I've heard this called "Blanton's Jr" or something akin to that, and all my experiences with it have lived up to that stereotype so far. For one pour I attempted to put aside my preconceived notions on this bottle and give it a fair shake. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 (Higher Rye 12-15%) Proof: 88.9° Age: NAS (Rumored ~8 years) Further identification: 2020 'Buffalo Trace Allocation Season' purchase Dry nose; slight apple. Hint of vanilla is present and surprising amount of ethanol for the proof. Palate improves markedly with creamy thin vanilla mouth coating soaking in a light cherry. Rye spices (black pepper) are tamped down by much sweeter notes like a light fruity oak. Not overly complex... with a short, forgettable finish. Rating: 3/5 I think this one is getting too low in proof for me to enjoy regularly. But some days when you are tired and just need an easy sipper, this could definitely be it, if you can somehow find it for below MSRP.

Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 90° Age: 10 years Further identification: Muckey's Liquors Store Pick Nose: Synthetic spice & caramel. Dusty, worn out oak. Very faint leather, like smelling a bound book sitting down in your lap. Very light, airy & open space feel to it. Fresh, floral Spring air. Brought back to reality from a dreamlike state by a level sour cherry. Occasionally the nose still drifts off to a farm somewhere with the mash bill grains showing off. Palate: Silky vanilla and pear. Cherry transfers well and is more sweet here on the palate. Creamy butterscotch opens the door to new tannic dark fruits. I could never get tired of this flavor & mouthfeel, dreaming forever of some impossibly perfect countryside. Finish is low & slow, but a creamy presence asserts itself still. This one could definitely do more in the way of complexity, but for enjoyment value, how can you go wrong? I have yet to explore how this pick differs from the normal profile head to head, but I’d imagine the nuances are small in magnitude. I’m so glad we have access to so many barrel selections in MA. Rating: 4/5

Rapid Liquors 2020 Russell's Reserve single barrel stole my heart and managed to compete with an incredible Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Private Barrel Select Bourbon Company on Label: The Wild Turkey Distilling Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, and 12% Malted Barley Proof: 110° Age Liquor Depot K/4 Russell's Review Salted caramel, crème brûlée, sweet lemon pledge, and a rich toffee

The aftertaste has a touch of de-shelled salted peanuts.

If you've known me a while, you'd know my first whiskey was an Irish whiskey. Company on Label: High N' Wicked Whiskey Type: Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted Barley There is a pleasant buzz to this at cask strength, which most Irish whiskeys don't get bottled at. : 4/5 A lovely, lovely glass to enjoy - I'd definitely recommend this one to your favorite lover of Irish There is another exciting Irish release coming out of High N' Wicked now that I'm also excited to try

Are you a fan of Irish whiskey? I’ve been drinking Irish for a lot longer than I’ve been drinking anything else. The last time I had this was St Patrick’s Day, where @amongstthefernsco crowned it her Irish Whiskey Company on Label: Pernod Ricard Whiskey Type: Sherry Cask Finished Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages herbal near the bottom of the glass, this pour has always impressed me with its complexity over other Irish

Company on Label: Old Elk Whiskey Type: Finished Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 95% Rye, 5% Malted

Spirits; Distilled in Bardstown, KY) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Malty at times and rather uninviting and underwhelming on the early nose. Here it's mingled with a lot of black pepper, lemon zest, black tea, weathered oak, and clove. Taking a sip of this takes you on a journey; it makes your mind wander and your tongue sing. The tingly effervescences tingles my gums thoroughly. I love a pour that shimmers like this.

Mayor Pingree 6 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey Company on Label: Valentine Distilling Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 121.6° Age: 6 years Further identification: This single

Allspice tingles on the tongue while a soft honeysuckle begins to ebb in to push it away. I've admittedly not found too many Elijah Craig barrel proof single barrels that I've liked but this

A rising spice keeps the fire under the caramel burning and it singes and sears the creaminess away as I like it when it isn't singeing my eyebrows off like the first time I opened this bottle!

Label: New England Barrel Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley Proof: 114.2° Age: 6 years Further identification: This is a single barrel select that I helped