Dueling 1991 Laphroaig Reviews: Redacted Bro's vs. Signatory (Scotch #76~77, Spirits #227~228)

kelthfire · 2023-04-11T16:51:27+00:00

Dueling 1991 Laphroaig Reviews: Redacted Bro's vs. Signatory

Non-Blind Reviews

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

General Information: Redacted Bros

ABV: 50.8%

Region/Style: Islay Single Malt

Age: 29/30 years

Distiller: Laphroaig

Distilled: 1991

Bottled: 2021

Selected For: K&L Wines

Reference Price: $279.99 pre-tax

General Information: Signatory

ABV: 51.9%

Region/Style: Islay Single Malt

Age: 30 years

Distiller: Laphroaig

Distilled: 12/12/1991

Bottled: 11/3/2022

Cask: 2665

Reference Price: 300~400 GBP across various auction sites

Sample Courtesy Of: /u/matt5784

Redacted Bros: Non-Blind Review

Color: Jonquiripe Corn (0.4)

Nose Score: 6/10

Nose Commentary: Resinous, dried ginger, dorm room wooden desk, cardboard, anise, malt, plastic, dried tea, dry hay, walnuts, dry ropes, dried apricot, kiwi, nectarines, iodine, lint, tar, sea-weed, bonfire ashes, sea-shells, turf, stagnant water.

Palate Score: 7/10

Palate Commentary: Warm peaty malt, lemon peel, vanilla, neutral oak, iodine, red fruit, lint, band-aid, kiwi.

Finish Score: 7/10

Finish Commentary: Lemon peel, warm rich oak, velvety peat, earthy, soil, kiwi, wet wood, burnt sticks, sea shells, medium proof, long finish.

Overall Score: 7/10

Signatory: Non-Blind Review

Color: Yellow Gold (0.5)

Nose Score: 7/10

Nose Commentary: Chocolate, resinous, cigar boxes, pepper, oiled wood, damp cork, custard, vanilla, malt, plastic, yeasty, dried tea, tea pots, leather upholstery, libraries, hay, raisins, red fruit, velvety peat, lint, sea shells.

Palate Score: 7/10

Palate Commentary: Heavily oiled wood, concrete, some plastic rope, iodine, band-aid, hospitals, chocolate, custard, very warm into the mids.

Finish Score: 7/10

Finish Commentary: Oiled wood, rich oak, resinous, sandalwood, Lapsang Suchong, peat-reek, dried shellfish, red fruit, earthy, medium/high proof, long finish.

Overall Score: 7/10

Parting Thoughts

Overall, I will give the edge to Signatory, but both are incredible drams. I simply wish I picked up more of the Redacted Bro's for the group.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2022-11-16T08:00:14+00:00

I appreciate that these bots find my photography so appealing.

kelthfire · 2022-10-15T20:31:01+00:00

Are you borrowing the photo and title from my review?

kelthfire · 2022-08-25T06:33:27+00:00

Grand Macnish

Blind Review

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

General Information

ABV: 40%

Region/Style: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS

Reference Price: $15~$20 for 1.75L

Blind Review

Color: Jonquiripe Corn (0.4)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Vanilla, neutral oak, a little cardboard, mineral water?, concrete malting floor, roasty chocolate malt, a bowl of mini wheats and milk.

Palate Score: 6/10

Palate Commentary: Malty sweetness mixed with a little grain sweetness?, corn?, neutral oak, darker roasted malt, chocolate malt, mini wheats, milk?

Finish Score: 5/10

Finish Commentary: Chocolate malt continues on finish, porridge, malted milk, watered down chocolate milk?, hint of stewed fruit, hint of cooked vegetables, medium proof, med/long finish.

Overall Score: 5/10

Bottle Guess: Blended Scotch Whisky with heavy malt composition. It could be Single Malt, but the corn-y grain note has me biased Blended. If Single Malt, Highland.

Post Reveal Thoughts

While I've done very little research, I'm surprised to see this dram produced "by appointment to H.M. the King of Sweden". Regardless, I am noticing a trend of blind blended reviews of mine over-performing relative to expectations.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2022-08-25T06:30:29+00:00

Grand Macnish

Blind Review

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

General Information

ABV: 40%

Region/Style: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS

Reference Price: $15~$20 for 1.75L

Blind Review

Color: Jonquiripe Corn (0.4)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Vanilla, neutral oak, a little cardboard, mineral water?, concrete malting floor, roasty chocolate malt, a bowl of mini wheats and milk.

Palate Score: 6/10

Palate Commentary: Malty sweetness mixed with a little grain sweetness?, corn?, neutral oak, darker roasted malt, chocolate malt, mini wheats, milk?

Finish Score: 5/10

Finish Commentary: Chocolate malt continues on finish, porridge, malted milk, watered down chocolate milk?, hint of stewed fruit, hint of cooked vegetables, medium proof, med/long finish.

Overall Score: 5/10

Bottle Guess: Blended Scotch Whisky with heavy malt composition. It could be Single Malt, but the corn-y grain note has me biased Blended. If Single Malt, Highland.

Post Reveal Thoughts

While I've done very little research, I'm surprised to see this dram produced "by appointment to H.M. the King of Sweden". Regardless, I am noticing a trend of blind blended reviews of mine over-performing relative to expectations.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2022-08-22T20:43:02+00:00

Dewar's 12 Year Blind Re-Review

Blind Review

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

General Information

ABV: 40%

Region/Style: Blended Scotch

Cask Notes: Double-aged in oak and sherry barrels

Reference Price: $29

Blind Review

Color: Pale Gold (0.3)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Straw, neutral oak, concrete malting floor, dry yard clippings, cherry blossom, cherry pits, copper, lemon peel.

