Review - Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2014
As peculiar as this release is, its unique characteristics & oddities make it an enjoyable dram.
Rating 3.5 Glasses
- Distillery: Four Roses Distillery LLC
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 111.8
- Price (USD): $85.00
- Availability: Uncommon
Tasting Notes
- Color: Dark Caramel
- Nose: Spice, cherry & strong hit of alcohol
- Taste: Cherry cough medicine
- Finish: Long, warm & sumptuous
- Conclusion: 2014 Release. Master distiller Jim Rutledge retired in September of 2015. Read more here about his departure.
- This one will definitely put some hair on your chest. Could be sipped on indefinitely but would benefit from a couple drops of water to bring out the flavors above the alcohol. Smells like a maraschino cherry stumbled into a bar and got drunk on everclear..... Josh then proceeds to make a comment regarding broken pitted fruits and such. As peculiar as this release is, its unique characteristics & oddities make it an enjoyable dram. We would buy it again. (If you can find it)
Review - Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2014
This should be a staple in anyone's liquor cabinet.
Rating 4 Glasses
- Distillery: Four Roses Distillery LLC
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 100
- Price (USD): $49.95
- Availability: Widespread
- Price (USD): $49.95
Tasting Notes
- Color: Dark Amber
- Nose: Floral, vanilla, maple & spice
- Taste: Classic bourbon flavor. Sweet, caramel &maraschino cherries
- Finish: Tang, citrus & clove with a decent amount of heat
- Conclusion: 2014 Release. Master distiller Jim Rutledge retired in September of 2015. Compliments a Connecticut wrapper perfectly. Awesomeness in a bottle and definitely worth buying. Better yet buy two just in case you loose (or drink) one. This should be a staple in anyone's liquor cabinet.
Review - Shieldaig Speyside 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
...Jeff, for reasons unknown, wanted to try and freeze it into a popsicle... don't even try to comprehend that one.
Rating 4 Glasses
- Distillery: William Maxwell & Co. Ltd (Now known as Ian Macleod Distillers)
- Years Aged: 18
- Proof: 80
- Price (USD): $57.99
- Availability: Uncommon
Tasting Notes:
- Color & Consistency: Light Amber
- Nose: Floral, perfume, pipe tobacco
- Taste: Apple, pear, initial sweet hit, light smoke, smooth
- Finish: Lingering sweet candy
- Conclusion: Overall everyone enjoyed this dram and Jeff, for reasons unknown, wanted to try and freeze it into a popsicle... don't even try to comprehend that one. Great Speyside for the $.
Review - Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky
It's generally a little fruity(due to the sherry casks) and light on the palate. Tastes young for a 12 year scotch. Good overall whisky as it has a well rounded flavor profile.
Patrick Leclezio over at wordsonwhisky.com has some good insight on the Highland vs Speyside discussion. Click here to read more.
Rating 3 Glasses
- Distillery: Glenfarclas Distillery
- Years Aged: 12
- Proof: 86
- Price (USD): $44.95
- Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes:
- Color & Consistency: Light Caramel to Amber
- Nose: Old woman's house, musty with slight hints of petrified candy and stewed fruit
- Taste: Buttery with a fruity citrus and relatively smooth
- Finish: Cinnamon, allspice & leaves a somewhat oily finish as it lingers on the tongue
- Conclusion: It's generally a little fruity(due to the sherry casks) and light on the palate. Tastes young for a 12 year scotch. Good overall whisky as it has a well rounded flavor profile.
Review - Ardbeg Perpetuum 2015
"Drinking Perpetuum makes you only want Islay Scotch for the rest of your life" - Josh
Check out our new feature... Readings From The Bottle. A rather uncomfortable yet oddly luxurious way to experience our favorite drams. Enjoy!
Now on to the review.....
Somebody needs to get a room
Rating 4 Glasses
- Distillery: Ardbeg Distillery Limited
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 94.8
- Price (USD): $99.95
- Availability: Uncommon to Rare
Tasting Notes:
- Color & Consistency: Golden goodness
- Nose: Peaty as heck, coastal air & leather
- Taste: smooth, slightly medicinal & sweet
- Finish: Lasting smoke with a hint of brine and spice.
- Conclusion: As this is one of Josh's favorites he remarked that "Drinking Perpetuum makes you only want Islay Scotch for the rest of your life".
- Ultimately we came to the conclusion that while you won't find a bad Ardbeg (and this one is definitely not), this release may not be so exceptionally limited as to be worth the extra $50 over Ardbeg 10. We look forward to reviewing the next releases to see how they stack up.
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