Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Clan Macgregor Scotch Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Clan Macgregor Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$11
Website

What the Blender Says

The Taste
Fifteen of Scotland’s finest malt and select grain whiskies from the Scottish highlands, lowlands and the heart of Speyside have been skillfully blended to create the smooth and mellow, award winning flavour of Clan MacGregor. The result is a high quality, light and fragrant whisky with a well-balanced, smooth, mellow taste that resonates with whisky drinkers across the world.
Explore the flavours and aromas from one of the finest blended Scotch whiskies.
COLOUR: Straw gold
NOSE: Distinctive sweetness, vanilla, malted, drying, hints of smoke
TASTE: Rich, grainy sweetness, hints of dry smoke, baked apple, biscuity, smooth, malty, lingering
FINISH: Long, clean, delicate sweetness

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet malted grain, slightly sour vegetal grain note with sea weed/salted sea air brine; hint of alcohol.
Palate:  Thin mouthfeel; young, sweet malty grain.
Finish:  Short and forgetful.
Comments:  I’m a big believer in thoroughness, including exploring the bottom shelf/value brands – at least once if only to appreciate the difference (and sometimes re-visiting later is helpful). I hadn’t ever explored this area in Scotch, so figured it was about time. Sometimes that journey is a pleasant surprise that finds something you really enjoy, and value above the already inexpensive price tag. This wasn’t one of those. This fit squarely in my expectations. Nothing objectionable, but nothing that left me wanting more.

Rating: Probably Pass

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George T Stagg (2018)

/ / Bourbon, Review /

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

2018 Release
62.45% ABV
$90 to ??? (retail has gotten unpredictable)
Website
Stagg

What the Distiller Says

This extremely hearty whiskey ages in new charred oak barrels for no less than 15 years. Straight out of the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, the taste is powerful, flavorful and intense. Open it up with a few drops of water, sit back and ponder the wonders of the universe.

The 2018 release is comprised of barrels aged for more than 15 years and 4 months.

TASTING NOTES:
Lush toffee sweetness and dark chocolate with hints of vanilla, fudge, nougat and molasses. Underlying notes of dates, tobacco, dark berries, spearmint and a hint of coffee round out the palate.

What Gary Says:

Nose: Rich dark chocolate, charred oak, vanilla, brown sugar, cigar paper; bit of water tamps the oak, brightens it and brings out more caramel with toffee.
Palate: Warm, dark chocolate with vanilla, raisins, hint of cherries, cinnamon; bit of water brings out malted chocolate candy with milk chocolate and caramel.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with a spicy smoke note.
Comments: Very similar to the 2014 (in fact, I took a bit of both vintages, brought them down to 100 proof – and found them virtually identical).  Which is to say delicious.  My track record of never meeting a George T. Stagg I didn’t like remains unscathed.

Rating: Must Buy

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George T Stagg (2014)

/ / Bourbon, Review /

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

2014 Release
69.05% ABV
$80 to $100 (retail)
Website
Stagg

What the Distiller Says

This extremely hearty whiskey ages in new charred oak barrels for no less than 15 years. Straight out of the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, the taste is powerful, flavorful and intense. Open it up with a few drops of water, sit back and ponder the wonders of the universe.

The 2014 release is comprised of barrels aged for more than 16 years and 4 months.

TASTING NOTES:
Lush toffee sweetness and dark chocolate with hints of vanilla, fudge, nougat and molasses. Underlying notes of dates, tobacco, dark berries, spearmint and a hint of coffee round out the palate.

What Gary Says:

Nose: Rich dark chocolate, charred oak, vanilla, molasses, cigar paper; bit of water tamps the oak and brings out more brown sugar and toffee.
Palate: Warm, bitter chocolate with vanilla, raisins, cinnamon; bit of water brings out more caramel, more milk chocolate and mixed nuts.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with a smokey note of dark roasted coffee.
Comments: I have never met a George T. Stagg that I didn’t like. Are some years “better” than others? I suppose if you’re blessed to have multiples laying around to compare – sure.
I’ve never had one that I thought wasn’t pretty damn great. Where does this sit? No idea; I did a blind side-by-side between this and the 2018 vintage – which is 13 proof points lower – and found the differences to be few/far between. This is one of those that if I ever see it retail (stop laughing, it might happen again some day) and it isn’t marked up obscenely – it’s an automatic buy for me.

Rating: Must Buy

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Four Roses Elliott’s Select 2016 Limited Edition Single Barrel

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses Elliott’s Select 2016 Limited Edition Single Barrel

56.5% ABV (varies by barrel/bottle)
$125
Website

What the Distiller Says

Barrel strength. OESK. 14 years. Only 10,000 bottles produced. Introducing, Elliott’s Select.

Elliott’s Select is a limited-quantity Single Barrel Bourbon and marks the first limited edition bottling released by Brent Elliott, our master distiller.

Brent Elliott, who assumed the post of master distiller in September 2015, personally hand-selected the 14-year-old OESK, one of the Distillery’s 10 unique Bourbon recipes.

Subtle aromas of peach jam, magnolia blossoms and light oak preview the elegantly-balanced flavors of spiced vanilla, fresh nutmeg and delicate, ripe fruits. Sweet flavors of honey and light apricot linger in the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, thick, robust caramel, fair amount of oak, vanilla, hazelnuts, allspice and nutmeg.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce; a dusting of nutmeg and cinnamon with and a hint of butterscotch that gives way to a pepper spice note.
Finish:  Long and lingering with a hint of cinnamon and a strong hit of pepper spice on the way out.
Comments:  The last few Four Roses samples I’ve spent time with have had a lovely subtle note of butterscotch; reminding me a bit of dusty National Distiller’s bourbon (not nearly that intense though).  The OESK recipe isn’t one of my favorites, but this particular bourbon is delightful.  Rich and robust flavor, wonderfully balanced, and not the slightest bit over-oaked.

Rating: Must Try

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Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2017

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2017

48% ABV
$80
Website

What the Distiller Says

The 2017 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon was drawn from 12 year old barrels from different warehouses and floors. A total of 120 barrels; 93 barrels matured together on the 4th floor of G warehouse, yielding an extremely spice forward expression. The remaining 27 barrels matured together on the 5th floor of K warehouse contributing a rounding sweetness to the blend. Several barrels from both lots basked in the sun, highlighting the effects of maturation along an external wall.

Barreled on May 27, 2005 – Old Forester 2017 Birthday Bourbon is offered at 96 and 95.4 Proof.

TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Bright golden honey
AROMA: Sweet toasted oak and black pepper with a heavy suggestion of orange oil and toffee
TASTE: Oak spice and charred black pepper dominate over a subtle core of chocolate custard and kola nut.
FINISH: Spicy perimeter mouthfeel that slowly cascades off revealing floral undertones and cocoa powder.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, salted caramel, solid dose of oak, brown sugar,  allspice and a hint of raisins; a bit sharp as well.
Palate:  Vanilla, caramel apple, allspice, cinnamon with oaky pepper spice.
Finish:  Short to moderately in length, drying with pepper spice notes.
Comments:  I haven’t bought an Old Forester Birthday Bourbon in many years.  Each year is a bit different; some years have been flat out delicious, where other years have been pretty unremarkable – at least for my palate.  This one sits squarely in that latter camp for me.  Pretty oaky, a bit on the sharp side, and just not well balanced.  When they were $35 a throw, I didn’t mind taking the gamble on what it might be, but at $80 – I expect a consistently great bourbon; because in that price tier – you should.  Maybe others find this hitting right in their wheelhouse consistently; if so – this didn’t strike me as anything particularly off-putting.  Just not particularly special.

Rating: Average

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