Lazy K Bar

Whiskey is a rare treat for me now as I move into greater responsibility in my life, and as uncommon the treat becomes ever the more is the opportunity to try new bottles. That’s why this June on a trip to my beloved state of Montana, I determined myself to bring back a quality vesche and give it the ol’ one-two-typie-poo and write some shit about it. I snagged a couple of other bottles while we were up there, but frankly, after I proposed to my now Fiancé, we lost a few whiskies and meads in the fun-filled nights afterward.

Lazy K Bar Straight Bourbon, 46% 92 proof

Distillery Not Listed (-1 pt)

Distilled in KY; bottled in Big Timber, MT; HQ in Bozeman

$120

Nose - The nose jumps up fruity and bright with definitive tannins and a leathered earthiness. A peppercorn medley is present along with bright notes of sweet corn.

Palate - Widely caramel at first taste when the peppered nose jumps in with a playful spice. Subtle notes of vanilla and taffy are present making for a widely smooth and easy down body. A pinch of tannin gives a subtle woody bite, whose timber pitch evokes quotes from greater men: “Rest! Cries the chief sawyer, and we pause for breath.”

Finish - Rising warmth that continues to a slow burn that isn’t too offensive but is most certainly present, like low-burning embers from a once mighty oak-fueled fire.

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Thoughts - Lazy K Bar (why not then, in this essay, refer to the bottle from henceforth as k]) is in itself an interesting addition to the celebrity whiskey game—k] in particular rising from Yellowstone star Cole Hauser, character Rip Wheeler—but defining itself with real Montana heritage, rolling in with the actual generational rancher and owner of the k] ranch, David Leuschen, and a guy who really knows his shit (about selling whiskey rather than tasting it), 25-year career alcohol marketing manager Britt West. At first glance with k], it would be prescient to give it a pass and shake it off as a celebrity whiskey with a lot of story and not a lot of substance, especially given the non-descript Kentucky bourbon distillery that is supplying the operation. Saving graces here are few and far between, but one that is surely to note is the 8-year aging table for the barrels that are supposedly shipped to Big Tree. There’s some good mellowness in there, but given the little bite at the end of the body on this, I am curious if it’s not all aged 8 years but given a treatment similar to a notorious UT distillery that sources from the Whiskey Belt and labels their bottles “aged 10 years” from the drop of 10-year whiskey that’s in the 3-year bottle.

I can’t give too much shade on the whole piece though; Lazy K comes off as an enjoyable vesche, and it’s even more important given my personal timeline of just a month before starting to watch Yellowstone with my Fiancé, and it is one of the “big” bottles I bought while I was up in Montana asking her to marry me. It’s even, it’s enjoyable, and hell she likes it, so it’s approachable for a broad audience. All those notes make for a remarkably upscale experience that can be branded and sold as “exclusive” to the last bastion of the West, which is precisely what High West Distillery in Utah has been selling for decades. And I can promise you, that’s exactly what ol’ Britt West was pitching to the boys while prepping the $120/bottle price tag, “BATCH 001: EXCLUSIVE TO MONTANA”.

rating - 6(7)/10 - Has a lot of promise if guided correctly, but management and celebrity endorsement sets the bar at: lazy.

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Del Bac Dorado

It’s been over a year since my last whiskey review, and probably for good damn reason. Over the past year I’ve been through a lot, from couch surfing to giving up my rental farm, to falling in love and buying my own farm with the gal of my dreams. It’s been a fruitful year of great work and team building with a fantastic group of designers and videographers that I couldn’t be happier to spend my nine to five with, and it seems fitting that with the last review I wrote being an ode to my new job, this new review will be an ode to my new way of life as a homesteader in God’s Country—Huntsville, Utah.

Dorado American Single Malt

Whiskey Del Bac

Tuscon, AZ

$63.50

Nose - Campfire smoke and a very subtle hint of cinnamon, almost like a Rye malt; Oiled leather and dates.

Body - An exquisitely sweet blast of dark dried fruits like deep purple raisins or cranberries on the front end of the palate gives way to the on-brand intensity of a smokey, ashy, almost barbecue-esque flavor that presents a black peppered whisp. A vanilla-tinged cigar tobacco makes a final layer pass that wraps up the experience with a bow.

Finish - Well refined and smooth, almost creamy in its expression and mouth feel. The smokeyness doesn’t lead to a sharp burn, and makes this a top-shelf single malt that’s easy on the chest, and even easier to drink.

Thoughts - I’ve been debating on returning to whiskey reviews for quite some time. On one hand, I love having the availability of a library of excellent whiskies to share with friends, a fun blog to write up now and then, and a damn nice way to finish a week. Problems arise when you get excessive with that, but I believe I’ve been able to keep it well in check over the years. Frankly the biggest reason I haven’t written any reviews over this past year isn’t for a lack of desire, but because I just felt I didn’t have a good enough backdrop for the all-deserving bottle. There’s a magic I like to catch in all this, be it in the run-on paragraphs and sentences, the pretentiousness desperate take on gonzo consumerism, and most especially in the small sets I get to put together for these fun product photos.

But those are only the thoughts on the blog at general, and not so much about the bottle. I’ll cut that out from now on.

Del Bac is a new name in my neighborhood and with this being my first bottle I’d have to admit I am quite impressed. They seem to deliver a vesche of that hot Arizona night air, distilled into liquid and sent on its way to folks outside the tiny oven-state. To put it simply: I like it. I wish it was a bit More affordable because it’s a bottle I’d like to drink every day. I love when whiskey can capture the essence of the desert, and for a long while it seemed that only a select few could achieve the sensation. It’s cool to see the DABC bringing more unique manufacturers to the UT liquor stores, and I’m eager to see what else the come out with.

6.5/10, great for the price and easy to enjoy.

Johnny Walker Blue Label

A celebratory purchase long in the making, my first (perhaps only) ever bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label is a bit of a transcendent experience in whisky tasting for me; it’s been something that brought with it an almost fabled legacy of awe behind the glass curtain in the liquor store’s “specialty products” section that I’ve spent a long time waiting to try. Well now, here it is: The vesche that most bars charge almost $30 per ounce for, the fancy big blue.

