Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-04-29

Hump DAY! Whisk(e)y ... WEDNESDAY ! ! ! Another random sample today, let's see what we think.

On the nose, I'm getting honey, apple, sweet, vanilla, fairly mild overall. The taste I get bright fruit and a touch of heat - the finish is fruity and honey ... again a touch of heat. I don't think this is 40% ABV - maybe closer to 50%.

With water, more honey on the nose, taste is sweet with less heat, and the honey on the finish seems to linger longer. This is pretty nice overall, I'm guessing Irish - 50% ABV ... though there are not many at that ABV so it might be higher and Cask Strength. It's solid and tasty, I'll rate it 3.75/5.0

Today's sample was Knappogue Castle 12 Year California Blend, 46% ABV. I had this during 2024 24 Days of Whisk(e)y and rated it a 3.5 that time - so I seemed to like it a bit more now. Or I was wanting some Irish Whiskey (: Either way ... cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-04-22

All right, here we go with another random blind tasting. I saved off 2oz samples of past bottles before finishing them, and I grabbed one to try tonight - let's see what I think.

On the nose, this has spearmint, dark brown sugar, and honey. It seems maybe more rye that bourbon, but I think it could be either one from the nose. The taste I'm getting wood, brown sugar and some spicy heat. I would guess this is around 55% ABV or so. The finish is brown sugar, has a proof hug here too - might be even higher proof. 

With water the taste is more spearmint, nose is more brown sugar - finish is brown sugar and spearmint. It did tame down the heat considerably. Overall this is pretty good, and I would rate it a 3.5/5.0 tonight.

This was the Uncle Nearest Rye - 50% ABV. When I had this during the 2025 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, I was not a fan, and rated it 3.0/5.0. It just seemed flat and that night I thought it was around 40% ABV. Just goes to show that tastes can change night to night. 

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-04-15

Another head to head matchup with bottles from the 2025 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... plus a bonus one as well (: We are trying out the peated Scotch Whiskies this time, the lineup is ...

Port Askaig 110 Proof (that's the name... and the proof, go figure!) 55% ABV

Highland Park 12 Year 43% ABV

Compass Box Peat Monster Cask Strength 56.7% ABV

Kilchoman Cask Strength 57% ABV

and the bonus pour is ...

Ardbeg Wee Beastie (5 Year) 47.4% ABV

The Ardbeg I haven't taste tested since 2020 and I thought it might be a good addition to the mix. I poured these and randomized them - let's see what I think about them.

Glass 1 : Nose is sweet and BBQ, some rubber and some dirt too. The taste is sweet with ash and some pepper. The finish is heat, ash in the back with some sweet too. This seems well balanced for sure, I'll rate is a 4.25 today as I really enjoyed it.

Glass 2 : Nose I get some ash, some sweet and some char. The nose seems hotter and on the 2nd round I get a touch of mint too. The taste is hot spice, some sweet, ash, tar ... and then more sweet. The finish is hot pepper, then sugar, it lingers nicely, then I get some simple syrup and ash way in the back. I'll rate it a 4.0.

Glass 3 : I get a sweet BBQ and pepper. On the second nose I get more heat and ash in the back. The taste is candy sweet, with some ash and char too - peppery after a bit. The finish i candy sweet as well, then pepper, a nice tingle with some heat. I will say that this feels one note-ish to me, but that note is good. I'll rate it a 4.0 as well.

Glass 4 : This one seems less peaty on the nose ... it's sweet and has some heat too. The taste does have some ash, along with some sweet and pepper. The finish is peppery that turns to sweet and savory, it lingers with a nice tingle. I'll will also rate this one 4.0.

Glass 5 : I get matchstick on the nose, some sulfur and some sweet as well. The taste is fruity with some sweet, some matchstick and this is a bit prickly - it's a bit proofy. The finish is fruity, sweet and has some sulfur as well. I'll rate this one 4.25.

Trying the ones I rated 4.0 - I'd have to say Glass 3 was my least favorite, with Glass 2 being my favorite of the 3. Which means Glass 2, Port Askaig was #3 tonight, with Glass 4, the Highland Park being #4, and Glass 3, the Compass Box coming in last place. It was a tough crowd for sure.

Trying Glass 1 vs Glass 5 ... I have to give it to Glass 1. Glass 5 turned out to be the Kilchoman, and was #2 tonight. Which leaves Ardbeg Wee Beastie as my favorite for the night. I currently don't have a bottle of this, and should pick up another one for sure. Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-04-08

Another shootout with bottles from the 2025 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - this time we have 5 American Single Malt whiskies. The lineup is ...

Stranahan's Diamond Peak 45% ABV

McCarthy 6 Year Oloroso Cask Finished 56% ABV

Westland American Single Malt 46% ABV

Wanderback Batch #6 42.4% ABV

McCarthy 3 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength (Westmoreland store pick) 56.2% ABV

I've poured these, mixed them up and will try them out.

