Whisky Shelf

Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon. Nose is easy and sweet, doesn’t smell processed like many Kentucky whiskies. Easy to drink, with hints of vanilla and sweetness. Shows its 10 year age, especially in the clean and sweet finish, though not syrupy. Great stuff. Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. 8/10.

Good stuff.

(Source: alifewellsuited, via whiskey-smiles)

Lexington Bourbon Whiskey. Very young, light, and sharp, but doesn’t feel like a hard blend. Tastes more like alcohol than cask. Very little sweetness or bourbon-ey vanilla. Reminds me of the stuff in the plastic bottles with just a touch of refine-ness. Skip it. 2/10.

microbrewfridge:

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. If you could bottle awesome, I’m pretty sure it’d taste like this brew. Deep, rich, with just enough whiskey flavor to make this beer taste like nothing you’ve ever tried. Just excellent, especially if you happen to be into the hard stuff as well (whiskyshelf.tumblr.com). 10/10.

Best. Beer. Ever.

microbrewfridge:

Dragon’s Milk by New Holland Brewing. 10% alcohol and aged in oak barrels sounds like a recipe for some good brew to me. A stout, strong and thick beer that reminds me of Guinness plus Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, with a dash more alcohol. Thick, full of chocolately deep flavor. Very good stuff, though take your time with it at $5+ a 12-oz bottle retail. 9/10.

microbrewfridge:

Innis & Gunn Original. Oak aged, Scottish beer. As a whisky fanatic, anything that suggests it may remind of the wonderful stuff from Scotland is worth a go. And this brew doesn’t disappoint. Think typical style Scottish beer (sweet, a bit more malty and less hoppy) plus just a hint of properly barreled whisky. Not as whisky-influenced as Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, but still excellent. Highly recommended if you like the strong stuff, too. 9/10

microbrewfridge:

Belhaven Scottish Ale. A tasty ale with a crisp flavor. Light, easy to drink, and reminds me of New Castle. Good stuff, and comes in a bottle that looks like a million bucks. 8/10.

Love this stuff.

Big House Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This is a light, slightly sweet whiskey that’s easy on the nose and tastes much older than its age. Very easy to drink straight with pleasant vanilla hints, especially given the sub-$20 price. American bourbon whiskey. 7/10

Woodford Reserve. A very muted nose that’s a bit off-putting. Taste is young and like mass-produced bourbon. Not easy to drink, but beats the super mass produced stuff as it doesn’t smack you with the sharp tones. Skip it and buy Elijah Craig or, even better Evan Williams, instead. American whiskey. 3/10.

Knob Creek Rye Small Batch. Rye whiskies have an interesting understated grainy feel on the tongue, off-setting the youngness of the spirit. This is no exception. Simple, clean, and easy to drink, with a nose that is pleasant and balanced. Doesn’t taste too young, as a few batches of Knob Creek have come across to this Scotch freak, and the rye adds a layer of starchy-flavor that’s very interesting. This rye is definitely worth a try. American rye whiskey. 8/10.

Evan Williams Single Barrel. On a bit of a bourbon kick lately— not sure why, but it’s not a bad route to be on. Evan Williams is, so far, my favorite bourbon under $30. Easy to drink neat. Has a hint of vanilla, a sweet syrupy-ness and very little bite. Great stuff, and beyond the vanilla reminds me of many excellent Scotches. Give it a try. American whiskey. 8/10

Ardbeg Uigeadail. Once in a while you have a dram that you say, out loud, Holy God this is amazing. Deep, sweet, smokey, and even tempered, this is truly a work of whisky art. Nose is worth slapping on like cologne. Taste is balanced, deep, and wonderful. If you like the peaty stuff (Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Coal Ila) do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle of Ardbeg Uigeadail. Just awesome, and it’s earned an ever-replenished spot on my whisky shelf. Scotch single malt whisky. 10/10.

Elijah Craig 12. I’m not a big bourbon or Tennessee whiskey fan, but was told by a few fellow whisky (no “e”) lovers that Elijah Craig was different. Nose is typical bourbon— vanilla, sweetness, and a bit young. It’s the taste that tells me why this dram was so highly recommended. A sweet, syrupy, delicious flavor, with that distinctive American whiskey bite. The closest Scotch I’d say is Arberlour, which is good company. One of the best American whiskeys I’ve had, and it’s earned a permanent spot next to its Scottish cousins on my whisky shelf. And talk about a steal at $22. American whiskey. 7/10.

Port Ellen 25 - Smells deep, complex and old. Lighter than you’d expect in color and taste, but not in a bad way. A bit spicy, a bit sweet, lots of flavors mingle on the pallet. Expensive and hard to find. Very easy to drink, due to the age. Gets a bit old as it sits in the glass. Loses a point for cost. Scotch single malt whisky. 8/10.

Mortlach 17 - Deep, sweet, and savory. Delicious, and tastes beyond its years. Single malt Scotch. 9/10.