Johnny Walker Blue Label

Cardhu Distillery

Aberlour, Scotland

$249.99

Nose - Malty, brown sugar, with a subtle oak smoke and undercurrent brine. A whisper of peat peeks in as well, along with orange citrus, honey with black licorice.

Body - The feel as it first circles around is full bodied and oily before the classic scotch smoke hits and I pick out dark chocolate, a very subtle note of hazelnut, and floral tones. 

Finish - Powerful, full and rounded, the finish here seems like a mouthful of glass marbles that burn the tongue with cooling vapors.

Thoughts - The Johnny Blue is by far the most expensive bottle of whisky I’ve ever bought in my life by more than a 2x increment. It was a huge step into a hobby that I prefer to keep at distance, and I must admit, I find the actual tasting experience of Blue Label to be utterly underwhelming. It’s the same story you hear anywhere else that writes or talks about whisky and reviewing the product: Johnny Blue is a mantle piece, a kind of rite of passage for the whisky enthusiast; More a token of admittance into the mad cult wherein your brothers and sisters all worship the god whose iconic interpretation was Dionysius, known beyond with many more names whose revelries are all celebrant to the same: the elixir of profundity, the distilled spirit. 

I think Johnny Blue is something that is intriguing, beguiling, and mythic in stature based on the price point alone, but if you are to analyze it as a glass of whisky next to any other scotch, I would be hard pressed to put it above a Glenlevit 12, Glenmorangie, or even Dalmore 10. I think a big part of it’s downfall is the fact that it is a bastard scotch, a blend of single malts of varying age and home, with that quality and, for the price, quantity. The presentation of the bottle is immaculate, and the packaging is likely a $50 cut of the $250 pricepoint (as of February, 2023, though it has been here a very long time) but if someone were to tell me this was a sip worth two-hundred per bottle, I’d tell them to get out of town and bring me back two bottles of Ardbeg 10 with half a Benjamin in change. I wish it could be better, but as it stands, the Blue Label will be a special treat I pull out on very rare occasions, not for myself but for the delight of good company to have a chance to say, “oh yeah, I tried that. It wasn’t so great” if they aren’t deep into tasting hard liquor, and for the rest, a “Wow, that’s incredible!” While coughing and wincing a tear from their eye.

3/10, a pricey ticket to the cool kids club, but the club is a stale empty bookstore with only encyclopedias and a single print from Palahniuk buried in the corner. 

Michter's Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Lot’s has happened in the past couple months since my last upload, and you can bet that it’s been impactful enough to have a profound change in pace for me (hence the big long breaks!). Mostly though it’s just been a lot of dedication to work, friends and family, and not too much time or money to spend on tasty little bottles of whiskey. But, during a quick liquor store run with a friend during a night of music recording and concepting, a fancy find geared me up to make another write up of a bottle I’ve been wanting to get my hands on for quite some time.

Michter’s Bourbon
Michter’s Distillery
Louisville, KY, USA
$59.99

Nose - Super sweet, nearly candied cherries and toasted sugar like a crisp marshmallow over a low flame. A citrus blast comes in and you get the feeling that this is practically an old fashioned coming out of a whiskey bottle, or at the very least would make for one of the best old fashioned’s you’ll ever have. Deep brown sugar on the tail end.

Palate - Surprisingly hot for a 91 proof whiskey, the flavor profile does indeed double down on the old fashioned startup promised by the nose but quickly bursts into a far more classic, distinguished bourbon that is unadulterated by sugary confections. I get notes of honey, oak, cinnamon and bits of clove. It’s a hard kick trying to get off the heat, but once you do, the flavor opens up to being really delicate and sweet, proofing down further exemplifies this with a few drops of water into the glass. Perhaps best served, dare I say, on the rocks?

Finish - The heat doesn’t dissipate and leaves you with a smoky, textured, spiced feeling. It’s not bad, and it’s quite a solid drink if you’re wanting something that tastes good and feels good. I’d be able to make this a daily drinker if it wasn’t for the price!

Thoughts - I don’t think it’s worth the high dollar of $60-70 per bottle, but the labelling and mystique of the bottle give it enough of an exotic flair that it almost feels justified. I haven’t been too picky on saving certain bottles lately, but this one lasted me a good 7-8 weeks, and that’s pretty abnormal as of late. I’ve enjoyed it all the same, and it packs a helluva punch, lending to it’s ubiquitous use as a mixer out east.

6/10, a solid pick but a little on the pricey side. It’s not necessary, but a fun grab.

Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style

I’ve been wanting to try this vesche for a good long while old droogs, ever since I viddied the Bourbon Junkies on YouTube praise at length of the bottle’s refined palette, especially given the price they were finding it at. For me, Old Forester popped up in the Syracuse UT Liquor Store for $59.99 per bottle, and that’s a bit of a penny for me now as I live on my own in a farmhouse. Regardless, I was eager to try it and hope that it can live up to the hype I was given.

Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Old Forester Distilling Co.
Louisville, KY, USA
$59.99

Nose - Right up front I can tell you that this nose is unique. It’s sweet, like, really sweet, jumping out of the glass with gleeful cavort, dancing with nearly effervescent claps of Strawberry Jam and creamy nut butter that remind me of the prepackaged Gif PP&J Crustables. Dates, apricots, and dark raisins come in clutch with the deep end of the nose, with a very light leathery end.

Palate - OOOOHHHHH that’s nice. It jumps straight out of the glass and gives a twirling sensation of sweet honey, vanilla cream soda, that same dark raisin sweetness, and perhaps a very subtle flash of banana creme as well.

Finish - The finish here is delightfully devilish, with what initially delivers such a wildly sweet and playful first half of the experience is kicked up to 11 as the 115 proof comes sizzling down the gullet. Its cinnamon notes remind me of a warm winter evening, sitting near a fire with a hot tea still steaming from the cup.

Thoughts - Yeah, this one delivers. I can absolutely understand the hype behind this one, even if only for the barrel-proof punch and a modest price. You’re paying close to the high end here but 1920 assures you that it means business and delivers a wildly pleasant experience. It comes like a pour of nectar from the oaks, and it’s no wonder they tried to outlaw the stuff during the prohibition. If this really is the same recipe they were using back then, everyone would surely have been living in a near olympian ecstasy!

