Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Ice Cask

Anyone who has read this blog since the early days may remember that, in the early days, I occasionally had a probably-ill-advised propensity to compare certain whiskies to hockey players… I’m well past that now!

However, as a hockey and whisky fan, I was certainly intrigued when, a few years back, I discovered that the Great One himself was involved in a Canadian distillery. I’m actually surprised that I haven’t yet reviewed any of the offerings from Wayne Gretzky Distillery since more than a few bottles of Red Cask and Maple cask have seen the inside of my cupboard!

This review, however, is for the Ice Cask offering. From what I have read online, this whisky is crafted from a grain bill of rye, malted rye and corn and then aged for 3 years in ex-bourbon before a 4 month finishing in ice wine casks from the company’s own wineries. I am not a huge fan of ice wine but I can’t think of a more Canadian style of wine, so I was intrigued about the influences it might impart on the spirit. This whisky is bottled at 41.5% abv and cost me about $60 CAD at my local bottle shop.

To the Eye

Rather bourbon-like in appearance with its orange-copper hue. The legs on this dram are moderate but don’t really cling to the glass much as they speed down the sides of my Canadian Glencairn.

In the Nose

The initial impression I get from the breezes above my glass are those of a classic Canadian rye. Butterscotch and cereal grains with a bit of dusty hay and the distinct floral note of malted rye berries. I also sense a nice vanilla note. With a bit of work I also find a whiff of baking spices and ginger. (There a good chance that my sniffer is still not operating at full capacity after COVID!)

On the Tongue

Okay, this is interesting! It’s definitely a youngish but high quality rye however it’s my opinion that, not unlike an Islay scotch, a youthful exuberance sometimes allows the spicy complexity of the rye grain to really sing. On the palate, this whisky is spicy and fruity and floral all at once with specific notes of spearmint, dates and that lovely malted rye note. But there’s more: cocoa, caramel and a hint of filberts. I also pick up a grapey-winey note that is obviously from the ice wine but mildly reminiscent of port. There’s a lot going on and it is lovely!

The finish is surprisingly long! Distinct bourbon notes of vanilla and popcorn linger, along with a slight grape-skin dryness that reminds me of grappa. As these flavours fade, I’m left with a sensation of brown sugar and milk chocolate that seems to stick around until my next sip, regardless of how much patience I exercise.

Final Thoughts

This is a terrific whisky! As mentioned near the start, I’m quite familiar with other offerings from this brand but the Ice Cask definitely levels-up for me! If you enjoy Canadian rye whiskies and/or if you’re looking for something new and just a bit unusual to challenge your taste buds, I don’t think you can go wrong with a dram or two of his one!

I’ve given this whisky my “Damn Good!” rating. I’m not yet prepared to say Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Ice Cask is the Great One but I can definitely see this whisky becoming a favourite!

Glendalough Double Barrel

Once again, I’ve been on quite a hiatus from posting reviews. This time, though, I have a reasonable excuse. You see, I was all set with a number of new bottles purchased and ready to go… and then I ended up testing positive for COVID-19 on March 15th.

So what, right?! It seems that we’re all going to end up getting it, wouldn’t you agree?!

For me, the infection itself was not pleasant- a couple days with a wicked headache, several days of miserable body aches and general fatigue – but fortunately it was relatively mild. However, it was the lingering effects that kept me from reviewing whiskies for so long because it’s awfully difficult to comment on the nuances of the Uisge Beatha absent your senses of taste and smell!

About a week after my quarantine period had ended, I realized that I wasn’t smelling the pungent lemongrass-ginger hand soap that my wife stocks our house with. And sure enough, I soon discovered that I wasn’t really able to smell anything at all! My sense of taste was not diminished so dramatically but I definitely lost my ability to fully detect sweetness. (Fruit tasted terrible!) So, for the past two months, even though I’d indulge in a dram every now and again, I had no confidence that I was enjoying everything my glass had to offer.

So I have waited… for about two months! And I do believe my senses have returned. I’m not entirely sure they’re fully back, mind you, but neither am I sure when I will be able make that assertion, so I figured I might as well get back on the horse, as it were!

Here’s the whisky I had planned to review first: Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whisky, which I believe to be a single grain whisky. There is no age statement but the label asserts that the liquid has been aged in Bourbon barrels for three years before being and finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. It’s bottled at 42% abv. I spent just under $50 for this bottle.

