Tag: penseur pour
-
Found North Hover Hawk First Flight Scoresheet & Review
The modern whisk(e)y market has no shortage of recent brands that seemed to blow up overnight, particularly when it comes to North America. Although this predominantly extends to bourbon—and rye to a lesser extent, one brand has recently captivated drinkers while adding an air of credibility to a more flimsily…
-
Just the Sip: Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Review
In my experience, “[insert blank] killer” is a cheap term used to glamorize the flagrantly mediocre as something remarkable. My first exposure to this was through the 2004 videogame Killzone, which some touted as Sony’s “Halo killer” prior to release. Now don’t get me wrong, I have a soft spot…
-
45th Parallel R100 Rye Whiskey Scoresheet & Review
For many whiskey fans who begin their journey with bourbon, rye whiskey is something of a hurdle. Case in point: yours truly. I tried a handful of ryes during what I’d consider my transition from whiskey hobbyist to enthusiast—although I still don’t like referring to myself as one. To say…
-
Heaven’s Door Redbreast Master Blenders’ Edition Scoresheet & Review
Heaven’s Door is one of the few celebrity spirit brands that doesn’t feel like a blatant cash grab. Most celebrity spirits have one bottle or a handful of core expressions that typically pique interest during launch only to cool off like an IPO. By comparison, Heaven’s Door has gone through…
-
Talisker Distillers Edition 2023 Scoresheet & Review
The idea of a “Distillers Edition” release is easy enough to grasp. A Master Distiller curates a release that effectively showcases their distillery at its most quintessential. Turning this concept into a regular release isn’t uncommon to the world of scotch, but it’s less common than I’d initially suspect (or…
-
Bomberger’s Declaration 2023 Scoresheet & Review
“Underrated” is one of the last words that comes to mind when I think of Michter’s. It’s comfortably positioned as a premium brand, with products starting at around $40 and limited releases commanding upwards of five digits on secondary markets. That’s not necessarily a rare sight these days, but if…
-
Peerless Double Oak Bourbon Scoresheet & Review
I imagine most folks who recently (within the last five years) got into whiskey suspect that cask finishes have been a long-established part of the market. Yet this gimmick—or innovation, depending on who you ask—is a rather recent development. Some point to Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon as the genesis…
-
Just the Sip: Russell’s Reserve 2020 Total Wine Pick Review
When it comes to single barrel products, I imagine most people start by trying as many different brands as possible before narrowing down their preferences and sticking to a handful of names. To that end, one of the most dependable for me has been Russell’s Reserve. What’s interesting is that…
-
Elijah Craig Toasted Rye Scoresheet & Review
Whiskey and toasted barrels go hand-in-hand more than one might initially think. It’s not uncommon for casks to undergo both charring and toasting prior to being filled with new make. Yet the slight innovation to use a secondary vessel that emphasizes the toasting process for previously matured whiskey is a…
-
Larceny Barrel Proof C922 Scoresheet & Review
Naming a whiskey brand after a type of crime is a curious—if not terribly surprising—branding choice. Case in point: Prohibition, a watershed moment in whiskey history where production of distilled spirits was effectively outlawed. And if whiskey branding is motivated by anything, it’s a fun story. The lore behind Larceny,…
-
Just the Sip: Little Book Chapter 7: In Retrospect Review
Blended whiskey is slowly gaining newfound respect. Once seen as little more than a whiskey and neutral grain spirit (NGS) combination—no doubt thanks to whiskey’s downturn roughly between the 60s to the 80s, blenders and distillers alike are fostering a new look for a once frowned upon category. Now if…
-
Just the Sip: Johnnie Walker Double Black Review
The Johnnie Walker lineup used to feel more or less set in stone. Red, Black, Green, Gold, and Blue label bottlings still largely act as faces for the brand with the occasional celebratory or otherwise limited product. Then there’s Johnnie Walker Double Black, a variant originally launched in 2010 to…
thewhiskeyramble.com 