9/10 - An incredible bottle of flavor that would make an excellent gift or tasting experience. Treat this one with care.

Fukano 10

It’s been a damn long time, hasn’t it ol droogs?

I’ve been well these past several months after my jump away from alcohol in Sober October and several nice week or two long sobriety stints between then and now. Truth be told, I haven’t had much money nor care for buying or reviewing whiskey lately, as after my sobriety I was left somewhat disenchanted by the prospect of getting back into it. After a long internal deliberation and meditation on the subject, I have come to the point where I think I can safely control my alcohol intake all the while providing you, my dear reader, a fun and informative experience into the tasting space of whisky.

Also, I’ve been spending way too much money on Magic: The Gathering lately, so my money has been going towards something a little more future proofed. It’s not a bad thing, and in fact I quite adore the old card game, for both the current gameplay it provides as well as the melancholic memories of late teenage life with my closest friends.

Without getting too far into the sap, let’s get this tasting underway, after all it’s what you are here for!

Fukano 10yr Japanese Whisky
Fukano Distillery
Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto, Japan - Distilled from Rice
~$98.00

Nose - Weathers Caramels, leaf smoke, salted Pork, Blackberry Jam. This has some of the most unique and hard to trace noses I’ve had yet in a whiskey, although that may also be due to my break in detailed nosing! It’s quite a lovely experience though with no foul sensations whatsoever.

Palate - The flavors here are strong and abundant, coming on with a syrupy sweet consistency of caramel, birthday cake, vanilla, and some subtle graham cracker bits.

Finish - The finish is heavy and warm up front that fades into a modest sweetness and pleasant aftertaste of candied fruits and dark red wine.

Thoughts - After taking a while from reviewing whiskies, I think this is a pleasant come back to the hobby that I will still likely heavily limit, guaged off of interest and my own ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I’ve really missed having the ability to write my thoughts in medium format, and it surely helps my creativity flow if I have an outlet besides the 9-5 to focus that into. Writing and Photography are near and dear to my heart, and while I have started a new photo blog to scratch the itch of the later, I think the light buzz from the tasting lends greatly to the flow of my own scrawling madness. At the very least, it gives me a moment to meditate with myself about the happening of the world, and my little place within it.

Oh wait, you wanted my thoughts on the whisky? Ahhhhh, yes, in that case, it’s delightful. I know this is a limited release here in UT and I am not quite sure of the typical availability elsewhere, but for me it’s been quite a treat to pick up and I would certainly recommend it to those who have a finer palate than myself. It’s a bit on the pricey side of things, but I feel that for the experience provided, the ticket is priced just right.

8.5/10 - A delightful and intricate exploration into an exciting new grain mash. I recommend it.

Glenfarclas 10

Here we are, Wednesday September 29th, and my last drink before the long draught of Sober October. I have to say am somewhat excited to bring this challenge on, and once I finish the month I hope to shift my drinking days to weekends only. Don’t worry, I’ll still work to get some Wednesday posts in the mix, but in the meantime, I may experiment with some coffee reviews for the 10th month of the year and really try to push my photography into more creative pursuits.

Speaking of creative photography, it’s my pleasure to tease that I am actually going to begin working with a local Sushi joint to update their menus. I’ve taken a great liking to the restaurant and it’s owner, Steven, who is the most knowledgable person I’ve ever met in terms of sushi and meal pairings. I’m very excited to help him out over at J&C House of Riverton, and if you ever have the chance to make an appearance over there, tell him Paydn or Oakie sent you. Hopefully, he’ll have some good things to say!

But let’s get into the review. It wouldn’t be a premier send-off without highlighting a lovely scotch, and hailing from the Highlands we have a vesche I’ve been teased by in the past, finally ready to present…

Glenfarclas 10

J&G Grant, Glenfarclas Distillery, 10yr

Speyside, Scotland

$39.99

Nose - A very fruity, wholesome and tart nose up front of pears and granny smith apples, sweet pie crust, a hint of oak and ferns, and very very subtle hardwood smoked bacon grease.

Palate - Quite smooth and oily, it really covers the palate quickly and gives notes of honey, malted milkshakes, and a kind have old school cola style soda flavor, not Coke, but the fancier stuff you have to buy in bottles at the specialty store - that almost never tastes as good as Coke.

Finish - Pungent and sticky with some spice and black pepper. It’s not overbearning and very mellow.

Thoughts - This is the first time I’ve seen the 10 year Glenfarclas in a store here in Utah, and when I saw the price I knew I had to get it immediately, if for the excellent label design alone. It harkens an older era of label design that many vineyards still employ, but all too few distilleries make use of. I’ve seen it’s cousins, the 21 and 25 year bottles, but unfortunately $150+ per bottle was a little out of my budget when they were available. Overall I’m certainly not disappointed with Glenfarclas 10, and at a mere $40 per bottle, I could nearly see it as a daily drinker, if it weren’t for Ardbeg being so close in price. It’s a great scotch for the price that is not offensive and easy on the palate, great for those newer to the hobby of tasting scotches or for anyone that wants a break from spending top dollar to get a kick.

6/10 - Mellow, friendly, and a good price for the bottle. Nothing too impressive for 10 years though!

Kentucky Owl Confiscated

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope it’s turnout out to be a great day for you all, I know it’s been a fantastic week for me so far. I’m actually writing this the Friday before this Wednesday drop just to keep my balance as I scale back the weekday consumption and make my preparations for Sober October, which I am thinking of making a full attempt at. Last year I tried to do NOvember, when I denied everything from Caffeneine to booze (and everything else far and wide) and made it about 20 days before giving in to temptation. But that’s all a story for another day, perhaps if I complete the October challenge. For today, I have a tasty little treat that I’d been eyeing for a good couple of weeks.

Kentucky Owl Confiscated
Distillery info not given, no age statement
KY
$124.99

Nose - I find a lovely note warm cooked corn, sugar cubes, spring flowers, oak, and leather.

