6/2008 OLD FORESTER KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKY (86 proof)
Booze trivia du jour: Why is Old Forester spelt "whisky" instead of whiskey"? Answer: Well, it might have something to with the fact that George Garvin Brown, the creator of OLD FORESTER, was descended from a Scotsman, and we know how the Scotch distillers prefer "whisky" to "whiskey."

Anyhoo, OLD FORESTER has been around in one form or another since 1870. You can get some sense of its rollicking history from here. One of it's big claims to fame is that OLD FORESTER was the first bourbon to be made available in sealed bottles. (Before the 20th-century, whiskey was sold directly from the barrel, and in an a range of vessels. Selling it in a sealed, labeled bottle sent consumers of the day a message, "This product is good and safe. It isn't snake oil.")

So many Bourbons are very sweet and, well, rather simple. OLD FORESTER is an interesting spirit. Scotch tipplers might find it worth a try. OLD FORESTER reportedly uses a higher percentage of rye than most other bourbons, and we believe it. The flavor is distinct; it hits the nose and palate with a rush of flavors: menthol, maple syrup, butter scotch, and orange peel, to cite a few. This whiskey is not particularly sweet, and it closes dryly. OLD FORESTER is a very nuanced Bourbon, and one that tastes like no others. Indeed, this happy encounter makes us want to try to the much ballyhooed 94 ("birthday") and 100 proof ("signature") versions of OLD FORESTER. (Rating ****1/4)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle of OLD FORESTER, click here. Otherwise, surf to http://www.oldforester.com/.

Labels: Bourbon, Kentucky, Old Forester, Whisky

 

5/2008 LAPHROAIG ISLAY SINGLE MALT WHISKY 10 YEARS
Ah, what was it --- five years ago? --- that we found ourselves at the LAPHROAIG distillery in Islay, peering over the water at Ireland in the misty distance. Ian Henderson, then the distillery manager, poured samples freely for a few of us, and entertained us with good chat. It was quite an experience.

We are where we are now, a very different place; yet, LAPHROAIG 10 (86 proof) remains delicious as ever. It is an iconic malt whisky; it can't be confused with any other. It is not, for sure, a whisky for novices. It explodes with flavor--- great layers of iodine beneath which lurk feint, sweet berry and honey flavors that can be glimpsed upon the swallow. Terrific-- do add just a couple of drops of water to a neat dram to enjoy it. (Rating *****)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle of LAPHROAIG, click here. Otherwise, check with the company that produces it, http://www.laphroaig.com/.

Labels: Laphroaig, Scotch - Single Malt, Scotland, Whisky

 

5/2008 JOHNNIE WALKER RED LABEL BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
As best we can tell, JOHNNIE WALKER RED LABEL has improved over the past ten years. It used to be a bit gassy. Now it is gentler, though we still recommended adding a few drops of water to open it up. It starts with a fat choclate or toffee note, then shows grainand a little smoke. Add a couple ice cubes and it becomes dangerously easy to drink. The tasting notes for this indicate that JOHNNIE RED LABEL's "main single malts" are CAOL ILA and TALISKER. When we sip JOHNNIE RED LABEL, the first whisky that comes to mind is BELL'S, a blend that features, yes, CAOL ILA. Chalk one up to the tongues at AlcoholReviews.com! (Rating ***1/2)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle of JOHNNIE WALKER RED LABEL, click here. Otherwise, check with the folks at http://www.JohnnieWalker.com.

Labels: Johnnie Walker, Scotch - Blended, Scotland, Whisky

 

5/2008 MAKER'S MARK KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKY
A few weeks back, we got a grumpy e-mail from a reader about a review we wrote about eight years ago. He groused that our 3.75 star rating was too high, that MAKER'S MARK tasted like "kerosene" and so forth. The complaints were made so obstreperously that they were hard to take seriously. None the less, we acquired a sample of MAKER'S MARK and decided to give it a sip. The result? This time around we noticed less vanilla and more menthol. For 90 proof, yes, this whisky is a little gassy. That's not necessarily a damnable trait, provided one can add a little water and make it softer. One can; three ounces of MAKER'S MARK plus one ounce of water yields a pleasant whisky. As a judge might put it, "Petitioner's claims lack merit; the appeal is dismissed." (Rating ***1/2)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle of MAKER'S MARK, click here. Otherwise, check with the folks at http://www.MakersMark.com.

Labels: Bourbon, Kentucky, Maker's Mark, Whisky

 

5/2008 JEFFERSON'S VERY SMALL BATCH STRAIGHT KENTUCKY BOURBON WHISKY
We enjoyed this 82.3 proof bourbon with a little water added to it, which seemed to release both corn and butterscotch notes. A good bourbon, and you can use the pretty bottle to store beans or what have you. (Rating ***1/4)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle, click here. Otherwise, check with the folks at http://www.CastleBrandsInc.com.

Labels: Bourbon, Jefferson's, Kentucky, McLain and Kyne, Whisky

 

4/2008 SAM HOUSTON KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKY
Well, the word is out-- AlcoholReviews.com's head honcho, Kevin R. Kosar, is writing a book on whiskey. So, surprise, surprise, waves of samples have been hitting our front door. Happy news, for certain, as so many of these products are quite good.

Take SAM HOUSTON BOURBON (85.6 proof), for example. A bottle can be had for $40 or less, and it provides great flavor for the buck. This full-bodied whisky (yes, this brand does spell it "whisky") has nice cereal and corn notes, and it finishes slightly dry. Add a little water and SAM HOUSTON BOURBON shows herbal and floral notes. Well done. (Rating ****)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle, click here. Otherwise, check with the folks at http://www.CastleBrandsInc.com.

Labels: and Kyne, Bourbon, Kentucky, McLain and Kyne, Sam Houston, Whisky