Glass 1 : The nose is light fruit and honey, maybe some cherry syrup. Malty, reminds me of an Irish. The taste is peppery, malt, cereal, grain. I would guess it's around 50% ABV. The finish is sweet and dry, but it does feel a bit off. With water the nose is more mild but also more floral and potpourri. The taste is more sweet, malty and brighter along with some pepper. The finish seems more peppery too. Tonight I would rate it a 3.75.

Glass 2 : The nose has some spearmint gum and honey. There is brown sugar too, it gives me rye vibes. The taste, sweet spearmint, malt, brown sugar and some wood. I would guess this is 45% ABV or so. The finish is brown sugar, drifts to some hot pepper, lingers, maybe some wood. With water, on the nose I get a touch of dill? The taste and finish seems the same overall though I do seem to be getting a little dill too on the taste. I would rate this a 3.75 as well.

Glass 3 : On the nose I get sulfur, bark, char, meaty, sweet bbq. The taste is pepper, hot, char, turns a little woody, some bbq. I would guess this is in the 55% ABV zone. The nose turns more sweet after sipping. The finish is pepper and sweet, along with the char. Adding water, I get more pepper and ash on the nose, The taste seems more balanced and really quite nice. Finish is better too overall, nice sweet and heat. I would give this a 4.25 tonight.

Glass 4 : With the nose I'm getting honey, cookie biscuit, a PNW malty vibe, juicy fruit. The taste is a bit thin, malty, sweet, juicy fruit there too, and some wood. I would put this around 45% ABV. The finish is juicy fruit, malt, and wood dryness. With water - similar nose but with a little floral, taste is still juicy fruit. The finish is malty and good overall. I would rate this 3.75.

Glass 5 : For the nose I'm getting fruit, matchstick, a bit spikey and sharp, a touch of ash, ripe fruit sweetness, syrupy. The taste is matchstick, ripe fruit, maybe some ash or dry wood. The finish is peppery that turns to sweet fruit with a dryness that lingers - I would guess this is around 55% ABV. With water, the nose is more matchstick and sweet bbq; taste is bbq sweet, ash, char and spicy pepper, while the finish is more peppery. Really nice overall, rated 4.25.

Tasting Glass 1, 2 and 4 head to head, 4 is my favorite of the 3, and I really can't say 1 or 2 are better, so we'll say it's a tie. Glass 4, 3rd tonight, was the Wanderback. Glass 1 was the Westland and Glass 2 was the Stranahan's - tied for 4th tonight.

Tasting 3 and 5 side by side, it's really close, but I think I prefer 5 more this evening. 2nd places was the McCarthy's 3 Year, and glass 5 was the McCarthy's 6 Year. Honestly, all these were very tasty, cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-04-01

Tonight we are going to try 5 non-Islay Scotch Whiskies - which usually means non-peated, but not always. Anyway, the lineup is...

Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.3% ABV

Compass Box Spice Tree, Blended Scotch Whisky, 46.0% ABV

The Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak, 43.0% ABV

Deer, Bear & Moose 2011, Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Distilled at Isle of Jura Distillery, Scotland, Aged 11 Years, Natural Cask Strength, 59.2% ABV

Ardnamurchan, Western Highlands Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.8% ABV

I generally enjoyed these during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2025, Deer, Bear & Moose, Bunnahabhain and The Macallan I rated 4.0/5.0, while the Compass Box and Ardnamurchan I rated 3.75/5.0

Glass 1 : On the nose, butterscotch, touch of proof/spice/heat. Once acclimated there seemed to be less proof. The taste is sweet, peppery, spicy, hot. The finish is Crème Brûlée, simple syrup, pepper, hot cinnamon - it lingers quite some time, really enjoyable. I'm guessing this is between 50% ABV and 55% ABV. With water, similar nose, taste is hotter but still sweet and peppery, the finish is still hot peppery with sweet and maybe a little meaty bbq. Tonight this is just hitting nicely, I'll get it a 4.25/5.0[

Glass 2 : The nose has flora, sweet, some heat and butterscotch. The taste is floral with some baking spice and potpourri. The finish I get a bit of make up talcum powder, drifts off pretty quickly, I'm guessing this is 45% ABV or so. With water, nose is similar, taste and finish similar too. I'll rate this one a 3.75/5.0. 

Glass 3 : I get vanilla frosting, maybe a touch of sulfur on the nose - seems more sweet going back to it. The taste seems thin, some wood, dry. The finish is woody and some pepper, There is a bit of spice and heat there too, but I'm guessing this is around 45% ABV. With water, I still get vanilla frosting on the nose, the taste is more sweet and more peppery, finish is about the same. I would rate this a 3.75/5.0 tonight.

Glass 4 : For the nose, I get matchstick sulfur and fruit jam. The taste I get some matchstick and burnt rubber, some charred wood as well. The finish continues with the matchstick with some pepper, hangs around for a while, pretty enjoyable. I would guess this is between 45% ABV and 50% ABV. With water the nose turns a little sour, but still some matchstick. Taste is similar, finish seems sweeter with some bbq meat as well. This is pretty good overall, I'll rate it a 4.0.