Palate - very smooth and creamy sugar, almost like a thick milky syrup right out of the gate, with graham crackers and s’mores like sweetness. This is a quintessential sweet summer bourbon.

Finish - the finish here is tame and agreeable, smooth and somewhat offset, with a burn that comes on a few moments after the first gulp that builds up but never becomes overwhelming.

Thoughts - Remarkably, the labeling of the Kentucky Owl provides a pretty robust idea of what you get from the bottle. It certainly feels like it is from another time, and provides a drinking experience that is pleasant, classic, and very enjoyable. There are only two things I would change in the bottle and they are actually interchangeable: Price and Proof. 

What I mean by saying they are interchangeable is that I could easily see this bottle coming out at a very agreeable price point if it was barrel proof (125-132 I’d say) or if the bottle was exactly as it is, but at a price closer to the $80 range. While I really enjoy a lot about the bottle here, I would like to know more about what I am drinking, i.e. Distillery, age, mash, etc. Especially at the $125 price point, that’s a hard dram to swallow when you know very little about the whiskey’s origins.

7/10 - Delightfully delicious, but unfortunately priced for a mysterious 96 proof bottle.

Hatozaki Small Batch

Well everyone, as promised last week, here’s the followup to the tiny teaser I had in the image from last week. I’ve achieved a goal I’ve had for years, damn near a decade, and I’m finally working for my favorite eSports team ever, Cloud9. For the longest time I slaved away in front of my computer screen grinding out ranked games with hopes to be a player one day, but it’s obvious to me now that my talents lay in other branch of the brand; in the Marketing department.

To celebrate this fantastic success of which I’ve too little to say and too much all the same, I’ve picked up a sparkler of a presentation from the liquor store. Another Japanese whiskey!

Hatozaki Small Batch
Kaikyo Distillery / Akashi City, Hyōgo, Japan
$59.99
46% / 92 Proof

Nose
Pleasant, floral, honeydew and a tinge of spice. I feel mostly soft notes of candied fruits and an overall gentle aroma. An adventure into a Japanese field, with green wavering bamboo in the distance and wheat grain bristling in the wind along your thigh.

Palate
A burst of heat and honeysuckle, watermelon, and simple syrup flow into heavy fresh ground pepper, a subtle five spice. An abrupt enhancement to the very subtle and timid nose.

Finish
Deep and warm, sticking to the sides and really turning up the heat. Quite a surprisingly spicy finish for a light blend.

Thoughts
Hatozaki has been a surprisingly little treat. While I wish I would have bit the bullet and bought a pricier bottle to celebrate the occasion, there is still plenty of time to look forward into the future with that temptation. It’s been one of the first whiskies in a while I’m not tempted to drink too much of, and that’s a welcome change as going to deep into any bottle is always recipe for trouble. I certainly think the Hatozaki has a place on a shelf, albeit for a more refined palate. I’d recommend it if you’re really into Japanese whiskies like myself—well, I’m into all whisky, let’s be honest—or if you really want to impress your whisky loving friends with something fun and relatively affordable.

7.5/10 - Deceptively bold and enjoyable, but not for the beginner to sip on. Priced fairly.

Knob Creek 9

Hey everyone! Surprise! I know, my usual timeline for Whiskey Wednesdays is like… once a month if we are lucky. But here I am, two in a row, coming at you LIVE posting this Wednesday at 5:30 pm!

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Aged 9 Years
Clemont, KY
50% / 100 Proof
$34.99

Nose
Right away this classic bourbon gets to work with powerful brown sugar, red apples, a fresh-cut oak, and vanilla caramel wafting on the end.

Palate
Similar to the nose remarkably so, it’s everything you’d expect from a long-running bourbon mash recipe that lines up properly with dark notes of caramel and brown sugar, vanilla, apple pie crust, and a very subtle hint of char.

Finish
I believe this might be a hot take for most bourbon enthusiasts to take here, but quite honestly I got an almost barbeque level charred smoke finish on the end as if it’s a whiskey pulled straight from a Texas smokehouse. I don’t know how or why I’m picking this up in a Kentucky blend, but it’s intriguing compared to the first 2/3rds of the whiskey and I’m all for a diverse experience.

Thoughts
Quick thoughts: It’s nice!
Expanded thoughts: The Knob Creek 9 gives a full, enjoyable classic bourbon delivery with a twist and the end that would make for a great bottle to share with friends over a cigar and a game of poker, after a hot summer night’s barbeque of course. It brings to mind fond memories that I look back on in the tail end of Summer 2020, spent talking with great company and fantastic food in the scene described above. We’re hoping to make the memory again this Friday, and I’m sure it will live on as it’s own ideal of “the good ol days”.

It’s been a damn wild month for me, even more now as I come into the 6th week of rigorous trials that may or may not come to light in the coming days. I wish I would have saved this particular review for a big-news reveal, but alas, here we are still waiting to see if things pan out the way I’m hoping. If they do, you’re sure to hear about it in the next Whiskey Wednesday; If not, it’s simply business as usual and we’ll continue this journey together—hopefully—with a drink in hand, and smiles all around.

7/10 - A classic memory maker that’s fun to drink but better in good company after a communal dinner. Affordable treat.

Copper Dog

Hello everyone, my apologies for the wait. I wanted this review to go live last week, but some life stuff got in the way that proved prohibitive of my indulgence here, but all’s well now and I’m geared up and ready to start writing under the influence — or not, because I think a nice ounce or two should set we well off for the night.

Here’s my shot at a bottle I bought purely for the name and the price, and specifically with this photo in mind.

Copper Dog Speyside Single Malt Scotch
Craigellachie Hotel, Speyside, Scotland
~$30.00
40% / 80 Proof

Nose - Rich and sweet, I’m picking up some swirls of banana cream pie, white chocolate, vanilla, and a really fresh deep fried twinkie. It’s quite the dessert-filled sense of decadence and delight!

Palate - Very similar to Monkey Shoulder and a few other Speysides I’ve tried in the past, the palate here is fruitful and strong. Pear, cream, berries and a slight oaky bite give the flavor a prominent experience over the mostly sugary nosing.

Finish - Spices from the palate carry down smoothly into a vaporous aromatic feel, nearly menthol but not quite there.

