The Bottle Facts

  Distillery : Heaven Hill Distiller Owner : Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. Proof/ABV : 100°/50% Variety : Bourbon - Bottled in Bond Country : USA Region : Kentucky Nose : Classic bourbon nose with deep vanilla, caramel and dark fruits. Hints of orange peel in the background.  Nose score : 2.5 pts Palate : At 50% ABV, this has very little heat with dominant notes of citrus on top of vanilla & black pepper. Mouthfeel is medium bodied.  Palate score : 3 pts Finish : Medium length. This is where the proof shines. It is not sharp like some whiskies that have an intense alcohol burst. The heat from the alcohol here is soothing as it is layered with subdued notes of vanilla and pepper.  Finish score: 2.5 pts Overall : This is a good solid Bourbon and it is Bottled in Bond. Bottled in Bond is probably one of the most important term you should know about American Whiskey. A Bourbon has to meet a lot of very strict regulatory requirements in order to earn the designation...

Are you just starting your Bourbon journey and don't know where to start? Do you know someone just starting and want to know what to buy them as a gift? This post is for you.  Here are my top 5 Bourbons for beginners. I hope this list helps you pick the right bottles to make the start of your journey pleasant and save you from falling victim to fancy packaging and marketing that is often used to mask low quality whisky.  1. Buffalo Trace Where better to start ones Bourbon journey but with this bottle and this distillery. Buffalo Trace distillery is arguably the best Bourbon distillery out there. They do a lot of things right and some of the most highly sought after Bourbons come from here. The standard Buffalo Trace Bourbon has a solid Bourbon backbone. It expresses the caramel and vanilla notes really well and introduces you to enough oak and tobacco notes without overpowering your senses. This Bourbon will not disappoint a new Bourbon drinker and it is readily available in V...

Distillery : Buffalo Trace Owner : Sazerac company Proof/ABV : 103°/51.5% Variety : Bourbon - Single Barrel Country : USA Region : Kentucky Dump date : 12-12-19 Warehouse : H Rick No : 1 Nose : Notes of orange zest up front followed by oak and vanilla. Slight astringency is present. The nose is not too inviting. The astringency is discouraging.  Nose score : 2 pts Palate : Short intense citrus note at the front followed by oak, caramel and orange peel. A solid Bourbon character. Medium bodied with very little heat. The palate is a slight improvement from the nose.  Palate score: 2.5 pts Finish : Medium finish. More oak notes in the finish. The sweetness from the palate carries over as burnt caramel and orange. There is great balance and complexity here. It compliments the palate really well. I love the oakyness and the sweetness   Finish score: 2.5 pts Overall : A good solid bourbon. Lots of classic bourbon notes of caramel and ...

Distillery : Jim Beam Owner : Beam/ Suntory Proof/ABV : 100°/50% Variety : Rye Whiskey Country : USA Region : Kentucky Nose : Spicy up front. Followed by notes of rye, citrus and hint of caramel. A slightly sharp ethanol smell is present. Some background of oak is noticable. Nose score : 2 pts Palate : Thick mouthfeel with lots of oak. This is followed by notes of caramel, vanilla and orange zest. The rye bread in the background adds a beautiful layer. This whisky has very little heat in the palate compared to nose.  Palate score : 4 pts Finish : Medium, with very little layer and complexity. Some notes of caramel and oak are present in the finish. The signature Beam nutty note is present at the end.  Finish score : 2 pts Overall : Great value for the price considering it is a limited release and a Rye expression that seeks to push the category into new horizons. Double barreled whiskies are starting to be a fad these days but more common in Bourbons. This Rye has ...

Distillery : Buffalo Trace Owner : Sazerac company Proof/ABV : 93°/46.5% Variety : Bourbon - Single Barrel Country : USA Region : Kentucky Dump date : 03-03-20 Warehouse : H Rick No : 50 Nose : Spicy up front, followed by notes of vanilla, caramel and candied orange. Slight hint of oak in the background. Nose score : 2 pts Palate : Baking spices up front but short. This is followed by more vanilla and caramel notes from the nose. It has a somewhat dominant bitterness at the end that feels out of place (maybe because there was very little body in the palate?). This is not layered but has a good bold Bourbon character.  Palate score : 2 pts Finish : Short finish with nothing much happening. Notes of lemon and oak carries throughout the finish. The finish gives a nice warm Kentucky hug.  Finish score : 2 pts Overall : I am not too sure about this. This is my first Blanton's and it does not live up to the hype. It is a single barrel so maybe I got a not so good one. It...

