Average

Clyde May’s Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Batch No. CM-079, Recipe No. 2
46% ABV
$40
Website
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What the Bottler Says:
Clyde May was moonshiner by trade but a craftsman by heart. He made his famous whiskey in hand-built copper stills, with fresh Alabama spring water and the finest local ingredients. The man was locked up for his passion — eight months in the federal penitentiary — yet he started up those copper stills the day he got out.

This straight bourbon honers Clyde’s dedication to the craft. We use simple ingredients and a patient aging process to produce a fine, easy-drinking spirit. Like Clyde’s own moonshine, it’s a whiskey with integrity. Straightforward, porch-siting, rocking chair bourbon — and this time, it’s perfectly legal.

On the nose its soft with aromas of brown sugar, baked apricot, wild strawberry & nutmeg. Palate is wonderfully soft with complex aromas of barrel spice, fruit and oiled leather. Finish is long & complete. Best sipped neat, on the rocks or in a carefully crafted cocktail with integrity.

What Richard Says:
Nose: It smells, well…like bourbon. Toffee, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Palate: The extra proof gives it a bit of a creamy, chewy feel that I like. It’s more spice and wood forward with notes of more cinnamon, vanilla, barrel char, and a bit of old leather.
Finish: The finish is dry and woody with black peppercorns around the edges.
Comments: There is no disclosure on how old this Kentucky sourced bourbon is but it is surprisingly woody for what I would otherwise think is a middle aged (6ish years) bourbon. It doesn’t particularly stand out. It’s in the vein of an Elijah Craig small batch, Old Forester, or Jim Beam Black. Not offensive in anyway but not particularly notable. A solid utility bourbon (featured in my chocolate pecan pie this year). The cute backstory is really the only thing propping up the extra $15 to $20 you would pay for similar bourbons.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Clyde May for sending us a bottle 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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Nomad Outland Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Nomad Outland Whisky
41.3%
$30
Website
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What the Bottler Says:
Nomad Outland Whisky is imbued with the characteristics of the wild, open space of the Scottish Highlands. A new concept that takes the Whisky itself on a journey from its birthplace to the warm and humid plains of Jerez.

In Jerez it is left to soak up the wonderful natural aspects of this special micro-climate giving Nomad its quintessential Scottish character and a soul that is truly Jerezano.

After a year of tests, ageing the Whisky in barrels that had previously held Fino, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherries, to find the perfect blend, our Master Blenders chose those Whiskies that had been aged in Pedro Ximénez.

A premium blended whisky produced from a unique selection of over 30 different malt and grain whiskies from Speyside, The Higlands, Scotland, each 5 to 8 years old. The resulting blend is left to mature in Scotland in sherry casks for 3 years, altogether, before being transferred to Jerez where it will be finished for a mínimum of 12 months in old Pedro Ximenez casks in the San Fernando cellar of González Byass.

This outland whisky matures in the unique micro-climate of Jerez, subject to the different changes in temperature, the winds and the humidity of the Andalusian city close to the sea. NOMAD, over time, will absorb the native yeasts which are present in the atmosphere of the cellar, and it will be imbued with the tastes and flavours of the old Pedro Ximenez casks, previously used to age sherry, giving the whisky its unique character.

Bright, topaz coloured whisky

It has a unique aroma with malty notes, reminiscent of oak and sherry due to its ageing in american oak barrels.

Smooth and elegant on the palate

With prominent flavours of raisins, honey and distinctive bouquet as a result of the finishing of the whisky in Pedro Ximénez sherry barrels.

A long finish, pleasant

With hints of vanilla and dried fruits. A very elegant whisky with a complex aftertaste.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Thick, dusky sherried raisins, figs, plum wine.
Palate: Creamy, but less intense than the nose; sweet raisins, plum, sherry with a bit of smoke.
Finish: Moderate in length, and on the wet side.
Comments: When I first nosed this whisky, I thought “Whoa – this is REALLY different!” The nose is very thick and dense, and very unique. While unhelpful to 99% of you, it immediately reminded me of a friend’s International Whisky Night, where I sampled whiskies from Australia, Korea, and all over the world. My point is this is a pretty unique pour. On the palate, I felt a bit let down – as the flavor was much less intense, although not off-putting or unpleasant. This is one of those drams where I could sit with an ounce and nose it for hours if for whatever reason I couldn’t drink that night. For me, the nose was “Must Try”, while the palate was closer to “Average” – although still different enough. I’d love to have tried this at a higher proof.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Heavy on the raisins. Very rich and dark fruit forward. The sherry dominates the nose…probably too much.
Palate: Sherry, raisins, Fig Newtons, and just about any other baked dark fruits.
Finish: The finish shows the youth of the malt more than anything else. Not terribly developed but unoffensive.
Comments: So…for $30 I can’t be too critical. This is VERY sherry forward. It’s almost like a refortified fortified wine. The sherry makes this one dimensional and not reminiscent of scotch in any way.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Nomad for sending us samples to review.

