Average

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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Johnnie Walker White Walker

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Johnnie Walker White Walker

41.7% ABV
$50
Website

What the Blender Says

WHITE WALKER BY JOHNNIE WALKER
In celebration of the final season of the critically-acclaimed HBO series, Game of Thrones, Johnnie Walker is proud to introduce White Walker by Johnnie Walker.

This new blend perfectly reminds Johnnie Walker and Game of Thrones fans alike that “Winter is Here.” The limited edition bottle utilizes thermochromic ink to give fans a frosty surprise message when frozen. With flavor notes like caramelized sugar, vanilla, and fresh red berries, White Walker by Johnnie Walker makes for a delicious serve. The new blend is best served ice cold, inspired by the White Walkers beyond The Wall.

The Limited Edition White Walker by Johnnie Walker will make a nationwide icy launch starting October 2018 until supplies last.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet, bright, green hay, malty cereal notes with some fruit (pears and cherries), subtle smoke and sea air.
Palate:  Sweet malt, pears with a touch of caramel; a subtle spice note and a hint of tangerines.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, slightly drying with a touch of pepper spice (and a bit boring).
Comments:  So my wife and I are fans of Game of Thrones, so I figured I could write this purchase off as something we both can enjoy, and not ‘another whiskey’ I’ve brought into the house.  That didn’t work. This is definitely different than your Johnnie Walker red or black labels; has a bit more of an edge. Nothing off-putting, but for $50 – unless you’re just really keen to have the bottle (which I’ll admit is kinda cool), not something I’d pick up again. I did sample it both at room temp and right from the freezer. Predictably, it is a bit more thick and viscous coming out of the freezer in terms of mouthfeel, which is nice – but the flavors are even more muted.

Rating: Average

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The Ileach Peaty Islay Single Malt

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Ileach Peaty Islay Single Malt
40% ABV
$35
Website

What the Bottler Says
For centuries the stormy waters of the Atlantic Ocean has not only shaped the character of the people of Islay but also the character of their famous whiskies. In many ways this fine malt mirrors the character of Islay people – strong yet gentle, warm yet mellow, but with a maturity beyond its years. Robust peaty, with that unmistakable breath of the seashore, The Ileach is “a true man from Islay”

Tasting Notes:
Nose: Earthy smoky peat and salty ocean Breeze
Palate: Pungent peat smoke, chewy sweet malt, pepper, tar and a touch of iodine
Finish: Long and warming. Smoky ashes of the peat fire

What Gary Says
Nose:  Bright peat, medicinal, seaweed, earthy, subtly sweet, charred oak, notes of rubber.
Palate:  Sweet, young malt, honey, hint of vanilla, bit of pepper with earthy oak notes, thin.
Finish:  Short and drying.
Comments:  This is a mystery single malt – allegedly from the same source throughout (the reason I used the 50 mL picture is because this is what the bottle I bought looked like; in case anyone knows of variations based on labels). It has a pretty nice nose for a young malt, and by the nose I thought maybe Laphroaig. The palate was a bit of a step back though – thin and not as nice as the nose. I bought this mini as I’d never heard of/seen the label before, and it was inexpensive. For the price, there are other single malt bottlers I’ve tried and enjoyed more for less.
Rating: Average

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Sonoma Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Sonoma Bourbon Whiskey

46% ABV
$40 – $45
Website

We would like to thank Sonoma Distilling Co. and Verdant PR & Marketing for sending us a bottle to review.

What the Distiller Says

About Sonoma Distilling Co.
Owner/whiskeymaker Adam Spiegel, distilling since 2010
Non-GMO grains milled in-house
Direct-fire heated 250-gallon Copper Alembic pot stripping stills
Barrel size: 15, 30 and 53 gallons of new American Oak from Minnesota & Missouri
3rd degree charred, 12-24 month dry aged wood

WHISKEY TYPE: Wheated Bourbon

MASH BILL
70% Corn (Origin: California & Canada)
25% Wheat (Origin: California & Canada)
5% Malted Barley (Origin: Wyoming)

AGED: A minimum of fifteen months with majority of blends above two years

FLAVOR PROFILE: Toasted vanilla, almond, toffee brittle, and coffee

What Gary Says

Nose:  Young, freshly baked cornbread with a malty twang, vanilla, hint of sandalwood; a tad sharp.
Palate:  Sweet entry that sharpens with notes of vanilla, roasted (not quite burnt) popcorn, a hint of bitter dark chocolate with smokey oak.
Finish:  Short and drying with lingering pepper spice.
Comments:  I really like the bottle – as in, the container and label.  We’re big on transparency here, and they do a really nice job of providing a ton of information on the label (and I’m not a graphic designer, but I thought it was well organized and presented).  They give you the mashbill right there, including the origin of the ingredients. This is a redesigned label, and I think they’ve definitely improved it over the prior versions.
On to the whiskey itself – this is a young, aggressive bourbon. Most enthusiasts associate wheated bourbon with being less spicy and softer than rye mashbills. I think the sharpness and aggressive nature is a function of the smaller barrels. I get why a small whiskey company is drawn to use smaller barrels; whiskey picks up color and flavor “faster”. If you filled a 15 gallon and 53 gallon barrel with the same distillate on the same day and compared them in 6 months, 12 months, 18 months – the smaller barrel will be darker and picking up flavor from the wood faster. But you can’t leave it in a smaller barrel for very long before (in my opinion) it gets just too oaky. To be clear – this isn’t too oaky, but I am left wishing they would scrap the smaller barrels and let some whiskey age a bit longer in the 53 gallon barrels. I think this is the primary reason I don’t care for a lot of “craft” whiskey.
All that said, I didn’t find the palate or nose off-putting; just about what one would expect from a young bourbon.

Rating: Average

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Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Triple Grain American Oak 10 Yr Old

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Triple Grain American Oak 10 Yr Old
41.3% ABV
$40
Website

What the Blender Says
A blend of 3 Grain Whiskies- Wheat, Barley, and Corn- and 2 Malts – from Cardhu and Mortlach. Aged for 10 years in American Oak Casks.

In the early 90’s Jim Beveridge, the master distiller, spent time in Louisville, Kentucky at the Stizel-Weller distillery. He took away a deep appreciation of the flavor possibilities of grain whiskies made from wheat, barley, and corn.

Enjoy this irresistibly mellow Scotch whisky – a blend of iconic malts from Mortlach and Cardhu and grain whiskies from storied distilleries including the now closed Port Dundas.

Each whisky is aged for at least 10 years in American oak casks resulting in a uniquely smooth, sweet Scotch whisky with notes of fresh fruit and gentle, spicy smoke.

Whiskey Advoc Notes: Orange grove before harvest, a rounded candied peel note, plenty of sweet grain, and creamy vanilla, all backed by gentle spice. Luscious and chewy caramel, taffy candy, lavishly rich orange, and glowing spice notes wrap around the tongue.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Sweet and malty, subtle notes of orange and vanilla ice cream, a hint of smoke and oak.
Palate:  Bright, sweet vanilla malt,  subtle citrus spice with a touch of oak.
Finish:  Short, drying with a pepper spice at the end.
Comments:  The American Oak influence is there with vanilla being prominent, although I hesitate to use that word.  This is a pleasant enough whisky to sip, but is fairly subdued and muted for my taste.  I was hoping the American oak might make it a bit more intense, and while it does make it more interesting, it isn’t any more intense.  Granted, Johnnie Walker isn’t known for “intensity” in that regard, so fans of the standard line-up might enjoy the subtle differences here.
Rating: Average

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