Been a while since I enjoyed some Bowmore (about 15 years) and that was definitely too long. Just had some Bowmore 12 Year Scotch and it was delicious – why did I wait so long?

Nice smokey nose to it – like cherry wood with slight cigarette butt. Tastes of smooth nicely balanced whiskey – not too sweet. Finished with perfect – not subtle, but not too strong, smokiness. Very enjoyable. I rate this highly at an 84. Get some. Bob

A while back I enjoyed some 1792 Small Batch Bourbon. Its pretty decent stuff. Recently I had the benefit a bottle of the 1792 Bottled in Bond. This bourbon has to be aged at least 4 years; has to be made by a single distiller at a single distillery; has to be aged in a bonded warehouse; and, has to be bottled at 100 proof to be designated as Bottled in Bond.

In the 1800s there was a lot of whiskey being made under suspect conditions and with additives to alter flavor. The government required bottling in bond back then as a means to protect the consumer. 1792 Bottled in Bond’s flavor is less pronounced than the small batch, but it so smooth. Superior drinkability. No bite, just easy sipping. I rate it at 84.

Then I was blessed with a bottle of the 1792 Full Proof. Wow this is good. A flavor powerhouse that matches up with the big name expensive boubons. Wide array of caramel, stone fruit, citrus and other notes. Its smooth finish belies the fact that it is 125 proof. What a great boubon. Get yourself some of this. You won’t be sorry. I rate it at 94

Try the three 1792s and let me know what you think. Bob

A friend brought over a bottle of From Scratch Whiskey made by Scratch Distillery in Edmonds Washington.

In 2018 it was awarded the Double Gold for Best of the NW by Sip Northwest. A distinction that is deserve. This is a smooth dram and a solid whiskey. There is no corn in its mash. The nose is slight and smells of primarily alcohol. The taste starts out sweet then ends with the distinct woody taste of oak. The finish trails off to vanilla and toffee. I enjoyed this local craft whiskey. When you’re in Edmonds head to the distillery and grab some. Bob

Conor McGregor’s Proper Twelve Irish Whiskey has been excoriated by reviewers. Seems a lot of people don’t like it. I tried it this weekend and enjoyed it.

Perhaps I like it because I compared it to other Irish Whiskey, which in my opinion are not that great. Its color is a much deeper amber than most Irish Whiskey. It has a pleasant nose to it – like honey. The taste starts out like tasting of honey- sweet and has a decent mouthfeel. It hints of heat but that dissipates rapidly. It has a pleasant vanilla finish. You be the judge on this. Go out and get a bottle. Its reasonably priced. I am a McGregor fan. Bob

I had some Woodinville Whiskey several years ago and did not like it. At the time the whiskey tasted young, not developed and just not that good. Recently I tried Woodinville again and I was pleasantly impressed.

These guys are now really producing a top notch bourbon. They have been around for 10 years and the experience shows. The nose on this is dried cherries. The flavor starts sweet then develops into peppery spice. The finish is long and tastes of vanilla. Very enjoyable. I rate it at a high 80.

Bob

So I haven’t posted in quite some time. My apologies. But I had to break the drought to post about this one. Got this as a Christmas gift and it’s fantastic.

Sweet caramel nose and loads of flavor – dried stone fruit – with a hint of salt in the finish. This bourbon was purportedly placed on a ship and then voyaged to 5 different continents crossing the equator 4 times as it aged in barrels. The result is awesome. As indicated, there is a terrific slight saltiness to it, which is likely attributable to the ocean aging. Whatever magic they used on it – it worked. Ahoy! This is good stuff.

Went down to Oregon to babysit granddaughter Bibiana. Son-in-law Brandon set me up with a bottle of bourbon – Noble Oak.

This is a smooth dram. Nose hints of a newer bourbon but the flavor is pretty well developed with just a slight undertone of young. Solid caramel and oak flavors. Not hot. Easy sipper. The Noble Folks plant a tree with each bottle purchased too. I rate this at a good 78 (remember for me the 80s are way up there).

Jim Beam has Mila Kunis as its spokesperson – Wild Turkey ends up with Matthew McConaughey. How? Why? In any event, I am reviewing the McConaughey inspired Longbranch Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Wild Turkey does a decent job with this.

Smells woody – oak. The taste starts out sweet and tingles the tongue. The middle of the taste is earthy and presents minerality almost like graphite, but in a good way. It finishes with a sharp bite in the tip of the tongue that dissipates quickly with a long finish on the earthy aspects. I like it. I rate it at an 82.

Bob

Son-in-law brought over a bottle of the small batch Colonel E.H. Taylor bottle in bond bourbon.

This stuff is good. My taste buds bonded with it that’s for sure. It smells of vanilla and has deep vanilla and white chocolate flavor with a long and satisfying finish. Its bottled in “bond”. I had to educate myself on what that means. The salient points, as far as I can tell, are that it must be at least 4 years old, that it must be 100 proof (no more and no less), can only be mixed with pure water, that it can be made at only one distillery, and that it can be made only during one year calendar year. Regardless, this stuff is good and I give it a high rating at 88.

Bob

Had some Burnside Garryana Finished Oregon Oaked Bourbon.

Made here in the PNW and finished in Oregon Oak (Garryana). Smells like wood – you can really smell the Oregon Oak. And you can really taste it too. Very woody, but not in a bad way. Not sure I am a complete tree hugger here but this is a pleasant sipper. I rate it relatively high at 78.

Bob