Category: 85-89

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

Review: Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year 2018

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

Paid: $120 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by:Buffalo Trace / Sazerac

Region: Kentucky

53.5% ABV

Aged For: 10 Years

Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Wheated mashbill

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: Yes

Color: Auburn

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Vanilla, honey, oak, caramel, cherries, pecan, brown sugar

Feel: Medium body

Taste: Creamy vanilla with pepper, oak, and spices. baked wheat bread, honey, cherry, and pipe tobacco

Finish: Medium warmth and length, oak, cinnamon, pepper, toffee, chocolate, and butterscotch

Thoughts: It’s good a good bourbon, with a simple sweet profile. Honestly it’s what I excepted of Weller Antique after all the hype that surrounds that bottle now.

Score: 85 out of 100

Review: Royal Brackla 11-Year 2006 Virgin French Oak Exclusive Malts

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Highland, Royal Brackla, Scotch, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Price: $100 for 750 ml

Distilled/Owned by: Royal Brackla / The Exclusive Malts

Region: Highland

58.2% ABV

Aged For: 11-Years, distilled 2006

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Virgin French oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Oak, honey, malt, vanilla, Peach/apricot, French pastries, sweet and sticky syrup

Feel: full bodied, thick

Taste: Vanilla, oak, honey, backlava, spices, subtle, sweet, baked goods

Finish: medium warmth, long, oak, vanilla, honey, malt, ect

Thoughts: awesome oak/vanilla malt bomb

Score: 85/100

Review: Craigellachie 2006 12 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Craigellachie, Scotch, SpeysideLeave a comment

Price: $55 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Craigellachie / Hunter Laing

Region: Speyside

59.9% ABV

Aged For: 12 years, distilled 2006

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Sherry Butt

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Deep gold

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Nutty, oloroso sherry, orchard fruits, cherries, malt, honey, citrus, biscotti and alcohol notes

Feel: Waxy

Taste: Rich nutty sherry, dried fruits, coffee, spices, oak, waxy citrus, vanilla

Finish: Medium warmth and length, spices, dry sherry, almonds and walnuts, raisins, oak

Thoughts: Awesome buy for price, nice nutty sherry

Score: 85 out of 100

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