2025

Duncan Taylor 30 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Duncan Taylor 30 Year
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$250
Website
Duncan Taylor 30 Year Blended Scotch Whisky
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Retailer* Says

Scotland – A rare blend of whiskies aged at least 30 years from Scotland’s most iconic distilleries. Soft aromas of oak and citrus are found on the nose, while the mouthfeel is viscous. This well balanced whisky consists of complex flavor notes like cereal, caramel and fresh fruit.

* Could find no reliable source of information from the blender/producer; above is from the retailer’s description.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla spongecake, floral, orange creamsicle, heather and honey.
Palate:  Sweet and malty with honey, vanilla, hint of citrus and apples with cinnamon near the back.
Finish:  Moderate in length with citrus and pepper spice.
Comments:  With 30 years maturity, I’m looking (nay – expecting) layers and complexity. This disappointed on both fronts, and was more a showcase of subtly. Having said that, there weren’t any notes I found off-putting, and this left me wanting more – like teasing at what a great whisky it might have been, if only . . . (higher ABV? less grain in the blend?) But when you get to this price point, the absence of off notes isn’t the bar.

Rating: Probably Pass/Average

Duncan Taylor 30 Year Read More »

Kentucky Owl Straight Rye Batch #1

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Kentucky Owl Straight Rye Batch #1
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 11 Years

55.3% ABV
$130
Website
Kentucky Owl 11 Year Rye batch 1

What the Producer Says

Straight Rye #1
Released: September 2017
11 YEARS OLD
110.6 PROOF / 55.3% ABV
The nose on this rye has elements of sweet pine, honey, nougat, vanilla, cloves and lavender. Oaky undertones, subtle cedar saw dust or fresh split cedar.

What Gary Says

Nose: Herbal spice, anise, cloves, mint, citrus with grilled peaches and a bit of root beer.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, rye spice with cinnamon, orange zest, lime sour candies, cloves, bit of mint and root beer.
Finish: Moderately long with citrus tending towards lime, mint and fading spices.
Comments: Full disclosure – I’ve never been a fan of this brand. When they came out in 2014 as bourbon was really getting crazy (or so I thought at the time), the lack of transparency and price seemed to me to be designed to just take advantage of the craze over limited editions. I’m sharing all of that because when I saw Richard provided a sample of their rye (which I’d have never bought), I was prepared to find it ridiculously ordinary and overpriced. Can’t say it isn’t overpriced (over $10 a year), but far from ordinary. This is a really nice, strong spice rye. While they don’t disclose the mash bill, nothing ‘barely legal’ here. A bit of water brings out more root beer and cotton candy on the nose, and amps the root beer notes on the palate.

Rating: Must Try

Kentucky Owl Straight Rye Batch #1 Read More »