Notes

My first thought was “sour mash”. Do I detect a hint of banana on the nose? Bah gawd, is that Jack Daniels’ music?!?!?! Tastes a little funky for Jack now that I get into it, but it could totally be the Bonded or Single Barrel or something. I wouldn’t kick it out of bed, but I wouldn’t run to find this one.

Little caramel, dirty socks. Nice balance of boring? Can't tell if i really like this or if it's REALLY MID. Water flattened it out and brought a subtle cinnamon forward.

Just had a handful of cinnamon toast crunch then tasted this and thought i had demolished my taste buds because all I could taste was cinnamon. Rinsed and tired again. Nope. Cinnamon. I think. Smooth and sweet so maybe a Canadian but every time I don't choose bourbon i get burned.

If I trust my tastebuds again, I'm guessing it's Irish. It has that lovely sweet flavor and good lovely burn. It's a nice Saturday sipper! If only I had more in my cabinet!

I’m not sure what this is. Very spicy & hot & water didn’t open it up much. Kind of thin/shallow flavor profile, at least compared to some of the others I’ve ranked higher.

thick velvety syrupy… tastes of cinnamon, like a Red Hot candy. Lips are tingling, but strangely it’s not an uncomfortable burn. Guessing Bourbon or maybe (finally?) a good rye…

A little hot, really like this one actually - I fear I may finish this entire one tonight

Nice bourbon, very drinkable and pleasant. Mild toffee notes with a whisper of tobacco as it lingers on the palate.

Got some cinnamon and vanilla. It is pretty hot, might overshoot on the proof here, but we like this one, one of our favorites of the season to date. I think it is a rye, but, honestly, what the hell do I know?

Lucky 13? This wallpaper is the opposite of this drink. No floral no sweet. Not for me. I don’t know what this is. 🙃🥃🎄

Mmm… it burns us…. Could this be this year’s first cask strength? Or is that my cold just messing with my tastebuds. Smells of rubbing alcohol, tastes of sweet cinnamon and maple with lingering heartburn. Literally. .

Nail polish on the nose. First read is hot and a little bit bland. Growing on me a little bit

Smells like honey and seems easy to drink, I'm going out of order but I think this is my fave so far

Yum!😋

Ouchies.

I might complain sometimes about too boozy or even smells like rubbing alcohol… but there is nothing here. So I would like to politely direct you to Mike “Alex McKee’s Brother” McKee’s review from Dec. 7th. Probably keeps him in the hot seat since I’M not the one saying these hateful Canadian things! Wouldn’t bother in my coffee, but alcohol and Dr. Pepper just go together

Delish

I crouch low, tense hidden behind the discarded tapestries and chandeliers. Finery apparently 'unworthy' of a lord, but worth more than a tavernkeeper could make in a lifetime. But I'm not here for second hand baubles, no my target is a better prize, the jewel of Lord Barley's hoard: sap from the Tree of Life. 4 months I've been planning, 4 months I've been dodging that dick-wad captain of the guard, and 4 months I've been prepping for this moment. I thumb my 'insurance plan' in my pocket, surely it won't come to that. Bastian, my man on the inside, detailed every move of the changing of the guard. A slip of something strong in a drink, and....there. Both guardsmen of the treasure room, down on the floor asleep. The easy part is over. I sneak to the door, keys on one guard just as Bastian said. into the treasure room, trapped of course, but I have been training for this. A somersault, a pirouette, and one last leap over the trip-wires. There, in the center of the gold and the emeralds, a bottle, shimmering in the gleam. I snag it, shove it in my bag and am out the door just the way I came. A quick costume change, and now I am a guard myself, walking purposefully out the courtyard. 'HALT!' balls. I know that voice. I turn hoping he does not recognize me. 'Captain?' I say. he holds up a bottle, identical to my recent procurement. 'I knew you'd come. You see, it turns out your friend Bastian is really, MY friend Bastian.' Guards flood the courtyard, I am surrounded. 'You have in your hands a decoy. a facsimile of the real Sap. Turn yourself over, and we can end this dance between you and I.' I shrug, and with a practiced hand light up my insurance and throw the bomb straight at the captains face. It sputters and spews a thick smoke. I rush away, fast as my feet can carry me. I sprint to safety and take a moment. I uncork my prize, sip the fraud lying in my stolen bottle. Eh. perhaps something's off...but no one will know.

Now we're talking. The nose is better than the sip, bit the sips are getting better each time. I might add water to see what happens, bit this is solid.

Spicy! And peppery. But I also just ate spicy food so it could be that. I like this one.

Tastes sweet! I’m about it! Recovering from an illness and trying to catch up responsibly! Definitely a coffee and Dr. Pepper whiskey!

hop, step, steady now. things are getting more and more tense as we make our way over the burning sea. If you're smooth and steady, each step is easy and secure but a wrong step, a small slip and your feet are on fire. I'm behind our leader, for the best because I am a certified clutz. Small rocks protruding from the fire are our only path across. here it is the final hurdle: I can see the shore! he leaps with ease, well practiced. he turns, beckons to me. I steady myself and prepare to jump but alas! MY SHOE BETRAYS ME! and I am engulfed in flame.

Really nice nose. Lots of sweetness and honey with a bite. This is quite good. I’d be very happy to have this out at a bar or sitting around with friends.

It’s nice and hot. It’s not so easy to decide what it is.