Thoughts - For $30 bucks, it’s not bad. Copper Dog, for me, is nothing particularly exciting to write home about but I’m also a bit preferential to the deeper, bolder Scotches hailing from the Islay region, too the point that many others nearly feel drab to me. However, it’s the first time I’ve had a scotch since April and I’m certainly not disappointed. I could see Copper Dog as a nice bottle to take out when company is over that isn’t quite entrenched in the world of whiskey or scotch, and the agreeable nose with prominent palate will leave guests with a vibe of, “Oh, now that’s Scotch!”.

5/10 - Not bad for the price, but nothing extravagant.

Kamiki Whisky

Hello, again dear friends. Welcome back to the good ol’ review, Whiskey Wednesdays with your pal, Paydn. I’m really liking the spacing I have on the recent releases, maybe once every other week is a good pace in terms of purchasing, stock availability, and my own sanity. I’ve got a fun little one here today, and an even more exciting announcement about the picture itself, but we’ll get to that in the Thoughts.

Kamiki Maltage Japanese Whisky
Kamiki Distillery, Japan
$72.95
48% / 98 Proof

Nose - Citrus and spring cherry blossoms jump out at my first, with a burst of hibiscus and watermelon jolly rancher. It’s a beautifully succulent aroma that is truly seductive, akin to a freshly blooming flower, recently tickled by the cool spring rain.

Palate - Floral and sweet with a burst of ginger and wasabi-style heat. The palate here is much more upfront than its delicate nose—something I’ve observed so far to be almost exclusively present in Japanese whiskey—and as such gives a more exhilarating rush of endorphins when it goes down the gullet.

Finish - The palate tapers off as quickly as it appeared and you’re left with a calm and azure finish that comes up with ground pepper, forest moss, pine tea, and fresh vanilla.

Thoughts - This was quite the surprise to find laying on the shelves at my local Liquor store, hanging out all on its lonesome towards the top of the Scotch section. Typically I would think this bottle would be designated to the glass, but the store I frequent in particular seems to do a great job at constantly revolving new and unique products. I’m a big fan of Japanese whiskey overall, and even though this particular vesche has “caramel color added”, I’d say the flavor makes up for it. Interestingly, the whiskey itself is actually a blend of other barrels from Kamiki that are mixed then aged in Japanese Cedar casks for an undisclosed amount of time, although I would assume no longer than 5 months. It imparts a particularly aromatic sensation to the whiskey, and why I think the nose here is so vibrant and expansive.

So, what about the image is so cool? Well, for starters, I recently lost my long-beloved COVID-19 friendly Queens of the Stone Age bandana—facemask—that I had picked up when I saw them live some 8 years ago or so. It was a heavy hit, but it was time for a new bandana anyway, so I picked up this hand-printed Japanese-inspired bandana that’s loomed in Japan and dyed/printed in Oregon. It showed up the same day I was getting ready to shoot this bottle and I couldn’t have asked for a better backdrop… It’s gorgeous!

But that’s not the only thing that’s special about this image. I also was able to finally afford a MAJOR upgrade to my photography kit, one I have needed desperately since leaving my last job (and thus, the camera it provided) and having to shoot all my photos from the past 5 months on a lowly Nikon D5100 —A camera I do have years of experience with, no doubt— but no more, as I just recently became the proud owner of a Fujifilm X-T4! Yes, it’s a HUGE step forward for me and I hope it accelerates my professional photography career in a positive direction. At least I will now finally have a good sensor to work with, making all my whiskey photos from here on out that much more enduring for you all.

6.5/10 - A fantastic pick if you can afford it, great for special occasions and fun aromatic experiences. 1 point docked for “caramel color added”.

Thomas S. Moore - Cabernet Sauvignon cask

Unbeknownst to you, dear reader, I’m actually doing this review immediately after finished my last review of the Yellowstone Bourbon. That’s right, I’ve had a lot in my Glencairn tonight, but I feel it’s quite alright for creating artistic poise and presenting poetic purity in this, the most pointless of passions, a palette of whiskey sensations. Today I’ll be telling you about a very special bottle I found tucked beyond the glass encasing of my local liquor store’s cabinets, sold in a set but only purchased as one of three I present to thee, Thomas S. Moore’s Cabernet Sauvignon finished bourbon.

Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Casks (KY Straight Bourbon)

Barton Distillery / Bardstown, KY

$69.99

47.65%  /  93.5 Proof

Nose - Full on dark red wine fills the glass with heavy riffs of black raisins and dark grapes. A light vanilla hue arrives after the remarkable first punctuation but refuses to drown the wine-finished sensation. 

Palate - Dives straight into an obviously aged-in-wine-barrels flavor, I can almost taste the cork of a bottle this could have been neighbors with. Deep grape and astringent notes; Dry, vibrant, and sugary. Upon further investigation, I find a doorway deeper, as if finding the keys to a locked cellar filled with dried fruits and bottled jams, preserved by sugar and time.

Finish - The finish shows up dry and astringent just as the profile above, leaving me almost eager to give in to the urge to drink just a little bit more, but knowing all too well the difference between an 11% ABV wine and a 47% whiskey. Nonetheless, it is pleasant, inviting, and endearing. One of the more welcoming finishes I’ve experienced in a while.

Thoughts - This very special bottle came to me on happenstance on a very special day. I had planned earlier in the morning to head to the store and pick up a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 - my go-to bar setter - to bide my time as I waited to hear back from a few different full-time positions I was eager to hear back from, but right as I was getting ready to go, I received a call offering me a job at one of the opportunities I was most excited for. In celebration, I picked up this bottle - admittedly a “second choice” the Port wine aged bottle to its left I spied a week ago now sold out - and made my way happily to the checkout. I’ve been needing some good news in my life lately, and this bottle came as a bit of a welcoming party to that good news, just the same with the Yellowstone Select I had reviewed “last week” (an hour ago). For me, this particular bottle envisions more than just a simple drink, but a celebration of a new opportunity, and an exciting new future with a happy foot into the outdoors industry, something I have strived towards for the past 4 years. I might be a bit biased in this review, but I would like to believe my palate is trained enough to distinguish flavor from nostalgia. This is certainly a special offering new on the market, and I think it will make some interesting splashes around the whiskey world. I’ve been a big fan of all the wine-aged whiskies I’ve been able to try, and this bottle doesn’t break that tradition of admiration.

