Pinhook Rye’d On Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Not sure where I happened upon Pinhook Rye’d On, nor what it cost, but NCABC pricing is currently 42 beans. This 97 proof Rye is from the 2020 crop according to the bottle. This particular Rye was distilled and aged over 2 years at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, KY. The aroma was quite subdued, but presented with caramel, rye, and hints of spearmint. The flavor was more bold with the same caramel and rye, but the spearmint was strong, almost too strong. The finish was spearmint and peaches long with hints of rye and black pepper fading into the aftertaste. It was ok, but I’m not a big fan of spearmint and spearmint mixed with peaches is just a bit too much for me. So it’s a decent rye and fairly easy to consume, but it’s not one I’d come back to at that price of admission. Give it a try if you are a spearmint fan as it just might be your cup of tea.

The Whistler Double Oaked Irish Whiskey

I happened upon a bottle of The Whistler Double Oaked Irish Whiskey while at the ABC store, and with a $30 price tag figured I should give it a try. This 80 proof Irish Whiskey is matured in Bourbon barrels, and then transferred to Oloroso Sherry casks for six months additional aging prior to bottling. The total aging time is more than 3 years in total. The aroma was filled with sherry, honeysuckle, black pepper, leather, and a solvent alcohol note. The flavor was sherry, more honeysuckle, leather, low black pepper, and a fruity peach character. The finish turns toward dry with leather and low peach lasting with hints of pepper and sherry long into the aftertaste. The alcohol was notable in the flavor, but never overdone and always working in tandem with the other characteristics of this whiskey. For 30 beans this isn’t a bad glass at all. I don’t particularly want to run out and snag another bottle with that odd solventy note to the aroma, but I am intrigued enough to see if I can find more bottles from Boann Distillery. I like what they are doing with the final aging in Sherry casks, and the price of admission is very good. Try it and let me know what you think.

Tenjaku Blended Whisky

One day I was perusing at the ABC store and came across Tenjaku Blended Whisky at a $40 price point and figured I would give it a whirl. The 40% abv whisky is reported to be blended from all Japanese whisky so it seemed like it should be a great bottle. Unfortunately it didn’t quite seem to be worth the price of admission as it was subdued from start to finish. The aroma was vanilla with cedar and a floral nature coupled to pears with just a touch of pepper. The flavor was similarly restrained with pears, very light peaches, cedar, pepper, and a leather flavor lingering into the aftertaste. Alcohol played a secondary role in the aroma and the flavor, but came forth at the finish and with a notable post consumption warming. While extremely easy to consume due to the lower percentage of alcohol, the complexity was too subdued for a Japanese Whisky in my opinion. This had more in common with an Irish Whisky than a bottle from Japan and most Irish has a lower price point. It’s good, but not mind blowing so buy it if you must, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to find a bottle unless you are a fan of Japanese Whisky and have as a goal to get everything you can get your hands on.

Wild Turkey Rye

NCABC decided to put Wild Turkey Rye on sale for 20 beans so I figured why not give it a whirl. I’d heard good things so I figured an 81 proof rye might be just what the doctor ordered. I was all set to have a wonderful rye experience when I brought the glass to my nose and was immediately struck by a huge fruity aromatic. This really was unexpected as rye was what I thought would be most prominent. Instead a nose of mango and papaya was most notable. This was followed by low wafts of alcohol and pepper spice. I thought maybe this was a fluke, but the next time I poured a glass I got the same thing. Even now as the bottle nears completion that’s the main aroma. The flavor was not nearly as fruity, but still had fruit aspects of mango. There was a low peppery rye spice, a light brown sugar, a bit of a corn syrup flavor, and a final impression of low alcohol and sweetness. Finding much rye at all in this was difficult. For me this is a drinkable bottle, but not much of a rye. Unless you like a fruity whiskey you might want to pass on this one.

Knob Creek Rye

Not sure why I haven’t posted about Knob Creek Rye in the past, but I snagged a bottle the last time it went on sale at NCABC. The price of admission at the time was $32, but it can often be found for a few dollars less. This is a 100 proof rye which is an alcohol level I prefer, not too hot, not too mild. The aroma has what you want out of a rye and is filled with rye spice, brown sugar, and light black pepper coupled to a very nice oak presence. The flavor is similar, but contains a syrupy peach not, more rye spice, light pepper, and oak. The finish lasts very nice with peaches and rye fading slowing into the aftertaste. The alcohol is restrained from start to finish with only a mild warming post consumption. This is a very nice rye and should be one to keep in the bar. There are rye whiskeys which are more complex and with a higher price point and those destined for mixing at a lower price point. This one exists right in the middle. If you haven’t had it, pick up a bottle and give it a whirl.

