Review: Wild Turkey Rye (101 Proof)

Wild Turkey Rye is readily available, but production on the 101 proof version was halted last year in favor of an 81 proof offering. Translation: "People are buying rye a lot more than they used to, let's find a way to sell more NOW". Hence the lower proof and similar price. Sadly there wasn't the same outcry that came following the Maker's Mark 90-to-84 proof fiasco so it looks like the 81 proof is here to stay. If the 101 version is released again in the future it will probably be labeled "special", "limited" or something like that to merit a price increase. Whiskey politics aside, I was a fan of the 101 Rye as a great mixer for cocktails, but how does it taste on its own?

Wild Turkey Rye 101 Proof - Tasting Notes

Wild Turkey Rye Whiskey - 101 Proof

Nose: cinnamon bubble gum & mint at the start. After some time it smells considerably sweeter (oranges & cherries) with leather in the background.
Palate: honey/floral sweetness, black licorice and oak. The rye shows itself here as well and plays nicely with each of the other elements.
Finish: subtle spice is present throughout with light smoke, oak, mint & vanilla. Fairly long finish.

Proof: 101 (50.5% ABV)
Price: ~$25

Turns out this whiskey makes a great sipper as well as a great cocktail. While I haven't seen much on the 81 proof, I'd be surprised if that packed as much flavor into it as the 101 proof expression. For some reason, I had always thought of Wild Turkey as a subpar whiskey but all of their juice I've tried thus far has been good... so I stand, and sip, corrected.

Wild Turkey Rye Rating: 8.4/10

Review: Jefferson's Presidential Select Bourbon - 18 Year

Jefferson's Presidential Select Bourbon is one of the last bottlings from the famed Stitzel-Weller distillery before it closed its doors. This is the same distillery that used to bring us Van Winkle bourbon, so with that type of association Jefferson's 18 is highly regarded. From everything I've read, the Jefferson's 18 uses the same recipe as Van Winkle as well... so if you can't find that elusive bottle of Pappy, try to hunt down one of these - you won't be disappointed.

Jefferson's Presidential 18 Year - Tasting Notes

Jefferson's Presidential Select - 18 Year

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, spiced oak... great nose on this - very sweet. There is probably a lot more here that I am missing, but those 3 notes jumped out at me.
Palate: Silky smooth on the palate, very sweet and buttery... almost like a blackberry or blueberry jam followed by light cinnamon spice
Finish: Very light leather and oak before vanilla quickly returns and stays around for a long time.

Proof: 94 (47% ABV)
Price: ~$95

This is a great wheated bourbon that still seems to be available if you can find the right shop. It's definitely a favorite in my collection and some have even gone so far as to call it 18 year old single barrel Pappy. A really enjoyable dram for special occasions or if you'd just like to treat yo self!

Jefferson's Presidential Select 18 Year Rating: 9.3/10

Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or 12 Year Review

Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or takes the standard 10 year expression then matures the scotch in Sauternes casks for an additional 2 years, hence the 12 years on the bottle. As an uneducated wine drinker, my first question was - what is Sauternes?? Basically, it's a sweet white wine (I'm sure wine aficionados everywhere are cringing). If you're looking for more info, check out the wikipedia Sauternes page.

Glenmorangie 12 Year Nectar D'Or - Tasting Notes

Nose: Honey, strong citrus and light spice notes
Palate: A sweet, smooth start. The added sweetness from the Sauternes really shines here with some sweetened grape flavors. A nice creamy lemon taste shows it's face as well.
Finish: Sugary grapes remain at the forefront with malt and sweet citrus notes underneath. After some time, the lemon zest becomes a bit more prominent along with some light spice.

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Price: ~$60

This essentially takes the Glenmorangie Original and dials up the sweetness. The sauterenes casks mingle quite well with the Original and produce a very enjoyable scotch. This would go great after dinner as a liquid dessert that offers a little punch.

Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or 12 Year Rating: 8.7/10

Glenmorangie Original 10 Year Review

Glenmorangie is one of the "big three" when it comes to global single-malt scotches. While it doesn't sell as much as Glenlivet or Glenfiddich (which can be found in just about every store liquor is sold - including grocery stores and places like CVS) it is still readily available in the vast majority of retailers. The distillery is located in Tain, Ross-shire, Scotland and (fun fact alert!) has the tallest stills in Scotland.

Glenmorangie 10 Year The Original - Tasting Notes

Nose: Honey, malt, sweet oak, lemony citrus and light floral notes
Palate: Very smooth entry, with none of the notes on the nose taking the forefront. Very rich mouthfeel with great balance between sweet, floral, oak and citrus
Finish: Much like the palate, a very smooth finish that shows the malt with fruity-appley highlights. Medium length.

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)
Price: ~$40

Just a very reliable pour. This seems to have a little more balance and diversity than the other more popular glens (Livet & Fiddich) and I'd likely pick it as the favorite and a tri-Glen battle royale. As far as introductory single malts go, this is a great pick. While it isn't overly aggressive with any single characteristic it is just a great whiskey experience from start to finish.