On a side note, I am very hopeful that this is the last photo I will have to take “like this” in some time. I don’t want to spoil the meaning of that statement outright, so I’ll keep my audience guessing. But, if you are truly curious, I will admit that if you are a fan of my Instagram page you will be pleasantly surprised.

8/10 - Intriguing, flavorful, and boisterous. A great pickup for any wine admirer or whiskey aficionado.

Yellowstone Select and a few scattered bottles

Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Welcome back, everyone. I’ve had a few bottles that I have been meaning to write about, with photos processed long past - and unfortunately, so too the whiskies themselves. I’ll include some quick thoughts of what I remember the bottles being like later on in this particular writeup, and perhaps I’ll revisit them for more fleshed-out reviews in the future, but for now, let’s stick to what we are here for. One I have spied on the shelves for years and finally pulled the trigger on, the modestly priced Yellowstone Select.

Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Lebanon, KY

$39.99

46.5%  /  93 Proof

Nose - I’m picking up some very bright honey and cherry with a bit of toffee and graham cracker crumble, that fills in even more with full fruits and tangy red apples.

Palate - Caramel POW’s hard upfront making for a lovely and indelible mark on the rest of the flavor profile, which would lean into (caramel mixed) cherry, vanilla, and oddly prominent oaky nuttiness that seems almost like sunflower seeds.

Finish - That earthy sunflower flavor sits with me for a good while afterward while the rest of the body has a blanketing numbness that is quite surprising for a 93 proof whiskey.

Thoughts - Yellowstone stands up. I know that this is a sourced whiskey - rumor has it from Heaven Hill - but I must admit, I am impressed with the interesting profile this whiskey presents. It’s nothing that I think I would go out of my way for, which is to say it’s certainly pleasant and enjoyable, but there are more diverse and classical flavors present in lower budget bourbons… But if you’re looking to claim a bottle as your “trademark” or just wanting to expand your horizons while staying in your bourbon-drinker comfort zone, I think the Yellowstone Select does a fine job at maintaining clarity in what it is meant to be. 

6/10 - Not a bad take on a classic bourbon profile.

Thoughts - All I can say about Jefferson’s is that is was remarkably forgettable. I would say that is similar to a whiskey rendition of vodka: It’s easy to drink, not overwhelmingly fowl, and gives me a headache if I drink too much.

3/10 - Not worth the price point for such a “watery” whiskey.

Thoughts - Woodford’s take on a Single Malt is a welcome addition to the formerly (as far as I knew) strictly bourbon / rye collection of WR. This bottle held up considerably well — especially compared against the former Jefferson’s — providing a rich, malty flavor that is so very easy to fall in love with, but presented a very strange side-flavor for me, especially when mixing with water either directly or as a chaser: I picked up on the finish the unmistakable “taste” (really, smell) of wet dog, which was not overpowering, quite frankly very light, but pronounced for me to remember still and I am even now left thinking, “wow that was kinda weird”. It wasn’t enough to take off the palate of the whiskey, but was certainly reason for pause.

5/10 - Great palate, strange finish, essential for people who love Woodford Reserve.

Baker's 7

It’s been a long time, hasn’t it. Well, I don’t want to say I would get back on top of this, but I’ve had a relentless spree of major life changes this year on the anniversary of our great pandemic. It’s been a wild year for me already, 2021, and I can’t come close to saying I’ve been enjoying myself nearly as much as I did last year. Perhaps it’s all just finally catching up to me from last year, but it’s been a heavy wave of oddity for me to start the year off. Unfortunately I won’t be able to do many tastings often anymore unless they are gifts or bottom shelf, the very idea sends chills down my gulliver. Beyond all that, here I am, and I am here now, happy to be O my brothers and very inspired to speak my mind on this tasty treat of a find I happened upon by circumstance. What a treat to be greeted by many a youtuber’s favorite dram, the Baker’s 7. 

Baker’s 7 Barrel Proof

Clemont, KY

$65.99

53.5%  /  107 Proof

Nose - Enduring past the almost violent onslaught of alcohol vapors at the start - from the high proof, of course - I’m able to pick out some vibrant smokey Oak and roasted almonds and cashews, warm honey, and vanilla extract.

Palate - An unmistakable cameo from the Bit-O-Honey candy with an even more nostalgic flavor for yours truly of Weathers caramel candies, followed by vanilla, toffee, white chocolate and oak. 

Finish - Hot and long-lasting, this is how I wish all bourbon finishes were. Something that stays with you many minutes after and appreciates your patronage. 

Thoughts - Baker’s 7. If you see it, you buy it. I could leave it there, but I want to revisit that statement on Weather’s Caramel, and it’s nostalgia (which lent influence into the photo I took here). Lately I’ve found that melancholy is my only joy to keep me company, and most of all is good drink and good music. Modest Mouse’s early discography in particular has been keeping me warm, if only comfortably numb, thinking back to when I started listening to them and how far I’ve come since then. I get visions occasionally of being exactly where I planned to be so many years ago, maybe just a different state or different job away from “that dream”. But the Weather’s is an even deeper memory of mine, dating back to my dearest aunt, Orletta Kunz. Orletta was my Mother’s sister and passed away many years ago, but when she was there during my life she was my Mom’s best friend, and as a child, one of my favorite places to visit. Her smoke filled home seemed to have an endless amount of oddities and shiny artwork to ponder over, always dimly lit, but the most welcoming of her abode’s proclivities was to offer the finest of candies available to a young lad in the late 90’s and early 00’s; Weather’s Caramel candies, the ones in the shiny golden wrappers. To this day there is no other taste that can bring me back to that darling place, that place of childish innocence, or ignorance, as the grown-ups toiled away in their grieving of day-to-day life, the children set to play. Rooms filled with couches and chairs were the forests of which we plucked our lumber and bricks to supply our pillow forts, the backyard filled with dogs, a few with bad tempers that made running away fun, and getting caught not so much. A Creek run through too, but it was less a creek and more just an irrigation canal, but when you’re a kid, unless you’re raised by a real river, you’d never know the difference. Baker’s 7 brings me back to all of that, it transports me to a time in my life that was, at its core, carefree and happy.

