Whiskey is Good » $20+

Old Weller Antique

Whiskey is Good — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:00:51 +0000

After loving the W. L. Weller 7 Year bourbon, it was necesarry for me to try another product from this company. By sight, it is in the middle of the spectrum for amber color.The aroma has the stout smell of alcohol heavily overpowering the subtler notes of sweet maple and smokey notes. Experience has well enough tought me what would come next in the tasting. The burn overpowered my tongue as it had overpowered my nose. Though, not to my total dissapointment. I did pick up the honey flavor under the alcohol. Which, is added to the bourbon by “wheating it”. Other flavors to note are: vanilla, maple syrup, a very slight nuttiness, and of course the sweetness inherent in most bourbons. The finish was on the long side of medium, and was harshly spicy.

Johnnie Walker Red Label

Whiskey is Good — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:33:26 +0000

For the first ever Scotch review on Whiskey Is Good I felt it was fitting to pick something that could be an entry Scotch, a base point to build on a lifetime of scotch drinking enjoyment. So, naturally the best place to start would be the world’s most widely distributed brand of Scotch – Johnnie Walker Red Label – a blended Scotch Whisky, meaning they mix malt (made only from malted barley) and grain (unmalted barley and other grains like corn or wheat) whiskies in order to get the flavors they want.

So, what’s the verdict? Honestly, if you’re a seasoned Scotch drinker, Red Label may do little for you. The generous blending gives way to a milder set of flavors and a fairly faint finish. But, if you’re new to the game, this could be a good way of getting used to the different feel of the Scotch.

Virginia Gentleman – Small Batch

Whiskey is Good — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:42:34 +0000

As you know, we like to give states other than Kentucky a voice, too. This week’s offering is a hybrid: Virginia Gentlemen, distilled by A Smith Bowman Distillery is distilled three times, twice in Kentucky by the Buffalo Trace Distillery, then again in Virginia where it is aged in charred barrels, officially making it bourbon.

So, does this third distilling across a state border make it any better? In my opinion, not at all. It seems it just misses in almost every way. Straight, it’s too harsh. Mixed, it’s too sweet. The flavors you want don’t seem to stand out in the right ways, or at all, and the flavors you want to be subtle jump to the front. All this being said, it has won numerous awards and has a decent name for itself, but in my opinion, not a great showing. I would suggest sticking with Buffalo Trace’s own label instead of venturing into this line.

Four Roses

Whiskey is Good — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:07:48 +0000

Generally, this bourbon smells very sweet, very syrupy at first, which I enjoyed thoroughly. Being aged 6 years, I was a little surprised at the bite that it had. I noticed a blend of spiciness and a pleasant oaky taste mixed with just a hint of honey, which is the second time I have noticed honey in bourbon. I would recommend this to people just starting out on bourbon and looking to get away from the status quo.

Jack Daniel’s

Whiskey is Good — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:30:46 +0000

What makes Jack Dan iel’s extremely popular? First, it isn’t made the same as bourbon, because it is not bourbon. Second, Jack Daniel’s mellows thier whiskey through “ten feet of sugar maple charcoal”. It comes in thier famous bottle and holds its own section in many liquor stores. As being as popular as it is, I had the opportunity to ask other people randomly why they liked it. Mostly I heard, “It is good for taking shots because it burns”, or something of that effect. Though it does have other notes, I can’t disagree; it’s not incredibly smooth. Unfortunately for me, it just didn’t satisfy my whiskey needs.

Wild Turkey – 80 Proof

Whiskey is Good — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:18:01 +0000

I have had many of Wild Turkey’s products over the years, but it occurred to me recently that I have yet to try the 80 proof. Up until that point, I would have backed the Wild Turkey line in any debate as good, solid drinks. And they are, if you just exclude the 80 proof. The initial smell was rather harsh. A little bit of sweet and a little bit of spice, but a rather unexpected and overwhelming alcohol smell. Compared to the 101 proof, based just on the aroma, you knew this was going to be a bit harsh. The taste was not great. It hinted at the Wild Turkey flavor that rings through their other offerings, but was rather watered down and bland. Once you’ve swallowed, a bit of the oak and spice you should have been expecting from the start show up and make you wish it had been there all along. It’s a little harsh all the way through, and if you’re sipping, you can find much better for cheaper. I wouldn’t recommend Wild Turkey 80 Proof, but if you must, ask for a mixer. The 101 proof can often be found for the same price and is a much better choice.

Corner Creek Reserve

Whiskey is Good — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:53:10 +0000

Corner Creek is an interesting creation. Sitting on the shelf, it looks out of place. A green tinted, long-necked, sloped-shoulder bottle with fine art on the label, it would appear to be much more at home next to a chardonnay. However, it does not disappoint at all in it’s obvious role as a well crafted Kentucky bourbon. It doesn’t seem to follow any real rules of “how bourbon should taste,” as much as it follows the idea of, “It’s not the norm, but I like it. Let’s sell this.” And hell, if it works, go for it. It has a deep vanilla flavor, a little spice and list of other flavors that are less distinguishable as individuals, but gives Corner Creek a broad, complex flavor.