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Dwelling
Hundreds of tastings,
all of the music,
all of the rambligs
and all of the enjoyable
(hopefully!)
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| Hello, that is one in every of our (nearly) each day tastings. Santé! |
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March 6, 2025
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A barrow stuffed with American whiskies,
a session now 125% free!
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IMPORTANT! Please word that from right now onwards, all our tastings of whiskies or different spirits from the USA will likely be topic to an extra 25% customs obligation. Granted, this little weblog is 100% free and doesn’t have interaction in any industrial exercise in anyway (show, edvertorial or interstitial promoting, paid tastings, sponsorship, affiliation, and so on.), however please remember that whiskyfun.com is now formally 125% free as a substitute of 100% concerning all American spirits.
Thanks in your consideration and understanding.
– The Administration |
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PS: We’re firmly dedicated to persevering with to style and overview American whiskies with none bias, bitter style or ‘unusual emotions’, however we reserve the precise to make the occasional (and questionable) joke.
Let’s examine what we now have in inventory. right now..
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Elvis The King (45%, Grain & Barrel Spirits, USA, Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey, +/-2023) 
Would somebody be so variety as to inform me who this well-known ‘Elvis’ is supposed to signify? Is he somebody well-known within the whisky world? Right here we go once more… That is 95% rye, sourced in Tennessee, so one would assume George Dickel, although it’s stated that Dickel’s 95% rye really comes from Indiana (MGP). Difficult enterprise, and never one thing we all know a lot about… Color: gold. Nostril: that very typical steadiness of spice and roundness, leaning in direction of caraway, lavender, vanillin, and recent rye bread. Then a couple of touches of pine sap and polish. A easy nostril, however one we fairly take pleasure in. Mouth: the wooden is somewhat distinguished at first, with a sawdusty facet, adopted by liquorice wooden and a very good dose of pepper. Then come crushed bananas and a barely soapy word, with a touch of gin. End: of medium size, with some tannicity and a somewhat peppery, drying aftertaste. Feedback: can one actually name it ‘Tennessee Straight Rye’ when it’s presumably distilled in Indiana? In any case, it’s very respectable, although the oak is somewhat dominant.
SGP:461 – 79 factors. |
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Woodford Reserve ‘2024 Vacation Version’ (43.2%, OB, USA, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey) 
We’re not significantly acquainted with this well-known model. Color: gold. Nostril: actually oaky, however recent, with hints of geranium past the vanilla, popcorn, caramel, and orange jam. Nothing difficult, however actually fairly nice. Mouth: all in on marmalade and recent ginger, then lemon, nutmeg, and cinnamon, with a common fruitiness underpinning the entire. End: lengthy, with maple syrup, violets, liquorice, and lemon sweets. There’s wooden, however it stays in examine. Feedback: I discover this actually fulfilling, easy-going and nice. That stated, I learn someplace that they declare 200 completely different flavours… Effectively, I should have missed a couple of.
SGP:551 – 81 factors. |
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Texas Legation ‘Batch 2’ (46.2%, Berry Bros. & Rudd, USA, bourbon whiskey, 5,000 bottles, 2018) 
They write ‘Made in Texas, accredited in London’. Now, I’ve seen that there’s a small city in Texas named ‘London’. Good one. Anyway, this comes from the Ironroot Republic Distillery in Denison, Texas, the place they’ve taken a ‘French-inspired strategy to elevating whiskies of character’ since 2014. Bless them. Color: gold. Nostril: that is rather more about muffins than wooden parts. Orange cake, wildflower honey, maple syrup, damp earth, candied cherries and citrus zest, marzipan… Nothing to throw away up to now, we’re having fun with this. Mouth: very fruity but in addition strongly marked by pipe tobacco, with fairly a concentrated facet that’s somewhat shocking. Small touches of maple syrup once more, together with juniper and cloves. End: pretty lengthy, with amusing notes of woodruff and star anise. Feedback: actually superb, highly effective on an fragrant degree, but nonetheless civilised. Texas has been producing some somewhat great issues recently, or so it appears, not simply Khruangbin.
SGP:651 – 86 factors. |
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Yellowstone 6 yo (50%, OB, USA, one hundred and fiftieth Anniversary, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 2022)
A really previous model. We’ve already tasted Yellowstone ‘Choose’, and it was good. The label is amusing—one might simply image it in a Netflix collection taking place within the Nineteen Thirties. This bourbon comes from Limestone Department Distillery in Lebanon, KY, however because the distillery appears somewhat tiny, it’s not unattainable that this whisky can be sourced from MGP, through the homeowners Luxco (who themselves belong to MGP, apparently). These items are at all times difficult, and we’re not too eager on taking part in detectives… It usually leads again to Wall St. anyway. Color: deep gold. Nostril: very fairly, typical, fruity, and filled with all kinds of muffins, particularly orange and honey muffins, adopted by nougat and lightweight earthy touches. With water: little change, which is beautiful. Mouth (neat): highly effective but creamy, with ginger, oranges, honey, final yr’s apples, and vanilla. Nothing however the classics, however I discover it actually good. With water: the spice turns into rather more pronounced now, with white pepper, turmeric, then butterscotch blended with brine—somewhat uncommon, let’s admit. End: of excellent size, with zest, ginger, and allspice. Feedback: ultimately, the Texan stole the highlight.
