A Pour Man's Tasting Notes

[pkt77242]

Next up, Deschutes Red Chair NWPA

N: Hops, grapefruit, other citrus and a little bosc pear.
P: is similar to the nose. Hops, grapefruit, malt and a little candied orange. A hint of gummy bear flavor.
F: medium on malt, grapefruit and hops.

A little better but still rather simple. 83 points.

[pkt77242]

The last one, Deschutes Inversion IPA

N: Big malty notes, some hops, light citrus and some fresh baked bread and yeast.
P: Huge malty notes, big hops, and multi grain bread. Light citrus.
F: medium on malt and the citrus gets bigger and bigger. slightly bitter.

A nice beer. Very malty. 87 points.

[pkt77242]

Odell Brewing IPA 7%

N: Grapefruit, guava, pineapple and some hops. Rather floral.
P: Apricots, grapefruit, slightly bitter hops and some big floral notes. The barest hint of malt.
F: Medium short on bitter hops (more bitter than the nose or palate) and some grapefruit. Still rather floral to the very end.

A nice IPA that is rather balanced and enjoyable. Not over the top bitter in the nose and palate but gets rather bitter at the end. Also big floral notes are present, much more so than most IPAs that I have tasted.

88 points.

[pkt77242]

And the competitor: Odell Brewing Myrcenary Double IPA 9.3%

N: starts very herbal and floral. After a couple of seconds big mandarin orange, some pineapple and a little grapefruit.
P: Big mandarin orange, herbs and flowers. Some pineapples as well. A little malt and it is finally getting bitter.
F: medium long on mandarin orange, bitter herbs, hops and pineapple.

A very good balance of sweet and bitter. 89 points.

[pkt77242]

After a couple of months off I will be back tomorrow night with some tasting notes.

[pkt77242]

And I am back with a William Larue Weller vertical of 2009, 2010, and 2011.

First up is the William Larue Weller 2010 63.3%

N: Toffee and caramel, with a little vanilla and almonds. slight berry as well. Hints of cinnamon.
P: Soft toffee and caramel with some vanilla. hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and wood shavings.
F: Medium long on toffee, vanilla and maple syrup with some oak and leather.

Very good 89 points tonight.

[pkt77242]

Next up is William Larue Weller 2011 66.75%

N: Toffee and butterscotch with roasted almonds. Hints of leather and polished oak. A little caramel and maple as well.
P: Big time toffee, butterscotch and roasted almonds. Leather, vanilla and polished oak. some of the maple syrup as well. A little peanuts as well.
F: Long finish on roasted almonds and peanuts with toffee and butterscotch drizzled on. Lots of polished oak and vanilla as well.

Very good and a great finish. 91 points.

[pkt77242]

And the final one is the William Larue Weller 2009 67.4%

N: Banana bread with honey almonds, and some caramel on top. Some ginger and vanilla as well with a hint of nutmeg.
P: Honey almonds with some banana bread. Some ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. hints of vanilla and caramel as well. Very light leather and oak.
F: Medium long on almonds, caramel and nutmeg. A little cinnamon and wood shavings. Just a touch of vanilla and leather.

Very good and different than the first two but not quite as good as the 2011.

90 points.

[nash60975]

Very good and different than the first two but not quite as good as the 2011.

90 points.

Its interesting to see someone else try some verticals of the Larue Weller. I've tasted the '07, '09, and '10 (I have a bottle of '08 unopened), and I'd say my favorite is the '09 thus far. Before the 2011 release, I'd always heard everyone talking about the '09 being the best of the editions, but it seems like I might have to try the '11 soon and pick up a bottle, which won't bode well for my goal to cut down on purchasing BTAC releases.

[Peater The Great]

I like reading these tasting notes.

Personally I'd like to see a write up of any whisky you have rated a 93+.

I have always found reading a few 93+ write ups gives better perspective to the reviewers personal biases (which we all have of course).

Anyway... keep up the good work.

[pkt77242]

Well after a long break I will be starting up my tastings again.

So over the next couple of weeks the tastings will consist of
GTS 2010 vs 2011
Lagavulin 12 CS 2010 vs 2011
Two old Ardbegs
A couple of Cragganmore Special Releases
A couple of different Japanese whisky tastings
Pliny the Elder vs Stone Ruination

maybe a couple of more but they will be added as I think of them.

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin 12 CS 2010

N: Lemon, sea air, hints of smoke and the smell of being on a boat on the ocean (wood, tar, sea air, etc). Other citrus and a hint of salt. Rather clean
P: Big lemons, wood smoke, and salt, with some tar and peat mixed in.
F: Similar to palate with lemons, wood smoke, salt and some peat. A little tar, hint of orange, and just a touch of leather.

Very good. Different then I remember it. 90 points.

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin 12 CS 2011

N: Lemon, brine, and sea air. Some wood smoke and hints of polished oak. Slightly dirtier and less clean.
P: Lemons in brine with some wood smoke. A little vanilla and oak. Big citrus (almost bitter, and all kinds).
F: Briney lemons and wood smoke. definite oak, tar, and hints of diesel. Polished oak.

Less clean than the 2010 and more in your face. 90 points. different than the 2010 but not really any better or worse more of a preference thing. Also a fair amount of burn on the way down.

[pkt77242]

Laphroaig 10 CS batch 003

N: Citrus, wet hay, iodine, wood smoke and smoked fish. A little tar and flowers. Also a slight smell of fruity pebbles.
P: Citrus, wood smoke and smoked fish. Some peat, tar and some broccoli stem.
F: Wood smoke, citrus, smoked fish and the little bit of fruity pebbles. Also a little of the green vegetables.

A good whisky but different.

[pkt77242]

Laphroaig 10 CS Batch 002

N: Wood smoke, brine, some red fruits, citrus, iodine and peat.
P: Wood smoke, brine, salted smoked fish, with tar and peat. Some hints of red fruits and citrus. maybe a little apple peel. Also a little smoked ham.
F: medium long on wood smoke, smoked/salted fish and brine. Some tar, peat and iodine mixed in with citrus.

Tastes thicker and heavier.

[pkt77242]

Laphroaig 10 CS Batch 001

N: Pears, wood smoke and brine. melon. after a minute or two some iodine and peat.
P: Wood smoke, brine and pears. Iodine, tar, kerosene, diesel, and salt. Smoked fish and smoked ham. burning embers from a fire.
F: Medium long and smokey. Burning embers from a fire, tar, iodine, smoked fish, diesel and brine.

Is there a fire in my mouth?

Very good, but in a very heavy style.