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...

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 : 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....