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I.W. Harper 15 Year

/ / Bourbon, Review /

I.W. Harper Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 15 Years
43% ABV
$75
Website
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What the Bottler Says:
Sweeter up front with grain and corn immediately apparent, I.W. HARPER 15-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey then moves into notes of oak, raisin, caramel, spice, and vanilla. The finish leaves a long and lasting mouthfeel perfect for enjoying on the rocks, or neat to truly appreciate the full flavor profile.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet/toasted caramel, subtle wood (a tad sour), corn bread (but not “young whiskey” corn), hint of cinnamon and anise
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, smooth at first then the pepper spice kicks in; nice balance between wood and sweetness (cocoa and orange marmalade).
Finish: Short to moderate.
Comments: I was very much looking forward to this release, and when I first tried it – I was disappointed. Spending more time with Rich’s sample – I’m not “as disappointed”, but am still not impressed enough to exchange my dough for a bottle. This is a perfectly decent bourbon, but not special in any particular way. And for the price, I’m expecting special.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: There is a nice mature bourbon nose that leads with caramel, toasted oak, corn pudding, and licorice. From the nose along I would say Heaven Hill distillate but who knows. Diageo isn’t telling.
Palate: This is a definite step up from the incredibly bland regular I.W. Harper. Rich wood flavors with a bit of spice and sweetness but generally a bit too mellow. For those who seek “easy drinking” bourbon.
Finish: Dry and woody.
Comments: First impressions? The bottle reminds me of the Ralph Lauren Safari cologne that I used to wear in high school. As for the actual liquid, the 43% ABV helps but it’s still not all I’m looking for in a $75 bottle of bourbon. It reminds me quite a bit of some of the older Orphan Barrel releases. Since they are both Diageo sourced stock that is probably more than a coincidence. I would recommend this to those who are looking for a “special” bottle for the Jack Daniels drinker in their life.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Diageo and their PR firm for sending us a sample to review.

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The Hilhaven Lodge

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

The Hilhaven Lodge – A Distinctive Blend of Straight American Whiskeys
40& ABV
$40
Website
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What the Bottler Says:
Introducing The Hilhaven Lodge™, a celebration of American Whiskey craftsmanship as aged Bourbon, Rye and Tennessee Whiskeys from three distinct decades combine for a rich and flavorful spirit—the spirit of Hilhaven Lodge.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Bright rye spice with dill and crushed mint, young with candied orange zest.
Palate: Sweet citrus, vanilla, and honey; spice is rather subdued, mellow all around.
Finish: Moderate, with the spice barely peaking up at the end
Comments: A hint of that “Tennessee whiskey” mellowness is on the nose and palate. They don’t list the ratio, or which whiskey came from which decade (others have reported that the rye was the oldest component, the TN whiskey in the middle, and the bourbon the youngest). The nose to me screams rye, but the palate doesn’t deliver. I really wish this could have been bottled at a higher proof. I was rather excited by the nose, and felt quite let down when it touched my lips. I suspect this might have been amazing at 100 proof, but alas, one can only wonder. While not a big financial gamble, I can’t recommend unless you’re a fan of really smooth whiskey.
Rating: Probably Pass

What Richard Says:
Nose: Clarified butter, fresh cut grass, and vanilla extract.
Palate: Sweet orange creams and a light spiciness. I would swear this saw some of the Lincoln County Process.
Finish: Dry and uninspiring with a bit of a hot spicy backing.
Comments: Not bad but not great. There are plenty of $30 bottles of whiskey out there that you might like more. I don’t think the blending gimmick is enough to justify a $40 to $50 price tag. It’s a little too smooth on taste and hot in the mouth…which is kind of odd. Given that this is Diageo, the rye is most likely MGP and the Tennessee Whiskey is probably Dickel. As for the bourbon, who knows.
Rating: Average

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

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