Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon Review and Tasting Notes

The Story

The Buffalo Trace Distillery is classic American distiller.  It claims that it is the oldest continuously operating distillery in the US, with production dating back to 1775; to be entirely fair, this claim gets a little fuzzy in terms of how you define distillery, but either way, they've been around a long damn time.

The thing is, they've clearly learned something somewhere in those 200+ years, because they produce some damn good bourbon.  They've received a lengthy list of awards over the years, not least of which is the title of "Whisky Distiller of the Year 2014" by Whisky Magazine.

The Buffalo Trace Bourbon is the distiller's entry level bourbon.  It is batched from no more than 40 barrels at a time, and the distiller reports that it is aged on the middle floor of the warehouse where the whisky will experience the greatest possible temperature fluctuation.

Glenlivet 12 Review and Tasting Notes

The Story

Glenlivet 12 is the entry level whisky of the best selling single malt brand in the world.

I have to admit to having two different feelings towards Glenlivet 12, one positive and one less positive.

First, I appreciate it.  It is perhaps the most accessible single malt in the world, both in terms of pricing and availability.  At $34 for a bottle, the price is reasonable.  At the same time, the flavor of Glenlivet is middle of the road enough to appeal to a broad market.

Thus, it serves the noble job of bringing single malt scotch to the world.

You have to love that.

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review and Tasting Notes

The Story

The other weekend I was eating a burger at one of my favorite bars.  I cast my eye over the whiskies behind the bar and was immediately blown away.

To give a little background on this bar, however, you'll understand why trepidation struck me just after the awe did.

This place is expensive.  Very expensive.  In fact, I make a point to only dine there on the "burger deal" night, when the burger and draft beer are half off (even at 50% off, the burger is still $11!).

My curiosity got the better of me, however, so I asked the bartender for the booze menu.  I roamed down the list.  Macallan 18, a perennial leader on my "to-try" list for $30 dollars.  Several other favorites at similarly crazy costs.