Hatozaki Small Batch

I happened upon a bottle of Hatozaki Small Batch at Costco with a sub $30 price point so I figured why not. Imagine my shock when it showed up on NC at $60 per bottle. The alcohol level is 46%. Anyway, knowing this was a Japanese Whiskey I expected it to be very similar to a Speyside Scotch and it was. Unfortunately it was more like a little brother than a twin. The aroma presented as floral and fruity with peaches (think canned peaches), slight oak, hint of sherry, and a light bit of citrus coupled to restrained alcohol. The flavor was similar with slightly sweet peaches, light pepper spice, low oak, hints of leather, and a mild presence of alcohol. The finish was peaches, pepper spice, and light alcohol fading into the aftertaste. The bottle is tasty, but a bit boring and lacking in complexity. At the $30 I paid my thought was I would not want to pay more for this level of complexity. At $60 I would be upset at the price of admission. So if you want to give this one a whirl I suggest you check to see if your Costco might have a deal. Otherwise I don’t think I’d spend the money for this level of complexity.

Elijah Craig Straight Rye

When I heard Elijah Craig was going to release a rye whiskey I got excited because I like EC. I happened upon a bottle of Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey for $30 and decided to bring one home. I was hoping it would be crazy beautiful and perhaps my expectations were too high. At 94 proof, 47% abv, this should have some alcohol presence, but be restrained. The aroma was low rye spice coupled with alcohol and pepper. Brown sugar lurks behind the alcohol presence and hints of chocolate. The flavor was rather muted brown sugar, medium rye spice, and oak at a moderate, and perhaps too high, level. The finish had alcohol and leather pleasantly into the aftertaste. While good, this just wasn’t what I was expecting and I can think of bottles which have a lower price of admission which I prefer more. If you haven’t tried it, snag a bottle and give it a whirl. I have another bottle and if it proves to be the same as this one, I probably will not purchase it again due to the lack of complexity and too strong oak presence.

The Irishman Single Malt

I happened across a bottle of The Irishman Single Malt at a Virginia ABC store. I cannot remember how much coin they took off me, but currently they price is 45 beans. According to the website each batch of Single Malt is limited to 6,000 bottles and is aged in Oak Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks. My particular bottle was batch 1506/2017 and 40% ABV. The aroma was sweet malt with peaches, tropical fruits, vanilla, and a low hint of oak. The flavor was sweet peach, more tropical fruit, pineapple, low vanilla, very slight oak, passing impressions of leather, and a peppery finish. The alcohol was quite restrained until post consumption which reminds everyone this is an Irish Whiskey. After thoroughly enjoying The Irishman Founder’s Reserve I fully expected this one to be wonderful and the truth is it just didn’t blow my socks off. At $40-45 it’s $15-20 more than Founder’s Reserve which is a much more interesting glass of Irish Whiskey. So drink it if you have it, but choose the less expensive path if you’re in the market for a bottle.

No matter what, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

PS: Wash those hands!!!

Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour

A friend who judges Scotch suggested I snag a bottle of Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour Single Malt Scotch Whisky so I did. The bottle just so happened to be on special at NCABC for $50 and the price escalated this month so the timing to snag a bottle was perfect. This Single Malt Scotch is 86 proof/43% abv and pays homage to the area’s Viking roots. At first I was quite disappointed in the bottle as it just didn’t trip my trigger. I kept trying it with similar results until at least 2/3 of the bottle had been drained and suddenly my impression changed. I typically never pass initial judgement and in this case that proved to be the best course. The aroma is filled with floral sweet malt, leather, brown sugar, a light alcohol presence, and citrus. The flavor had a very low subtle peat note, citrus, floral notes, sweet malt, leather, and a low alcohol note. The finish was quite pleasant with low peat, citrus, leather, and alcohol lasting into the aftertaste. As I mentioned I was initially not a fan and felt the bottle lacked complexity. Later I came around and believe most anyone who likes a subtle presence of smoke would enjoy this bottle. At 50 beans it’s a must have, but at the current NCABC price of $60 it’s just a tad bit too high. If you find a 50 buck or less bottle snag it and enjoy!

OBAN 14 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whiskey

Not quite sure where I picked up a bottle of Oban 14 along the way. NCABC runs with a street price of $95 and there is no way I would have paid that much. I’m thinking I picked this up for $60-70 somewhere along the way. Anyway, the proof on this is 86 which rings in at 43% ABV. This one I found nice from start to finish. It’s an enjoyable glass with a nose filled with fruits (dark and dried), light spice, low alcohol, and a pleasant sweet undertone of malt. The flavor was similarly restrained yet complex with sweet malt, dried fruit, retrained low alcohol, light pepper spice, and a low presence of leather. The OBAN website mentioned salt and I can see a bit of that, but I don’t want anyone to think of this as salty, it’s just a subtle flavor which provides complexity as opposed to a briny nature. Unfortunately at NCABC pricing this is a pass for me. I cannot bring myself to shell out a Benjamin for a bottle unless my socks blow across the room. In MA it sells for $65, in SC it is $90, in VA it is $80, and in NJ it is $75. If I could snag it for $65 it’s going to be in the bar all the time, however at NC or SC prices it’s a bit too much for my tastes. Anyway if you see a bottle for $75 or less buy it and drain it.