Tag: good if affordable
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Weller Antique 107 Scoresheet & Review
One of the most common sentiments modern whiskey fans share is the desire to explore. This may apply a specific category (such as bourbon), multiple categories, or just spirits in general. Regardless, each individual likely has a comfort zone they return to time and again. Anyone who knows me knows…
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Driftless Glen Wheated Single Barrel r/bourbon Pick Scoresheet & Review
I’m always a proponent for more wheated products. Utilized correctly, the grain can bestow some wonderful profiles. There are times a wheated bourbon or wheat whiskey can also serve as a good curveball, since they sometimes possess a floral quality more commonly associated with rye. Yet the market continues to…
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Caol Ila 12-Year Scoresheet & Review
It’s almost impossible to discuss Caol Ila without mentioning Johnnie Walker. Malts.com, the page for Diageo’s multiple scotch brands, literally calls it “the Islay home of Johnnie Walker.” That alone should clue curious minds into just how big this Islay distillery is, but if you want numbers, the distillery is…
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Talisker 10-Year Scoresheet & Review
Whisky is very much a product of its environment. Wherever the aging spirit physically resides will impact how the final product comes out, from the surrounding climate to the casks chosen for maturation. One of the more interesting ways whisky can take on a unique personality is through coastal influences.…
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Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Scoresheet & Review
Do you ever accidentally do something backwards? That’s how I felt coming into this review. The last time I looked at an expression by Michter’s was with their Barrel Strength Rye. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that it’s a personal favorite. And yet, like most of the…
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Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered (Batch 45) Scoresheet & Review
The spirits industry (bourbon in particular) has been seeing a lot of firsts recently. For example, it was only a decade ago that a Las Vegas distillery was first established. Enter Nevada H&C Distilling Company, founded by Aaron Chepenik and Jonathan Hensleigh. Their backstory comes from trying a host of…
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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…
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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…
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Barrell Bourbon Batch 032 Scoresheet & Review
There’s no doubt that Barrell Craft Spirits have a lot of pride and confidence in their brand. Scroll down their homepage and you’ll be greeted by an impressive list of recent mentions from media outlets. Since their stake to fame comes from blending whiskeys (sometimes finishing them in multiple casks)…
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Weller Full Proof (Total Wine Pick) Scoresheet & Review
Like it or not, much of the ongoing interest in bourbon is thanks to Buffalo Trace. They’re a distillery that’s bigger than most casual drinkers might realize. All one needs to do is visit the “Our Brands” part of Buffalo Trace’s website to see just how many names and bottles…
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GlenDronach 12-Year (NCF) Scoresheet & Review
Spirits production is nothing if not a balancing act. On top of crafting the spirit itself, there’s the question of branding, which plays a bigger role than some might realize. Everything from bottle and label design to advertising (or lack thereof) and even public relations can be looked at as…
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Knob Creek 15-Year Scoresheet & Review
Bourbons touting double-digit age statements are clearly in vogue. The sheer prominence of bottlings such as Calumet Farm 14/15, Sam Houston 14/15, Blue Note 17, Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 17-Year (and Bottled in Bond), Russell’s Reserve 13-Year, and Remus Repeal Reserve V are ample evidence to this trend. Jim Beam’s…
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