Distillery : Alberta Distillers Ltd  Owner : Beam Suntory Proof/ ABV : 130.2° / 65.1% Variety : Rye Whisky Country : Canada Region : NA Nose : This has a beautiful and delicate nose with notes of candied orange and cherries. It has very litte spice notes. Very subtle and very inviting. Nose Score : 4.5 Palate : The mouthfeel is awesome. Full bodied and packs some powerful flavors. It presents a short intense heat up front but not overpowering. Has great balance and complexity. The butter, oak and leather notes are layered with brown sugar and faint orange zest.  There is so much going on here.  Palate Score : 5 Finish : Medium length with very little heat. The notes of brown sugar, oak and tobacco carries through the finish.  Finish Score : 4 Overall : This is a very solid whisky. Canadian Rye is underrated and this one proves that. Very powerful and complex in flavours. The complexity in the nose and the palate is amazing. You also feel very little alcoh...

Distillery : High West Distillery Owner : Constellation Brands Proof/ABV : 92° / 46% Variety : Whisky Blebd Country : USA Region : NA Background : This is a blend of 3 different types of whiskies; Bourbon, Rye, Peated Scotch.  Nose : Orange zest, caramel, light spices, smoke is present but not dominant.  Nose Score : 4 Palate : Light bodied, short punch of spice, followed by complex layers of caramel, canided orange, vanilla and baking spices. Peat smoke appears mid palate and slowly fades .  Palate Score : 3 Finish : long, gentle and sweet vanilla. Very little rye spice presents in the finish. Peat is present in the background.  Finish Score : 4 Overall : This is a great whisky. I was very hesitant and sceptical at first. I love Bourbon, Rye and Peated Scotch whiskies but I did not imagine the 3 could be blended so well together. I expected the peat to overpower like it over powers my living room when I open a Laphroaig or an Ardbeg. I was wr...

Distillery : Maker's Mark Owner : Maker's Mark Proof/ABV : 108.3°/54.15% Variety : Bourbon Country : USA Region : Kentucky Stave Selected for : BC Liquor Stores Stave Selection : 1 seared french cuvee, 2, makers 46, 4 roasted french mocha, 3 toasted french spice Nose : The nose has the typical Maker's Mark sweetness layered by notes of canided orange, cherries, caramel, pears, brown sugar and a slight hint of oak. Nose Score : 3.5 pts Palate : This whisky is full bodied, oaky and thick. The sweet notes of vanilla, caramel and cherries are present but not dominant. Notes of light spices, baking soda, caramel, dark chocolate creates a beautiful balance. I can't stop thinking about the mouthfeel. I like whiskies that you can almost chew.  Palate Score : 4.5 pts Finish : This has a long and lovely finish with gentle layers of oak, cherries and tobacco. Very little spice notes here but the sweetness carries through.  Finish Score : 4 pts Overall : Fantastic. This...

Distillery : Old Forester Owner : Brown Forman Proof/ABV : 86°/43% Variety : Bourbon Country : USA Region : Kentucky Nose : Sweet and spicy with hints of corn and honey lemon creating an interesting layer. It has enough spice to awaken your senses telling your palate to be ready for something nice.  Nose Score: 3.5 pts Palate : Medium bodied. Flavors of light spices up front followed by notes of caramel and lime. A slight nutty note makes itself present at the back palate.  Palate Score: 3 pts Finish : Short but layered with baking spices,  candied orange and vanilla. The heat stays at the end with a short sourness and bitterness. Finish Score: 3 pts Overall : This is a great entry Bourbon at a great price. It is under $40 (CAD) and there is plenty of it in stock. It can be taken neat easily. The nose was my favorite part about this bourbon while the finish was it's weakest. The finish was too short with very little complexity. Th...

Distillery : Wild Turkey Owner : Campari Type : Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky Age : 10 yrs Proof/ABV : 90 / 45% Nose : A pleasant explosion of summer fruits that quickly fades into notes of orange peel, lemon zest and hints of spice. The caramel and vanilla profile sit in the background.  Nose Score: 4 pts Palate : Medium bodied. Your palate is greeted by an explosion of caramel candied orange and baking spices. This sweetness is balanced by hints of oak with a slight bitterness in the background. The alcohol is noticeable but not overbearing.  Palate Score: 4 pts Finish : Medium length and feels disconnected. This is where the Bourbon falls apart for me. The oak and and spices fight for attention in the finish. The caramel, vanilla and orange notes disappear completely. It felt like a completely different whisky in the finish.  Finish Score: 2 pts Overall : The nose and the palate were fantastic. The standard Bour...

