Author: Xenoraiser

  • Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake Scoresheet & Review

    Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake Scoresheet & Review

    Glenmorangie have been one of the easiest scotch brands for me to turn to. The reason is simple: pricing. Although it’s easy to find their four-pack tasting set (consisting of The Original, Lasanta, Quinta Ruban, and Nectar d’Or), local pricing for a full bottle of each is far more approachable…

  • Four Roses Small Batch Select Scoresheet & Review

    Four Roses Small Batch Select Scoresheet & Review

    My previous (also first) Four Roses review practically slipped into gush territory. I remarked that, unlike most bottles I bestow with the Daily Drinker verdict, Four Roses Single Barrel could actually hold up as a sole daily and not eventually bore me. This is only aided by the variation that…

  • The Busker Single Pot Still Scoresheet & Review

    The Busker Single Pot Still Scoresheet & Review

    The Busker is in a relatively unique position as a new brand to the whiskey scene. They produce their own whiskey, came onto the market with four expressions—one for each type of Irish whiskey, and are available at a budget. Being owned by Disaronno certainly helps matters, but it’s still…

  • Maker’s Mark 101 Scoresheet & Review

    Maker’s Mark 101 Scoresheet & Review

    When Maker’s Mark refer to their Loretto distillery as “little,” it honestly feels disingenuous.  Sure, they’re not the biggest bourbon brand out there, but they aren’t far off as far as cases sold. And that level of volume practically necessitates a sizeable facility to meet demand. Not to mention the…

  • Ardbeg Wee Beastie Scoresheet & Review

    Ardbeg Wee Beastie Scoresheet & Review

    Peaty scotch has a reputation for turning many a casual drinker away from the popular whisky category as a whole. My experience was somewhat different. Bowmore was the first peated single malt I recall trying, and by that point I’d already tasted the likes of Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie, and The…

  • Maker’s Mark 2021 Wood Finishing Series (FAE-01) Scoresheet & Review

    Maker’s Mark 2021 Wood Finishing Series (FAE-01) Scoresheet & Review

    Being a Maker’s Mark fan can sometimes feel like being in a romantic relationship. Most of the time it’s great; they’re there for you when you need them and every so often, they’ll spice things up for good measure. Eventually, however, it gets to a point where things start to…

  • Highland Park 15-Year Viking Heart Scoresheet & Review

    Highland Park 15-Year Viking Heart Scoresheet & Review

    Many whisky producers take great pride in their apparent heritage, and Highland Park is no exception. Their website offers a wealth of reading material detailing their origins, with a considerable chunk driving home a connection to Vikings. This association has become positively pervasive in their branding, right down to nicknaming…

  • Ardbeg 10-Year Scoresheet & Review

    Ardbeg 10-Year Scoresheet & Review

    “Unapologetic” is a fairly apt way to describe Ardbeg’s marketing. More specifically, they drop vaguely sourced quotes like “as close to perfection as makes no difference” and “unquestionably, the greatest distillery on Earth,” as if to epitomize themselves. Some may say it’s fun and confidence, others might call it egotistical…

  • Russell’s Reserve 10-Year Scoresheet & Review

    Russell’s Reserve 10-Year Scoresheet & Review

    Stop me if you’ve heard this one: I’ve always wanted to try [insert bottle name], but just never got around to it. Bourbon’s ongoing popularity continues to grant an overwhelming amount of selection to shoppers, both at the liquor store and online. All these options make likelihood of exploring as…

  • Booker’s (2019-03, “Country Ham”) Scoresheet & Review

    Booker’s (2019-03, “Country Ham”) Scoresheet & Review

    Booker’s is just one of many brands I’d love to continue exploring. Some things improve after you reminisce, and whiskey is hardly an exception. With Booker’s, it took multiple batches and exposure to other bourbons for me to fully appreciate it. What consistently stands out, regardless of how much I…

  • Lagavulin 9-Year Lannister Scoresheet & Review

    Lagavulin 9-Year Lannister Scoresheet & Review

    Up to this point, the closest I’ve come to reviewing a peated whisky was my last review for a Game of Thrones brand Diageo single malt. It’s easy to think of Talisker Select Reserve as definitively peaty when compared to the slow-growing list of scotches I’ve reviewed. Yet if we…

  • George Dickel Bottled in Bond (2020) Scoresheet & Review

    George Dickel Bottled in Bond (2020) Scoresheet & Review

    If there’s one whisky producer known for appearing in a considerable chunk of sourced bottlings, it’s Ross & Squibb (MGP). If there’s one whisky producer known for appearing in a considerable chunk of sourced bottlings that people would rather avoid, it’s George Dickel. All the same, some individuals have become…