Tastes

I've enjoyed this bourbon a handful of times since my last note on 12/23/23, so I thought I'd jot some notes. I've been spending far more time in my wine collection of late, but this evening is one of those times where, after writing a note on an Argentine Chardonnay and thinking about terroir and minerals and Old-World styles vs New, I needed a safe space amongst those who believe that oak--especially American Oak--and even more specifically, American Oak with a #4 Alligator Char--is not anathema and sacrilegious poison but rather akin to the sweet smell of Mama's home cooking. Yes, oak. American Oak. Charred American Oak. And all of the glorious lactones, tannins, furfurals, lignins, and vanillins that are not reviled but revered. And alcohol, or "ethanol," which is nothing more than lipstick on a pig. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, etc. In the wine world, high-alcohol wines are sneered at by the cognoscenti as "over-extracted" or "Parkerized" or, even worse, "California," which needs no further explanation. But in the Beautiful Bourbon Bubble, alcohol is euphemized into "Kentucky Hugs" and "Bardstown Kisses" and, occasionally, a "habanero x ghost pepper hybrid with a Scoville rating of two million plus," which is high praised amidst the walled garden of the BBB. As we all already know, Russel’s Reserve is a Wild Turkey product. "Wild Turkey": can a bourbon's name get much better? In just two words we are embraced with Apple-Pie Americana—the Turkey was chosen by none other than Ben Franklin to be our National Bird, even if we did decide it was better coming out of a hot oven than being looked at on the back of a coin. And “wild” conjures Hank Williams Jr., Bo and Luke Duke, The Troggs, Steppenwolf, Van Morrison, Lou Reed, Cat Stevens, the Stones, The Moody Blues, Talking Heads, R.E.M., and even Tone Loc. Something for everyone. “Wild Turkey:” you had me at “Wild.” And “Turkey.” Lots of bourbon typicity here. Caramel, vanilla, chocolate covered cherries, rye spice, and a dusty note that I get with WT products. It’s good. I will buy it again. 4.25+ on the Distiller scale. And let’s not forget the mental accounting. A $60 bottle of wine is about 4.5 glasses, and lasts for maybe two days. A $60 bottle of bourbon? I’ve got several that have been open for years.

Not sure where my head was when I first reviewed this bourbon in the summer of 2022. I’m sipping this after reviewing a 2022 Grenache—context always affects taste—but I’m taken aback by the depth and very long, peach-infused finish. Very bourbonesque color. And nose: apples, chocolate-covered cherries, pipe tobacco, cigar, toasted marshmallow, caramel, and a little spearmint. Warm, mouthcoating palate with some glycerin, finishing with a nice Kentucky Hug and lingering vanilla. The peaches are now distant and appear to be in part a function of the wine before it. No matter: this is very good. I’ve always been a fan of Woodford’s Master’s Collection. I’ve never had a full-point deviation in a review, but I do here. This is easily 4.5 on the Distiller scale. I’ve never been a big Woodford fan, but I’ve always been a huge fan of their Master’s Collection, and always look to buy each release.

Great whiskey shouldn't always be reserved for special occasions. In this case, I noticed that my open bottle of Elijah Craig 18 had about one pour left, so I drained it into a glass. Following a review of 2020 Château Laroque St. Émilion Grand Cru on CellarTracker, I snuggled up to the EC18. I'm seeing this bourbon a little more in the wild; and I recently added a bottle for $199, which is a steal, comparatively speaking. I'm a big Elijah Craig fan. This expression shows vanilla, cherries, and graham cracker, along with a perhaps unexpectedly light oak element. It's silky and light on the tongue, showing cinnamon apples and more cherry fruit, followed by the ember warmth of an evening cigar, then more vanilla, cherries, and beeswax, finishing very long. Elijah Craig 18 is an elegant, sophisticated bourbon. It is not flashy or ostentatious; it doesn't need to be. Its subtlety is meant for savoring. Would I buy it again? I did, a couple of weeks ago. 4.75 on the Distiller scale.