Glenmorangie Original 10 Year Rating: 8.5/10

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Review

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Bourbon

My first Van Winkle review takes a look at the Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year bourbon (107 proof). Not sure what else I can write about this bourbon as it is likely the most heavily reviewed and discussed whiskey on the web. If you are new to the bourbon game, you probably are at least aware of the Van Winkle name. If you are a veteran, you are likely tired of hearing about it. Personally I think it is a great bourbon, but the amount of work that typically goes in to finding a bottle isn't worth it. And most bars/restaurants that carry it gouge the hell out of the price. Knowing all of this, I pretty much never drink it when I'm not at home and I probably won't burn any calories fighting the hordes for a bottle during its spring and fall releases. Think Wal-Mart on Black Friday or trying to exit the arena after a sold out game... way more people around than you want, there's a chance it could get ugly and you will likely walk away disappointed with the experience. Ok, enough of that... how is the sauce?

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year 107 Proof - Tasting Notes

Nose: buttered corn, burnt sugar, prunes, maple syrup, a little butterscotch, light spice and oak
Palate: sweet entry that starts smooth and transitions to a bit of spice and some heat from the alcohol. There is a little oak and char towards the end.
Finish: light char and oak, lingering toasted marshmallow and spice. My mouth is still watering a good minute or two after sipping, the finish definitely sticks around for a while.

Proof: 107 (53.5% ABV)
Price: ~$45

For all the hype, I almost don't want to like this bourbon, but good juice is good juice. Allegedly the 10 year is easier to find than the Van Winkle that gets the name "Pappy" bestowed upon it (15, 20 & 23 year), though I haven't found this to be the case. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the other ORVW 10 year which checks in at 90 proof. From what I have read it's flavor is pretty much the same as this bottle, just not as concentrated - as one would expect. With that being said, the 90 proof is tougher to find and I think they may just be producing the 107 proof now. Enough of my ranting... overall this is a solid pour. If you can find a bottle for around $50 or better you should pull the trigger.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Rating: 8.8/10

Singleton 12 Year of Glendullan Review

The Singleton of Glendullan 12 Year single malt scotch was recommended to me when I was looking for an accessible single malt with a bit more distinction than Glenlivet/Glenfiddich. While my experience with scotch is somewhat limited, I was looking to find something other than what might be found in a supermarket liquor aisle. Luckily, this is right in the price range of some of the more readily available single malts and can be found in most states. It is a Speyside scotch aged in bourbon and sherry casks that was introduced to the US in the Fall of 2008 (via drinkhacker.com).

Singleton of Glendullan 12 Year - Tasting Notes

Singleton of Glendullan Single Malt Scotch

Nose: Crisp green apples, honey, light smoke, raisin and floral notes.
Palate: The floral and apple notes really shine here with a minimal amount of oak in the background. The experience on the palate is quite similar to the nose
Finish: Very smooth, with light smoke and almost a cider-like flavor after some time

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Price: ~$40

While I have a few other characteristics listed, the predominant flavor with this scotch is green apple and crisp fruit. The nose and palate are teeming with this, while the finish is fairly soft and quick. This isn't an overly complex scotch, nor will it wow many seasoned whisky drinkers. However, I'm a big fan of this bottle. I've given it as a gift, and if I have a friend try scotch who is hesitant, I'll likely break out the Singleton. Just a very pleasant, inoffensive entry-level single malt.

Singleton 12 Year Scotch Rating: 8.4/10

WL Weller 12 Year Review

WL Weller 12-year is a wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace. Its two baby brothers (also wheated) are Weller Special Reserve and Old Weller Antique. While the Weller is the most expensive of the bunch, it has been under $30 every time I have seen it, which makes it a pretty good value for a bourbon of this age. While finding this isn't impossible, it does dry up from time to time. Additionally, it's not found in all states (of course, and sadly, my state of Michigan does not sell it).

WL Weller 12 Year Old Bourbon

WL Weller 12 Year - Tasting Notes

Nose: If you have a sweet tooth (or a sweet nose) this will please you. It initially hits with some heavy sweetness and spice underneath. As the spice fades, burnt sugar becomes more prominent.
Palate: Right in line with nose with the addition of subtle oak. The palate has sweetness from start to finish with spice coming and going.
Finish: Not as sweet as I would have anticipated; the spice and oak are predominant. The sweetness isn't gone, it's just not as forward as it is on the nose and entry.

Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
Price: ~$26




I'm typically a fan of wheated bourbons and this is no exception. I like this much more than the Weller Special Reserve and the Old Weller Antique. It's much smoother and sweeter than those and makes for a very accessible sipper. If you have a friend you want to introduce to bourbon, and who likes their alcohol on the sweeter side, this will probably make a good first impression.

WL Weller 12-Year Bourbon: 8.6/10

Elijah Craig 12 Year Review

For this tasting, we take a look at the Elijah Craig small batch 12 year bourbon. Elijah Craig was an 18th century baptist preacher who some claim was the originator of bourbon. While this is up for debate, he was likely one of the pioneers of bourbon. See what the distiller of this whiskey has to say at the official Heaven Hill site.

Elijah Craig 12 Year - Tasting Notes

Elijah Craig 12 Year Small Batch Bourbon

Nose: Fairly subtle, but some complexity in the form of buttery spice, dried apple, banana and vanilla.
Palate: Initial light sweetness, followed by oak and a little anise, thick/chewy
Finish: Warming oak, but not hot or spicy... almost a little nutty, malty and earthy

Proof: 94 (47% ABV)
Price: ~$24

This is one of the more accessible and readily available well-aged bourbons. Coming in at a price of $24 is impressive as well. In a time when whiskey prices seem to be continuously rising, the Elijah Craig 12 Year offers a great value. While not overly complex, this is a very drinkable and enjoyable bourbon for casual and experienced whiskey drinkers alike.

Elijah Craig 12-Year Bourbon: 8.2/10