Average

Kurayoshi 12 Yr Pure Malt Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

The Kurayoshi Malt Whisky Aged 12 Years
Japanese Matsui Whisky

46% ABV
$100 – $110
Website
Kurayoshi 12 yr Malt Whisky

What the Distillery Says

Matsui pure malt whisky [Kurayoshi 12 Years]
The aroma of nuts and almonds is followed by a rich malty texture, with hints of vanilla and raisins, accompanied by a faint smoky flavor in perfect balance with the sweetness, bitterness and acidity of this vintage.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Subtle dark fruits with kiwi and pears, almond cookies, caramel, honey, a hint of peat, smoke, and minerals.
Palate:  Nutty caramel with vanilla, a sharp pepper bite followed by an earthy, herbal, mineral note with light fruit.
Finish:  Moderate in length with a mineral, peppery note and roasted nuts.
Comments:  This is the 2nd sample from our Flaviar tasting box. Again, very subtle – although this has a sharpness on the palate that was a bit of a surprise (although not necessarily in a good way). A bit of water tamps that a bit, but didn’t really open it up or add anything. While it isn’t objectionable, if I’d paid retail, I would be very disappointed..

Rating: Probably Pass/Average

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Nikka Days Blended Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Nikka Days
Japanese Blended Whisky

40% ABV
$50 – $60
Website
Nikka Days Blended Whisky

What the Distillery Says

Nikka has always been at the crossroads of cultures, between the East and the West, Nature and Human, Tradition and Innovation. Each day is a new journey which continuously learn from previous ones. Nikka Days, the latest creation of the brand, is a shining example of this state of mind.
A subtle blend of grain and malt whiskies. Creamy and smooth, fruity and floral, this whisky will please amateurs and connoisseurs.

COLOR: Light golden hue.
NOSE: Fresh and fruity. White flowers, orange blossoms, pear and citrus.
PALATE: Light and smooth. Cereals, malt, toffee, roasted nuts and vanilla.
FINISH: Dry apricot, malt, vanilla, elusive peat.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft and subtle, caramel, toffee with subtle notes of pear and peach.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet with grain, malt, a touch of vanilla followed by a slight chili pepper bite, notes of orange near the end.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with vanilla and grain.
Comments:  Earlier this year as part of my Flaviar membership I selected a tasting box (The Land Of The Rising Whisky) as I have enjoyed drams of Japanese whisky with friends, but have never reviewed nor spent quality time with them. This was the first of three samples from that box. This comes across as pretty young, and just uninspiring. It is ‘bright’, but incredibly subtle. I can appreciate a subtle, nuanced whisk(e)y but this I find is like work to try to coax much from it other than the grain notes.

Rating: Average

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Ardbeg Wee Beastie

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Ardbeg Wee Beastie
5 Years Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

47.4% ABV
$50
Website
Ardbeg Wee Beastie

What the Distillery Says

IT’S A MONSTER OF A DRAM
Ardbeg Wee Beastie is the latest permanent expression to join the Distillery’s Ultimate Range. At just five years old, Wee Beastie is a feisty young creature with a formidable taste.

SOMETHING BIG AND SMOKY…
Our whisky creators set out to make the rawest, smokiest Ardbeg ever. The result is Ardbeg Wee Beastie and this tongue-tingling, beautifully smoky dram is the youngest Ardbeg we’ve ever made.

On the snout, intense aromas of cracked blacked pepper mingle with sappy pine resin and a sharp tang of smoke. Suddenly, an explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. Savoury meats sink into the palate before the long salty mouthcoating finish slinks away… revealing the inner beast of this Islay icon.

Young and intensely smoky, this is a dram untamed by age. Matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, Wee Beastie is perfect for enjoying neat or as the mouth-watering main ingredient in a powerfully smoky cocktail.

Non chill-filtered at 47.4%.