First time tasting this since my last note on 1/21/24. Similar descriptors. Honey Nut Cheerios. There is a Christmas-tree balsam element. Chocolate oranges and some vanilla. Golden peanut brittle on the nose and palate. Spicy red hots kick in on the back end; a bit disjointed for the 95 proof. Would I buy it again? Yes. Not the best QPR, but Rabbit Hole is an up-and-coming producer to watch.

Haven’t touched this since my last review (12/28/23). Fruity nose with cherries, sweet red grapes, vanilla, and a Bazooka bubble gum note. Light viscosity on the palate. Finishes with a Kentucky Hug which is disproportionate to the 90 proof. This is the lowest rung of the Weller lineup; not as polished as its elder brethren. Too low a proof for cocktails, and too young and disjointed as a sipper. But would I buy it again? At the right price, yes, if for no other reason than to compare it against the rest of the Weller lineup. 3.75 on the Distiller scale.

Golden straw color. Wonderful nose of green apple, honey, peach, papaya, butterscotch, vanilla. Pleasantly viscous mouthfeel. A little white pepper bite initializes the finish, with lingering vanilla following. Alcohol nicely balanced (43.6% ABV). What I’d described on my last noted (1/15/24) as some slight bitterness I no longer detect, but see rather as a gentle espresso note. This is quality Irish Whiskey (non-chill filtered) at a reasonable price ($50-55). Easy drinking; no hard edges. Killed this bottle this evening but I’ll definitely look for another. 4.0 on the Distiller scale.

It's been about a year and a half since I've had this whisky. Better than my previous note from 10/14/23 (though I don't have the 15 and 18 in front of me for comparison). Lots of sherry-finished typicity: candy apple, caramelized sugar, hazelnut, dates, clove, a touch of orange oil. Lightly viscous mouthfeel; typical Scotch white-pepper pinch on the back end, with a moderate to long finish with espresso, dark chocolate, and a certain gravitas. Just finished a NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve Champagne immediately prior. I don't think this is ratings "inflation" from my previous note, but the whisky elements are likely amplified coming from the acidic and citrus Champagne beforehand. Would I buy it again? Yes. 4.0 on the Distiller scale.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY IRISH WHISKEY SHOWDOWN Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Redbreast Cask Strength Blue Spot Cash Strength I’ve really gotten into Irish Whiskey over the past two years, in no small part to my good friend Siobhàn (@Joanie), with whom I’ve tasted (drained) a couple of dozen over that period. Redbreast in all its forms. The Spots in all its forms. Teeling in its many expressions. Multiple bottling of Clonakillty. And several others. What more appropriate way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with some great Irish Whiskey? The purist in me has a penchant for the high-test expressions, so I pulled three to honor the saint who banished all the snakes from Ireland. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Vanilla and sweet oak are immediately recognized on the nose, along with tropical fruit notes of papaya and guava, as well as black cherry cola, mulled apple cider, and spice cake. Viscous mouthfeel and more of the same notes on the palate. Spicy cinnamon on the finish. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition can be found online for ~$130. Made exclusively for the US market. Would I buy it again? A bhuin! (Hell yes). 4.5 on the Distiller scale. 50.5% ABV. Redbreast Cask Strength As expected, not as much oak and vanilla as the quasi-eponymous Missouri Oak Edition. Nose and flavor profile might be described as leaner and less expansive, more focused. Chocolate-covered cherries, pomander, dark caramel, fruitcake. Not quite as viscous as the Missouri Oak Edition. Neither a Kentucky Hug nor an Irish Car Bomb on the finish, but the expected high-test presence is most certainly present. Lingering flavors evoke vanilla cake with chocolate icing. Redbreast Cask Strength can be found online for about $100. Would I buy it again? I already have. At least one in inventory, in addition to this one. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. Batch B1/22. 58.1% ABV. Blue Spot Cash Strength One of my favorite whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Notes of honey, vanilla, hot candied cashews, ginger, warm brownies, espresso, banana bread. Controlled ostentatiousness. If you've got it, flaunt it--and Blue Spot most assuredly does. Proper Twelve this ain‘t, but you may need a Connor McGregor tolerance to enjoy it. Surprised I haven’t reviewed this since late 2023. At the time, I’d only had it in a restaurant, but I’ve since acquired a few bottles, including a couple brought back directly from Ireland by @Joanie (it can be found there for about $US 120 vs ~$300 here). Would I buy it again? Yes, at either price. Backup already in inventory. One of the best. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. 7-Year age statement. Non-chill filtered. 58.9% ABV. There is no substitute for doing side-by-side tastings--even for whiskies that may be considered incongruous or not part a similar set. Tastes are influenced by context. These three are Irish, and two are from the same producer, but each is quite different in ways that are likely not recognized when each is tasted separately, at different times. I love cask-strength whiskies. Don’t get me started on the economics of water dilution. That‘s what any whiskey less than cask strength or barrel proof is--a water-diluted expression of whatever was in the barrel. It has nothing to do with what tastes “best.” If that were the case, there wouldn’t be a bare minimum (40% ABV / 80 proof), nor would there be so many common ABVs (43%, 45%, etc.). If I had to rank these three whiskies, it would be Blue Spot, Missouri Oak, and 12-year Cask Strength. This surprises me, because I love the latter (and still do), and the second one is more diluted. Each of these are hedonistic and contemplative whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Sláinte!

