Review - Michter's US-1 Limited Release Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey 2019
Bottled at 108.4, this particular selection from barrel No. 18F829 is truly a wonder to behold. Familiar but with a depth of flavor and ABV punch that you won’t get from Michter’s std US-1 Rye.
Rating 4.5 Glasses
Distillery: Michter’s Distillery
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 108.4
Local Price (USD): $79.15
Availability: Rare
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Caramel with rich long legs.
Nose: Pepper and rubbing alcohol leaning into butterscotch and cherries.
Taste: Rye spiciness and buttery smooth charred vanilla with a warming heat that rises slowly.
Finish: Oak and rye spice that lasts well into overtime.
Conclusion: Luckily we were fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to snag a bottle of this limited 2019 release. Barreled at a lower 103 proof allows the higher water content distillate to take on more of the flavors of the barrel and makes for a fuller-bodied whiskey. Bottled at 108.4, this particular selection from barrel No. 18F829 is truly a wonder to behold. Familiar but with a depth of flavor and ABV punch that you won’t get from Michter’s std US-1 Rye. It’s hot and spicy like a good rye whiskey should be and we can only hope to come across another in the future. For the money if you happen to see this one on the shelf at your local liquor outlet, grab it and don’t look back, you won’t be disappointed.
Review - Elmer T Lee Bourbon
You can’t beat Elmer T. Lee for the flavor and value… ETL is pretty darn rare so grab it when it’s available as you won’t find a better or more consistent single barrel bourbon for the price. Earned all of its 4.5 glasses and we will definitely be picking up every bottle we come across.
Rating 4.5 Glasses
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 90
Local Price (USD): $37.95
Availability: Rare
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Caramel covered Goldylocks, clings to the glass
Nose: Apple, clove, caramel & sour patch kids with a slight burn
Taste: Green apple, lemon, light oak, smooth & light spice. Nice to have enough heat to cut the sweetness.
Finish: Nice and long while retaining the warmth.
Conclusion:
From Buffalo Trace - “Named after Master Distiller Emeritus Elmer T. Lee, this whiskey is hand selected and bottled to the taste and standards of Elmer T. Lee himself. Perfectly balanced and rich, as declared by the man who knows how great bourbon should taste.”
You can’t beat Elmer T. Lee for the flavor and value. This particular barrel that we sampled gave us quite a different profile than what would be considered “standard” but still was exquisite. ETL is pretty darn rare so grab it when it’s available as you won’t find a better or more consistent single barrel bourbon for the price. Earned all of its 4.5 glasses and we will definitely be picking up every bottle we come across.
Review - Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch No.1 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
"The finish leaves your tongue writhing in agony and pleasure, all at the same time hating itself but wanting more."
Rating 4.5 Glasses
- Distillery: Tamdhu Distillery
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 117.6
- Local Price (USD): $97.60
- Availability: Rare (Batch No.1 only)
- Local Price (USD): $97.60
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Reddish-tan & the legs just hold on like Sylvester Stallone in Cliffhanger
- Nose: Sherry first then butterscotch, cherry and oak
- Taste: Berry & cherry sweetness but not in a bad way. Syrupy, tangy & due to the batch strength it just burns so good
- Finish: Oaky with lingering sugars and alcohol.
- Excerpt from the tasting session - "The finish leaves your tongue writhing in agony and pleasure, all at the same time hating itself but wanting more." ..maybe a little too 50 Shades of Grey perhaps?
- Conclusion: Batch No.1 is a rare commodity but as a whole, Tamdhu Batch Strength is easy to come by. First taste is bliss, super sweet, but bliss. We were pleasantly surprised when the Willy Wonka sweetness started to overpower but the abundance of alcohol did its part to keep everything in check.
- If the batches keep on par with No.1 then yes, thank you ma'am may we have another! We know its on the higher side of the price range but if you are a fan of over-proof, cask strength, barrel strength, etc. then definitely grab yourself a bottle and don't look back.
Quick Facts
1. Introduced in 2015- 2. Majority is aged in first-fill sherry oak casks from America & Europe
- 3. Ongoing debate whether caramel coloring added
- 4. Tamdhu Distillery was built in 1897 & currently plays a significant role in the blends of Cutty Sark, The Famous Grouse & Dunhill Brand
Review - Linkwood 25 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Absolutely an amazing dram and even though the grass is always greener across the pond, definitely one of if not the finest Speysides we've had to date. Enough said... Delicious.
Rating 4.5 Glasses
- Distillery: Linkwood Distillery
- (Matured & bottled by Gordon & MacPhail)
- Years Aged: 25
- Proof: 86
- Local Price (USD): N/A ~$200.00
- Availability: Rare
- Local Price (USD): N/A ~$200.00
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Dark maple with fat bottom legs... Delicious
- Nose: Floral & citrus. A freshly cut grass field glistening with morning dew... Delicious
- Taste: Sherry forward with a hint of lemon zest. Thick, oily & waxy with tannins that remind us of a rich Malbec... Delicious
- Finish: Ginger with a hint of fennel, vanilla & cinnamon in the transition.... Delicious
- Conclusion: First, a moment of silence for the spilled Linkwood on the patio....................
- Ok, we can continue - Absolutely an amazing dram and even though the grass is always greener across the pond, definitely one of if not the finest Speysides we've had to date. Purchased at Cadenhead's Whisky Shop in Edinburgh, Scotland. Unfortunately this particular vintage is not available stateside but we were lucky enough to score a bottle thanks to a visiting friend. Enough said... Delicous
Distillery Info & History
Located on the outskirts of Elgin (though now within its ever-growing suburbs) Linkwood was established in 1821, but only started production in 1824. Owner Peter Brown was the factor [manager] of the Linkwood Estate and wisely kept his nose clean until the 1823 Excise Act was on the stature book.
It was completely rebuilt in 1874 by his son William and existed as an independent distiller, run by an Elgin-based whisky broker, until 1932 when it joined the DCL stable. It has remained in production ever since, with regular upgrades taking place, most significantly in 1972 when a new distillery was built opposite the old buildings.
Both plants ran until 1985 when the original ceased production, although it was still used as an experimental site – it was here that a lot of Diageo’s research into copper, reflux and the effect of worm tubs took place. In the late 1990s it was on the shortlist to become the Speyside representative in The Classic Malts range.
In 2012, the old building was demolished as part of yet another upgrade. This time six new washbacks were installed in a new distillery along with two new stills. Capacity is now in excess of 5.5m litres per annum.
Linkwood is bottled as a 12-year-old in Diageo’s Flora & Fauna range, and for many years quasi-official bottlings have come from Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin – often from ex-Sherry casks.
Review - BenRiach 17 Solstice Single Malt Scotch Whisky
"Holy Sweet Peat & Band-aids that's a good nose!" - Josh
Rating 4.5 Glasses
- Distillery: BenRiach Distillery
- Years Aged: 17
- Proof: 100
- Local Price (USD): $92.00
- Availability: Uncommon
- Local Price (USD): $92.00
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Akin to a tanned Donald Trump & slow skinny chicken legs
- Nose: "Holy Sweet Peat & Band-aids that's a good nose!" - Josh. Oh and cranberries.
- Taste: For 100 proof its smooth like Jagger. Slightly dry, butter, apple & toffee
- Finish: Peaty, malty & wheaty. Hangs onto your tongue for dear life
- Conclusion: Unique to Speyside the Solstice is distilled from both peated and non-peated malted barley and finished off in a Tawny port pipe. This 2nd Edition release is just plain delicious and we so wish it was more readily available. This is one to grab if you can as it is definitely a unique duck.
