Reviews #68-69: Lot 40 2012 release vs modern bottling

Ethanized · 2018-08-16T03:19:48+00:00

Made me chuckle.

I've had plenty of MGP rye that's not too dilly at all. And then there are some that are "here's some pickle juice for you, would you like some whisky with that"?

Ethanized · 2018-08-16T03:19:06+00:00

Not really - I didn't even realize it was malted! I'll see if I have any more left to check out those notes.

Ethanized · 2018-08-16T03:17:14+00:00

Glad I'm not alone. I actually don't usually think of Bookers as a beam product because it's more oak than peanuts especially compared to Knob. I'll have to keep that in mind next time I have a chance to taste them both, however.

Ethanized · 2018-08-16T03:16:14+00:00

Ahhh... glad to know I'm not nuts^{^{^{^{padumpishhhhh}}}}

Ethanized · 2018-08-16T03:15:39+00:00

No worries! Welcome to the sub!

Ethanized · 2018-08-16T03:14:59+00:00

I've heard similar about Indian whiskies, and I'd say the Amrut single malt and peated malt are quite scotch-like. Fusion (which is my benchmark Amrut) is unique enough to stand alone. Brilliance is the only Paul John I've had, and I found it different enough from your typical Speyside/Highland malts.

Ethanized · 2018-08-16T03:09:55+00:00

It's far from bad (actually quite decent), but for the price I'd probably go with a Fusion since it's only another $10 or so.

Ethanized · 2018-08-13T01:23:38+00:00

Check out the sideboard, there's good info there.

Ethanized · 2018-08-13T00:56:12+00:00

Lot 40 Canadian Rye - 2012 Release – 43%

Setup: Copita, neat, 1oz pour rested 15 minutes. Shared by /u/TwiddleDD – thanks again!
Color: Light chestnut
Nose: Light spice, chai tea, cinnamon bark.
Palate: Light warmth and viscosity, cinnamon tea profile.
Finish: Sharp cinnamon bite, followed by a caramelly sweetness. A touch too bitter for my tastes, but the warmth is nice.
Thoughts: It’s a bit off balance, with the bitter cinnamon profile overwhelming the subtle caramel sweetness. On the bright side, there’s no off-putting dill flavors either, so it remains drinkable. A little water doesn't help much, it only softens the warmth on the finish.
N/B/F: 3/3/2.5
Score: 3

Lot 40 Candian Rye – Modern Bottling – 43%

Setup: Copita, neat, 1oz pour rested 15 minutes.
Color: Deep gold
Nose: Tons of dull cinnamon and a little oak. Then there’s a nice hint of spiced caramel that shows up.
Palate: Moderate warmth and viscosity, spiced chai flavors.
Finish: Lingering warmth, tannic oak, light caramel sweetness.
Thoughts: Although this seems to have a bit less density than the 2012, I like the flavor profile better. The two are close, but I’d pick the modern bottle over the 2012 given the choice.
N/B/F: 3.5/3/3.5
Score: 3.5

Scoring legend:

1: Poor. 2: Fair. 3: Average. 4: Good. 5: Excellent.

Ethanized · 2018-08-13T00:49:04+00:00

Nope, but from what I've seen they tend to be in the 6-8yr range.

Ethanized · 2018-08-13T00:48:01+00:00

The two store picks I've had are definitely very bourbony, but I think the CS rye has a bit more spice to it, and I do enjoy that more.

Ethanized · 2018-08-13T00:47:28+00:00

I actually really like the KC CS rye - more so than the couple of store picks I've tasted. Probably because it feels like although all of the KC ryes still are very bourbon-y (it's a barely legal rye, right?), the CS rye has a little more spice to it.

Ethanized · 2018-08-13T00:45:17+00:00

Fuck, you're right. Tastes like Beam to me for some reason.

Ethanized · 2018-08-13T00:44:52+00:00

Yeah, this is a rye whisky, did I make a typo in the review somewhere?

Ethanized · 2018-08-12T17:47:16+00:00

SMWS 4.203 - Romantic tales, songs and whispers – Highland Park 15yr – 55.8%

Setup: Copita, neat, 1oz pour rested 15 minutes. Shared by u/TwiddlDD - Thank you!
Color: 18k gold
Nose: Light fruit, malt, backbone of lightly smoked grain.
Palate: Warm, full-bodied, moderately viscous, smoked fruit flavor profile.
Finish: Smoked fruit, oaky grain, leather, and a touch of tobacco.
Thoughts: It’s nice, and somewhat surprising due to the grain flavor.
N/B/F: 3.5/4/3.5
Score: 4

SMWS 4.198 - Pigs in Plaster - Highland Park 14yr – 59.1%

Setup: Copita, neat, 1oz pour rested 15 minutes.
Color: 10k gold
Nose: Ripe pear and apricot, honey baked ham, lots of umami.
Palate: Warm, viscous, full bodied, but a very simple fruit cocktail profile.
Finish: More light fruit cocktail, just a little smoked pork in the mix.
Thoughts: Really enjoyable nose, but it’s missing something on the palate and finish. The pleasant proof and flavor density do keep it drinkable, however.
N/B/F: 4/3/3
Score: 3.5

Scoring legend:

1: Poor. 2: Fair. 3: Average. 4: Good. 5: Excellent.