To the Eye

Bright, almost sunny gold with flashes of a deeper butterscotch. When I do make my customary twirl of the glass, the resulting sheen crests dramatically before releasing moderate tears that trail rather thin, speedy legs.

In the Nose

Okay here goes… Malt and some other cereals, a distinct grape character and perhaps some subtle orchard fruits too. I also pick up a hint of vanilla and a bit of oak but that’s about it.

On the Tongue

There is more going on with the palate than the nose suggested… at least for me and my dulled senses! The first thing that jumps out to me is the creamy, almost buttery mouthfeel of this whisky, which also seems to carry a salty sensation of the freshly churned butter I enjoyed at my Grandma’s as a child. This is paired nicely by vanilla and a custard-like sweetness that transitions to orange marmalade. The finish is shortish but very nice as oak lingers before fading away with a flourish of almonds and a distinct dried-fruit sherry note. Good stuff!

Final Thoughts

I’m still an Irish Whisky neophyte and I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this bottle. (To be honest, I was drawn in by the attractive label!) Nevertheless, I’m glad that I selected it as it’s a dram that proves yet again that a whisky needs to be neither old or single malt to be quite delicious! It’s not super complex but, in my opinion, perfectly suited as a quality “daily sipper”!

If you’re familiar with this whisky, I’d love to hear if you also found it to be a bit basic on the nose or if my review proves my guess that my senses are still not at 100%.

A Wee Dram… Flight of Alberta Premium

First off, this is not just A wee dram… it’s another trio of wee drams!

This is something that I’ve been thinking about for some time – doing side-by side tastings and mini-reviews of some Canadian whiskies from one of my favourite distilleries, Alberta Distillers Ltd, which is located in Calgary, just a few hours south of my home!

These are all whiskies that I’ve previously reviewed in more in-depth fashion, but I thought it would be fun to progress through the range that currently exists in my cabinet. For this experiment, I nosed the whiskies in order, and then back, and followed the same process for tasting before finally spending a few moments with each one – comparing it against the others as needed. My previous tasting notes and reviews were not consulted for this process but I did look at them before writing my “final thoughts”.

Pouring today:

Alberta Premium Canadian Rye Whisky

Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye

Alberta Premium – Aged 20 Years

I didn’t open the 30yo… that one is being saved for a special occasion!

Let’s get to it!

Stating with the flagship offering, bottled at 40% abv… On the nose, it’s a clean, classic rye profile, with dusty rye grain and a sweet, buttery character. Lots of vanilla and, of course, that slightly yeasty quality that I find in all AP whiskies! The palate is dominated by caramel and butterscotch, with a nice grainy rye spice. Short, clean finish.

The cask strength AP (66% abv), unsurprisingly, has a much more robust aroma. It’s certainly similar but the rye, while still classically dry and spicy, also has a noticeably fruity quality about it and there is a more assertive oak note. The buttery quality is toned down and replaced with more spice. On the tongue, the amped up abv is apparent, delivering an assault of classic rye flavours and an astringent taste of black currants. Spicy, oak-infused and delicious. The finish on this whisky is much longer than the first one, with lingering menthol and pencil shavings that eventually fade into a pink-bubblegum flourish. The longest finish in the flight!

And on to today’s old boy – the AP 20, which is bottled at 42% abv. Again, the distillery’s signature profile is discernible, but the wood and rye berries are dialled up significantly. I’m also noticing a soapy aroma that I had not previously detected. Pine and licorice-fennel scents are also evident. This is the most interesting nose of the three drams. On the palate, a strong flavour of walnuts and a half-sweet butterscotch accompany the rye spice. The finish is on the medium-long side, with hot cinnamon hearts and green chilies.

Final Thoughts

I don’t usually write sections like this for my “Wee Dram…” posts, but it feels right to do so this time. This was a fun exercise! It was very interesting to thoughtfully compare these whiskies against each other and it was super interesting to discover how differently each dram tasted, when sampled after one or the other of its teammates. (For example, the cask strength came across with far more rough edges when tasted after the 20yo and it tasted utterly amazing after the regular AP.)

It was also very interesting to re-read my previous reviews after writing the bulk of this post. I found that most of the aromas and flavours that I teased out today were included in those three in-depth reviews but, somewhat surprisingly, I didn’t necessarily find them in the same whiskies, when sampled head-to-head. I suppose this is evidence of a consistent distillate and perhaps speaks to how the differences among the threes drams affected my senses between nosings and tastings.