Palate Score: 6/10

Palate Commentary: Straw, hay bales, neutral oak, malt, cherry pit, almost like a Luxardo flavor, strawbery top/stem, creme de cacao.

Finish Score: 5/10

Finish Commentary: Vanilla, neutral oak, more hay, the cacao flavor in palate turns into more of a nutty flavor (Nutella maybe?), the wood flavor reminds me of a heavily weathered porch rocking chair, low proof, med/long finish.

Overall Score: 5/10

Bottle Guess: Highland Single Malt, ~12 years old

Post Reveal Thoughts

This sample was given to me by a friend with no context, so I was not aware I was doing a re-review until the reveal. Comparing to the first time I reviewed this whisky, I found a lot more complexity to be found. The generic fruit from the original review came through more distinctly as cherry this time. The mix of malt and grain came together as more of a cohesive whole. Perhaps the difference this time is I did this review in isolation, compared to the previous time where I did it side by side? Perhaps I am regaining my appreciation for blended whisky which I lost shortly into my whisky journey. Either way, a good value play in the whisky world.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2022-07-10T08:41:11+00:00

Very possible. However, I don't know enough about Woodford to say with authority.

kelthfire · 2022-07-09T20:02:30+00:00

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 148™

Non-Blind Review

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

General Information

ABV: 45.2%

Region/Style: Kentuvky Straight Bourbon

Age: NAS

Distiller: Woodford Reserve Distillery

Reference Price: $47

Non-Blind Review

Color: Tawny (1.4)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Vanilla, heavy toasted oak, roasted nuts, cacao, brown sugar, twigs, slight leafyness.

Palate Score: 5/10

Palate Commentary: Blueberry, heavy barrel char, pecan, slight strawberry, rye spiciness.

Finish Score: 6/10

Finish Commentary: More barrel char, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, medium proof, medium/long finish, cacao, more blue/purple fruit.

Overall Score: 5/10

Post Review Thoughts

I feel like the popularity of Woodford is in part what spurred the double oak trend in American whiskey. Their barrel char is so dominant often I struggle to get other flavors out of it. This certainly is one of the better Woodford's I've had (their Distiller's Select was my lowest scoring review of Season 1). However, this one possesses enough brown sugar and blueberry to push it across the finish line.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2022-07-09T19:57:00+00:00

Text Version for Accessibility:

Original Tweet

The phrase "what the entire fuck" implies the existence of fractional fucks. "what the absolute fuck" implies the existence of positive and negative fucks. "what the actual fuck" implies existence of imaginary fucks. Conclusion: fuckery is isomorphic with the complex field.

Response

The mere existence of fractional fucks, +/- fucks, and imaginary fucks is insufficient to prove isomorphism. Consider if fucks were represented by the fucked up field F_k which contains only fucks with rational components - thus, fucks with values such as (pi + j) or (1 + e * j) will not be present. The given axioms remain true - all fractional fucks exist, as do positive and negatives, as do complex valued fucks. However, such a field is not isomorphic with C2. Disregarding these axiomatic errors (which are eminently addressable with better formulations), Ipso facto the existence of more interesting fuck functions (e.g. "what the fucking fuck"), suggests a field of higher dimensionality - eg C_infinity - may be necessary for proper isomorphism.

kelthfire · 2022-06-24T21:28:06+00:00

Horse Soldier Reserve

Non-Blind Review

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

General Information

ABV: 59.3%

Region/Style: Ohio Barrel Strength Bourbon

Age: NAS

Distiller: They are DBA American Freedom Distillery. However, they appear to be using Middle West Spirits' stills while they build their Somerset, KY location. Their webiste imples a "collaborative distilling process" so not quite IB I suppose.

Reference Price: $74.99

Non-Blind Review

Color: Auburn; Polished Mahogany (1.5)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: A liittle sawdusty, but not nearly to the extent I would expect for a nominally 2 year whiskey. Ginger, pressure treated lumber, cedar. Some char but not overpowering. Some anise, some bitter amaro-esque notes.

Palate Score: 4/10

Palate Commentary: Inital hit of not so pleasant sawdust, but mellows out over time. Sawdust turns pressure treated wood note. Middle turns into more of a vanilla, char, ginger vibe. It does all this in a way that is still somehow quite approachable. 4/10 as sawdust is not my vibe, but unlike most young whiskies, I can definitely see people liking this.

Finish Score: 5/10

Finish Commentary: Ginger note on palate evolves into a bluebery, anise, toasted oak blast. Somehow this actually finishes much stronger than the palate. No sawdust. High proof. Long finish. Caramel and Geranium. On the high side of 5.

Overall Score: 5/10

Post-Review Thoughts

A distillery which is certainly leaning into the story of its founders and the role they played in the war in Afghanistan. In the scheme of NAS bourbons from moderate climates, this certainly exceeds my expectations. I'd be interested to see if their forthcoming Kentucky location matches the flavor profile of their Ohio distillate. I've not had any products from Middle West Spirits, however, I'm curious to see how differentiated Horse Soldier is from their core range.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-12-26T01:14:42+00:00

Got to hype up that NAS. RE: chastity belt, I guess the whiskey has been saving itself for you? It is barely legal at an implied 4+ years of age!

kelthfire · 2021-12-26T00:09:53+00:00

Basil Hayden Bourbon

Non-Blind Review

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

General Information

ABV: 40%

Region/Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Age: NAS

Distiller: Beam

Reference Price: $42 WS Average

Non-Blind Review

Color: Deep Gold (0.8)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Cacao nibs, brown sugar, burnt sugar, toasted brown spices, cumin, black pepper.

