Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-24

Time for another random sample Whisk(e)y Wednesday... here we go!

On the nose, this is brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, touch of malt. My first hunch is crafty bourbon or maybe an Irish. It seems a little proofy on the nose too. The taste is molasses, fruit, peppery, with a finish that is sweet cherry - leaning towards a cask strength bourbon.

With water, this is more sweet on the nose, more orange and fruity on the taste and finish. Overall this is quite enjoyable, I would rate it 3.75/5.0 - solid for sure. This was the Trail's End 8 Year Bourbon Van pick, coming in at 56.85% ABV. This was finished in a McCarthy's Peated and Smoked American Single Malt Barrel ... I didn't really find that this came through the finish, but it was quite tasty regardless. Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-17

Whisk(e)y ... WEDNESDAY!!!

Random sample time - let's see what we have this evening. On the nose, I get hits of orange, malt, a touch of sulfur I think - but just a touch and some vanilla. The taste I get orange, malt, some black pepper and vanilla. The finish is malty and vanilla. This feels maybe mid proof, around 50% ABV I would guess, and my first hunch is Scotch, maybe something like Compass Box Glasgow Blend.

With water, the nose is very similar, but more sweet. The taste is more sweet too but feels more plain as well. On the finish I now get a touch of sulfur. Overall this is pretty nice.. I almost gave it a 4.0/5.0 - but I'll call it a 3.75/5.0 instead. 

Turns out we were drinking Ardnamurchan Highland Single Malt Whisky, 46.8% ABV. I did almost scream "SCOTCH!" so I'm glad I got that part right (: Cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-10

Another random sample for Whisk(e)y Wednesday - let's see what we have tonight.

On the nose, this is honey, mint, malt ... fairly mild. I would lean Irish, maybe an American Single Malt ... I suppose possibly a non-peated Scotch. Seems pretty low ABV on the nose, 90ish proof I'm guessing. The taste is bright-citrus with some spice too. The finish is malty, honey, cereal, fruit on the back end... I don't think it's apple, but maybe? I'm thinking maybe *not* Irish, hmm.

With water, the nose is still minty, with floral and honey too. The taste and finish seem more mild and malty. My final thought is this will be a middle of the road Irish - lower proof, maybe even 40% ABV as that's a popular point for Irish Whiskies. Tonight I would rate this a 3.5/5.0 - it's good but not great.

Turns out this was Compass Box, Glasgow Blend, Blended Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV, no color added, non-chill filtered. I originally had this in 2024's 24 Days of Whisk(e)y and at that time I rated it 3.75/5.0, so in the same ball park... cheers!

Whisk(e)y Wednesday 2026-06-03

Back from vacation - time for another Whisk(e)y Wednesday, so here goes another random sample.

On the nose, peaty, rubber, phenol ... the nose is very nice, I could just sniff this all night long. It seems very Ardbeg - it's sweet too. The taste is sweet bbq along with the char and ash and peat. This has to be an Ardbeg. It seems a bit high proof so many it's a Cask Strength Committee Release. 

The finish is heat and sweet with smoke in the back. With water, the nose is similar though it may have more char. The taste is very sweet then more char. The finish is spicy and nice. This is really good and I would rate it 4.25/5.0.

Well, it is an Ardbeg... but not a Committee Release. It's Ardbeg Wee Beastie - Aged 5 Years, 47.4% ABV. This one keeps surprising me how good it is when I have it blind. I really need to pick up a new bottle (:

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!