Review

Mosswood Nocino

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Mosswood Nocino Barrel Aged American Whiskey
46% ABV
$50
Website
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What the Bottler Says:
Not much at all really. This was supposed to be release in October 2016 but I can’t find any information on the bottling on the Mosswood website or any trace of a retailer carrying the bottle. This is pretty obviously sourced whiskey but it gets a finish in barrels that held Nocino liqueur made by the people behind Mosswood with walnuts from their own tree. This release is only 359 bottles so it is very limited.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Wow that barrel finish really makes the nose stand out with notes of fruit brandies. As it sits a bit it comes out with peanut butter pie and candied walnuts.
Palate: This has a great mouth feel to it. It’s very rich and creamy and coats the tongue. The flavor is more like a heritage apple brandy or some obscure grape varietal brandy. It reminds me a lot of the brandies coming out of Germain Robin.
Finish: Light wood, like wet toothpicks, offset by a slightly astringent nuttiness.
Comments: This is really interesting. The Nocino finish does a number on this. It tastes like a fruit brandy and feels like a whiskey. It’s kind of got the better parts of both. It is very interesting and if you are inclined toward interesting whiskey then try it if you have the opportunity.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Mosswood for sending us a sample to review.

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Glen Grant 18 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glen Grant Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 18 Years
43% ABV
$120
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
This unrivaled single malt matures for at least 18 years in the highest quality, handpicked oak casks, which creates a radiant golden colour and seductive floral and oaky aroma.

Deeply layered and complex, this rich and vibrant whisky delivers beautifully intricate flavours of malted caramel, vanilla, and raisins and lingers with a long, sweet, and pleasantly spicy finish.

Tasting notes
Colour: Bright Gold
Aroma: Rich and floral with oaky overtones and hints of baking spices
Taste: Malty caramel, delicate, dried raisins and vanilla
Finish: Long, sweet with hints of nuts and spice

What Richard Says:
Nose: Grassy and straw-like with floral and crisp apple notes. In the background is a hint of treacle with honey and citrus rind.
Palate: Fresh malted grains and fresh cut hay drizzled with vanilla extract. There is also a light sweetness around the edges but it isn’t a forward sweetness at all. A little too delicate
Finish: The finish has some legs to it but it’s dancing out woody and slightly peppery.
Comments: This one just didn’t do it for me. It wasn’t firing on all cylinders. The elements were light to the point of being barely there. If it only had a more buttery flavor and texture then I would’ve thought it was a grain whisky but not an exceptional one.
Rating: Probably Pass

We would like to thank Glen Grant for sending us a sample to review.

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Glen Grant 12 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glen Grant Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Aged 12 Years
43% ABV
$50
Website
12-years
What the Distillery Says:
Glen Grant 12 Year Old is a remarkable single malt.

With a bright, golden colour and pleasant aromas of orchard fruit, almond and citrus, this exceptional whisky delights the palate with exquisite and delicate notes of apple pie crust and caramel, and finishes with lingering fruit and subtle hints of spice.

Tasting notes
Colour: Bright Gold
Aroma: Honey, pear and apple with hints of almond and citrus
Taste: Apple pie crust, caramel and vanilla
Finish: Lingering fruit with subtle hints of spice

What Richard Says:
Nose: This nose is all kinds of light and fruity. That description gets a bit over used but if there was a tasting notes dictionary then this dram would be next to “light and fruity”. Sour apple candies, under ripe pears, orange blossom honey, and dew on fresh cut hay.
Palate: The whisky remains crisp and fresh to the taste. Granny Smith apples, vanilla candles, and some sweetness that’s like a house made floral infused simple syrup.
Finish: Kind of meh on the finish. It’s so light that wasn’t really expecting much.
Comments: You know, I really am not a fan of all this recent fancy, trendy new packaging for old whiskey brands. Glen Grant, Elijah Craig, etc. are all under this umbrella. I’m probably too old fashioned but I like the old stodgy packaging. This new sleek and sexy bottle for Glen Grant is just too damn sleek and sexy. I realize I’m in the minority and this rant has nothing to do with the liquid in the bottle but damn it I want dimpled hand blown imperfect glass with papyrus labels pasted on with horse glue. I want OLD!!!

So back to the actual whisky in the bottle…it’s okay. This is not a stunner by any means but it’s a light easy drinker that would be fine as an aperitif or a daily drinker for fans of the “Three Glens” (Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie).
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Glen Grant for sending us a bottle to review.

