Probably Pass

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

Kurayoshi 12 Yr Pure Malt Whisky Read More »

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

Balcones Texas Rye Read More »

Grand Traverse Distillery Islay Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Grand Traverse Distillery Islay Rye Whiskey

45% ABV
$50 (for a 375 mL)
Website
Grand Traverse Distillery Islay Rye

What the Distillery Says

Islay Rye (eye-la) is a small batch Rye Whiskey that takes two of our favorite things and combines them into something awesome and unique!
The mash bill is composed of 80% Rye and 20% Peated Malted Barley, making this a Rye Whiskey with a heavy nod to Islay Single Malt Scotches. Islay Rye is sure to please anyone who appreciates the bold flavor and subtle spice of a rye whiskey or the mellow smokiness and near floral character of a master-crafted Islay Single Malt.
We do not chill filter our whiskies so the taste and aroma is pure still and barrel. Enjoy!

What Gary Says

Nose:  Musty damp cardboard, mineral notes from freshly shoveled earth, old pencils, husky malt, given enough time I get rye baked bread (but having to work for it).
Palate:  Round mouthfeel, sweet rye spice with a bit of dill and a subtle citrus note; earthy notes with black tea.
Finish:  Short and drying, with earthy mineral notes.
Comments:  I love rye whiskey, and I love Islay single malts. When a friend had recommended this, I had really high hopes – which may have been my undoing. As a small distillery, perhaps there is a lot of variation batch to batch, as having read and watched their reviews – I can’t imagine what was in the bottle I got was the same whiskey. I really wanted to like this, but didn’t.
In fact, this is one of the few whiskies I have that I wouldn’t drink.  I tried leaving it sit in the glass for 30 minutes (which definitely made some difference), and while that allowed me to get a bit more out of it – the earthy/mineral notes were still pretty prominent, and just not in my wheelhouse.  I’ll share out in samples what is left from the bottle so friends and family can experience it for themselves (and they may have very different impressions). For me, there wasn’t any Islay smoke or peat going on. There was loads of earthiness – reminds me on the nose of when I till the garden for the first time each spring. This is only available from their tasting rooms, so likely unless you’re passing through Michigan you may never encounter. If you are in one of their tasting rooms, I’d definitely ask for a sample before buying.

Rating: Probably Pass

Grand Traverse Distillery Islay Rye Whiskey Read More »

Proper No. Twelve

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Proper No. Twelve Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey

40% ABV
$20 – $25
Website
Proper No. Twelve

What the Producer Says

Conor McGregor’s Whiskey
Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey
Proper No. Twelve’s Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey is an ultra-smooth blend of fine grain and single malt with hints of vanilla, honey and toasted wood.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet young malt, furniture polish (think lemon-scented Pledge), hints of vanilla and heather.
Palate:  Grainy, barley sugar with a slightly sour oak note, a bit of lemon-flavored cookies.
Finish:  Short with pepper, sour oak and a hint of lemons.
Comments:  Let’s get the non-whiskey part out of the way.  I was thinking about buying a bottle to try last year when I head the news of Conor McGregor’s assault in a bar in Dublin. That alone left me not wanting to buy a bottle (and initial reviews I read weren’t very kind either). That said, because I do like to try damn near any whiskey I can, I was excited when a friend offered me a sample from their bottle (thanks Tommy!)  I was also intent on assessing the bottle contents on their own merits.  I focused squarely on the whiskey – the above notes and rating below have nothing to do with the celebrity but wanted to share that in full disclosure. This stuff is pretty bad. Granted, for $20 I had low expectations, but I recently bought a similarly priced bottle of Old Tom Horan Irish Whiskey (review pending!) and liked it markedly better than this. I hope this isn’t the first bottle of Irish whiskey for folks out there (it has sold quite well) as it might single-handedly slow the growth of the category.

Rating: Probably Pass

Proper No. Twelve Read More »

Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey

46% ABV
$45 (375mL)
Website
Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

Pot-Distilled From Rye Grain
Stored in New Oak Less Than Four Years
Hand Crafted and Bottled By:
Tuthilltown Spirits, Gardiner, New York

Our rye whiskey is known for its spiciness; its rich and shifting flavor and aroma. The spirit’s peppery start transitions to a honey-cinnamon depth. Note the butteriness that lingers after each sip. Needless to say, this spirit makes an incredible Manhattan.

What Gary Says

Nose: Young malted rye, oak, hints of a Manhattan cocktail with a bit of cinnamon and orange zest.
Palate:  Young rye, subtle cinnamon with hints of cocoa.
Finish:  Short and drying with a malted rye note.
Comments:  At first when I tasted this (which was from Drinks by the Dram, who listed this as “Hudson Manhattan Rye Spirit” – didn’t include the word ‘whiskey’ on their label), I thought it wasn’t just whiskey and might contain some vermouth – as it does come across very ‘Manhattan-like’. That said, I wouldn’t use this in a Manhattan as I think it would get lost, and it doesn’t bring that strong rye-character to the party. This tastes like young rye, and malted rye (reminds me more of young American single malt I’ve tried than young rye whiskey).  It also does have that ‘small barrel aged’ taste – but to a lesser degree (am guessing that some is aged in smaller barrels, but probably not all).  Normally I’d say that there isn’t anything objectionable, but I find the price to be just that – and hence my rating of ‘Probably Pass’ versus just ‘Average’. If I was going to walk into a store and spend $45 on a bottle of rye – this wouldn’t be it. Also, one of my pet peeves are poorly maintained web-sites. Theirs mentions to try the ‘Hudson Manhattan’ recipe listed in the recipes section on their website. Two issues here: first, there isn’t a ‘recipes’ section (but most will figure out the ‘Cocktails’ section is what they meant); second – there is no ‘Hudson Manhattan recipe! You can filter by this whiskey, and there are three cocktails – two of which are Manhattans (The Jazz Manhattan & The Perfect Manhattan).

Rating: Probably Pass

Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey Read More »