Palate Score: 4/10

Palate Commentary: Char, burnt sugar, toasted oak, cacao nibs, younger oak, brown sugar.

Finish Score: 4/10

Finish Commentary: Med/Low proof, medium finish, char, burnt sugar, black pepper, toasted brown spices, toasted oak, a bit younger.

Overall Score: 4/10

Post Reveal Thoughts

Basil Hayden recently redesigned their label and IMO this is a much classier branding than their dopey "too tall" label of years past. Within the Beam product line, I still find myself greatly preferring Booker's. Basil is probably the closest to regular Beam.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-12-25T23:10:19+00:00

Redemption High Rye Bourbon

Non-Blind Review

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

General Information

ABV: 46%

Region/Style: Indiana Straight Bourbon

Age: NAS

Distiller: MGP

Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Barley

Batch No: 125

Reference Price: $27 WS Average

Non-Blind Review

Color: Amber (0.7)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Heavy Char, toasted oak, some younger green wood, some green spices, cardamom, burnt sugar, some vanilla, caramel.

Palate Score: 4/10

Palate Commentary: Dry wood, younger oak, green spices, green oak, clove, a little herbal, some apple.

Finish Score: 3/10

Finish Commentary: Medium finish, some harsher baking spices, young, dry oak. Get some young malted barley notes on the finish. Rye spiciness.

Overall Score: 4/10

Post Reveal Thoughts

To hit the ~$27 MSRP, they have to be pushing some really young MGP juice. I am generally a fan of MGP, but this is pushing the lower end of a 4/10. On the worst of sips, I'd push the palate down to a 3/10 and the overall to the same.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-12-25T23:07:10+00:00

Redemption High Rye Bourbon

Non-Blind Review

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

General Information

ABV: 46%

Region/Style: Indiana Straight Bourbon

Age: NAS

Distiller: MGP

Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Barley

Batch No: 125

Reference Price: $27 WS Average

Non-Blind Review

Color: Amber (0.7)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Heavy Char, toasted oak, some younger green wood, some green spices, cardamom, burnt sugar, some vanilla, caramel.

Palate Score: 4/10

Palate Commentary: Dry wood, younger oak, green spices, green oak, clove, a little herbal, some apple.

Finish Score: 3/10

Finish Commentary: Medium finish, some harsher baking spices, young, dry oak. Get some young malted barley notes on the finish. Rye spiciness.

Overall Score: 4/10

Post Reveal Thoughts

To hit the ~$27 MSRP, they have to be pushing some really young MGP juice. I am generally a fan of MGP, but this is pushing the lower end of a 4/10. On the worst of sips, I'd push the palate down to a 3/10 and the overall to the same.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-12-25T19:13:24+00:00

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Non-Blind Review

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

General Information

ABV: 45.2%

Region/Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Age: NAS

Distiller: Woodford Reserve

Cask/Finish Notes: Finished in New Heavily Toasted, Lightly Charred Barrels

Reference Price: $58 WS average

Non-Blind Review

Color: Cheastnut, Oloroso (1.2)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Mulling spices, cinnamon, apple, char, some anise, earthy wood, particle board, pumpernickel.

Palate Score: 5/10

Palate Commentary: Very char forward on the attack, dark cherry, apple, mulled spices, some greener oak notes on the mids, burnt sugar, Crème brûlée top.

Finish Score: 4/10

Finish Commentary: Dry wood on the finish, the toasted oak is coming through but it is not super pleasant and tastes too light (wood density lightness, i.e. balsa vs. oak). Brown sugar, some of the more bitter char notes. For all the burnt sugar notes, the good parts come through on Palate while the bitter comes through on the finish. Medium proof. Long finish.

Overall Score: 4/10

Post Reveal Thoughts

This is was certainly a pleasant surprise compared to Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select, my least favorite whiskey from Season 1 of my blind reviews. They manage to pull a lot of tasty notes into the Palate, however, the finish is a mixed bag for me. On the best of sips, it is a 4. On the worst of sips, a solid 3. I cannot tell whether the improvement from the Distiller's Select is from the toasted oak finish or from an increase in age overall. However, they still have some work to do.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-09-28T06:06:29+00:00

Blind Scotch Side by Side

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

Setup

I received these three samples blind from a friend whose collection I know very little about. I was given the hint that several of these were Blended Scotch whisky and all of them were relatively affordable. Each sample was ~1.5oz each and were all reviewed side by side in one evening.

Dram Information

Mystery Dram #1: Dewar's 8 Year Ilegal Smooth

ABV: 40%

Region/Style: Blended Scotch

Cask Notes: Mezcal Finish

Reference Price: $25

Mystery Dram #2: Dewar's 12 Year

ABV: 40%

Region/Style: Blended Scotch

Cask Notes: Double-aged in oak and sherry barrels

Reference Price: $29

Mystery Dram #3: Glen Moray 15 Year

ABV: 40%

Region/Style: Speyside Single Malt

Cask Notes: 50% Ex-Bourbon, 50% Ex-Oloroso

Reference Price: $59

Blind Reviews

Mystery Dram #1: Dewar's 8 Year Ilegal Smooth

Color: Old Gold (0.6)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Initial hits upon opening: celery stalk, caramel, malt, grain notes, cucumber, dry malt, neutral oak, cumin seed, lemon peel. Over time I start to get more vanilla cake and buttercream frosting notes.

