As The Spirit Moves Me

  Nose: Sweet wheat, vanilla, baking spices, oak, caramel. A little popcorn.  Palate: Sweetness balanced with dry tannic oak. Spicy and a little herbal. Vanilla and slightly over baked molasses cookies. Finish: Long and dry. Woody. A little clove. The finish is a big letdown. Not terrible, but not great. I'd much rather have Wild Turkey 101, and this costs more than twice that. The nose was the best part, the finish the worst, and the palate was middle of the road, leaning downwards.  Would I buy this: I would not. Would I order this in a bar: Can I see the menu again? Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: I would, so we could discuss how sad it makes us. Verdict: Thumbs down.

Nose: Candied orange peel, sultanas, plums, cocoa, figs. Palate: Raw barley, plum, citron, sloes, allspice. A hint of chocolate. Finish: Long. Baking spices, milk chocolate, oak. Verdict: Not quite as complex as the 18 Allardice, but still damned good. I'd love a bottle of this. Quite nice. Would I buy this: I would! I wonder if the newer releases are this good. Would I order this in a bar: Definitely, if I wanted a nice sherried dram. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Please, and thank you! Rating: ★★★★

Nose: Figs and dates. Bovril. Hazelnuts. Cocoa. Light molasses. Palate: Christmas cake. Rum. Milk chocolate. Allspice. Finish: Medium in length. Blackcurrants. Clotted Cream. Resinous wood. Black tea. Cocoa powder. Verdict: Pretty complex. All the sherry notes are there, but it's balanced by wood and the malt as well. A fantastic dram. I wish it had just a little something more going on. Would I buy this: I would! I wish it were a bit cheaper here in the US, though. Would I order this in a bar: Definitely, if I wanted a nice sherried dram. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Please, and thank you! Rating: ★★★★

Nose: Acetone, vanilla, baking spices, slightly herbal, a hint of Virginia tobacco and leather. Palate: Cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla mint. A little bit of peanuts and popcorn with caramel. Surprisingly light on the palate. Finish: Medium. Lots of baking spice. A little mint again. Some pepper. There's something just acidic in the finish. Verdict: It's certainly not bad stuff. Pretty middle of the road bourbon, not a ton of complex things here but not much for flaws either. I'd solidly put this at 2/5 stars, same spot I put things like Evan Williams BiB and Jim Beam BiB. Would I buy this: At the price they're charging? No. It should be half that. Would I order this in a bar: If they had no other BiB Bourbon? Otherwise Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Sure! There's nothing especially bad about it at all. Rating: ★★

This dram was a mystery included in my 2018 Secret Santa swap. It was tasted and reviewed blind. Nose: Stewed plums, cocoa, toasted nuts, clove, Virginia pipe tobacco, honey, vanilla, raspberries. Palate: Sweet red berries, vanilla, oak, rich cocoa, figs, dark cherries, caramel, black pepper, honey. Finish: Finish is long. Dry and tannic, but with a little caramel and clove at the tail. Verdict: Definitely some heat. Like 100-110 proof, maybe? It's very rich. I think it's port finished, based on what I'm tasting. Would I buy this: Depending on price, I would. Given it's from Astor, maybe not. But it's awfully good. Would I order this in a bar: I would, definitely. Delicious dram. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Oh, yes please! Rating: ★★★★

Nose: Walnut, vanilla, cardamom, honeysuckle, leather Palate: Wood, baking spices, vanilla, chamomile Finish:  Long and oaky. Walnut, baking spices, mildly sweet. Verdict: This whole thing is a bit hot. The herbaceous notes are not fantastic. I feel like it's unbalanced a little over woodsy. I don't love this. It's not terrible by any means, but if I'd sampled this I would not have bought it. Would I buy this: No. Would I order this in a bar: Probably not. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Sure, it's not terrible stuff. Rating: ★★

A thank you to my friend Kevin for this sample! Nose : Vanilla, cherry cough syrup, ethanol, mustiness, fresh cut oak, copper pennies, cola, cream corn. Palate : Metallic and bright, vanilla, sharp woodiness like licking a board covered in sap. Finish : Baking spices, metallic, vanilla, allspice, sweetness. Light and dry finish. Verdict : This stuff is weird. It's like someone heard Bourbon described to them and used that description to make Bourbon. It's thin on the Palate, all bright things that are sharp. Not rich and delicious. The finish was the best part. I did not especially enjoy this. Well, keep experimenting, Jefferson! Would I buy this: I would not. Would I order this in a bar: Certainly not. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Am I being polite? Like, really polite? Rating : ★

Nose: Old apples, yesterday's oatmeal, orange peel, oxidized sherry. Palate: Sherry, raisins, old fruitcake, allspice, sweetness. Finish: Glace fruit, mace, raisins, oak. Verdict: As I recall from past experience in bars, this dram always seemed like it was slightly off. This tasting bears that out. All the flavors are slightly oxidized seeming, and not just because this is from a sample bottle. I don't know if it's part of their 'solera' process, but it's simply not great. The sherry is quite forward, the malt seems tired and in the background. When the spice comes out to play it almost roars over everything, but only for a second, and then it's gone. Would I buy this: No. Would I order this in a bar: Not really. They'd have to have a fairly abysmal selection. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: I would, but just to be polite. iI's not terrible. But it's not great either. Rating: ★★

Armagnac! I love a nice armagnac. I know some people don't love brandies, but I especially have a real interest in armagnac. Nose : Dark fruit, plums, fallen apples and warm sultanas and allspice. Palate : Red berries and caramel. Bright tart cherries. Caramel vanilla poached pears with cinnamon. Finish : Long. Warm wildflower honey. Sweet and sour mingled. Caramel and spices. Earthy. Hints of bay leaves or cedar at the tail end. Verdict : This is simply delicious. Really an outstanding armagnac. Great balance of fruit, earth, and spice with enough odd things in little hints to keep it interesting. Would I buy this: Yes! I'm so sad I didn't get a bottle. Would I order this in a bar: Absolutely. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: For sure, and I would look upon them favorably. Rating : ★★★★