Nose: This one is very different from the rest. Much simpler, honestly smells like a very mineralized water, maybe some subtle notes of fruit.
Palate: Mmm, unexpected, mixture of tobacco and fruit, well balanced and straightforward.
Rating: 5 / 10
Nose: Saucisson. It’s all I can smell. A rich fattiness, nearly bone marrow. The resin part of the epoxy before adding the curing agent. Like hanging out with a friend wearing a slightly wet flannel who was smoking cloves outside. The longer it sat, the more I can feel the old woodshop dust from a project finished long ago. The smell of sharp nostalgia. But when I get past the raw ethel vibe, it’s wonderful.
Palate: I know the name is so suggestive it probably just drags me there, but the pine derby vibe is unmistakable. Marijuana tar. Cloves. I was in a bar recently where a few mixologists were practicing for the Spanish cocktail championships. They would never call themselves such a pretentious title, but the experiments that happened in front of my face were inspiring. One lady made me a molasses based mojito that was so earthy, with the tiniest hint of smoke. It was to be remembered. A hint of ephemeral honeysuckle.
Rating: 5 / 10 – The ethel vibe is strong, but once I get past it, both the nose and palate have something special. I’m nearly a 6 and as this smoothes out it should be something special.
Nose: Apple tree in bloom, kombucha and cider vinegar. Cigar tobacco vibe, licorice root.
Palate: Intense oak bomb. I feel like a termite. High proof but the alcohol only plays on the finish. Concentrated plum along the dr pepper spectrum. Almost a pepto bismol sweetness. I rarely say it’s too much, but tonight it’s too much.
Rating: 5 / 10 – timber.
Nose: Blackberry brambles, pear skin, sitting under a weeping willow, basil, ivy
Palate: Intense tannins, green earthy, unripe blackberry, more medicinal and herbal.
Rating: 5 / 10 – aggressive and tart, which I like but it’s too much. But blended with the Brandy varietal was stunning.
Nose: Omg this smells incredible. end of bloom roses, subtle strawberry/raspberry notes, fiberglass cloth, orchid moss. There is a fruit intensity that borders on the artificial you’d find in candy (gushers, jolly ranchers).
Palate: Glycerine hand soap, with a stone fruit and slight citrus peel finish…pine-sole, the mouth feel is interesting, more waxy and feels like you pick up on some of that bloom mentioned
Rating: 5 / 10 – the soapiness is just hard for me.
Nose: Grilled leeks. Big smoke. As a child I somehow conned my parents into believing that “fruit by the foot” was fruit leather and not just candy. Very American reference but live with it. Reminds me of the grape flavor and makes me think of a port cask. Red plums, more on the prune spectrum. Sweet spiciness. For years I would walk into Planet Fresh, brazenly stroll to the salsa bar (brilliant idea) where I would blend the pico de gallo with thai sweet chili hot sauce. I’d fill up a soda cup worth and walk out. A touch of sweet umami, peking duck sauce and szechuan. That smoke smells like when you overheat your immersion blender.
Palate: Smoke first, sweet second. Ginger snaps. yum?
Rating: 5 (Ryan) 7 (shane) / 10 – too deep in to rate this truly carefully, but it’s pretty damn solid. It’s a yum yummy yum yum.
Nose: Herbal, lemon verbena tea with honey
Palate: Pot de creme, yerba mate.
Rating: 5 / 10 – My father, who isn’t a spirit drinker declared it quite approachable. Zero complaints, and zero shits. Another whiskey for me to forget.
Nose: Pear skin, vanilla granola.
Palate: Light and bright. Pear and yogurt. Drizzle Wildflower honey. Sweet white wine vibe.
Rating: 5 / 10 – a perfectly acceptable whisky.
Nose: Cherry wood sawdust, gingerbread spice, rose water
Palate: Sour cherries, roasted almonds ginger, black peppercorn, quite thin and yet a good tartness.
Rating: 5 / 10 – a bit more character but lacks oomph
Nose: Butterscotch, cedar, touch of sulfur
Palate: Caramel, lemon peel, mongo white tea, sulfur.
Rating: 5 / 10 – too dirty sulfur for me but it’s an exciting pour.
Nose: Tomato vines, barq’s root beer candy, buttermilk , pickling spices, starved sourdough starter and orange marmalade, subtle dill herb, fresh basil and almond pesto butter / pan seared gnocchi. A very prominent oak haymaker.
Palate: Very bright and wood is super intense bringing loads of burning heat. A mouth drying astringency. If you can get past it, touches of chocolate, and a vanilla / cracked black peppercorn ice cream. I’ve got chili peppers drying on my windowsill and am days away from crumbling them into a paste. I hope they mature into something with this concentrated punch
Rating: 4 (Ryan) 5 (Shane) / 10 – Maybe better to have used tree 6 for a campfire, it was rather rude. But, as Ryan, says, it probably had a rough childhood and we shouldn’t judge it just based upon abrasive behavior during one night on a pub crawl.
Nose: White pepper, lemon pith, crushed red chili peppers
Palate: Sesame oil, slightly salty and green bell pepper. I smoked a cigar at a wedding yesterday and can still taste the tingle on my mouth.
Rating: 5 / 10 – I bet the peat lovers will trip on this, but I prefer bbq over ciggie. It lacks depth for me but I’m sure others will call it elegant.
Nose: Super light celeriac, banana bread, cake frosting, baking powder, anise seed, allspice, zucchini, cedar decking.
Palate: What a roller coaster ride of a palate, sweet on the fore palate and then whoooooaaaaaaoooooo sour then bitter the woody into over steeped tea and greens. Sour grass and unsweetened limaide. Chewing on grapefruit peel.
Rating: 5 / 10 – It’s like a sour patch kid. It’s barely drinkable, but attracts me with the call of a neurotic adventure junky. It’s just fun, but can hardly imagine reaching for this often, if ever.
Nose: Fresh leather, menthol, subtle lychee
Palate: Strong menthol, chicory coffee, dark chocolate covered espresso bean, and dandelion greens. Medical tape and gauze. Very woody, mouthfeel is tannic. A sulfur vibe I need to revisit once my sinuses are 100%
Rating: 4 (Ryan) 5 (Shane) / 10 – yup… sulfur. Ouch.
Nose: Freshly cut grass complete with the exhaust from a gas lawn mower, clay pottery, the brown bottle cap candy (root beer), fried green tomatoes with remoulade, incredibly ripe cantaloupe, bbq lighter fluid, green olives, sal de gusanito
Palate: A trip to the gas station, clay / limestone – strong minerality and earthiness – potting soil, intense chamomile tea, melon pear (which is actually a sweet and strange sour cucumber) slightly metallic finish, hickory, long long finish is subtle touch of tea tree
Rating: 5 (Ryan) 4 (Shane) / 10 – this is a fine pour and I quite like the nose. I wouldn’t turn it away if offered, but that’s about where it ends. It has a very environmentally unfriendly bent to it : )
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