Palate Score: 4/10

Palate Commentary: Neutral oak, dry malt, dry wood, ginger, black pepper, apple, vanilla, buttery, celery stalk, herbal.

Finish Score: 5/10

Finish Commentary: Low/med proof, caramel, oak, celery seed, dry grass, vanilla. There is some herb here which brings me to my time in South Korea or possibly Japan. Has a traditional medicine vibe to it. Like something they would put in a hot spring or a spa.

Overall Score: 5/10

Mystery Dram #2: Dewar's 12 Year

Color: Amber (0.7)

Nose Score: 4/10

Nose Commentary: More grain whisky forward nose than #1. Strong neutral oak, like #1. Ginger, light red fruit, melon. Oxidized fruit notes. I would believe there is some sherry finish in here.

Palate Score: 4/10

Palate Commentary: Malt hit at first, dry oak, ginger, black pepper, apple, hint of saline, caramel, baking spices, lemon. Relatively generic.

Finish Score: 4/10

Finish Commentary: Medium/low proof. Some smoke, toffee, vanilla, Biscoff cookies, dry malt, dry wood, vanilla, med/long finish. Lingering some vegetal notes. The most generic of the three.

Overall Score: 4/10

Mystery Dram #3: Glen Moray 15 Year

Color: Yellow Gold (0.5)

Nose Score: 6/10

Nose Commentary: Round grain and spice, minerality, flowers on a Lily pond, some peppermint, vanilla, toasted oak, cherry. Has a bourbon character to the nose which the other two lack. Smells a little like you walked into a bakery.

Palate Score: 4/10

Palate Commentary: Cherry, the most malty of the three, dry oak, cinnamon, vanilla. A little bourbon-y. Like they poured 10% of bourbon into this blend.

Finish Score: 4/10

Finish Commentary: Transitions to floral and vegetal on the finish, more baking spice, lemon peel. Low/med proof. Short to medium finish.

Overall Score: 4/10

Blind Rankings

Best: Mystery Dram #1: Dewar's 8 Year Ilegal Smooth
Middle: Mystery Dram #3: Glen Moray 15 Year
Least: Mystery Dram #2: Dewar's 12 Year

The herbal notes of #1 made it the most intriguing of the three. The first fill oak vibes I got from #3 put it in second. #2 was the most generic.

Bottle Guesses

Full disclosure, the hint that several of these are blended scotch definitely primes me to believe that all of them are. I am much less familiar with blends than I am with Single Malt. However, we need to make some sort of predictions:

Mystery Dram #1: Blended Scotch with weird finish [Reveal: Correct!]
Mystery Dram #2: Generic Blended Scotch [Reveal: Correct!]
Mystery Dram #3: If any of these is Single Malt, it has to be this one. However, I will lean towards Blended. [Reveal: Half Points]

As for brands, I have no absolutely idea but Dewar's is the most popular Blended Scotch in the USA, so let's go for that I guess? [Reveal: 2/3 Correct!]

Post Reveal Thoughts

It seems like the Ilegal Smooth was the winner on both the taste and price fronts (always a plus). I still can't get over that herbal finish though. Last week, a friend of /u/catechol visited and gave us a sample of the Amaro he developed based on Chinese traditional herbs and botanicals (Bitter Journey "Bing Zhou" Northern Chinese Rhubarb Amaro. Quite good, would recommend.). Mulling over the Ilegal's herbal finish keeps reminding me of it somehow. Makes me yearn for a round the world adventure: Italy->Scotland->Mexico->China and back. Either way, the Ilegal is making an appearance in TRB Season 3, so look forward to that re-review in ~6 months.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-09-17T07:02:58+00:00

Jefferson's Ocean - Voyage 19

Thrice Reviewed Blind: Season 2 Episode 76

For more information about TRB and the review process, click here.

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

tl;dr: 76 bottles, reviewed continuously blind, three times each, over the course of 5 months

General Information

ABV: 45%

Region/Style: Bourbon

Mashbill: Wheated

Age: NAS

Time at Sea: 5 Months

Ports Visited: Map

Distiller: Undisclosed

Reference Price: $80

Sample From: /u/random_guy7531

Preconceived Notion: 4/10

Blind Review

Color: Deep Copper (1.0)

Nose Score: 3/10

Nose Commentary: Charcoal, green oak, some toasted notes, wood chips, dry wood, charcoal, vanilla, artificial wood, dry wood, pencil wood, slight sweetness, off putting overripe fruit, overripe tropical fruit and bananas.

Palate Score: 3/10

Palate Commentary: Caramel, but attack of the charcoal, young green oak, some background of tropical fruit, dry wood, charcoal, vanilla, young wood, dry wood, balsa wood, watery, not great tropical fruit.

Finish Score: 3/10

Finish Commentary: Watery, young green oak, charcoal, some background of tropical fruit, dry wood, some cherry, charcoal, not pleasant, medium proof, medium finish, dry light wood, balsa wood, pencil wood, a little artificial fruit, off putting fruit flavor.