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Rebel Yell Single Barrel

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Rebel Yell Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged Ten Years since 9/2015, Barrel #4744359
50% ABV
$50
Website
rebel-yell-10-year-old-kentucky-straight-bourbon-whiskey-bottle
What the Bottler Says:
Handcrafted according to our original, time-honored recipe since 1849, Rebel Yell Single Barrel is aged a full ten years to provide a rich and rebellious flavor. The single-barrel process creates a flavor profile unique to each bottle. The end result is an extra smooth-sipping whiskey that honors the rebel in all of us.

Tasting Notes: Initial traces of caramel and citrus, wiht a velvety smooth finish and just a hint of spice.
Ingredients: Wheat, corn, malt.
Nose: Vanilla, dark fruits, citrus and oak.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Mild oak, caramel, peach cobbler, subtle spice (nutmeg and hints of anise), rice pudding and buttered popcorn.
Palate: Sharp with pepper spice, caramel drizzled pumpkin pie with hints of smoke and oak.
Finish: Moderately long and a bit sharp.
Comments: If I had tried this blind, I would not have guessed this was a wheater (wheated mashbill bourbon). This has more bite and a sharp edge more reminiscent of a rye bourbon. Good for me, since I tend to prefer rye over wheaters! This is a delicious bourbon, with a lot of sweet spice going on, but balanced well with the oak. I’m really glad that they didn’t bring this out at the 80 proof that standard Rebel Yell is bottled at. I will caution that if you’re a big wheater fan (and prefer wheaters over rye mashbill bourbons), this might be hit or miss. If you appreciate both of those, I would absolutely give this a try. With this proof and age, regardless of mashbill, it is fairly priced (now when is the last time I thought THAT about a bourbon?)
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: This one comes charging out of the glass as soon as it leaves the bottle with big notes of vanilla cream, caramel fried peach pies, and allspice.
Palate: The palate is a bit more muted than the nose. A few sips rolled around with a splash of water open cinnamon icing drizzled over warm cornbread.
Finish: The oak is very dominant on the lingering finish.
Comments: More wheated mashbill bourbons is not a bad thing. Even better is a higher proofed aged wheater at a sane price. Kudos to Luxco on this addition to the Rebel Yell brand. It drinks closer to a higher proof Fitzgerald as you would expect with the sourcing from Heaven Hill. It doesn’t drink like a Sazerac wheated bourbon (Van Winkle, Weller, etc.). It may not be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s definitely something you should try.
Rating: Must Try

We would like to thank Luxco for sending over a bottle to review.

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Maker’s 46 Cask Strength

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Maker’s 46 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
55.4% ABV
$40 (per 375ml)
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
Right now they don’t. Not a peep. This bottling is a distillery gift shop exclusive at this time. This was a similar distribution pattern to Maker’s Mark Cask Strength. Let’s hope this one goes on to larger distribution too.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet oak, vanilla, lovely baking spices (cloves, cinnamon) over butterscotch.
Palate: Nice rich mouthfeel, warm and sweet caramel with nutmeg and cinnamon, with a hint of fruitcake.
Finish: Moderately long and wet.
Comments: Wow – this is really tasty stuff. I’m not a huge fan of Maker’s 46, but this really shines at cask strength. At one sitting while nosing it reminded me of dusty bourbon (that butterscotch note). Much more robust on the nose and palate, and pleasantly spicy without being “sharp”. My only complaint is the price. I get that there aren’t many cask strength wheated bourbons out there (and one of my favorites – Old Weller Antique 107 – has gotten harder to come by these days), but if this was $50 for a 750 mL – I’d be all over it. At nearly that for half a bottle, I’ll absolutely enjoy it when someone else is offering, but not rushing out to pick one up.
Rating: Stands Out / Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Wow this one wears the proof on its sleeve. Water brings out a more woody, vanilla forward nose.
Palate: This is great in the mouth. It’s warm and spicy with a dry back sweetness. Dusted with cinnamon and sweetened cocoa powder.
Finish: This finishes a little hot and peppery.
Comments: Yes this is a bit pricey for the half bottle. However, when Maker’s Mark Cask Strength first came out it was priced high for a half too. As distribution and demand grew the bottles became full size and the price normalized a bit. Regarding the actual bourbon in the bottle I will say that it is good. I’m always glad to see more wheated and cask strength bourbon on the market. This checks off both of those. However, I do like the regular Maker’s Mark Cask Strength more. In a lower proof I prefer the 46 but at cask strength this is more wood dominated. A nice extension of the line but I prefer the other cask strength option.
Rating: Stands Out

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