Review #546; Scotch #180: Octomore 6yr (2014) Epione Renegade Sauternes Cask

This single cask come from former Bruichladdich CEO Mark Reynier. Launched in 2014, this 6 year old octomore was aged in an French oak / ex-sauternes cask. It had no color added and was non-chill filtered. ABV: 50% Nose: Wildflowers, green grapes, graham cracker, brine, faint vegetalness, Palate: Medium mouthfeel. Green grapes, metallic, vegetal peat, some brine, lemon […]

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Review #545; Bourbon #133: William Larue Weller (2020)

This BTAC bottling comes to us from Buffalo Trace distiller as part of their yearly limited release. A wheated bourbon, 2020’s offering comes in at 12.5 years old. Let us see how this offering holds up. ABV: 67.25% Nose: Strong Cherry, Vanilla Bean, tobacco leaf, Dark chocolate, black pepper, Palate: Thick oily mouthfeel. Heavy cherry, tannins, tobacco leaf,

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Review #544: Scotch #179: Arran 21yr Explorers Series 3 Kildonan & Pladda Island

This LE release comes to us from Arran. This was aged for 21 years in in Sherry butts and puncheons before being finished for an undisclosed amount of time in ruby Port Casks. This was bottled at cask strength. ABV: 50.4% Nose: Dark fruits, figs, plums, Raspberry, Breadiness, nutmeg, black pepper, allspice. Palate: Thick oily mouthfeel, heavy dark

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Review #541; Scotch #178: The Famous Grouse Smokey Black

This blend, occupying the feared bottom shelf, is a super budget blended scotch. A rebrand of the former Black Grouse, it is like The Famous Grouse, but has an addition of peated malt to it. Let’s dive in. ABV: 40% Nose: Vanilla, faint ash, raspberry, apple, very faint smoke. Palate: Light mouthfeel, raspberry, vanilla, faint fig, slight smoke.

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Review #537; Bourbon #132: Charles Magnus Murray Hill Club

This comes to us from Jos. A. Magnus and is a blend of bourbons aged 18 and 11 years, and a light whiskey aged 9 year. Sources from un-disclosed distilleries, let’s see how well they chose this blend. ABV: 51.5% Nose: Toffee, Vanilla Frosting, slight buttery popcorn, faint black pepper. Palate: Medium buttery mouthfeel. Vanilla Frosting, light black

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