones and the Westward swapped - the slight grain funk in #1 should have led me to know it was Westward, as the non-cask strength single malt has the same grain funk. So of the three, the Westward Cask Strength was the slight winner.

The Balcones Single Malt was a store pick and likely will not see it again - but if I see another Cask Strength Single Barrel Balcones Single Malt, I might pick it up. The Westward Cask Strength is fairly easy to find around here since it's made in Portland, OR, but at $100 a bottle it's more of a special occasion pour. The Old Grand Dad 114, at $30 is a steal - likely a bottle to always keep around - my guess is with the high proof it would stand up well to water, ice or mixing. 

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2021-01-06

Hump Day!!! Whisk(e)y Wednesday ... today I'm doing a blind A/B comparison between Old Forester Rye 50% ABV and Woodford Reserve Rye 45.2% ABV. Both are reasonably priced, let's see which one I think is better.

After pouring the two, I rotated these around until I was sure I didn't know which one was which, other than the label on the bottom of the glass. The first one I sampled turned out to be the Woodford Reserve. On the nose, I got sweet caramel, vanilla, apple, some rye spice and pepper, and a faint hint of dill. The smell reminded me of a bourbon overall.

The taste I got the rye grain and spice, toffee, some fruit. With water things seemed to mellow out a bit, I could take this one either way. The finish was warm with some licorice. This one was interesting, and I'd rate it 3.5 / 5.0 - would drink anytime!

The second sample turned out to be the Old Forester. On the nose I got cherry, sweet and some menthol, with some dill notes in the background. The taste was inline with that, maybe a little bit of pepper too. The finish I got cherry syrup, rye spices, menthol finish along with some pine. Water mellows things out a bit, nothing really changed, I could go either way with this. I feel this one wasn't quite as good at the first, but it was still pretty good overall, rated 3.25 / 5.0 

Around here, Woodford Reserve Rye usually runs around $30 a 750, while Old Forester is $25 or a bit under for a 750. They are both good enough to keep around - but the Woodford is a bit better overall. Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday - 2020-12-30

Almost the New Years - Hump Day!!! and... Whiskey Wednesday. Today I'm doing a budget bourbon shootout - doing a blind tasting of Eagle Rare, Evan Williams Single Barrel, and Wild Turkey 101. I don't usually do blind tastings - normally I know what I'm trying, I have looked at reviews for some ideas of what to expect on the nose/palate - so today... it's going to be interesting.

I labelled the glasses on the bottom, and then after pouring I randomized the order (which is easier to do the older I get...) until I felt confident I had no idea which glass was where. 

Glass #1. On the nose I got sweet, flowery, vanilla, and some brown sugar. The taste I found a touch of spice, some burnt brown sugar, and a bit of mint. The finish was charred sugar and a bit of metallic shiny notes. With water the sweetness pops on the nose, more brown sugar, with burnt sugar and some oak on the taste. Rated 3.25 / 5.0 - seemed a little better with water.

Glass #2. On the nose my first thought is mustard, which is odd as it's not a note I think I've came across before... some grass and dill pickle as well. The taste is neutral - I kept going back trying to find something, but it just wasn't there. The finish is minty with some oak notes. With water it's a bit more traditional on the nose - I've lost the mustard and dill. More metallic on the finish and a bit sour on the taste. Rated 3.0 / 5.0 - I found it better neat.

Glass #3. On the nose, I found this floral, touch of cinnamon, and some licorice. The taste is spicy with a bit of metallic. The finish I am finding licorice and a minty finish. With water, I get more floral on the nose, more licorice and wood oak on the finish, along with a spicy taste. Rated 3.25 / 5.0. I could drink this either straight or with a dash of water.

#1 was Wild Turkey 101, 50.5% ABV, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. I grew up thinking Wild Turkey was rotgut... but apparently not the case, as this edged out #3 for me as the best of the three. No age statement - which I think would be aged at least 3 years as this is a 'straight bourbon', though online I see comments that state it's 6 years old, so I'm not sure.

#2 was Evan Williams Single Barrel, 43.3% ABV, aged about 8 years (put in oak 2012, bottled 2020). This came in last place for me, but was still pretty good overall. I recall really liking this in the past, so maybe the current batch isn't as good as the old batches. 

#3 was Eagle Rare, Aged 10 Years, 45% ABV. It can sometimes be hard to find, but at around $30 it's certainly worth the price. While in the A/B comparison I felt the Wild Turkey was slightly better - they are really close.

This was a fun experiment - I'll need to do more blind tastings ... cheers!

2020 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 24

Day 24 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y... end of the line, pretty good selection this year - maybe I'll compare my average review to past years (: Tonight we have The Glenlivet Enigma, released in 2019, no age statement, cask strength at 60.6% ABV. The whole idea of this one is there isn't very much information on it. I figured Glenlivet wouldn't release crap - so I jumped in. This cost a bit north of $100 - is it worth it?

On the nose I get citrus fruit, sweet apple, floral notes that are expected, and butterscotch in the background. The taste is sweet, fruity, some marshmallow, but it certainly has some proof burn as well. The finish I get cinnamon and dessert sweetness. Some water tames the alcohol burn a bit, and I find more cinnamon on the taste and finish.

This is interesting. I would be interested in doing a blind taste test of this as I don't know if I'm reaching to find something in this knowing the price. It's good - but I don't currently have much to compare it to. Maybe the Glenlivet Nadurra Peated I had earlier. I wouldn't drink this daily, but I would pull it out for a friend who likes cask strength Speyside Scotch Whisky. Rated 3.75 / 5.0 - going to have to give this another taste and do some A/B comparisons another time (:

2020 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 23

Nearing the end of the road, Day 23 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - tonight we have The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky, The Week of Peat, Aged 14 Years, 48.3% ABV, Story #2. I had Story #1 a few years back and enjoyed it, and in general Balvenie puts out good stuff, so I figured this was worth checking out.

On the nose, I get heavy peat and smoke up front, but not punchy. Butterscotch, citrus zest, malt and hints of apple as well. The taste is citrus, some sweet, and I get some licorice as well, but the peat/smoke is missing. The finish is more citrus and a mint tingle that hangs around.

My thoughts on initial nose and taste was this was comparable to Lagavulin 16. Doing an A/B compare - The Lagavulin is sweeter on the nose, but more ashy and smoky on the taste. Same ball park overall, but I prefer the Lagavulin 16. I could see keeping this around for people that like scotch but don't generally like Islay and want to drift into a bit of peat smoke. Rated 3.75 / 5.0