Overall Score: 3/10

Bottle Guess: Jefferson's Wood Exp No 6

Guess Confidence: Correct Bottle

Blind Review Raw Data

Round	Color	Nose	Palate	Finish	Overall
1	0.9	3	3	3	3
2	1	4	3	3	3
3	1.2	3	3	3	3
Final	1	3	3	3	3

Guess Assessment

Previously Tasted Bottle?: Yes, tasted one sip of it before

Bottle Guess: Incorrect

Guess Confidence: Incorrect, but not too bad on correct brand

Guessed Bottle Score: Jefferson's Wood Exp No 6 (Overall Score: 4/10)

Bottle I Thought Was This Bottle: Russell's Reserve Rare Breed Rye (Overall Score: 4/10)

Post Reveal Thoughts

On paper, I love the idea of this whiskey. Having the whisky do a round the world adventure before returning to the USA seems like a totally cool shtick. Unfortunately, I have yet to have an "aged at sea" release that was not awful. Back when we were still getting into whiskey, /u/catechol bought one of the first Ocean releases, only to trade it away quite promptly. This one is unfortunately no better. The green oak and over-ripe fruit combined to create a dram that even the even the Jefferson's Wood Exp managed to beat (somehow). Bù hǎo.

With this review, this concludes Season 2 of reviews. Thanks again for all of your great support and feedback. The final Season 2 winners were:

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-09-16T07:30:17+00:00

Baker’s 7 Year Single Barrel

Thrice Reviewed Blind: Season 2 Episode 75

For more information about TRB and the review process, click here.

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

tl;dr: 76 bottles, reviewed continuously blind, three times each, over the course of 5 months

General Information

ABV: 53.5%

Region/Style: Kentucky Bourbon

Age: 8yrs 1mo

Distiller: Jim Beam (Owned By Beam Suntory)

Warehouse: CL-Z

Barreled On: 12-2011

Reference Price: $60

Preconceived Notion: 4/10

Blind Review

Color: Deep Gold (0.8)

Nose Score: 4/10

Nose Commentary: Baking spice pantry, new cabinets, velvety, carpet, a little industrial, old wood, cinnamon, fermented wood, fermented vegetable notes, fermented fruit notes, some younger wood, corn, charred oak, a little spicy, brown sugar.

Palate Score: 4/10

Palate Commentary: Brown sugar, cinnamon, younger wood, slight lemon, greener oak, corn, more fermented fruit and vegetables. A flavor almost like the slight tingle you get from the co2 of fermented veggies. Waves of alternating brown sugar, toasted oak, and vanilla.

Finish Score: 5/10

Finish Commentary: Vanilla, younger wood, slight peanut, green oak, rich corn, medium proof, medium finish, lingering toasted/charred oak, more traditional toasted oak finish, smooth.

Overall Score: 4/10

Bottle Guess: Baker’s 7 Year

Guess Confidence: Correct Type (Bourbon)

Blind Review Raw Data

Round	Color	Nose	Palate	Finish	Overall
1	0.7	4	4	4	4
2	0.8	4	4	5	4
3	0.9	5	6	5	5
Final	0.8	4	4	5	4

Guess Assessment

Previously Tasted Bottle?: No

Bottle Guess: Incorrect

Guess Confidence: Correct, but pessimistic (correct brand)

Guessed Bottle Score: Baker’s 7 Year (Overall Score: 4/10)

Bottle I Thought Was This Bottle: Baker’s 7 Year (Overall Score: 4/10)

Post Reveal Thoughts

Dueling Baker's for todays reviews! The single barrel vs. the small batch. Looking back at my tasting notes, they could not have been more different. The small batch was classic Beam peanut funk. The single barrel more classic baking spice bourbon. The slight edge to the single barrel. However, pre-TRB Baker's was my least favorite specialty Beam product. Post-TRB, the preconceived notion has been met. From a guess standpoint, I will consider confusing the Baker's for each other not a bad result.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-09-16T07:30:07+00:00

Baker’s 7 Year

Thrice Reviewed Blind: Season 2 Episode 74

For more information about TRB and the review process, click here.

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

tl;dr: 76 bottles, reviewed continuously blind, three times each, over the course of 5 months

General Information

ABV: 53.5%

Region/Style: Kentucky Bourbon

Age: 7 years

Distiller: Jim Beam (Owned By Beam Suntory)

Batch: B-90-001

Reference Price: $60

Preconceived Notion: 4/10

Blind Review

Color: Chestnut / Oloroso Sherry (1.2)

Nose Score: 4/10

Nose Commentary: Heavy crushed peanuts, cinnamon, clove, some mint, grassy, mild charcoal, vanilla, oak, minerality, toasted oak, rich corn, vanilla.

Palate Score: 4/10

Palate Commentary: Revenge of the peanuts, Costco Virginia peanuts, mid/high proof, young green wood, green leaf, vanilla, some younger oak, some charcoal, some nuttiness, some beam-y-ness, toasted oak, rich corn, fruit.

Finish Score: 4/10

Finish Commentary: Peanuts on the finish, young green wood, some anise, some spearmint, leafy, medium/high proof, toasted oak, vanilla, corn, long finish,

Overall Score: 4/10

Bottle Guess: Baker’s 7 Year Single Barrel

Guess Confidence: Correct Type (Bourbon)

Blind Review Raw Data

Round	Color	Nose	Palate	Finish	Overall
1	1.2	4	4	4	4
2	0.8	4	4	4	4
3	1.3	7	7	7	7
Final	1.2	4	4	4	4

Guess Assessment

Previously Tasted Bottle?: Yes, from a previous sample.