TASTING NOTES
COLOUR: A glint of bright Gold (Auric)
AROMA: The first sniff alerts you to a nearby presence… heightened senses are filled with very bright, fresh herbal notes, with creeping hints of vanilla and pear. Rich Turkish coffee mingles with sappy pine resin, with honey-glazed ham lurking in the background. With water, more herbal top notes like vetiver and fennel captivate and pull you in, while beguiling scents of aniseed, green apple and leather cause you to drop your guard. Out of nowhere, a sharp tang of smoke and a crack of fresh black pepper fire warning shots across the senses.
TASTE: Suddenly, a rich, explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. A powerful blast of eucalyptus thrashes about with antiseptic lozenges and aniseed. The raw, smoky intensity gathers pace, before smoked bacon and savoury meats sink into the palate.
FINISH: The long, salty mouthcoating finish retreats, with hints of cocoa and fudge slinking slowly away.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Peat, creosote, fresh pine, seaweed, smoked pork butt, dried fruit, earthy, mineral notes with a bit of sulfur and hint of coffee.
Palate:  Sweet, grainy with honey, salty peat, creosote, bit of chocolate, earthy notes with pepper spice.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with lingering spices and peat.
Comments:  I like Ardbeg, and am also a sherry fan – so maybe I had unreasonable hopes for this (given its age). Don’t get me wrong – there isn’t anything off putting with this, but the youth is apparent, and the sherry influence is fairly subtle (maybe too subtle). Not bad, but not special either – and given the price point, can’t imagine reaching for this over the standard bearer 10 yr old.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Old Scout American Whiskey

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Old Scout American Whiskey

49.5% ABV
$30-$40
Website
Old Scout American Whiskey

What the Producer Might Say

NOTE: This product has been discontinued; the below information is from multiple other sources
Old Scout American Whiskey includes a blend of 9 year old bourbon (distilled by MGP; their “high rye” mashbill with 36% rye) and a Tennessee whiskey made from a bourbon mash, which was aged for 5 years in re-charred, ex-bourbon barrels. Due to the use of non-virgin oak casks, this is not and can’t be labeled as “bourbon”.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honey, vanilla cream, caramel corn, soft oak, vitamin notes, a hint of butterscotch.
Palate:  Sweet with honey and cinnamon, a pepper bite with a sharp mineral note before a bit of caramel.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with caramel and vitamins.
Comments:  The Tennessee whiskey (almost certainly Dickel) is more prominent on the palate than the nose, but present everywhere. As this isn’t a bourbon due to the used cooperage, it is more muted. Not sure how much of the blend is 5 yr Dickel, but as prominent as it is – one take away for me is that you REALLY need new oak to tamp that vitamin/mineral note down.  Unless you like that sorta thing, in which case this might be right up your alley.

Rating: Average

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Balcones Texas Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Balcones Texas Rye
Pot Distilled 100% Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$40 – $50
Website
Balcones Texas Rye Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

We wanted to work with a style we love while bringing some new subtlety and perspective to our approach. Our 100% rye mashbill began with Elbon Rye from northwest Texas accompanied by some Crystal, Chocolate & roasted rye that give us a rich, sweet mid-palate.

NOSE: Soft charred oak, black tea and cracked pepper open up to fruit and chocolate covered cherries
TASTE: Creamy buttery toffee, building to peppery spice notes with hints of coffee and nuts
FINISH: Palate fades into dark chocolate and peanut butter, which builds on the moderately lengthy finish

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malted rye, young, herbal funk, milk chocolate, hints of plums, ginger, and tangerines.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, cocoa, light citrus fruit, cinnamon and pepper with a bit of ginger.
Finish:  Short, drying with oak and cocoa.
Comments:  Rye is one of the few whiskies I find tolerable around 2 yrs, so the 15 month age statement didn’t scare me off. Texas heat is going to definitely change how the spirit ages (12 months in Texas is quite different than 12 months in Kentucky), but . . . there’s just something that time does to the spirit in the cask. This comes across as young, and has this funky note that I often simply associate as ‘craft’. Not sure what size barrel this was aged in, but tastes like a small cask to me. For the price point, there are a lot of rye whiskies I’d prefer over this. I am happy that they offer this in 50 mL bottles (which is how I tried it), and I’d definitely recommend that route if you’re so inclined.

Rating: Probably Pass/Average

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