Sazerac Rye
Not bad. A lot more corn than I usually like in my ryes, but flavorsome and smooth. No doubt the large majority of this rye’s production is used for making cocktails, as there are much better sipping ryes available.
Tag: Bourbon
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye 2011
A cinnamon bomb that never lets up. The nose is suggestive and deep, but it’s the palate that explodes with fruit and spice. Truly eyebrow-raising, this shows what quality can do to elevate the standard flavors of straight rye.
Breaking & Entering Bourbon
Far more dynanic than similarly-priced bourbons. St. George shows an adept hand with blending, and a clever choice of source material which yields a big, bold, multi-layered blended bourbon. A pleasure to drink, and a fabulous value.
Angel’s Envy Bourbon
A very conservative take on a port finish. The port is very much in the background, letting the clean bourbon flavors take center stage. This one is a pleasant, easy-to-drink experience, and the price is quite reasonable.
Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
Still trying to get over corn flavors in bourbon, but there’s nothing offensive or “plastic” about the corn notes here. The dominant rye character and skillful maturation make this a very tasty dram, although one you’re certainly paying for. Worth a try if you see it at a bar.
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon (15 year)
Everything you expect in a bourbon with a healthy spice profile, but amplified. It makes other bourbons taste watered-down in comparison. The wood integration is masterful – you’d expect 15 Kentucky summers to reduce this to a glass of liquid wood extract, but instead it just makes everything taste… Bigger. Excellent.
This Is What Is Wrong With The Whisky Industry
The future is a lot more bleak for Mr. Casual Drinker. I weep to think of the 90% of market share enjoyed by inexpensive blended whiskies, and the large number of those customers who might be so much happier drinking some of the artisanal bourbons, single-malt Scotches, and other fine whiskies of the world. – if only someone would give them a taste.
Rittenhouse Rye 100 Proof
A tasty, satisfying dram. The smoky and peppery tobacco notes balance very well with the sweeter chai and brown sugar notes. It does not have the overbearing sweetness of some bourbons, nor the acrid dryness of some ryes. Not ground-breaking, but very much worth the price of a bottle.
Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
I am a lot more impressed by this bourbon than I was with any of the earlier cheap American whiskeys I’ve tried. The rawness of the grain is apparent in the nose, but subtly hidden on the palate by the surprising variety of fruit and sweet baked flavors. Still not as easy to drink and enjoy as a single malt, but definitely worth drinking neat, especially at this price. It’s even nicer with a dash of water.
Woodford Reserve Bourbon
While this is quite a decent sip, there is nothing outstanding about it to recommend it. Mild and smooth, oaky and with that familiar bourbon barrel-char and brown sugar flavors… it still doesn’t inspire me to drink more. I’m also not crazy about the nose – too composty for me. Maybe it’s the sulfur?