Glass 5 : On the nose I'm getting a touch of matchstick, sweet candy, very sweet. The taste is matchstick, some burnt sugar, seems around 45% ABV. The finish is peppery tingle, dry, lingers for some time. With water the nose is similar, taste more sweet as is the finish. This was certainly a nice pour, and I'll rate it 4.0.

Glass 2 and 3 were bringing up the rear, and I'll have to say glass 3 was my least favorite, which was the Compass Box. Glass 2 was the Bunnahabhain. These were still very tasty. The next tier had glass 4 and 5... and I'd have to say Glass 5, The Macallan, I enjoyed more than the Ardnamurchan.

Which means Glass 1 was my favorite, The Deer, Bear & Moose 2011. It certainly doesn't seem like it's 59.2% ABV. I do wonder with doing 5 in short succession if there was cross contamination for the nose/taste/finish notes, but all these were mighty tasty.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-03-25

Time to try the 3 Irish Whiskeys from 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2025 head to head. Tonight we are having...

Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength, Batch B1-23, 57.2% ABV

Mitchell & Son Blue Spot, 7 Year Cask Strength, 58.4% ABV

Redbreast Lustau, 46.0% ABV

These were well rated during 24 Days of Whisk(e)y with all 3 being rated 4.0/5.0. I tend to like Irish Whiskey more if I know I'm drinking Irish Whiskey - so let's see how things go (:

Glass 1 : On the nose, this one is a touch proofy. Candy bar, sweet caramel, apple, but the proof is certainly there. On the taste the proof carries through along with caramel, sweet, some apple and cereal. The finish is nice and lingers for quite some time with the sweetness. I went ahead and added water, which seemed to open things up some. The nose was more chocolate and less proofy, insanely nice. I find some wood on the taste and the finish is candy bar sweet that lasts and lasts. The some of the parts on this one is fantastic, and I'll rate it a 4.25/5.0

Glass 2 : The nose is brown sugar, tame but there is some proof in the back. Strawberry fruity with some dry cookie as well. The taste is cherry and fruit with some peppery in the back. The finish is hot, cherry - a fruit bomb for sure, lingers for some time. With water the proof is tamed on the nose, get some mint as well now. The taste just seems muted, with the finish is sweet but does have some wood now too. I'll rate this a 3.75/5.0

Glass 3 : The nose is brown sugar, biscuit, seems really low proof after the first two samples. The taste is fruity as is the finish. The finish seems to drop off quickly. With water the nose is the same, taste is watery with a touch of oak, the finish is fruit with dry oak. While this is pleasant enough, in a head to head this just is left in the dust, most likely by the proof as I'm guessing this is the Redbreast Lustau. I'll rate it 3.5/5.0 tonight.

Glass 1 was the clear winner tonight - with Glass 3 in 3rd place and was the Redbreast Lustau. Glass 2 was the Blue Spot - which leaves Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength as the winner.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-03-18

For tonight's Whisk(e)y Wednesday, I'm going to do a head to head tasting of the 3 Ryes from the 24 Days of Whisk(e)y 2025. In the lineup are ...

Willett Rye, 54.3% ABV
Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey, 50.0% ABV
Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye, 66.05% ABV 

These are quite different, and I'm guessing it won't be too hard to guess which is which.

Glass 1 : On the nose, this has brown sugar, mint, tea, cinnamon... seems a bit proofy. The taste is cinnamon, hot, burnt sugar. The finish is sweet and brown sugar, along with cinnamon and spicy. It drinks a bit hot, but very tasty... will rate 3.75/5.0.

Glass 2 : This nose is nice... mint, herbal, sugar, for a lack of a better word, "green". It's pretty mild overall. The taste is mint, sweet, brown sugar, touch of spice, mild. The finish is sweet and brown sugar, some cinnamon, but again overall - mild. Certainly an easy sipper and pleasant enough, I'll rate it 3.25/5.0.

Glass 3 : On the nose, this one just smacks you with the proof. Once you get acclimated a bit, it is fairly nice. Sweet caramel, marshmallow fluff, cinnamon, brown sugar. The taste is just hot... I am hesitant to add water because I usually don't for this type of review, but I might have to. I get some bitter tea but otherwise I just can't get past the proof. On the finish - heat and proof. This once certainly demands attention. Adding water tames things for sure, and how I would normally drink this. Despite the unpleasant heat and proof, I'll rate it 3.5/5.0 because it's pretty good with some water.

Glass 2 was last place tonight - which was the Uncle Nearest. I originally rated that one 3.0/5.0 and tonight I gave it a 3.25. Glass 3 was 2nd place... and was the Jack Daniels. I rated it 3.5/5.0 both times. It's a proofy bugger for sure. I've had a few other bottles of Jack Daniels SBBP Ryes in the past and this one has the be the hottest... it's about 0.5% ABV higher than the others, but it feels a *lot* more than that. Glass 1 was first place, which was the Willett Rye. It was the most balanced - and I rated it 3.75/5.0 both times.