10/10, If you see it, buy it.

Glenfiddich 15

It’s been a cold fall since I last posted my friends, and I come with a heavy heart to say it may be an even longer and colder winter until I post again, lest I begin my long dreaded run of reviews along the bottom of the liquor store shelves, with the likes of Black Velvet among others. I shudder at the thought of taking a peet from the bottle to which I pledged my drunken youth, but perhaps some dreary days are good to be revisited, for a reminder if only to cherish the small drams of great whiskey we are treated to today.

Glenfidditch Solera 15 Single Malt
Dufftown Banfshire, Scotland
$59.99
40%  /  80 Proof

Nose - Off the top immediately as I bring the glass to my face I get wafting fruity notes: banana, apple crisp, maraschino cherries with light notes of cinnamon sticks and freshly baked pastries. A very dessert scented vesche indeed.

Palate - Vibrant and warm, the tastebuds lift of with a silky, thick honey flavor this is tickled with dried dates, buttered croissant, apple crumble and marzipan, developing into a bright sherry and oak.

Finish - The finish rests well, unobtrusively with a satisfying crisp sweetness like eating a tart pie after dinner, lingering long and well with a tingling sweet tooth sensation.

Thoughts - Truly, I could not have paired the photo worse than what I think is actually deserving of this bottle. While the tomahawk turned out fantastic, and the whiskey has been just as delightful, they weren’t quite in the ballpark of working well with each other. From my notes alone it should be realized that this is certainly a whiskey to be enjoyed after the fact, perhaps paired with a nice apple pie or vanilla custard. None the less, clearing the palate and tasting the whiskey on it’s own now (nearly 2 months later) has given me better insight into what I’d like to have served with the fine Solera 15. 

7/10 - A prestigious bottle and age that makes for a great conversational piece over dessert.

Old Forester 100 Proof

It’s that time of the week again fam. I’ve been holding onto this photo and review for a few weeks, having trouble finding the time to fit a proper tasting and photo processing schedule into my daily time allowance, but I’m finally getting to it on this, one of the most “productive” days I’ve had in months. Work in the early AM, Team lunch at noon, then a badass trail run after work to knock my 10k out for the week, gaining some 1,313’ elevation and even opting to fit some monkey business in before cooking up some delightful beer brats and sauerkraut. It’s been a hell of a day, and it’s time to unwind with a new friend, Old Forester.

Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Louisville, KY, USA
$22.99
50% / 100 Proof

Nose - I’m picking up some cherries on the front with some surprisingly smokey hints of charred oak and almonds, quite a bit earthier than what I was anticipating but quite sweet regardless.

Palette - Contrary to the cherried notes of the nose, I get a fat stack of honey as soon as the bourbon hits my tastebuds, then igniting into a firey cinnamon blaze that whips around a bit then melts into rich, sugary maple syrup, light in texture but ample in flavor.

Finish - Smooth on the way down and very easy to drink, it’s not overwhelming and certainly does bring a large amount of drinking quality to such a modest price tag. Notes of toasted oak and cherries stay with me on the finish for quite a long time.

Thoughts - Old Forester 100 has really changed my general outlook on what kind of quality to expect for a particular price mark. It’s not a perfect bourbon by any stretch, but it has a ton of kick and richness and really feels like an expectional whiskey for the very light price of $22 per 750ml bottle, where you are competing with the likes of Jack Daniels and friends. I wouldn’t classify it as a party drinker like old number 7, it’s more punctual and refined than something you’d want to shoot, but complex enough to offer itself for complicated or remarkable mixers without dropping double the price for a bottle of High West.

Overall - 6/10 - Complex and welcoming for the best price in town, a bourbon fiend’s daily drinker. Modest.

Makers Mark

Makers Mark has a lasting memory to me as the very first “high quality” bourbon I ever purchased. I still remember the day vividly, heading down to the Salt Lake Liquor store as a young 21-year-old nadsat, my typical vesche being a pick of Black Velvet, Canadian Mist, or - on a good and lucky occasion that I had a decent amount of cash in my wallet - a pint-size bottle of Wild Turkey 101. Things were quite different back then, but I still remember sitting in the window-laden foyer of my apartment in the Avenues, whose views of pale any suburbian decadence; To the East, the ringing bells and magnificent gargoyled spires of the Cathedral of the Madeline, and to the West, a hilltop view of the Mormon Mecca, the Salt Lake Temple standing with imposing clarity and marble brick masonry.

It was midsummer, our apartment had no AC and so the windows would all be cracked open, pants rolled up and shirt buttons open, and the smell of the city in summer poured in over the only way a recently legally drinking man can beat the heat; by pouring dram by dram into a scotch glass on the rocks. The Makers Mark provided to me, as I remember, a smooth and rocky textured taste that left me reminded of wet pavement after a drifting spring rain. Perhaps it was just a projection of what I was wishing for as an alternative to the relentless heat, but I still remember listening to the bells of Madeline on the weekday I had off, just past noon and surrounded by recently art projects.

This is the ultimate dream of many whiskey makers and drinkers alike; the ability of a single bottle to harken back to a memory, filled with beauty, even if drowned by melancholy. Makers Mark may be something of what I’d consider a now easily affordable bottle, but this review is long overdue for a whiskey that has such an intimate and close place in my consciousness and my heart.

Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
Loretto, KY, USA
$29.99
45% / 90 Proof

Nose - Instant hits of very thick, sweetened vanilla and mash bill corn rise from the fresh pour, with notes of peppercorn and tanned leather.

Palette - The aforementioned hits of stone wash come quickly to mind, but as my palette has developed over the years, Markers presents a whole slew of wider notes that I once may never have noticed. Honey and corn are both in vogue on the main body of the taste, with the malted texture of the nose coming through as well. Makers provides a good hit of rye spice and heat that sticks with the majority of the palette and through to the finish.

