As The Spirit Moves Me

Mystery Dram #3 Nose: Stewed plums, dark chocolate, toasted almonds, hazelnuts, vanilla, allspice, molasses, toffee, bitter orange Palate: Thick and sweet. Roasted hazelnuts, turbinado sugar, quince paste, vanilla, allspice, walnuts, dried fig. Finish: Oak, vanilla, dried nuts, touches of sea salt. Verdict: This is like rum and sherried scotch had a baby. This is delicious, rich, and complex. Strength is higher, maybe 100 proof? Sweet and sherried and woody and spicy. Would I buy this: Depending on price, absolutely. For under 150 bucks I'd be in. Would I order this in a bar: Yes, especially around Christmas time. This has a lot of holiday notes to me. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Absolutely! Slainte! Rating: ★★★★

SCN Fidencio Reposado Mezcal Nose: White grape, under ripe plantain, green mango, nectarine, celery, a hint of smoke Palate: Quite viscous mouthfeel. Lemon zest, white pepper, grilled peaches, green mango. Reminds me a bit of high quality olive oil, that sort of fruity peppery mix. Finish: Fairly long. Smoke, a little salt, a little sweet. Very pleasant. At the very end it's a bit mineral, that flat salt and stone flavor. Verdict: This is delicious. Nicely balanced, the vegetal agave comes through but is really in harmony with the spice and fruit notes brought in by the time this spent in a Wild Turkey barrel. I'm not usually one for aged mezcal, but this is really damned good. Would I buy this: I would. I kind of wish I had a whole bottle. Would I order this in a bar: Yes, definitely. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Absolutely. Get the copitas! Rating: ★★★★

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: ★★★★

This was mystery dram #2 of my 2018 Secret Santa swap. It's light as hell. Let's see what Santa has for me Nose: Lemon peel, ashy smoke, green apple, pastry crust, milk caramel, seaweed Palate: Hot ashy peat, nori, sea salt, cereal grain, vanilla, honeydew melon, green grape, butter caramel. Finish: Long and full. Round. Light smoke, caramel sweetness, sea salt, a little woodiness. Verdict: This is weird. It's like Caol Ila, but it's also like Bunnahabhain. The nose is light and lemony and smoky. There's some of that in the Palate too. But there all that Bunna-like caramel. And the peat is somehow light and hot but also like a long banked fire. It's weird. I'm going to guess it's an IB Bunna that's just off profile. It's sure as hell good. I'd buy this if it weren't too pricy. Would I buy this: I would! It's honestly pretty good. Would I order this in a bar: Yes! Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Defin...

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: ★★★★