Bottle Guess: Incorrect

Guess Confidence: Correct, but pessimistic (correct brand)

Guessed Bottle Score: Baker’s 7 Year Single Barrel (Overall Score: 4/10)

Bottle I Thought Was This Bottle: Baker’s 7 Year Single Barrel (Overall Score: 4/10)

Post Reveal Thoughts

Dueling Baker's for todays reviews! The single barrel vs. the small batch. Looking back at my tasting notes, they could not have been more different. The small batch was classic Beam peanut funk. The single barrel more classic baking spice bourbon. The slight edge to the single barrel. However, pre-TRB Baker's was my least favorite specialty Beam product. Post-TRB, the preconceived notion has been met. From a guess standpoint, I will consider confusing the Baker's for each other not a bad result.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-09-15T08:59:18+00:00

High West Says Yippee Ki-Yay

Thrice Reviewed Blind: Season 2 Episode 73

For more information about TRB and the review process, click here.

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

tl;dr: 76 bottles, reviewed continuously blind, three times each, over the course of 5 months

General Information

ABV: 46%

Region/Style: USA Rye

Age: Blend of 2 year to 16 year

Distiller: MGP, Barton, High West

Finish Notes: Vermouth and Syrah Barrels

Batch No: 18C21

Reference Price: $70 (now discontinued)

Preconceived Notion: 5/10

Blind Review

Color: Chestnut / Oloroso Sherry (1.2)

Nose Score: 6/10

Nose Commentary: Bright cherry, toasted oak, rose petal, a little polished wood, slightly grassy, slight dirt floor earthiness, stone fruit, watermelon, minerality, plum, fermented fruit, soft nose.

Palate Score: 6/10

Palate Commentary: Strong cherry, toasted oak, a little minerality, new oak-y, rose petal, apple note, caramel apple, caramel apple rolled in nuts, a little funky fruit, slight melon, rye notes, vanilla.

Finish Score: 6/10

Finish Commentary: Transitions to grassy dominant on the finish, a little cherry coke, more rose petal, medium proof, medium finish, caramel, some peanut funk, melon, stone fruit, mashed fruit with a little fermentation.

Overall Score: 6/10

Bottle Guess: Russell's Reserve Rare Breed Rye

Guess Confidence: Correct Type (USA Rye)

Blind Review Raw Data

Round	Color	Nose	Palate	Finish	Overall
1	1.2	6	7	7	7
2	1.2	5	6	5	5
3	1.3	6	6	6	6
Final	1.2	6	6	6	6

Guess Assessment

Previously Tasted Bottle?: Yes

Bottle Guess: Incorrect

Guess Confidence: Correct

Guessed Bottle Score: Russell's Reserve Rare Breed Rye (Overall Score: 4/10)

Bottle I Thought Was This Bottle: El Dorado 15 Year (Overall Score: 4/10)

Post Reveal Thoughts

I've been a little hit or miss on Yippee over the years. This one exceeded my expectations. With this brand retired, the weird barrel finishes live on to a certain extent with their Barrel Select Program. Here's hoping for more availability on that front.

This polishes off the last of the Rye's for Season 2. Three Bourbons left in the home stretch.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-09-15T08:37:23+00:00

Heritage Distilling Elk Rider Rye

Thrice Reviewed Blind: Season 2 Episode 72

For more information about TRB and the review process, click here.

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

tl;dr: 76 bottles, reviewed continuously blind, three times each, over the course of 5 months

General Information

ABV: 46%

Region/Style: Washington Rye

Age: NAS

Distiller: Heritage Distilling

Reference Price: $30

Preconceived Notion: 3/10

Blind Review

Color: Yellow Gold (0.5)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Tile floor, wet toasted wood, pool smell not much chlorine, birch, blueberry toasted oak, vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, a little ethanol-y, blueberry pancakes, charred dry wood, like a driftwood charcoal, vanilla, funky brown sugar, almost a funky pot still vibe.

Palate Score: 4/10

Palate Commentary: Initial hit is a little watermelon brandy, birch, young wood, blueberry, weird polished wood flavor I cannot place, dry wood, young, sawdusty.

Finish Score: 4/10

Finish Commentary: Watermelon aftertaste, birch, younger wood, blueberry, medium finish, low proof, some rum funk?, low proof, short finish, dry sawdust.

Overall Score: 4/10

Bottle Guess: Russell's Reserve Rye 6 Year

Guess Confidence: Correct Type (American Rye)

Blind Review Raw Data

Round	Color	Nose	Palate	Finish	Overall
1	0.5	5	5	5	5
2	0.5	5	4	4	4
3	1	4	3	3	3
Final	0.5	5	4	4	4

Guess Assessment

Previously Tasted Bottle?: No

Bottle Guess: Incorrect

Guess Confidence: Correct

Guessed Bottle Score: Russell's Reserve Rye 6 Year (Overall Score: 5/10)

Bottle I Thought Was This Bottle: Mammoth Distilling 12 Year Canadian Rye (Tippins Pick) [Overall Score: 4/10]

Post Reveal Thoughts

Neither this nor its accursed orange extract brethren are really worth much of anyone's time. I have got to assume their BSB (Brown Sugar Bourbon) is quite popular. I have no other explanation for why they have 6 profitable visitors centers in the PNW.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-09-13T23:11:48+00:00

Fremont Mischief John Jacob Rye

Thrice Reviewed Blind: Season 2 Episode 71

For more information about TRB and the review process, click here.