At the end of the day, the AP Cask Strength was my favourite of the three drams. This isn’t all that surprising, since I’ve had a couple more bottles of that one work their way through my cupboard over the past couple of years. That said, they are all very good Canadian whiskies that, in my opinion, offer tremendous value in each of their intended markets.

Alberta Premium 20 Year Old

So I have this idea that I’ve been kicking around for a “Wee Dram” post… I hope to get that done in the not too distant future! How’s that for a teaser? (I’m sure that both of my readers are quite beside themselves with anticipation at the moment!)

Well, partially in preparation for that idea, I was flipping through some of my old posts.

Where is my Alberta Premium 20 Year Old review?

Did I do AP20 as a Wee Dram post?

Well, come on now… Where the hell is it?

I guess I haven’t done a review for Alberta Premium 20 Year Old!

This is a whiskey that I stumbled upon several years ago. During a beer-stop on my way to visit my brother-in-law, I noticed a display of AP20 on sale for something ridiculous like $40! Knowing that Alberta Premium makes great whisky and being a particular fan of their 30 Year Old, I had to try it and picked up a couple on the spot. Since that time, I’ve had a few bottles make their way through my cupboard… hence my disbelief that I hadn’t already written a review… that must have been during my lengthy hiatus from the blog!

Anyway, this whisky currently costs me about $75 CAD. It’s bottled at 42% abv.

To the Eye

The carton notes state that this whisky is aged in charred oak barrels – no mention of ex-bourbon or anything, so I assume that the deep, rich caramel-honey that I’m looking at is just the result of wood and time. A twist of my Canadian Glencairn produces a curtain that eventually releases thick tears and very stubborn legs.

In the Nose

It’s all Alberta Premium… but somewhat more elegant! Typical dusty grass notes are revealed to certainly be rye by the lovely berry notes. Caramel and vanilla abound, in a distinct butterscotch-sort of character. I often catch a whiff of yeasty bread in Alberta Premium products and I find it here too. Fragrant wood – almost sandalwood – also makes an appearance.

On the Tongue

All at once this is the taste of Canadian whisky dialled up to eleven! The creamy, almost oily mouthfeel delivers early flavours of toffee and peppery rye spice. A rye bread quality develops before erupting with a kaleidoscope of green chilies, cedar shavings, menthol and citrus pith. These bitter flavours are nicely matched by floral rye berries and baking spices. The finish is surprisingly long for a Canadian dram, with Terry’s orange-milk chocolate flavours developing along with the cedar turning to maple and a capsaicin end-note that just lingers on and on!

Final Thoughts

I love it! if I had my way, I’d wish for a slightly more assertive and complex nosing experience… but that’s pretty typical for drams produced here in the Great White North. At any rate, this is what 100% rye grain Canadian whisky is supposed to taste like! We’ll done, Alberta Premium!

Roe & Co. Irish Whiskey

I don’t drink much Irish Whiskey…

To this point, I’ve only reviewed two other drams from the Emerald Isle: Jameson and Proper No. 12. Well, I guess it’s time for another and, since three is a magic number, I guess it’s time to create a category on this site for Irish drops. (I suppose I’ll have to try to review more sooner than later!)

As I’ve mentioned before, compared to Canadian, Scottish and American, there aren’t usually as many Irish whiskeys on the shelves here in Alberta. But I have noticed the number of different offerings increasing – especially in the big city liquor stores, but also in my smaller hometown bottle shops. Anyway, I noticed Roe & Co. Irish Whiskey at my favourite shop, recently, a few visits ago and something about the bottle must have been particularly attractive to me because I couldn’t take my eyes off it the next couple times I popped in. Well as I said, three is a magic number, and the third time I saw it, I decided I had to have it!

From what I have gathered, Roe & Co. is a combination of malt and grain whiskeys that have been aged in bourbon casks, which always scores points with my palate! I believe that Roe & Co. is currently sourced and blended from Diageo’s vast arsenal. On their website, their lineup consists of a variety of proofs, age statements as well as single malt and grain offerings, but this entry-level whiskey is the only one I have so far seen in my stomping grounds. It is marketed as a high-end cocktail whiskey but, since I rarely drink cocktails, let’s see if it can be enjoyed neat! This whiskey is bottled at 45% abv and cost me about $45 CAD.

To the Eye

This is a bright, coppery coloured dram. It’s not quite like bourbon, but the dark-honey and orangish flashes definitely suggest a bourbon influence. A tilt and swirl leaves my Glencairn coated with big, reluctant tears and thick legs.

