Maker’s Mark 2024 cellar aged 59,7 %, WB: 261635

Amber, happened to be dark 
Nose: Oops, forgot in the corner, 3h later: Manuka honey, horse sweat, umami, Sunday roast, soy sauce, alcohol tingles gently minty-mentholic tickling. Fermentation vat in the brewery, malty sweet. In the background a few grated coconut with a few grains of vanilla seeds.
Palate: A whole horde of pungency gangs, spreading annoyance and restlessness. Imbalance. Broken Zen. Screwed feng shui. Ginger duels with chili, pepper takes aim at cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg are mere spectators. Rocket and other bitter salad leaves are mixed in. Sweetness? Perhaps something in the salad dressing, sherbety.
Finish: Leaves a hint of bitterness, both on the palate and in the senses. The nose was very promising, however the mouthfeel and finish are disappointing.

89/100

 

 

Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered 57,64 % 166B 2022 04-year-old, WB: 257229

Tripmastermonk takes us on a lofi journey...in hay yellow
Nose: aromas develop lofiish, about 2h later vanilla, honey, maple syrup, herbs - mountain. Cough drops a la Ricola. Marshmallows rather American, alcohol pulsates to the beat in the nose, on the walls and down the nasal passage into the throat. The sinuses are amazed. Once everything is numb, cinnamon is sprinkled over the top, followed by nutmeg and some wood smoke from the barbecue, more like charcoal. More dusty spices drift along the dusty roads into town, gently simmering instead of rich and creamy. Coming along nonchalantly.

Palate: Sharppp, Kentucky Hugish. Burns down the gullet. Sweet baked apples mingle with cinnamon spiciness. The apple does not prevail. -Cough cough, swallowed wrong, now it burns everywhere.
Finish: Cheap brandy, young and spicy, without experience and without maturity. Who is he trying to impress? Marzipan with too little sugar lingers on the palate, even bitter almond. Oaky, coke, spiciness from burning. A trail of oil remains on the road, on the way to the unknown.
89/100

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky 1973 NSS 50, WB: 257585

Whew - at that age you get weak knees. I then fall to my knees with Oloroso and HHD. But only grain. Ages differently than malt. What can we expect? After a 3-hour wait, we return to the 1973.
Nose: Wasn't there an oil crisis? Color is reminiscent of heavy oil...or cola. Speaking of: Coca-Cola or Pepsi? Candy shop, chocolate crumble, baked goods - Christmas cookies. Cinnamon and molasses. Now Pepsi again, stale, tingling and tickling the nose. In between cellar mustiness and stall. Then again - Pepsi!

Palate: So this is what 50 years tastes like. I know people who are or have always been that old and unpalatable. The cola taste opens with a peppery note. Sweet coffee, cappuccino with more sugar than necessary, Armagnac - similarly aged, one would have to say stored.
Finish: Surprisingly short, dying, existential fears of the aromas, fighting for survival. Petroleum remains on the palate. A few herbs emerge from the past, shouting disturbing words. A nasty taste remains.
89/100

Ardmore 22-year-old WSP Equilibrium III, WB: 257037

Dark Amber. Not secret Highlander - Ardmore.
Nose: 2h A campfire, but already extinguished, the community broken up, embers here and there, some wood still smoldering, emitting birch smoke. Cigarettes, menthol, do they still exist? Probably in 100 variations as vapes. Ahoi-Brause, Haribo Balla-Balla, when you open a fresh bag. Roasting flavors in an old gym, working out with medicine balls. Sweat inducing. Sweetness mixes with roasted tobacco, dates wrapped in bacon from the oven.
Palate: Sparkling, alcoholic, slightly burning, spicy: black pepper. Ginger, some chili. Grains of salt, peat bitters.

Finish: Absolutely nonequilibrium, anything but balanced. Astringency, peat, slightly maritime, alcoholic - unpleasant.

88/100