ST. PATRICK’S DAY IRISH WHISKEY SHOWDOWN Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Redbreast Cask Strength Blue Spot Cash Strength I’ve really gotten into Irish Whiskey over the past two years, in no small part to my good friend Siobhàn (@Joanie), with whom I’ve tasted (drained) a couple of dozen over that period. Redbreast in all its forms. The Spots in all its forms. Teeling in its many expressions. Multiple bottling of Clonakillty. And several others. What more appropriate way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with some great Irish Whiskey? The purist in me has a penchant for the high-test expressions, so I pulled three to honor the saint who banished all the snakes from Ireland. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Vanilla and sweet oak are immediately recognized on the nose, along with tropical fruit notes of papaya and guava, as well as black cherry cola, mulled apple cider, and spice cake. Viscous mouthfeel and more of the same notes on the palate. Spicy cinnamon on the finish. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition can be found online for ~$130. Made exclusively for the US market. Would I buy it again? A bhuin! (Hell yes). 4.5 on the Distiller scale. 50.5% ABV. Redbreast Cask Strength As expected, not as much oak and vanilla as the quasi-eponymous Missouri Oak Edition. Nose and flavor profile might be described as leaner and less expansive, more focused. Chocolate-covered cherries, pomander, dark caramel, fruitcake. Not quite as viscous as the Missouri Oak Edition. Neither a Kentucky Hug nor an Irish Car Bomb on the finish, but the expected high-test presence is most certainly present. Lingering flavors evoke vanilla cake with chocolate icing. Redbreast Cask Strength can be found online for about $100. Would I buy it again? I already have. At least one in inventory, in addition to this one. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. Batch B1/22. 58.1% ABV. Blue Spot Cash Strength One of my favorite whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Notes of honey, vanilla, hot candied cashews, ginger, warm brownies, espresso, banana bread. Controlled ostentatiousness. If you've got it, flaunt it--and Blue Spot most assuredly does. Proper Twelve this ain‘t, but you may need a Connor McGregor tolerance to enjoy it. Surprised I haven’t reviewed this since late 2023. At the time, I’d only had it in a restaurant, but I’ve since acquired a few bottles, including a couple brought back directly from Ireland by @Joanie (it can be found there for about $US 120 vs ~$300 here). Would I buy it again? Yes, at either price. Backup already in inventory. One of the best. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. 7-Year age statement. Non-chill filtered. 58.9% ABV. There is no substitute for doing side-by-side tastings--even for whiskies that may be considered incongruous or not part a similar set. Tastes are influenced by context. These three are Irish, and two are from the same producer, but each is quite different in ways that are likely not recognized when each is tasted separately, at different times. I love cask-strength whiskies. Don’t get me started on the economics of water dilution. That‘s what any whiskey less than cask strength or barrel proof is--a water-diluted expression of whatever was in the barrel. It has nothing to do with what tastes “best.” If that were the case, there wouldn’t be a bare minimum (40% ABV / 80 proof), nor would there be so many common ABVs (43%, 45%, etc.). If I had to rank these three whiskies, it would be Blue Spot, Missouri Oak, and 12-year Cask Strength. This surprises me, because I love the latter (and still do), and the second one is more diluted. Each of these are hedonistic and contemplative whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Sláinte!