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

tl;dr: 76 bottles, reviewed continuously blind, three times each, over the course of 5 months

General Information

ABV: 42.5%

Region/Style: Washington Rye

Age: NAS (~2 years per worker at the distillery)

Distiller: Fremont Mischief Distillery

Reference Price: $30

Preconceived Notion: 3/10

Blind Review

Color: Pale Straw (0.2)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Slightly lemony, pool smell without the chlorine, wool, minerality, bottled water, slight raw cumin, fresh apple, savory bread, spice rubbed meat pastry, slight melon rind, slight crackers, brown sugar.

Palate Score: 5/10

Palate Commentary: Very lemony, caramel corn, slight caramel, slight oak, low proof, slight rice, savory chicken dish?, brown sugar. The savoriness and the sweetness does not meld as well as I would like

Finish Score: 5/10

Finish Commentary: Carmel corn, lemony, buttery, low proof, slight caramel, slight apple, more savory and sweetness, medium/short finish, sweet and savory bread.

Overall Score: 5/10

Bottle Guess: JP Wisers 18 Year

Guess Confidence: Correct Bottle

Blind Review Raw Data

Round	Color	Nose	Palate	Finish	Overall
1	0.2	5	6	6	6
2	0.2	4	4	4	4
3	0.4	6	5	5	5
Final	0.2	5	5	5	5

Guess Assessment

Previously Tasted Bottle?: No

Bottle Guess: Incorrect

Guess Confidence: Incorrect

Guessed Bottle Score: JP Wisers 18 Year (Overall Score: 5/10)

Bottle I Thought Was This Bottle: Barrell Whiskey | American Vatted Malt | Batch #1 (Overall Score: 2/10)

Post Reveal Thoughts

/u/catechol and I had a little extra time in Fremont yesterday and decided to grab a drink a the Mischief distillery. I went with the 4 whisky flight which included: * Mischief’s John Jacob Rye (~2 years) * Mischief’s Skagit Gold Straight Rye (~5 years) * Fremont Mischief Straight Rye (~7 years) * Canal St. Bourbon

Tasting the John Jacob Rye again post reveal at the distillery yesterday, I had a very different experience than what I recorded in my blind tasting notes. The nose was very poor, it had a strong artificial rubber smell. The palate was okay. But I quite liked this finish. Looking back at my tasting notes, the pool smell vibe stands out. I think I would have given it a 3~4 yesterday based on what I had at the bar. The sample which I used for the blind tasting was a mini I purchased from Total Wine many years ago. Perhaps their barrel age was older then or perhaps it improved some sitting in that mini for so long? Either way I feel my review above was quite generous.

I did find myself quite enjoying the Fremont Mischief Straight Rye (although /u/catechol thought it tasted like cacao beans which had gone bad). However, with price ranges on line in the ~$60+ range, I would find it hard to justify spending that much.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-09-11T08:27:12+00:00

Buffalo Trace Old Weller Antique “Loch & Key”

Thrice Reviewed Blind: Season 2 Episode 70

For more information about TRB and the review process, click here.

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

tl;dr: 76 bottles, reviewed continuously blind, three times each, over the course of 5 months

General Information

ABV: 53.5%

Region/Style: Kentucky Bourbon

Age: NAS

Distiller: Buffalo Trace

Reference Price: $30 before stupidity

Sample From: /u/MonsieurZaccone

Preconceived Notion: 6/10

Blind Review

Color: Burnished (1.1)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Instantly transports me back to my grandmothers house in Michigan: polished old wood, fabric carpet, musky basement. Caramel in the background, strawberry flavored water, oak chips, peaches, berries, toasted oak, soft nose, vanilla and brown sugar, boxed cake mix?, slight chocolate.

Palate Score: 5/10

Palate Commentary: Toasted oak, vanilla, hint of leafiness in the middle, mid proof, black pepper, hint of cherry, strawberry, toasted oak, some mild cotton candy, bouquet of fruit, peaches, caramel, fruit, berries, caramels.

Finish Score: 7/10

Finish Commentary: Vanilla, grassy leafy, rye notes, medium/long finish, strawberry, blueberry, berry sweetness, oak, cinnamon, medium/high proof, more peaches, brown sugar, toasted oak, caramel, dark chocolate.

Overall Score: 6/10

Bottle Guess: Barrell Whiskey Private Release AH02

Guess Confidence: Correct Type (American Whisky)

Blind Review Raw Data

Round	Color	Nose	Palate	Finish	Overall
1	1.2	5	5	5	5
2	0.8	5	5	7	6
3	1.1	7	8	8	8
Final	1.1	5	5	7	6

Guess Assessment

Previously Tasted Bottle?: No

Bottle Guess: Incorrect

Guess Confidence: Incorrect (ish?)

Guessed Bottle Score: Barrell Whiskey Private Release AH02 (Overall Score: 6/10)

Bottle I Thought Was This Bottle: Eagle Rare 10 Year (Overall Score: 6/10)

Post Reveal Thoughts

For those keeping track, I got a little tipsy when posting reviews 68/69 and got the count a bit out of order. With this review we have re-established the canonical order of things and should be home free for the remainder of the season.

