Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
Bottled in Bond
50% ABV
$40-$50
Website
Taylor Small Batch
What the Distillery Says:
As founding father of the bourbon industry, Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. left an indelible legacy. His dedication to distilling began at the close of the Civil War when he purchased O.F C. Distillery. There, he developed innovative techniques that are still in use today. Made by hand, this Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey has been aged inside century old warehouses constructed by E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrels are evaluated and selected to create a perfect blend of distinctive character that is like no other. This bourbon is a true sipping bourbon that honors the uncompromising legacy of E.H. Taylor, Jr.

TASTING NOTES:
Tastes of caramel corn sweetness, mingled with butterscotch and licorice. The aftertaste is a soft mouth-feel that turns into subtle spices of pepper and tobacco.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Hot, with notes of maple syrup and mint.
Palate: Caramel, hot peppers (jalapeno like heat, not peppercorns),
Finish: Oak mellowing into rich black tea.
Comments: In the spectrum of of the E. H. Taylor range I would put this second only to the Warehouse C Tornado bottling. It’s a good, well constructed, and moderately aggressive bottled-in-bond bourbon. Fortunately, it happens to be the cheapest in the E. H. Taylor range.
Rating: Stands Out

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We’re All Full Of Sh*t

/ / Matt's Blog

Wow. It’s been a long time. I feel like a guest blogger. Richard’s been doing a great job during my long sabbatical.

An article appeared on io9 yesterday entitled “Wine Tasting Is Bullshit. Here’s Why.”

The article cites multiple studies and anecdotes that prove the lack of objective science in the rating systems for wine tasting. This is not new knowledge. We all know that “taste” is subjective in all its meanings. Everything is different for everybody all the time. We’ve never said anything different on this site. We don’t even claim to be experts. Just enthusiasts with bad memories, so we have to keep a blog of our endeavors or else lose them forever.

Richard once played a trick on me. He sent me an unlabeled sample and asked me to guess what it was. Based on it’s color, I thought it had to be bourbon. So, I approached it as if it was bourbon. The flavor was great, but it was somehow wrong. Was it some strange bourbon aged in wine casks? Was it a single malt from some obscure region, left to age in a barrel long enough to have the color of bourbon? What is the origin? On the slab? Off the slab? New York? Oregon? Gallifrey? I knew it was whiskey. I wanted it to be whiskey.

It was brandy.

After years of tasting, the first test I received and I failed miserably. I will admit that I’ve tasted peat where the distiller claims there is none. The same with Sherry. Does that make my tastings less authoritative? The truth is, they were never authoritative, because they are (and always will be) subjective. Even for those who train their palates and immerse themselves in whisky tasting, things change. Some days, I can’t stand peat. Some days, it’s all I want. I sometimes taste bananas when I drink the Balvenie or Belgian beer. I will forever associate the smell of Jim Beam with frat house vomit. And the list goes on…

What I’m saying is this: every review we (I’m using the universal collective “we” here) write is tempered by every experience we’ve had. There are environmental factors to each specific sitting. There is what we know about the distillery. There are our expectations and a thousand other factors. So read the reviews, taste what you can taste, and drink what you like.

The most interesting bit of the io9 article is at the very end, where it shows an inverse relationship to price and enjoyment for the average wine drinker. Do you, dear reader, think this is true for whisk(e)y as well? I know we often adjust our ratings based on something being perceived as over priced, but does that mean we enjoy it less?

Matt

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Dewar’s Signature

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Dewar’s Signature Blended Scotch Whisky
Bottle Number A18955
43% ABV
$180 to $200
Website
Dewars_Signature
What the Distillery Says:
There are over 160 years of blending traditions in every bottle of Dewar’s Signature Blended Scotch Whisky. Carefully layered from the rarest whiskies from each of Scotland’s whiskies regions and double barrel aged to bring out the complex flavor, Dewar’s Signature Blended Scotch Whisky is our richest, fullest, and smoothest creation.

Our Dewar’s Signature Blended Scotch Whisky is Honeyed, rich toffee and velvet

What Richard Says:
Nose: Oranges, smoke, wet hay, floral notes, and vanilla.
Palate: Rich, creamy, and welcoming. More vanilla, caramel hard candies, more hay, and spicy oak notes at the back of the palate.
Finish: Heavy on the pepper, spice and oak. Medium length. Surprisingly robust given the delicate nature of the nose and palate.
Comments: This is possibly the most well balanced dram of scotch I’ve ever had. This is absolutely delightful. The next time you’re thinking about grabbing a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue, grab a bottle of Dewar’s Signature instead. You won’t regret it.
Rating: Must Try

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Dewar’s 12 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Dewar’s 12 Special Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$25
Website
dewars-12-year-scotch-whisky
What the Distillery Says:
After we blend our Dewar’s 12 Blended Scotch Whisky, we return it to the vintage oak casks so it can mature a little more. This extra step is called double barrel aging and it makes Dewar’s 12 Blended Scotch Whisky an even smoother blend with a long, lingering finish.

Our Dewar’s 12 Blended Scotch Whisky is Warm, buttery and mellow

What Richard Says:
Nose: Fresh hay dipped in honey and vanilla. Green as in vegetal not new or young. Lots of toffee and orange zest.
Palate: Sweet and creamy like a custard with more vanilla and light oak.
Finish: Surprisingly dry and woody.
Comments: If the sum total of your 12 year of blended scotch experience is Johnnie Walker Black and Chivas then you need to get out more. Dewar’s makes some lovely drams. Their Special Reserve is a nice well balanced dram that you shouldn’t overlook.
Rating: Stands Out

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Chivas Royal Salute 21 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Chivas Brothers Royal Salute 21 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
40% ABV/80 Proof
$170 to $220
Website
chivas_bottle
What the Distillery Says:
In 1953, Chivas Brothers paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by creating a limited edition of a very special blended whisky. Only 2,500 cases were produced for worldwide distribution. The first flagons, adorned with the royal crest, were sealed on the day of her coronation. The name chosen was considered a fitting tribute to the new monarch. It was called Royal Salute, after the 21-gun salute – the ultimate mark of respect, reserved for tributes to dignitaries and nations alike. Appropriately, each of the whiskies in the blend was at least 21 years old and thus, Royal Salute 21 Year Old was born.

Appearance: Deep, golden amber colour

Nose: Rich, fruity aromas and the sweet fragrance of autumn flowers

Taste: Full, deep fruity flavours wit a subtle smokiness

Finish: Rich, long and lingering

What Richard Says:
Nose: Sherry sweetness, malted barley, heather, vanilla, and dark chocolate.
Palate: There’s the slightest smokiness that is really very pleasant. It’s a silky smooth dram with a little nuttiness and a surprisingly woody note. It’s not oak per se but woody just the same.
Finish: Oak at first but it smooths out into a nutty smokiness. A nice long finish.
Comments: Yummy. I’m not in the habit of dropping $200 on a bottle of scotch. Even less so for a blend. Fortunately, I picked this up for about half the price duty free in Puerto Rico and I’m glad I did. This is an immensely drinkable dram. Are there things I’d rather spend $200 on? Yes but it’s very tasty just the same.
Rating: Stands Out

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