Category: 90-94

Reviews with a final score between 90-94. These are my top shelf bottles I drink slowly and savor. A grade.

Bunnahabhain 14 2003 Pedro Ximenez Finish

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, Bunnahabhain, Islay, ScotchLeave a comment

Bunna 14 PX

Price: Discontinued

Distilled/Owned by: Bunnahabhain / Distell

Region: Islay

54.3% ABV

Aged For: 14 Years

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Second fill sherry, then first fill PX sherry

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Reddish bronze

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Candied plums, caramel, rich sherry, citrus, dried fruits, alcohol, and milk chocolate

Feel: Medium body. syrupy

Taste: Maple syrup, sherry, chocolate, citrus, cinnamon, coffee, dried fruits, raisins

Finish: Very sweet, raisin, sherry. caramel, chocolate, caramel, oak and fruit, light to medium warmth and medium length

Thoughts: A delicious sherry scotch desert syrup, sad I never found one to purchase as this one was a sample. I can only Imagine if the recent Viceroys Elixir I had was bottled at CS like this it could have been the God of sherry monsters.

Score: 90 out of 100

Francis Darroze Domaine de Jouanchicot 1982 Vintage 33-Year

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, Armagnac, Brandy, Domaine de JouanchicotLeave a comment

Darroze 1982

Distilled/Owned by: Domaine de Jouanchicot

Region: Bas Armagnac

42.5% ABV

Grapes: 100% Ugni Blanc

Aged For: 33 Years (1982-2015)

Cask Type: French Oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Burnt Chestnut

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Dark fruits, chocolate, caramel, raisins, oak, berries, bourbon, rich dark and heavy

Mouthfeel: Medium body

Palate/Taste: Vanilla and chocolate, with baking spices, cloves, pipe tobacco, Sweetened black tea

Finish: Heavy oak tannins, plums and port wine, vanilla and cream, long length and medium warmth.

Thoughts: I am in love with the dark heaviness of this drink, right up there with some of the best bourbons and scotches I have enjoyed.

Score: 90 out of 100

 

Chateau de Pellehaut 1989 28-Year

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, Armagnac, Brandy, Chateau de PellehautLeave a comment

Pellehaut 1989

Paid: $70 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Chateau de Pellehaut

Region: Tenareze Armagnac, France

49.9% ABV

Grapes: 100% Ungi-Blanc

Aged For: 28 years (Distilled 1989)

Cask Type: French oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Mahogany

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Toasted oak, caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate, leather, and mulled wine

Mouthfeel: Medium body, well rounded

Palate/Taste: Dried fruits, brown sugar, vanilla, pipe tobacco, sherry wine, oak

Finish: Long and warm, reminiscent of well-aged bourbon, oak, vanilla, cloves, coffee, raisins, very deep and dark.

Thoughts: It was so good I purchased two more bottles to have in reserve, an excellent vintage bottling. I’m used to seeing the insane prices currently commanded by the whiskey markets, and this is a breath of fresh air for as long as it lasts.

Score: 90 out of 100

Foursquare 2004 Single Blended

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, Barbados, Foursquare, RumLeave a comment

Foursquare 2004

Paid: $65 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Foursquare

Region: Barbados

59% ABV

Distillate: Molasses

Aged For: 11 Years

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon

Still Types: Pot & column still

Chill Filtered: No

Additives used: No

 

 

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Tropical fruit, vanilla, molasses, coconut, oak, has a clear fresh strong scent

Mouthfeel: Oily

Palate/Taste: Bourbon oak, vanilla, brown sugar, fresh mint, mango, and coconut with tropical overtones

Finish: Long and warm, sugary maple, chocolate, pepper, leather, dried fruits, and citrus

Thoughts: Being primarily a whisky drinker, this is the sort of thing I want out of my rum. It is still distinctly rum, but not weak 40% abv rum full of additives and filtered down.

Score: 90 out of 100

 

Bunnahabhain 29-Year 1987 Wemyss Malt “The Viceroy’s Elixir”

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, Bunnahabhain, Islay, ScotchLeave a comment

Bunnahabhain 29-Year 1987 Wemyss Malt “The Viceroys Elixir”

Price: Discontinued 

Distilled/Owned by: Bunnahabhain / Wemyss

Region: Islay

46% ABV

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Aged For: 29 years, distilled 1987

Cask Type: Sherry Butt

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Burnt Umber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Caramel, raisins, apples, dark chocolate, figs, plum pudding, sherry

Mouthfeel: Medium body, oily

Palate/Taste: Intense sweetness, PX sherry, caramel, coffee grounds, molasses, toasted nuts, oolong tea, blueberries

Finish: Long lasting, medium warmth, dark chocolate, sherry, dried fruits, caramel, blueberry jam, scones

Thoughts: It’s one of the sweetness whiskies I have ever consumed. It reminds me a great deal of drinking a vintage PX sherry, with less of the syrupy thickness that entails. Delicious and one to be savored slowly.

Score: 90 out of 100

 

Old Crow Chessman 1970’s

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, American Whiskey, Bourbon, National DistillersLeave a comment

Old Crow Chessmen

Price: Discontinued (For almost half a century)

Distilled/Owned by: National Distillers

Region: Kentucky

43% ABV

Aged For: 10 Years

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: Unknown

 

 

Color: Mahogany with a red tinge

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Sweet corn, cotton candy, old oak, bit of vanilla, cocoa powder, nutmeg, toasted nuts, bread yeast.

Feel: Medium body

Taste: Dark chocolate, peanuts in caramel, tobacco, oak, cinnamon, pepper, “dusty”

Finish: Probably the longest finish I have ever had on a bourbon, this stayed in my mouth for an eternity. Increases in warmth as it continues, with a combination of oak, chocolate and hazelnut.

Thoughts: I’m amazed and how long the finish is and how dark the bourbon is for the proof, they must have had some amazing honey barrels for this blend. Thanks again to my secret Santa in 2017 for this amazing gift!

Score: 90 out of 100

Eagle Rare K&L Pick

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, American Whiskey, Bourbon, Buffalo TraceLeave a comment

Eagle Rare K&L

Price: $35 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Buffalo Trace / Sazerac

Region: Kentucky

45% ABV

Mashbill: Buffalo Trace mashbill #1

Store Pick: K&L Barrel #316

Aged For: 11 Years, 7 months

Cask Type: New charred oak, Char #4

Chill Filtered: Yes

 

 

Color: Copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Vanilla, caramel drizzle, mocha, dark chocolate, and sweet corn

Mouthfeel: Light – Medium body

Palate/Taste: Dark chocolate, pecans, vanilla, oak, pepper, and toffee

Finish: Gentle warmth and medium linger, of oak and spices, caramel, and maple syrup

Thoughts: This is my ideal for bourbon that isn’t barrel proof, perfect combination of flavors for the proof.

Score: 90 out of 100