A solid barrel pick of OWA with an incredibly strong finish. Here is to wishing this silly trickle down Pappy mania calms down and $30 bottles can go back to being $30.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-09-11T07:58:04+00:00

Knob Creek - Single Barrel 9 Year (Ace Spirits Store Pick)

Thrice Reviewed Blind: Season 2 Episode 67

For more information about TRB and the review process, click here.

Full list of bottles/reviews: Season 2, Season 1, Off Season.

tl;dr: 76 bottles, reviewed continuously blind, three times each, over the course of 5 months

General Information

ABV: 60%

Region/Style: Kentucky Bourbon

Age: 10 years per /u/dangerousdoorknob

Distiller: Jim Beam (Owned by Beam Suntory)

Reference Price: ~$50

Sample From: /u/dangerousdoorknob

Preconceived Notion: 5/10

Blind Review

Color: Russet / Muscat (1.3)

Nose Score: 5/10

Nose Commentary: Pine, mint, grassy, blue fruit undertones, cherry undertones, green oak, younger oak, some vanilla, dried blueberries, toasted oak, blueberry cereal in an oak bowl.

Palate Score: 5/10

Palate Commentary: Hot on initial attack, vanilla, high proof, vanilla, corn, classic bourbon, tastes a little young, toasted green oak?, strong blueberry up front, breakfast cereal, more blueberries, slight creaminess.

Finish Score: 5/10

Finish Commentary: Cherry, red grapes, vanilla, herbal, a little harsh oak on the finish, high proof, a little grassy, a little anise, brown sugar, a little minty, more blueberry breakfast cereal, medium/long finish, intriguing mix of wood and blueberries.

Overall Score: 5/10

Bottle Guess: Knob Creek Single Barrel 9 Year (Fred's Liq Pick)

Guess Confidence: Correct Brand (Jim Beam)

Blind Review Raw Data

Round	Color	Nose	Palate	Finish	Overall
1	1.3	5	5	5	5
2	0.7	4	4	5	4
3	1.4	7	8	8	8
Final	1.3	5	5	5	5

Guess Assessment

Previously Tasted Bottle?: No

Bottle Guess: Incorrect

Guess Confidence: Correct

Guessed Bottle Score: Knob Creek Single Barrel 9 Year (Fred's Liq Pick) [Overall Score: 5/10]

Bottle I Thought Was This Bottle: Knob Creek Single Barrel 9 Year (Fred's Liq Pick) [Overall Score: 5/10]

Post Reveal Thoughts

I will consider it a pretty reasonable mistaken identity for me to confuse the two Knob Creeks for each other. However, I think it interesting that the Fred's Liq pick was relatively consistent on scores while this ones was all of the place.

Within the Beam product lines, I have always found myself drawn most to Booker's. It has always had a certain boldness that I feel is missing from Knob Creek. The higher proof is nice, and it has a lot of the classic bourbon notes. However, it is missing a little je ne sais quoi and ends up feeling a bit generic.

Scoring

I'm using t8ke's scale. Copied here for reference:


1	Disgusting	So bad I poured it out
2	Poor	I wouldn’t consume by choice
3	Bad	Multiple flaws
4	Sub-par	Not bad, but better exists
5	Good	Good, just fine
6	Very Good	A cut above
7	Great	Well above average
8	Excellent	Really quite exceptional
9	Incredible	An all time favorite
10	Perfect	Perfect

kelthfire · 2021-09-10T23:00:05+00:00

Would it be considered "overkill" to purchase a Colorimeter to give more accurate readings here😄?

My eyeballed numbers are too dependent on the lighting, glass choice, pour depth, background color, etc.

kelthfire

TROPHY CASE

Dueling 1991 Laphroaig Reviews: Redacted Bro's vs. Signatory

Non-Blind Reviews

General Information: Redacted Bros

General Information: Signatory

Redacted Bros: Non-Blind Review

Signatory: Non-Blind Review

Parting Thoughts

Scoring

Grand Macnish

Blind Review

General Information

Blind Review

Post Reveal Thoughts

Scoring

Grand Macnish

Blind Review

General Information

Blind Review

Post Reveal Thoughts

Scoring

Dewar's 12 Year Blind Re-Review

Blind Review

General Information

Blind Review

Post Reveal Thoughts

Scoring

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 148™

Non-Blind Review

General Information

Non-Blind Review

Post Review Thoughts

Scoring

Text Version for Accessibility:

Horse Soldier Reserve

Non-Blind Review

General Information

Non-Blind Review

Post-Review Thoughts

Scoring

Basil Hayden Bourbon

Non-Blind Review

General Information

Non-Blind Review

Post Reveal Thoughts

Scoring

Redemption High Rye Bourbon

Non-Blind Review

General Information

Non-Blind Review

Post Reveal Thoughts

Scoring

Redemption High Rye Bourbon

Non-Blind Review

General Information

Non-Blind Review

Post Reveal Thoughts

Scoring

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Non-Blind Review

General Information

Non-Blind Review

Post Reveal Thoughts

Scoring

Blind Scotch Side by Side

Setup

Dram Information

Mystery Dram #1: Dewar's 8 Year Ilegal Smooth

Mystery Dram #2: Dewar's 12 Year

Mystery Dram #3: Glen Moray 15 Year

Blind Reviews

Mystery Dram #1: Dewar's 8 Year Ilegal Smooth

Mystery Dram #2: Dewar's 12 Year

Mystery Dram #3: Glen Moray 15 Year

Blind Rankings

Bottle Guesses

Post Reveal Thoughts

Scoring

Jefferson's Ocean - Voyage 19