Distillery : Buffalo Trace Owner : Sazerac Type : Straight Bourbon Age : NAS Proof/ ABV : 90 / 45% Nose : Very light notes of caramel and vanilla. A hint of lemon is present but very faint. This whisky smells a little thin. Nose Score: 2 pts Palate : This has very little heat. It feels like water. Very light bodied and flat. You can get a hint of lemon but that's it.  Palate Score: 2 pts Finish : Very short, thin and disgusting. It has a slight hint of caramel mid palate and that's it. Finish Score: 2 pts Overall : This bourbon is flat. The nose has the most to offer in terms of tasting notes. The palate is thin and one dimensional with little to no layers. The finish is short with nothing interesting to offer.  Overall Score: 2 pts Total Score: 8 pts Rating :  Drain Pour.  This whisky is bad. It has very little flavor and anytime you get a hint of something it falls off really q...

Distillery : Old Forester Owner : Brown Forman Proof/ABV : 86°/43% Variety : Bourbon Country : USA Region : Kentucky Nose : Sweet and spicy with hints of corn and honey lemon creating an interesting layer. It has enough spice to awaken your senses telling your palate to be ready for something nice.  Nose Score: 3.5 pts Palate : Medium bodied. Flavors of light spices up front followed by notes of caramel and lime. A slight nutty note makes itself present at the back palate.  Palate Score: 3 pts Finish : Short but layered with baking spices,  candied orange and vanilla. The heat stays at the end with a short sourness and bitterness. Finish Score: 3 pts Overall : This is a great entry Bourbon at a great price. It is under $40 (CAD) and there is plenty of it in stock. It can be taken neat easily. The nose was my favorite part about this bourbon while the finish was it's weakest. The finish was too short with very little complexity. T...

Distillery : Buffalo Trace Owner : Sazerac Type : Straight Bourbon Age : NAS Proof/ ABV : 90 / 45% Nose : A very pleasant sweet orange note hits you up front. This is followed by the standard Bourbon vanilla and caramel notes. Lots of sweetness in the nose here. Very inviting.  Nose Score: 3.5 pts Palate : A short punch of citrus note greets you up front. This transitions into sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. The sweetness is followed by baking spices ending with a slight nutty note. This has very little body in the palate.  Palate Score: 3 pts Finish : Short but pleasant. The sweetness from the nose and palate continues through the finish. The end of the finish leaves your mouth with a buttery texture. Finish Score: 3 pts Overall : I love this whisky. The sweet notes of caramel and vanilla is the backbone of this whisky. It keeps the entire experience together without making the whisky one dimensional....

I will be rating the whiskies in 4 categories: Nose, Palate, Finish and Overall.  Nose is how the whisky smells. I look for complexity and balance in the nose. The nose has to be inviting. The flavors should be assertive without giving away everything. Palate is how the whisky tastes and feels in the mouth. I look for complexity and balance in flavor. The flavors have to be layered without causing chaos or confusion. The whisky must also have a body that carries the flavor throughout the palate.  Finish is the experience after swallowing or spitting the whisky. I look for a medium to long finish with the complexity and balance in flavor holding all the way to the end. A little warmth at the end does not hurt.  Overall is how all the phases work together. The flavor and aroma must compliment each other. There should be continuity from nose to palate to finish. The whisky must make sense in all categories. There should be har...

Evan Williams white label was my first introduction to the world of bottled in bond whisky. I did not know what bottled in bond meant and I thought it was just another marketing gimmick used to trick consumers into buying a product. What really attracted me to the bottle was its bottle design and the fact that it was 100 proof. I was at a point in my whisky drinking journey where I wanted to try some of the higher proof whiskies. I felt I was ready to move on to the next step after spending much time in the 80-90 proof range. So I took the risk and bought a bottle.  There were other 100 proof whiskies on the shelves but I grabbed this particular bottle because it looked cool. Then I opened it, drank it, read all about the bottle facts and my world changed.  I expected the whisky to burn my palate knowing it was 100 proof but I was surprised at how much flavour and complexity it had. The alcohol is almost like an after thought when drinking this whisky.  Befor...