SGP:651 – 81 factors. |
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Makers Mark ‘Cellar Aged Launch 2024’ (59.65%, OB, USA)
Mentioned to be round 12 to 13 years previous, which is sort of previous for a large-volume American model, although actually not unparalleled elsewhere. Color: amber. Nostril: veering barely into pot nonetheless territory—extra sturdy, earthier, and extra complicated as properly. Notes of mint, soot, a contact of dirtiness and dunnage, together with mosses and previous tree stumps. The remainder is extra basic, with vanilla, varnish, a little bit of solvent, and a touch of cologne. With water: a bag of liquorice and caramel sweets. Mouth (neat): in fact, it burns, and appears filled with acetone, however I’m certain water will type it out. With water: completely. Earthy spices emerge, mingling with previous apples and oranges. As common, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg set the tempo. End: lengthy, however with out main change. Spiced honey, with a barely Christmassy really feel. Feedback: works completely for me, and it doesn’t come throughout as too cowboy in any respect—actually beautiful MM.
SGP:561 – 86 factors. |
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Given the adjustments in customs tariffs between nations, significantly between Europe and the USA, spontaneous boycotts might, in fact, emerge, very similar to what is occurring with Tesla in the mean time. Nevertheless, we hope that small unbiased European bottlers and distributors of American whiskies is not going to be affected. Let’s stay elegant and considerate! Right here’s a superb and worthy instance…
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Kentucky Bourbon 6 yo 2018/2025 (60%, Fadandel, USA, cask #23, 229 bottles)
We’ve discreetly uncovered a couple of clues suggesting this may come from Inexperienced River Distillery in Owensboro (they name it ‘The Whiskey With out Regrets’, which we discover somewhat amusing). Color: darkish gold. Nostril: nearly a Scottish bourbon. Much more so than in Makers Mark, this has a thicker, much less candy, and extra multidimensional profile, harking back to Scotch malt. Stunning citrus notes, apple juice, mosses and ferns, toffee, and even a very good quantity of malt certainly. With water: turns into a bit extra basic, with vanilla, gentle varnish, and a faint contact of coconut milk, however nothing too severe. Mouth (neat): very highly effective, all on oranges and ginger. A bit scorching, to be sincere, however that’s to be anticipated. Just one treatment—water. With water: glorious, well-balanced, with beautiful espresso notes, adopted by all kinds of citrus and some fragrant herbs. Extra complicated than your common bourbon, I insist. End: lengthy, lemony, very recent, fairly magnificent. Feedback: a beautiful little beast, properly performed!
SGP:651 – 87 factors. |
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FEW ‘Bottled in Bond – Paul Hletko Choice’ (50%, OB, USA, for South Africa, Navigate World Whisky, Chicago straight bourbon whiskey, cask #18-2213, 2024) 
We study that 2024 marked the one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary of the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, which we discover attention-grabbing even when I’m undecided the figures do add up. Certainly. Color: full gold. Nostril: as is usually the case with FEW, in our small expertise, that is vivid, exact, clever, assertive, but very properly balanced. Earthy vanilla, tea with honey, recent black bread (pumpernickel), root greens… With water: earthy tones and bread—nearly excellent—plus a contact of eucalyptus. Mouth (neat): completely glorious, compact but complicated, which is completely attainable. A return of spiced citrus, particularly oranges, that well-known pumpernickel, speculoos, and liquorice… With water: these items is simply sensible! End: liquorice caramel, lingering, with menthol within the aftertaste. This at all times works. Feedback: excellently performed. And chosen, naturally.
SGP:661 – 89 factors. |
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Willett 8 yo ‘Household Property Bourbon’ (62.9%, OB, USA, for LMDW Singapore, cask #13059)
Let’s do that rapidly—in spite of everything, Willett is at all times superb, we simply have to keep away from scorching our noses and palates… Color: darkish gold. Nostril: a great deal of burnt wooden and vanilla pods at first, plus cappuccino and caramel. Very highly effective, but fairly endearing. With water: citrus comes out in drive, particularly bergamots and kumquats (which, by the way, are the favorite citrus fruits of retired Dutch dentists—sorry, non-public joke). Then come waves of deep black soil and geraniums. Mouth (neat): this appears glorious. Oranges, ginger, and chocolate in excellent concord, but in addition a number of ethanol. Because of this… With water: unbelievable—you’ll be able to add litres of water, and it stays highly effective. This time, the same old spices take centre stage, with pepper main the cost. End: very lengthy, oranges and pepper, with a contact of maple syrup within the background. Feedback: it wants water, however an excessive amount of would diminish the fruitiness. A merciless dilemma, a correct Cornelian alternative.
SGP:661 – 88 factors. |
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What’s nice about American whiskies is that, since a sure particular person is meant to be abstinent, there is not any danger of you ending up tasting the identical whisky as him—not to mention on the identical time, which might absolutely carry dangerous luck.
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Extra American whiskies coming quickly—we’ve bought lots in inventory!
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