Tag: b- grade
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Yamazaki 12-Year Scoresheet & Review
It’s been 10 months since I last looked at a Japanese whisky. This isn’t out of a lack of desire to try more—quite the opposite. Unfortunately, Japanese whisky is very much in the running for the least affordable spirit as a category, not to mention it only recently obtained some…
-
Powers Gold Label Scoresheet & Review
As far as widely recognized categories of whiskey go, I’d say Irish remains one of the least recognized. Part of the reason is that most casual drinkers see Irish whiskey and simply think “whiskey made in Ireland.” Yet as with many things in whiskey, it’s not so cut and dry.…
-
Jim Beam Signature Craft Quarter Cask Scoresheet & Review
Happening upon older, limited edition bottlings while browsing a store for the first time (in a while) is always a fun experience. I equate it to going off the beaten path in a videogame and finding a long-lost item that sets you off on a fun side quest. This happened…
-
Ezra Brooks Bourbon Scoresheet & Review
People like to say “first impressions last a lifetime” when they recall something unfavorable that ended up worse for the wear. Such a saying certainly has credence in some scenarios, but like most things, it’s not one size fits all. Even when we remind ourselves that a first impression isn’t…
-
New Riff Bottled in Bond Bourbon Scoresheet & Review
When it comes to American craft distillers, New Riff spring to my mind as one of the first who seemed to do it right. Their marketing is spot-on with the fantastic motto (“new riff on an old tradition”), neat logo, excellent bottle design, and impressive transparency. What’s more is that…
-
Jameson Black Barrel Scoresheet & Review
Jameson Black Barrel is one of those expressions that underwent a slight rebranding pretty recently. What was formerly known as Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel has been simplified to the iteration most of us are bound to find on shelves today. Either way, it’s easy for a more casual drinker…
-
Knob Creek Straight Rye Scoresheet & Review
Knob Creek as a brand is often hard to go wrong with. Want a bourbon that’s available, affordable, versatile, and high quality? The standard Small Batch has you covered. Want the same aspects but with stronger flavors, variety from bottle to bottle, and a reasonable bump in price? Look no…
-
Rowan’s Creek Scoresheet & Review
Willett isn’t a distillery I’ve had copious exposure to. They’ve certainly been on my radar with the deceptively effective label for Noah’s Mill and Willett Pot Still’s undeniably striking bottle design. However, I simply never pulled the trigger on any of their bottles, typically favoring the purchase of something more…reputable.…
-
Woodinville Private Select North Carolina Scoresheet & Review
Last time I looked at a Woodinville product (also my introduction to the brand), I remarked that it had the makings of something different and interesting. As with most distilleries, Woodinville have more to their name than just a standard bourbon. The only downside is that these other expressions are…
thewhiskeyramble.com 