In the Nose

Subtle but inviting… The first impressions are of malty biscuits and a sweetness that hints of toasted marshmallow. Mandarin oranges and a floral note that brings clover blossoms to my mind. Oak and vanilla, again revealing the bourbon casks used in the aging regime. Further nosing also reveals a bit of dry, grassy hay and a bit of candied ginger.

On the Tongue

Similar to the nose, actually. It’s a light-bodied dram, with sweet, malted-milk candies balanced nicely with more bitter flavours of citrus pith and oak. Bourbony flavours of caramel and vanilla and that floral note also weave throughout the entire experience. It’s a relatively straightforward palate but also quite delicious!

At first blush, the finish is shortish, with pretty much everything but the caramel and that floral note fading away with a dry astringency. As I have pondered my tasting notes a few times now, however, I have noticed that when I resist the call of that dryness to take another sip, a very discernible honey-flavour develops on the tongue. Patience is a virtue and one that will reward you with this whiskey!

Final Thoughts

I don’t know if I’ve ever described a whisky in this way, but Roe & Co. is whisky refreshing! I can definitely see myself enjoying a dram with ice, on my deck and under the sun in the summertime!

I don’t know how or why such a gentle whiskey with subtle aromas and flavours would be marketed as a mixer, but I don’t drink cocktails, so what do I know! I do quite like this dram, however, and I’m sure this won’t be the last bottle of Roe & Co. that finds a home in my cupboard!

Tullibardine The Murray – 2018 Marsala Cask Finish

This beautiful package was a birthday gift from my buddy, Richard. As usual, Richard’s gifts are rather impressive-looking and typically excellent whiskies. Why would this one be any different?

I am not yet all that familiar with Tullibardine malts and I don’t recall previously sampling one finished in Marsala wine casks, so it was exciting to receive this bottle as a gift. The carton explains that this particular whisky is named after Sir William Murray, the second Marquis of the village from which the distillery takes its name. Although not given an age statement, it is indicated that this dram was distilled in 2006 and bottled in 2018, so I guess it’s safe to consider this an 11- or 12-year old whisky. The carton further describes the exclusive use of first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished in Marsala casks. Colour me intrigued!

This whisky is bottled at 46% abv and, as a gift, I have no idea or interest in the price tag.

To the Eye

I don’t often comment on the packaging of a whisky, preferring to focus on the product inside the bottle, but this is a nice presentation! The carton is levelled up, compared to most 12 year old whiskies, and the interior is embossed with beautiful floral patterns that are apparently inspired by carvings at Scotland’s oldest chapel, at Tullibardine. From the gold and purple label to the black velvet interior of the box, it’s an impressive bottle to pull out of the cabinet!

As for the actual dram, it’s a rich, golden whiskey that shows flashes of copper and orange, belying the influence of the bourbon-barrel aging regime. The liquid appears noticeably viscous and it thickly coats my class, producing considerable legs and tears.

In the Nose

Surprisingly, a biscuity aroma of malted barley jumps out in front but it’s followed closely by a veritable fruit salad. Apples and pears dominate… pear peel, actually. Sweet cream and some bourbon notes create a nice sensation of vanilla milkshake, with a hint of cinnamon joining the parade.

On the Tongue

Every time I sample this bottle, the first sip is just delicious! Due to my appreciation for bourbon, and my love for bourbon-aged single malts, this isn’t a surprise. As that first sip fades and subsequent ones follow, however, The Murray reveals a myriad of additional flavours. Relatively sweet flavours of shortbread, creamy Werther’s caramels, blackberries and currants sum things up fairly nicely but there are also countered by bitter flavours of citrus pith and dark chocolate. There is also an interesting herbal note that reminds me of fresh basil wandering around in there.

The finish is quite long, with bourbony baking spices, orange peel and oak notes lingering. There is a salty quality about the finish as well, which begs me to take another sip. Overall, It’s a nicely balanced, well-composed dram!

Final Thoughts

Good stuff… really good, actually! I don’t know a lot about Marsala and I’m not sure what qualities of this dram should be chalked up to the wine-finish, but it’s a tasty and interesting drop! I will definitely purchase this for myself once this gifted bottle is gone!

Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

For years, this whisky was one of my “secret weapons” of a sort…

The first time I ever sampled Glenmorangie’s golden nectar, was many years ago when a bonus sample bottle of the stuff was included in the carton of the standard 10 year old bottling. That first taste told me a lot – especially that it was a delicious expression that I estimated would be appealing to a number of my dramming pals.

