1/24/2015 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Very solid and underrated bourbon. Great value for the price. -92 points-

11/1/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Finished the bottle on 10/31/14. A solid offering from Labrot & Graham. Notes have been consistent throughout. -91 points-

10/30/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

The Barrel Select is a very good whiskey for price. Notes are consistent with previous tastings. -91 points-

10/29/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Opened the bottle on 10/29/14. Brown sugar, caramel, marshmallow, coconut, and vanilla. This rye is sweet to the point that the dessert-like notes suppress the rye presence. Tasty but I would rate this higher if the flavor profile was a bit more balanced and integrated. -91 points-

10/17/2014 - Jwolfer wrote:

Finished the bottle on 10/17/14. The quality is consistent with the price point. Young and unpolished. Flavor profile is less than desirable with graphite and char overpowering the sweeter notes of maple and brown sugar. -85 points-

10/15/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

I'll start off by saying I was not at all impressed with this bourbon when I first tasted it. A friend suggested that I give it some time to open up. A few weeks have passed and this bourbon has definitely improved. It's not a standout nor one I'd purchase again at $70 but it is a solid offering. Very basic as far as what I detect on the palate: brown sugar, pencil shavings, caramel, and baking spices. Lacks complexity, structure, and balance. Good but not great. -90 points-

9/28/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Finished the bottle on 9/28/14. My final rating is a few points below my initial rating of 97 points. Notes are consistent with my initial tasting. Over time, I felt some of the sweeter dessert-like notes dissipated as the cinnamon and spice notes became more prominent. -94 points-

9/3/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Opened the bottle 9/3/14. Wonderful nose with brown sugar, vanilla, baking spices, dried herbs, crème brulee, and apple pie filling. Upon entry, the cinnamon spice and heat is immediate and persistent as the rye character of this bourbon stays at the forefront throughout. At mid-palate, a bit of caramel sweetness reveals itself but oak and graphite show up as well. Overall, this is a good offering from Wild Turkey. It has good body and mouthfeel but lacks complexity. -90 points-

8/24/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

A very good Virginia wine here. No detailed notes recorded during this tasting; however, I will note that the Avenius is one of Linden's top offerings. -92 points-

8/29/2014 - Jwolfer wrote:

Opened the bottle on 8/28/14. Loads of vanilla and caramel on entry followed by a swell of pencil shavings, black coffee, candy corn and bitter chocolate. Not much complexity here. Very simple, straightforward, and uninspiring. Great looking bottle though! Personally, I wouldn't purchase this again; however, I will note that many of their aged bourbons and ryes are absolutely tremendous. -87 points-

8/10/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

An incredible bourbon. It lives up to its reputation. Cherry, ripe berries, sweet cream, vanilla, dark chocolate, caramel, and brown sugar on entry. Finish is strong with a tide of cinnamon, spice, and oak. Elegant and sophisticated. One of my favorites. -98 points-

8/12/2014 - Jwolfer wrote:

Opened the bottle on 8/12/14. Didn't quite meet my expectations but I do plan to revisit this bourbon again in the near future. No detailed notes recorded during this tasting. My initial impression was that it was s bit lean and uninspiring. Nothing particularly stood out. I thought the higher rye content might give it a bit more cinnamon spice and heat on the finish but it didn't quite deliver. -87 points-

8/12/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Finished the bottle on 8/12/14. One of my favorite rye whiskies. A perfect balance of sugar and spice. Notes have been consistent throughout. -95 points-

7/30/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Opened the bottle on 7/30/14. Another superb offering from underrated George Dickel. Immense quality for the price. Heavy vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar notes upon nosing. Entry is sweet with cherry, mixed berries, brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla. This gently transitions into a nice cinnamon swell accompanied with oak, bitter chocolate, and spice. Great lingering finish! -93 points-

7/29/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

A clean, elegant, and uncomplicated Virginia wine. Another good offering from Linden Vineyards. -89 points-

7/29/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Finished the bottle on 7/29/14. Notes have been consistent throughout. Nice dessert-like aromatics. During this final tasting, I detected glazed donut on the nose for the first time. A very solid bourbon especially at $15. My final rating is slightly lower than my previous ratings but I've been tasting some excellent bourbons as of late. -90 points-

7/27/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

I have been drinking this bourbon fairly often since I opened the bottle 1 week ago. Notes are consistent. A tremendous bourbon despite it's reasonable pricing. This is in my top 5 unallocated and accessible bourbons. With the bourbon boom, I think a lot of new drinkers are jumping straight to the rare and limited edition bourbons (i.e. BTAC and Pappy Van Winkle) and they're missing out on the excellent finds that are available year round like Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select, Evan Williams Single Barrel, and Booker's True Barrel. -93 points-

7/21/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Notes have been consistent throughout. An exceptional rye whiskey that is vastly overlooked. I look for reasons not to give this spirit such a high rating but I just can't find any negative criticism to note. A hint of candy corn and orange peel on this particular day but everything recorded to date remains the same. -95 points-

7/19/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Initial tasting on 7/19/14. On the nose, I detect caramel, vanilla, leather, and tropical notes. Entry is initially sweet with notes of brown sugar, honey, sweet cream, and caramel but quickly transitions to cinnamon, spice, and oak; all accompanied with an ample amount of heat. This is a solid offering from Labrot & Graham that is uncomplicated and straightforward. Nice peppery finish. -92 points-

7/19/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Finished the bottle 7/19/14. A very underappreciated rye whiskey offering from Suntory Jim Beam. My tasting notes are consistent with previous tastings. A worthwhile purchase especially at the $22 price point. -91 points-

7/15/2014 - Jwolfer wrote:

Heavy maple syrup, leather, cigar box, mint, coffee, vanilla and forest floor on the nose. The flavor profile consists of burnt caramel, vanilla, bitter chocolate, cherry, and a touch of cinnamon on the back end. This particular Canadian whisky has a light oily texture to it and definitely tastes a bit young to me. Based on the nosing, I expected this to have a sweeter profile. It is a decent Canadian whisky but I don't think I would repeat this purchase even at $18.99. -85 points-

7/13/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

A truly excellent bourbon. Very tropical in flavor with coconut and pineapple at the forefront. The flavor profile is rounded out with dark cocoa, caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon. An amazing offering from Old Forester. -95 points-

6/29/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. On the palate, there is blueberry, dried herbs, pepper, cigar smoke, plum, currant, and cherry. Well rounded tannins with a nice finish. This didn't live up to expectation but is good nonetheless. -92 points-

6/24/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Finished the bottle on 6/24/14. Notes are consistent with previous entries. A very inexpensive bourbon option with lots of upside. -89 points-

6/17/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. Weller Special Reserve is an excellent bargain bourbon. The 45% ABV helps balance the sweeter flavor profile. It never disappoints! -90 points-

6/16/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Finished the bottle and here are my final thoughts....peat and smoke dominate with the sweeter profile flavors in the background. Smooth and elegant but lacks complexity and boldness. At $30, you can't expect brilliance. Overall, it's a decent dram with some good qualities. -89 points-

6/15/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable Irish whiskey! My Father's Day treat and it didn't disappoint. The Irish whiskies these days are absolutely phenomenal. -95 points-

6/13/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

This bourbon took me by surprise. Although, I have a bottle in my collection, the first time I tasted it was last night, 6/13/14, at a local bar. Ordered a double served neat. The bartender generously filled my glass 3/4 of the way up. I was aware of the higher proofing so I was prepared for the heat but I was taken back by how well integrated and balanced this bourbon is. I don't recall doing a proper nosing, but I do remember brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel, dates, candied apricots, and honey notes in the flavor profile. It was a monster of a whiskey but very good all around. -94 points-

6/12/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. Incredibly easy to drink. Smooth and elegant with a vibrant flavor profile. -92 points-

6/8/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Wonderful aromatics featuring vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, sweet cream, citrus, and floral notes. The rye presence is definitely there with a good amount of cinnamon and peppery spice coming to the forefront. The sweeter notes of honey, caramel, and brown sugar round out the flavor profile. There is also a little nuttiness in there as well. A very nice lingering finish! It's not my favorite rye whiskey, but it definitely isn't entry level either. -90 points-

6/8/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Final note for this bottle. Very consistent throughout (refer to previous notes). I enjoyed every drop. Easy to drink with an attractive flavor profile. Terribly underrated whiskey! -91 points-

6/7/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. Very pleasant aromatics. I detect a little more brown sugar and cinnamon in the flavor profile this time around. A tremendous finish....the spice lingers on and on. -95 points-

5/25/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. A wonderful cabernet, one I wish I had more of. On the palate, there was elements of cherry, blueberry, plum, dried herbs, and spice. Full-bodied with perfectly rounded tannins and a long delightful finish. Excellent structure, acidity, and complexity. A memorable wine. -95 points-

5/22/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

After tasting some very good scotch and irish whiskies as of late, this JW expression gets knocked down a couple notches in my book. I was initially offering up a 90-plus score. For a few more dollars, get the Double Black Label. -88 points-

5/19/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

On the nose, there's nutmeg, clove, caramel, milk chocolate, and butterscotch. Upon entry, I detect honey, brown sugar, and vanilla along with a bit of cinnamon and spice. Every time I drink this, I'm pleasantly surprised. I suppose that the lower price tag has me questioning whether this is a good bourbon or not. I'm certainly enjoying it! -90 points-

5/18/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

No detailed notes recorded at this tasting but I'm more impressed with this bourbon the second time around. I thoroughly enjoyed every last drop. This is quickly rendering some of my whiskey collection as undrinkable. I still prefer the amazing barrel proof offering but make no mistake, this stuff is delicious. -94 points-

5/18/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Big fruit on entry with plenty of blueberry, cherry, plum, and red grape. Very close to being overwhelmingly jammy and sweet but saved by an abrupt transition to pepper, dried herbs, and cassis with a shortlived finish. Nice fullness and body with soft tannins. -90 points-

5/14/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Pleasantly surprised! On the nose, there is pine needle, orange, forest floor, bittersweet chocolate, tiramisu, and espresso. The flavor profile is butterscotch, spice, coffee, and sweet buttercream. Smooth and elegant with a nice lingering finish. Excellent price! -92 points-

5/12/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. Very dessert like aromatics...reminds me of the burnt sugar coating on a creme brulee. On the palate, I detect caramel popcorn, candy corn, forest floor, charred oak, nutmeg, espresso, and spice. Nice lingering finish on this whisky! -91 points-

5/11/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

No detailed notes recorded. This is an honest no frills type bourbon. Elegant and smooth even at 100 proof. I prefer the barrel proof offering but this is a very good sipping bourbon nonetheless. -93 points-

5/10/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Wonderful aromatics...cherry, oak, vanilla, currant, and plum. The nose was a bit deceiving as the wine itself didn't live up to expectation. Medium bodied, well-rounded tannins, and a finish that lingered for a moment. It is a good wine but lacked the finesse, boldness, structure, and complexity that I was expecting from a 2005 Margaux. I received this bottle as a gift so I can't complain too much. -92 points-

5/9/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

No detailed notes recorded during this tasting. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this bourbon considering a price of $14.99. I made the assumption that it would lack complexity, structure, and boldness but it far surpassed my expectations. -91 points-

5/7/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Just finished the bottle on 5/7/14. Very consistent with previous notes. A simple, smooth, well-rounded whisky. I think a higher ABV might help balance out the sweetness but for the price point, you can't really complain. -89 points-

5/7/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

An exceptional Irish single malt whiskey! Consistent with previous notes. I detected dark chocolate on the nose this time around. I enjoyed it more than my prior tasting. Perhaps, it was the switch to the Glencairn glass. I can see why it has won numerous awards. -95 points-

5/5/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. Easy to drink, clean, simple, and smooth. It won't knock your socks off but it's a good everyday spirit at an attractive price point. -89 points-

5/5/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Something very unexpected from the state of Missouri. Resembles more of a Cali wine. Nice blend of currant, dried herbs, plum, and cassis. Not too jammy with a nice finish. This was my first visit to an urban winery; it was an enjoyable experience. -89 points-

5/1/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Sampled at Manifesto in Kansas City. Didn't record any notes but my overall impression was that it was excellent, remarkably smooth and polished despite the higher ABV. -95 points-

4/29/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. Almost down to the last few drops of my current bottle and looking forward to trying the higher proof Knob Creek single barrel offering. Excellent stuff and a tremendous deal if you can find both the small batch and single barrel under $30 like I did. -93 points-

4/24/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Impressive offering from Bushmills. Full-bodied with a slightly oily viscosity. Entry and midpalate feature spice, cherry, honey, caramel, roasted nuts, marshmallow, and lemon peel. The finish is long and enticing with notes of oak, cocoa, dried herbs, and tobacco. Elegant and polished! -94 points-

4/23/2014 - Jwolfer Likes this wine:

Excellent rye whiskey. Wonderful aromatics that you let you know you're in for a treat. On the palate, I detect sweet cream, oak, spice, creme brulee, white chocolate, caramel, toffee, and espresso. A definite fullness to it's character but delicate and complex as well. Very good finish! A definite mainstay in my bar. -95 points-