Finish - The finish also brings in notes of the nose, tanned leather and a peppery spice, settling in the chest with a vibrant and warming sensation. After some moments, the leather dies out and leaves a pleasant taste of honeysuckle and black pepper.

Thoughts - I have a colorful history with Marker’s Mark. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a pour to myself of the sweet nectar, but it does feel especially unique to me given all the various memories I have associated with it. You could say that it planted the seed of my admiration of Whiskey over any other spirit so long ago, and while I do give the credit more often to my darling whiskey - Wild Turkey 101 - Maker’s Mark lead me down a path of enjoying whiskey for the flavor and sensation of the drink over just shooting it down to get drunk. I even remember those first few drinks on the rocks, sitting in the sunroom of that beautiful apartment so many years ago, trying to pick out the nuanced flavors and notes that I would come to experience in full effect just some 7 years later. It doesn’t seem to long ago putting the number down in writing, but it truly is incredible how much I have experienced and changed since that day just a little over half a decade ago.

I would and have always recommended Maker’s Mark to those interested in learning more about classic bourbon flavors and opening their palettes to some of the more landmark whiskeys that are on the affordable end, providing a luxurious appearance to any whiskey bar or counter and giving a lot of flavors to boot. It may fall short in terms of luxurious experiences or wild tasting rides, but I don’t think that’s what makes Maker’s Mark special. I think Maker’s Mark is a whiskey built for making memories that will last for years to come, so vivid that you can close your eyes and feel yourself in that very same place and time.

8/10, a great budget intro to “real” whiskey flavors, making memories and having a good time.

Jura 18

Hello hello hello my dearest friends and readers! It’s been a long time, one of my longest pauses in review thus far I think. It’s unfortunate, but I simply haven’t had the capital to spend on picking up new bottles to talk about! That all changed recently as I have started up working on a few personal and freelance projects, one project in particular gave me my first ever actually what I deserved paycheck, with both parties satisfied in the end product. To celebrate my break-out debut freelance bit, I picked up one of the nicest bottles I could find on my way up north to a friend’s house for the weekend; While it wasn’t among the $300+ bottles behind the glass, it still stands as the most expensive bottle of whiskey I’ve ever owned, and I’m quite eager to tell you about it.

Jura 18 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Craighouse, Isle of Jura, Scotland
$130.00
44% / 88 Proof

Nose - Notes of tanned leather and brass, subtle hickory and peat smoke with a splash of brine and big breaths of sweet fruits, white grapes, and cinnamon.

Palette - The palette is initially incredibly mellow and smooth, vibrant white wine astringency and graped notes colliding with cinnamon and mixed wild berries coming in volumes before being eaten alive by a cascade of spice and sugary sweet-tooth heat.

Finish - Fiery hot at first with a quickly melting sensation of complex moods. A tinge of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, citrus zest, and peppery cigar smoke lay in harmony with lighter, fruitier blossoms along the edge of the tongue.

Thoughts - Jura 18 comes in as a suprisingly complex bottle with a lot of variables to offer. It reminds me a lot of my current favorite flavor of music, Jazz Rap, with it’s smooth and varied delivery of flavors and tones erupting with a medley of odds and ends, aromas and sensations whose piquancy denotes the extreme characteristics that can come from a whisky that is aged 18 years. Jura 18 provides what I would describe as an almost “ying-yang” presentation of the extremes of which flavors can go. Never before have I enjoyed a bottle that has such a mellow and sensational palette that turns to such a vibrant and explosive finish.

While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend running out to cop the bottle off of ever shelf you can find - you can certainly find a bottle just as intriguing and $40 less in the Lagavulin 16 - I’d say that I am quite pleased with the pick up and happy to have it on hand. As my first foray in to $120+ bottles, it was honestly a bit of a let down, for which I am unsure of it being either a fantastic built up expectation of “$100+” bottles being other-worldly, or if my palette simply still has room to grow. I’ll be hanging onto this bottle for a long time and taking on dram samples at a time, so perhaps time will tell, and I may revisit this review in the future.

6.5/10
Vibrant, extreme, complex, but perhaps over-priced.

Sugar House New Make Whiskey

This is a young spirit, a new make, fresh off the press from my dear friends at Sugar House Distillery. There’s not much to bounce around here, so let’s jump right into it!

Sugar House New Make Whiskey
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
~$29.99 - Only available at the Distillery shop
43% / 86 Proof

Nose - The nose for me comes in suprisingly pleasant, I must admit. It’s a bright and sweet medly of creamed corn, malted barely, and the classic “Sugar House Powder” taste I describe in most of their spirits, this lovely bright white sugar note that makes me think of sticking my nose in a sugar cube tray, all of which peters down with a hint of rye bread on the end.

Palette - As expected with a new make, ethanol comes off strong at the front of the New Make, but there are colorful nuances of sweet corn, marbled rye, and rain or river water. Further tasting brings in the subtle clinking and clanking of distillery piping and notes of metallic copper.

Finish - The finish is similar to a vodka finish, warm all the way down with nothing particularly remarkable coming in with the aftertaste, which should actually add a point to the experience of the new make, as it seems to deliberately cover it’s tracks as it settles.

Thoughts - When I spoke with James Fowler - the owner who, just through walk in I was able have a one on one tasting with - he warned me about the new make, likely due to me looking like a bit of a whiskey novice having a slight buzz on my way out, telling me that I might not enjoy it as much as their bottled whiskeys. And of course, he has good reason to say this; Whiskey gets about 90% of it’s flavor from the interaction the recipe has with the sugars and char of the barrel it rests in. But I think they New Make has something to say about the creativity and artistic mastery the boys at Sugar House have to offer, coming straight off the still and presenting a taste that is appreciable at the very least. It’s not bad; Sure, it’s an unfinished product, but it’s a fun little treat for whiskey connoisseurs to have a shot at, and maybe make a mixed drink out of if one has a high enough disdain for rum and vodka. Even more unique, I was able to get a bottle from the first batch of the stuff, which I think is super bad ass.

8/10 (for a new make)
It stands above the rest of the new make / light whiskey families as a bottle that shows the promise of Sugar House Distillery’s dedication to quality.