We’ll imagine my surprise – here’s where the “secret weapon” part comes in – when I discovered that a full 750 mL bottle of this Sauternes-finished whisky came in a beautiful, display-type carton and that the price tag was still relatively in line with other quality 12 year old single malts! It almost seemed too good too good to be true and I knew that I had a go-to gifting whisky… one that would immediately impress most of my beginner and novice scotch-drinking pals but also one that they would enjoy consuming.

Over the years, I’ve gifted more bottles of this whiskey than I can count on both hands and it has been a hit each time. Surprisingly, however, I think I’ve only purchased it for myself a couple of times, despite really appreciating the malt. We’ll, that changed recently when I decided to treat myself and, while perusing the scotch section at one of my favourite bottle shops, I saw Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or in regular old run-of-the-mill cardboard cartons! I was dismayed, knowing my old-faithful gifting whisky had taken a small step backward in terms of the “wow-factor” packaging. However, as my gaze drifted around and toward the uppermost shelf, I noticed one last familiar, beautiful carton…

I bought myself this gift for roughly $90 CAD and the whisky inside is bottled at 46% abv.

Lovely, don’t you think?!

To the Eye

Deep, rich gold with flashes of both brighter and darker gold… it looks very much like Cuban honey. (And many other honeys, for that matter!) A twist of my Glencairn produces moderate legs.

In the Nose

Immediately spicy but not pungent, it reminds me of a how bouquet of lilies scents a room. Nutmeg and cardamom, peppercorns, orange marmalade and a subtly tropical aroma as well. Time in the glass reveals a biscuity shortbread sensation as well.

On the Tongue

That cardamom aroma comes through on the palate in a very distinct way for me, kind of similar to many other baking spices yet distinct in a uniquely floral way. Honeycomb and citrus pith and a slight hint of fresh lemon zest. There is also delightful, slightly bitter nuttiness that leaves me indecisive whether it’s leaning closer to almonds or walnuts. Oak is gentle, but it’s there.

The finish is long! Some of those spices stick around with a bit of cocoa powder. Lingering citrus and oak fades into to an awesome slate, mineral-like quality. In some ways I’m left contemplating Grappa, or maybe a very dry white wine… whatever it is, there a certain grape-ness about it.

Final Thoughts

For me, few whiskies remain as composed from nose to finish as the Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or. It’s never overly complex but also never boring… it’s just flat-out delicious! Even though it appears that the stepped-up presentation is a thing of the past, this is definitely still a dram that I will feel confident to present as a gift and one I will continue to enjoy myself!

A Wee Dram… Old Pulteney 12

My friends and I gift a fair amount of whisky amongst ourselves… I imagine this sounds familiar to most people who would be reading and/or writing blog posts such as this!

One of my good friends has always been a bit more of a rum drinker but, over the years, he’s definitely expanded his repertoire into the world of whisky. We’ll, he celebrated his birthday recently so I dropped off a bottle of Old Pulteney and couldn’t resist when he invited me in for a quick pour.

As you can see, my buddy had been celebrating in earnest!

I had chosen this whisky because, in my experience, it would be an easy-drinking dram that a novice scotch drinker should enjoy and it seemed to turn out that I chose wisely.

Old Pulteney displays as a classic, honey-gold highland dram. The dominant aromas were gentle honey, vanilla and oak with an interesting herbal-tea quality. On the palate, assertive oak gave way to lots of caramel and a “Dad’s Cookie” cereal biscuit character. The finish seemed shortish, with sawdust, citrus zest and mint. Throughout my glass, I searched unsuccessfully for the briny, maritime note that I remembered this whisky to once have had…

Completely safe and inoffensive and my buddy said he quite enjoyed it, so mission accomplished, I think! I’d never turn OP12 down, but I was reminded why it’s not a regular inhabitant of my own cabinet.

Glenfiddich 18 Year Old

Over the years, my lovely wife’s attitude toward my whisky-drinking hobby has evolved directly alongside my passion for the water of life. From eye-rolls when I’d come home with a new bottle to mild amusement toward my nerdy comments about the dram I was enjoying… I’m glad that she’s managed to put up with me all these years!

This summer, Tena and I celebrated our 19th anniversary. (Don’t ask me where the time went!) It’s pretty crazy to look back at how much things have changed over the years and the family that we’re raising… but this is a whisky blog, right! So let’s focus on her contribution to my spirited ramblings.