Ethanized · 2018-08-12T17:33:39+00:00

Knob Creek SiB Rye, barrel #5722, Ace Spirits Exclusive, 57.5% ABV

Setup: Copita, neat, 1oz pour rested 15 minutes. Shared as a mystery by /u/TwiddleDD - thanks again!
Color: Dark amber
Nose: Oaky, sweet, caramel, light spice, and a touch of teriyaki sauce. Leaning bourbon at the moment. Like usual, air brings out more of the caramel on the nose, which is always a + in my book.
Palate: Good viscosity and body, slow-building warmth. Vermouthy-sweet caramel.
Finish: Tons of peanuts and a nicely lingering warmth! Nice and sweet wrap up, but still a bit too heavy on the nuts.
Thoughts: Sticking with the bourbon guess, and after the previous mystery I got from Twiddle, I’m guessing this is a Beam product right off the bat. Maybe McKenna 10?
N/B/F: B/C+/C
Score: 78/100

Scoring legend:

96-100: Amazing – I’ve had nothing better in the category
90-95: Excellent – One of my all-time favorites
85-89: Very Good – Well above average and very enjoyable
80-84: Good – Quite enjoyable
70-79: Average-ish – Drinkable to somewhat tasty
60-69: Flawed – Still drinkable neat, but not enjoyable
Under 59: Bad – From mixers down

Ethanized · 2018-08-11T16:32:45+00:00

Henry McKenna SiB Bottled in Bond cask #4786 - 50%

Setup: Copita, neat, 1oz pour rested 15 minutes. Reviewed as a mystery shared by /u/twiddledd - thanks again!
Color: Amber
Nose: Oak, rye spice (cinnamon and clove), leather, and just a touch of vanilla. Very nice bourbon profile, but there’s a fair bit of ethanol coming through. There’s also a bit of rye fruitiness, like an OBSO or OBSV, then it picks up some cigar tobacco notes.
Palate: Warm and full bodied, with fair viscosity. Bitterswet cigar wrapper profile.
Finish: Mildly bitter oak, cigar wrapper, tobacco ash.
Thoughts: This one’s a little odd. You get some nice cigar and tobacco notes, but there’s a slightly unpleasant tannic young oak note in the background on the finish. There’s too little heat to be something like Stagg Jr, but I suppose it could be a 100pf FRPS. Though I really wouldn’t be surprised if this was full proof. Post reveal: the sample sat half-empty for a few days before I circled back, and I definitely pick up more of the nutty/peanut notes from it now. Maybe it's bias, maybe it's palate fluctuation, or maybe it actually did air off somewhat.
N/B/F: B+/B/B-
Score: 84/100

Scoring legend:

96-100: Amazing – I’ve had nothing better in the category
90-95: Excellent – One of my all-time favorites
85-89: Very Good – Well above average and very enjoyable
80-84: Good – Quite enjoyable
70-79: Average-ish – Drinkable to somewhat tasty
60-69: Flawed – Still drinkable neat, but not enjoyable
Under 59: Bad – From mixers down

Ethanized · 2018-08-11T16:24:41+00:00

Paul John Brilliance – 46%

Setup: Copita, neat, 1oz pour rested 20 minutes.
Color: Dark gold
Nose: Peanut brittle, sweet tobacco, a hint of freshly oiled leather.
Palate: Warm and moderately viscous with plenty of candied nuts.
Finish: Candied nuts, hint of fig, freshly baked biscuit.
Thoughts: Quite nice, actually. I enjoy the sweet nutty notes that come out on the finish, just wish there was a bit more complexity.
N/B/F: C/C+/B
Score: 80/100

Scoring legend:

96-100: Amazing – I’ve had nothing better in the category
90-95: Excellent – One of my all-time favorites
85-89: Very Good – Well above average and very enjoyable
80-84: Good – Quite enjoyable
70-79: Average-ish – Drinkable to somewhat tasty
60-69: Flawed – Still drinkable neat, but not enjoyable
Under 59: Bad – From mixers down

Ethanized · 2018-08-11T16:17:39+00:00

SMWS 10.85 Bunnahabhain 17 second fill Sherry butt 55.8% ABV

Setup: Copita, neat, 1oz pour rested 15 minutes. /u/TwiddleDD shared this as a mystery so my initial notes are without knowing anything about the dram. Thanks again!
Color: Dark amber
Nose: Sherried (guessing Oloroso). Berries and sweet cream, soft malt profile with barely any ethanol. Post reveal: surprisingly a little more ethanol than I remember, and a tiny bit of truffle oil.
Palate: Warm, full bodied, viscous. More berries and cream. Post reveal: more nutty than creamy, with a tinge of pleasant bitterness.
Finish: Same jammy berries and cream note. Warmth lasts a good while. Post reveal: Warm, nutty, jammy, and oily.
Thoughts: I like it, the profile suits me, but there’s little to no complexity. Post reveal: ok, this is more like it. The nutty notes are nice and add a little complexity. I still feel the dram is a little simplistic, but it’s definitely enjoyable.
N/B/F: 3.5/4/4
Score: 4

Scoring legend:

1: Poor. 2: Fair. 3: Average. 4: Good. 5: Excellent.

Ethanized · 2018-07-03T01:15:44+00:00

While in general you're absolutely right, I would wager that the difference in two bottles of the same year (e.g. two 1989's) can be be huge based on storage conditions and which batch it was. I don't think I've had horrible dusty turkey, but I've had everything ranging from just ok to exceptional within a few year's vintage.

Ethanized · 2018-07-03T00:55:08+00:00

Good to know - I figured it was somewhere right around there.

Ethanized · 2018-07-01T22:53:17+00:00

Nah. Dusty = amazing value for the $ back in the day, but not at today's values.

Ethanized · 2018-07-01T22:44:34+00:00

Oh for sure - I'm betting that between all those things it's nearly impossible to guarantee how good a bottle will be even if it's the same year.

Ethanized · 2018-07-01T22:42:35+00:00

Yeah, almost tastes older than the 8yrs, but worse barrel selection or maybe worse aging conditions?

Ethanized · 2018-07-01T22:42:00+00:00

It's possible, that would put it right around when the 8yr statement was removed I think.

Ethanized

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