ST. PATRICK’S DAY IRISH WHISKEY SHOWDOWN Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Redbreast Cask Strength Blue Spot Cash Strength I’ve really gotten into Irish Whiskey over the past two years, in no small part to my good friend Siobhàn (@Joanie), with whom I’ve tasted (drained) a couple of dozen over that period. Redbreast in all its forms. The Spots in all its forms. Teeling in its many expressions. Multiple bottling of Clonakillty. And several others. What more appropriate way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with some great Irish Whiskey? The purist in me has a penchant for the high-test expressions, so I pulled three to honor the saint who banished all the snakes from Ireland. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Vanilla and sweet oak are immediately recognized on the nose, along with tropical fruit notes of papaya and guava, as well as black cherry cola, mulled apple cider, and spice cake. Viscous mouthfeel and more of the same notes on the palate. Spicy cinnamon on the finish. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition can be found online for ~$130. Made exclusively for the US market. Would I buy it again? A bhuin! (Hell yes). 4.5 on the Distiller scale. 50.5% ABV. Redbreast Cask Strength As expected, not as much oak and vanilla as the quasi-eponymous Missouri Oak Edition. Nose and flavor profile might be described as leaner and less expansive, more focused. Chocolate-covered cherries, pomander, dark caramel, fruitcake. Not quite as viscous as the Missouri Oak Edition. Neither a Kentucky Hug nor an Irish Car Bomb on the finish, but the expected high-test presence is most certainly present. Lingering flavors evoke vanilla cake with chocolate icing. Redbreast Cask Strength can be found online for about $100. Would I buy it again? I already have. At least one in inventory, in addition to this one. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. Batch B1/22. 58.1% ABV. Blue Spot Cash Strength One of my favorite whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Notes of honey, vanilla, hot candied cashews, ginger, warm brownies, espresso, banana bread. Controlled ostentatiousness. If you've got it, flaunt it--and Blue Spot most assuredly does. Proper Twelve this ain‘t, but you may need a Connor McGregor tolerance to enjoy it. Surprised I haven’t reviewed this since late 2023. At the time, I’d only had it in a restaurant, but I’ve since acquired a few bottles, including a couple brought back directly from Ireland by @Joanie (it can be found there for about $US 120 vs ~$300 here). Would I buy it again? Yes, at either price. Backup already in inventory. One of the best. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. 7-Year age statement. Non-chill filtered. 58.9% ABV. There is no substitute for doing side-by-side tastings--even for whiskies that may be considered incongruous or not part a similar set. Tastes are influenced by context. These three are Irish, and two are from the same producer, but each is quite different in ways that are likely not recognized when each is tasted separately, at different times. I love cask-strength whiskies. Don’t get me started on the economics of water dilution. That‘s what any whiskey less than cask strength or barrel proof is--a water-diluted expression of whatever was in the barrel. It has nothing to do with what tastes “best.” If that were the case, there wouldn’t be a bare minimum (40% ABV / 80 proof), nor would there be so many common ABVs (43%, 45%, etc.). If I had to rank these three whiskies, it would be Blue Spot, Missouri Oak, and 12-year Cask Strength. This surprises me, because I love the latter (and still do), and the second one is more diluted. Each of these are hedonistic and contemplative whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Sláinte!