Yeah, she’s a catch!

On our anniversary, Tena surprised me with a bottle of the Glenfiddich 18 year old. I would have been surprised by any bottle but I was particularly impressed that she chose a rather well-aged single malt. Either she’s been paying more attention than I give her credit for or my buddy Richard was in cahoots on this one! This whisky is bottled at 40% abv and, as a gift, I have no interest in what it cost!

To the Eye

Manuka honey in a glass, with almost brownish flashes. A swirl of my Glencairn produces a crest that gathers dramatically before releasing thick tears and long, droopy legs. It’s a deep, dark and luxurious-looking drop!

In the Nose

Gently spicy right off the bat, with some bourbony vanilla and a subtle ginger zest that pairs intriguingly with a perfume-like floral note. A second sniff reveals classic Speyside apples, though these are more of the red, very-ripe variety. More nosing reveals some cinnamon and a bit of citrus.

On the Tongue

Bourbon? Sherry? Bourbon… sherry… It’s interesting how the influence of both cask types are dancing together in this whisky. Those dried fruits and toffee flavours I associate with bourbon are there, as is the dry, raisiny goodness of a sherry finish. In amongst it all, there are some of the classic Glenfiddich flavours of orchard fruits and cut green grass.

The finish is somewhat gentle but it lingers, with oak, cinnamon, and menthol.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes I have a hard time deciding what to think about rather well-aged, (presumably) more-expensive whiskies. Let me explain…

Would I like a whisky of this caliber at a higher proof? Of course! Did I expect some kind of stand-out, more-memorable characteristic? Probably… I think I tend to hold these kinds of whiskies to a higher standard, which might not be entirely fair.

The Glenfiddich 18 is a delicious drop! It is rich, well-composed and has a surprisingly long finish. If I had a larger whisky budget, this would probably be a favourite… the kind of dram I’d choose as an everyday sipper. However, at least at this point, that’s not quite my reality and, when I splurge, I’m still looking for something that blows my mind just a bit more.

Let’s see where I’m at in another 19 years!

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon

What’s this, three bourbon reviews in a row? I guess that sums up where I currently find myself on my dramming journey these days.

The first time I recall hearing about this particular bottling of Wild Turkey was in a reply from fellow blogger, Whiskey Nut, to my review of the standard 81 proof offering. In this reply, I was encouraged not to give up on the Wild Turkey brand and try this, a more premium offering.

(BTW, Whiskey Nut’s blog, Westmeath Whiskey World, is worth checking out!)

Anyway, I picked up my most recent bottle of Rare Breed to share at a camp-fire get-together with a couple of my friends known to appreciate a good bourbon. This whiskey is bottled at a whopping 58.4 abv and cost me right around $60 CAD.

To the Eye

Deep honey-amber… somewhat less orangey than some bourbons. A quick tears test reveals a curtain, rather than typical legs, which rapidly rejoins the spirit at the bottom of my glass.

In the Nose

Dill pickles! Every time I nose this whisky I’m shocked by how distinct this aroma is… and I like it! Despite the strong presence of those pickles is, there is a myriad of other smells to wade through: burned wood, honey, red apple peels, vanilla, baking spices and some hazelnut-chocolate spread. There are a couple vegetal notes that come across as both fresh cut and dry grasses. There’s lots going on but it’s a well-composed nose that is both engaging and enjoyable.

On the Tongue

An early impression is how silky and unctuous this dram is. There’s a grainy, nutty Sunny Boy porridge that jumps out, along with caramel and juicy red apples which creates a sort of savoury candy apple sensation. Cinnamon, carefully restrained oak, spears mint and spruce are some of the more noticeable flavours rounding things out.

On the medium finish, I get some serious rye spiciness that pairs nicely with honey, black licorice and orange zest. There’s also a dry grape-skin note that reminds me of a bit of Grappa.

Final Thoughts

Every time I drink this whiskey, it leaves me impressed! For a barrel-proof bourbon, I find Wild Turkey Rare Breed to be extremely approachable and drinkable. I’d stop short of calling it “smooth” but you might expect more burn from a damned-near 120-proof spirit and, after all, shouldn’t a good bourbon’s grab that hangy-down thing at the back of your throat at least a little bit?

This is a terrific drop! There are some interesting and unexpected characteristics in each of the nose, palate and finish but, at the end of the day, it’s still straightforward enough that all I really care about is how tasty it is! To top it off, it’s affordable enough to be an everyday sipper too… what’s not to like?!