Whiskey reviews and advice by Jeff Schwartz a/k/a The Whiskeyfellow. Learn, laugh and enjoy great whiskey!
Friday, December 23, 2016
Old Bardstown Straight Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams (2013) Single Malt Scotch Review & Tasting Notes
It has been awhile since
I've explored deliciousness from across the pond, so instead of Bourbon or
American Rye, tonight's pour is Scotch whisky: Specifically Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams from 2012.
As a single malt, a Scotch
must be distilled in a pot still, and it must be produced at a single
distillery.
Glenfiddich is a Speyside
whisky. The Speyside region is the largest in all of Scotland. The water used
in the distillation process comes from the River Spey. Speyside whiskies
typically are the most complex, with elegant flavors and aromas.
Nosing this Whisky brings
vanilla and fruits, with a background of oakiness. Swirling it again brings
fresh, fruity waves to the nostrils. When the glass is brought to my mouth, I'm
inhaling sweet vanilla.
Tilting the glass brings the
liquid to my tongue and fruitiness and spices, along with that oaky flavor.
The finish is lingering and
very pleasant with the oak and spice. The finish lingers pleasantly.
This bottle was allocated for the USA market only. There is a different Cask of
Dreams for at least the Canadian market as well. I'm unsure of the differences,
but the American version has been finished in American white oak.
Bottled at 97.6°, this is a warmer Scotch that offers some great flavor. Cheers
and SlĂ inte!
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Elmer T. Lee Commemorative Edition Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Ezra B Single Barrel Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes
This is Ezra B Single Barrel. It is aged 12 years and bottled at 99°. This
particular bottle is from Barrel 603 and was dumped on June 2015.
While the label suggests this is bottled by the Ezra Brooks Distilling Company
out of St. Louis, this label is owned by Luxco, who, incidentally, is building
a brand new distillery in Kentucky.
The nose presents sweet hardwood and vanilla, and even a hint of citrus. The
appearance is a golden orange. Swirling in my Glencairn glass shows me thin
legs that do hold.
When I bring the glass to my lips, the barrel's char comes to the forefront.
The mash is a high Rye content, which is my preferred mash profile, and offers
a certain spiciness. There is a smidge of an oiliness to it as well. I wish I
could say this had a complex flavor, but it doesn't, and my bottle has been
oxidizing about nine months.
The finish sits on my tongue long after the swallow, and it is the wood and
spice that hangs on, with that oily texture on the top of my tongue.
There are some who suggest this is Elijah Craig 12 in a single barrel release.
I find that very difficult to believe. I have various incarnations of Elijah
Craig 12, with a couple Barrel Proof releases as well as the small batch. Yes,
Luxco sources this. Yes, every single barrel has its own uniqueness. But, a
profile should be similar and this isn't.
I find this an interesting pour, but not one I would run out to buy again. For
the $36 investment, I can do better.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Talisker Distillers Edition (2012) Single Malt Scotch Review & Tasting Notes
Monday, July 4, 2016
High West Yippee Ki Yay Rye (Batch 3) Review & Tasting Notes
Happy Independence Day, America! Today is a quintessential American holiday, which suggests we should be celebrating with something uniquely American. Bourbon, American Rye, Moonshine... those fit the bill.
Today I will be enjoying High West's Yippee Ki-Yay, which is an incredible blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys. This particular bottle is from Batch 3 and is bottled at 92°. Yippee Ki-Yay is a younger blend of whiskeys than A Midwinter Nights Dram, but it can keep up with it quite well at a lower price point. The Ryes have been finished in Vermouth and Syrah barrels.
I called Midwinter Nights Dram "Christmas in a Bottle" (to be fair, a friend first described it to me that way), so perhaps Yippee Ki-Yay can be described as 4th of July fireworks in a bottle.
First of all, the color is a deep ruby red. That's from the Syrah barrel. Very unique and enticing, because you just don't see that in Bourbon or Rye.
Next, fruity, spicy, vanilla, wood and caramel lights up your nostrils and is quite the attention getter.
The palate then explodes with candied fruit, vanilla, nuts, cereal, wine (from the Syrah barrel) and wood.
The ooh-ahh is the finish. The sweetness of wine and honey, wood and nuts just hangs and lingers.
I've seen this priced anywhere from $58 to $75 a bottle. This is definitely worth the lower end of the spectrum and takes my Bottle rating.
Have a wonderful time tonight watching fireworks.
I'll be sipping mine. Cheers!
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project #153 Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes
Friday, March 11, 2016
Stagg Jr. - Batch 2 Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes