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    Home » American Whiskey

    Published Jan 11, 2019 · Updated Apr 16, 2022 · by Tammy Spencer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Roundup Review of Scotch, Bourbon, & Rye Whiskey

    Jump to Reviews

    Tasting a wide range of scotch, bourbon, whiskey, and rye whiskey at a Whisky Wednesday drawer cleanup. The hardest task is picking which expressions to try!

    Collage of scotch bourbon, and rye whiskey bottles on a counter.this …

    My confession…I hate housecleaning.

    There is one kind of housecleaning that I do enjoy, and that’s when Ken Gordon of Gordon's DTX decides to “clean out the drawer” for Whisky Wednesday. That’s when he takes out bottles that have been opened and are less than half full, and we help finish them off. It’s a sacrifice, I know.

    Jump To: hide
    A diverse lineup of tasting notes
    Winter Whisky Housecleaning
    Chivas Regal Mizunara Finish
    Glen Moray Elgin Heritage (12 yr)
    Monkey Shoulder Batch 27yr
    Gordon Graham’s Black Bottle Blend
    Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
    Masterston’s 10yr
    Putnam New England Rye Whiskey
    Final thoughts
    Related Tasting Notes

    A diverse lineup of tasting notes

    This is my version of whisky housecleaning, and the biggest decision is what to choose! This time I sampled expressions that I hadn't tried before (well, I maybe had a couple of favorites at the end).

    I went from scotch to whiskey to rye, as diverse a range as you can get. Well, see for yourself!

    Counter full of scotch and whiskey bottles with glasses in front.
    Hmm...what to choose... (Photo credit: Billy Torres)

    Winter Whisky Housecleaning

    At Gordon’s DTX, January 2, 2019

    Chivas Regal Mizunara Finish

    40%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: light aroma, dust, cedar
    • Taste: brown sugar, vanilla, wood shavings
    • Finish: cinnamon and cloves, cedar
    • Comments: very woody, some sweetness

    Glen Moray Elgin Heritage (12 yr)

    40%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: flowers, clover honey, dried hay, potpourri
    • Taste: flowers and toffee, honey
    • Finish: caramel sauce, light baking spices
    • Comments: sweet and floral, bright, delightful

    Monkey Shoulder Batch 27yr

    43%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: nutmeg, brown sugar, light smoke
    • Taste: thick body, oily, caramel and cinnamon, wood smoke
    • Finish: cinnamon lasts with wood smoke underneath
    • Comments: interesting, the thickness and body help the wood flavors develop
    Collage of Chivas Regal, Glen Moray, and Monkey Shoulder scotch whisky bottles on a counter.

    Gordon Graham’s Black Bottle Blend

    43%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: light caramel, hay, heather
    • Taste: light body, bright hay, caramel, thyme
    • Finish: light nutmeg to thyme and heather
    • Comments: so many different flavors and aromas to tease out, interesting because you have to really pay attention

    Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

    40%ABV, Heaven Hill
    Type: American

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: caramel, vanilla, corn sweetness, grass, dried pears, cereal
    • Taste: medium body, vanilla fudge, light baking spices, bread grains
    • Finish: ends with vanilla, toffee, hint of pears
    • Comments: isn't cloyingly sweet.. mellowed with caramel

    Masterston’s 10yr

    45% ABV, Canadian Rye, Hungarian Oak finish
    Type: Canadian

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: caraway, corn, salted caramel
    • Taste: mediumbody, cloves, rye spice, caramel, slight smoke
    • Finish: rye lingers, then cinnamon
    • Comments: has a dark flavor

    Putnam New England Rye Whiskey

    43%ABV
    Boston Harbor Distillery
    Type: American

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: corn, brown sugar candy, light rye
    • Taste: dark rum, brown sugar bars, light anise, cardamom
    • Finish: cloves, cardamom, brown sugar
    • Comments: not a strong rye, actually quite nice
    Collage of Black Bottle blended scotch, whisky, Rebel Yell bourbon, & Mastwhiskey erson's and Putnam rye bottles on a counter.

    Final thoughts

    I rarely post these random whisky tasting notes, but I think the next time Ken decides to empty his drawer, I’ll do it again.

    It’s a great way to try a truly diverse lineup, and a few favorites!

    Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

    Tammy

    Related Tasting Notes

    Scotland's whisky regions have such a rich and diverse array of flavor profiles and distinct characteristics from which to choose. Here's where you can find a scotch I've reviewed based on its region. Slainté!

    • Campbeltown Scotch
    • Highland Scotch
    • Islands Scotch
    • Islay Scotch
    • Speyside Scotch

    More American Whiskey Tasting Notes

    • Smugglers’ Notch Distillery whiskey
    • WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Comparisons
    • On the Rocks Premium Cocktails
    • Selecting Single Barrel Picks for Limited Edition Bottles

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    Hi, I'm Tammy! My fascination with baking comes from my love of science and the magic of bringing together ingredients to produce something yummy. Coupling that with my appreciation of scotches and bourbons, I love to bake stuff, jot down my whisky tasting notes, and share my experiences with you!

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