Category: 85-89

Reviews with a final score between 85-89. Really good stuff. B+ grade.

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2018 Fino Cask Finish

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Islay, Laphroaig, ScotchLeave a comment

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2018 Fino

 

Price: $85 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Laphroaig / Beam Suntory

Region: Islay

51.8% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: 1st Fill ex-bourbon and Fino Sherry Casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Off gold

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Sweetness, peach, sherry, salt, vanilla, gentle peat, cream, lemon, ash

Feel: Full and oily

Taste: Smokey brine, lemon, sugar, cream, pepper, vanilla, white wine

Finish: Medium warmth and length, lemon, ash, smoke, pepper, slightly dry, sherry, oak, vanilla, and berries

Thoughts: The palate is a bit weak in comparison to the nose and finish, but overall one of the better Cairdeas releases and a great malt.
Score: 86 out of 100

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2013 Port Wood Finish

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Islay, Laphroaig, ScotchLeave a comment

Laphroaig Cairdeas Port

 

Price: Discontinued

Distilled/Owned by: Laphroaig / Beam Suntory

Region: Islay

51.3% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, finished in port casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

Color: Tawny

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Earthy chocolate covered bacon, subtle port notes, oak, smoke, and caramel sauce

Feel: Medium to full body

Taste: Grape, chocolate, leather, peat smoke, vanilla, oak, and pepper

Finish: Medium warmth and length, earth, port, chocolate, oak, more smoke and less fruit than the palate

Thoughts: While I enjoyed it, its not my favorite version of Cairdeas, I would have liked a bit stronger of a port cask influence on it.
Score: 85 out of 100

Review: Domaine Aurensan 20 Ans

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Armagnac, Brandy, Domaine d'AurensanLeave a comment

Paid: $150 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Domaine D’Aurensan

Region: Tenareze, France

42.5% ABV

Aged For: Minimum 20 Years, Distilled 1973, 1978, 1981, and 1990, bottled 2015

Cask Type: Local French oak

Chill Filtered: No

Additives: None used

Color: Treacle

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Deep creamy port wine, clumps of brown sugar, oak, rancio, prune, fruitcake, candied oranges, and fruity coffee

Feel: Medium body, slightly waxy

Taste: Cinnamon, oak, sandalwood, raisins, dark chocolate covered espresso beans, fig paste, dried dates, and a touch of earthy forest floor before more fruit returns.

Finish: Medium warmth and lasting. Pralines, grapeseed oil, rancio, marzipan, honey, walnuts, well-aged sherry, and dry wood spice

Thoughts: This is one of those drinks where I really love the flavors, but not the retail price, so I’m always conflicted. It’s the best blended non-vintage Armagnac I have tried, and its beautifully blended and easy to drink while remaining complex and interesting. This was Bottle #0777

Score: 88 out of 100

Barrell Bourbon Single Barrel 14 Year “Old Peanut Butter”

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, American Whiskey, Bourbon, SourcedLeave a comment

Barrell Bourbon Single Barrel 14 Year

Distilled/Owned by: George Dickel? / Barrell

Region: Tennessee

53.5% ABV

Aged For: 14 years

Mashbill: 84% corn, 8% rye, 8% barley

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color: Copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Caramel, minerals, oak, vanilla, sponge cake, cream, and brown sugar

Feel: Full, creamy

Taste: Nice measured oak, French vanilla flavored coffee, yellow cake, caramel, and cinnamon

Finish: Medium warmth, not quiet medium length, oak tannins, slight mineral taste, creamy toffee, and milk chocolate

Thoughts: I love the creaminess to this cask, I didn’t pick up any peanut butter, but boy was there cream and vanilla.

Score: 88 out of 100

Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2017

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, American Whiskey, Bourbon, Four RosesLeave a comment

Four Roses 2017 Small Batch LE

Price: Discontinued

Distilled/Owned by: Four Roses / Kirin

Region: Kentucky

54% ABV

Aged For: 12 to 15 Years

Mashbill: 2 different OESK’s, and OESV

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color: Copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Dry oaky spices, vanilla, caramel cream, a bit of earth and nutmeg

Feel: Medium body and dry

Taste: Spicy vanilla, cream, oak, chocolate, baking spice, and leather-bound books

Finish: Medium length and warmth, lots of caramel and vanilla with just a faint hint of fruit

Thoughts: It’s releases like this that have killed my interest in LE bourbon. It’s a very enjoyable whisky, but go ahead and google it and look for a price, $450 and up. For $20 bucks I can get some Wild Turkey and while it’s not as good, it’s enjoyable bourbon and less than a car payment for the average fellow to get ahold of.

Score: 85 out of 100

Deanston 10 PX Finish

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Deanston, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

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Price: $60 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Deanston / Distell

Region: Highland

57.5% ABV

Aged For: 10 Years

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, finished in PX sherry

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Burnished

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Apple, raisin, sherry, almond, malt, vanilla, and ginger

Feel: Supple, waxy

Taste: PX sherry, caramel, chocolate, dried fruit, honey, oranges

Finish: Warms quickly, and leaves a lasting linger, spicy fruit, coffee, and chocolate, with leather, pepper, and licorice

Thoughts: I love Deanston’s unadulterated malts with a pastry crust flavor, and this just adds to it with the PX finish.

Score: 87 out of 100

 

Willet Family Estate Rye 4-Year

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, American Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, WilletLeave a comment

Willet Family Estate Rye 4

Paid: $43 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by:Willet / KBD

Region: Kentucky

59.5% ABV

Aged For: 4 years

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Rye spices , mint, pepper, oak, caramel, and floral notes

Feel: Full bodied

Taste: Caramel, leather, pepper, brown sugar, oak, slight sweetness, good spice

Finish: Good warmth and length, clove, tobacco, rye, oak tannins, drying finish

Thoughts: A more refined version than the 3 year smoothing some of those rough edges, and still a tasty rye.

Score: 87 out of 100