Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The BenRiach Peated Cask Strength Batch 2 Single Malt Scotch Whisky


Hello Single Malters, today I have BenRiach peated cask strength Batch 2 whisky for the reivew. Reads the product label "Benriach peated cask strength is a rare peated Speyside Single Malt bottled at it's natural state. The strength is kept high as if sampled from the cask and the natural color has developed over the years. The full flavor from the wood remain". No words express the depth of flavor your palette will go through after sampling this golden liquid. Now let me take you to the roller coaster ride fun I had with my tasting notes. Enjoy!

Vital Stats-
The BenRiach Peated Cask Strength Batch 2 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Price- $89.99
Age- No age statement
ABV- 60%
Region- Speyside
Distillery-The Benriach Distillery,Morayshire,Scotland
Awards won- Gold,2019 World Whisky Awards

Tasting info-
Serving glass- Glencairn whisky glass
Serving style- Neat then with 2 cubes of ice
Appearance- Light golden

Aroma- Heavy peat, citrus, vanilla& spices
Flavor- Exactly how it should be heavily peated, smokey, robust. Multiple layers of complex flavors. After the bitter peat ,sweet oak follows.
Body- Full bodied
Finish- Sweet lingering aftertaste

SJ's Rating- Top Shelf (for those who like smokey peated)
It was like a roller coaster ride tasting this 60% ABV smokey whisky. It is not for the faint of heart. Surprisingly once the bitterness was gone, I was greeted by sweet oak like a good old friend. In other words you need to take your time to really enjoy this robust bad boy. First I tired it neat and felt like a dragon was breathing down my throat. It is that strong. I realized a couple of ice cubes makes the flavor more palatable.

Occasions- Special occasions like turning a boy into a man :-), winter, connoisseur tasting.
Cocktails- None. Meant to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks

I enjoyed it on the rocks as well ! Cheers. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. See you all in 2020.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

WoodFord Reserve Kentucky Bourbon


Reads the product label "The art of making fine bourbon first took place on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery, a national historic landmark in 1812". Hello friends on this note I am reviewing Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon which has set a hallmark standard for exceptional bourbon. It certainly has a long history & legacy behind it and an amazing product that speaks for itself. It is widely associated with the Kentucy Derby and sell a lots of delicious Mint Julips during the event.
Without further delay, I am unleashing the tasting notes. Enjoy.

Vital Stats
WoodFord Reserve, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
Price- $26.99 for 750ml bottle, $4.49 for 50ml sampler(pictured)
Age- N/A
ABV- 45.2%
Distillery- Woodford Distillery, Versailles,Kencutky
Awards won- Gold Medal,Class Bartenders Awards 2018

Tasting info-
Serving glass- Glencairn Whisky Glass
Serving style- Neat
Appearance- Dark Amber

Aroma- Vanilla, citrus, cinnamon, pepper, spices
Flavor- Sweet oak, pleasant toffee, vanilla, butterscotch, nutmeg
Body- Full bodied
Finish- Smooth & long.Lingers in mouth for a while.

SJ's Rating- Top Shelf
WoodFord Reserve is one of my favorite bourbon in the ranks of Makers 46. For me it hits the spot, smooth with just the right amount of sweetness and delicious. If you are looking for a sipping bourbon then this fits the bill. 

Occasions best enjoyed- Connoisseur tasting, on a quiet cold evening by the fireside.Special gift
Cocktails- Manhattan, Old Fashioned

Leaving you with the quintessential drunk humorπŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒ

Hope you enjoyed reading the review. Not in the mood to read? Listen to my SingleMaltLives Podcast instead. Cheers πŸ₯ƒπŸ₯ƒπŸ₯ƒ & Enjoy Responsibly.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Fistful of Bourbon


Friday night with a nice bourbon and a Clint Eastwood western movie. This is one of my pleasures of life and a bourbon that sounds like a western is an icing on the cake. Today I am reviewing Fistful of Bourbon, it is a blend of straight bourbon whiskies . Even the mini sampler comes in a nice glass bottle unlike cheaper plastic ones. It is aged in new charred oak barrels aged for a minimum of two years. Now for the best part lets see if this fistful packs any punch or falls flat on it's knees. Time for my tasting . Enjoy!

Vital Stats-
Fistful of Bourbon - A blend of straight bourbon whiskies
Price- $23.99 for 750ml, $0.99 for 50ml sampler(pictured). Gifted to author by a friend πŸ˜ƒ
Age- 2 years
ABV- 45%
Bottled & produced by- William Grant & Sons Inc New York,NY
for Tuthilltown Spirits Gardiner,NY
Awards Won- None found but I would give an award just for it's name

Tasting info- 
Serving glass- Glencairn whisky glass
Serving style- Neat
Appearance- Light golden

Aroma- Corn, vanilla, fruits and hint of oak & nuts. Aromas from all different bourbons blended
Flavor- Many different flavors from the blends corn,caramel, vanilla, oak. Strong omnipresent burning sensation, spicy, some sweetness but has more bite to it like a fireball whisky.
Body- Medium
Finish- Medium dry finish, burning sensation lingers in mouth for a bit
SJ's Rating- Middle Shelf
I like the idea of blended bourbon and the taste is soothing.

Occasions- Low key events like outdoors camping
Cocktails- Old Fashioned, Manhattan, with club soda to curb that sting of strong alcohol

A little humor
Cowboy to Bartender, "Wash your hands and give me three fingers of red rye whisky". 🀣🀣🀣

Hope you enjoyed the review. Not in the mood to read? Listen to my SingleMaltLives Podcast instead. Cheers ! πŸ₯ƒπŸ₯ƒπŸ₯ƒ & enjoy responsibly

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Glenlivet New Fashioned


Hello everyone, today I am making a classic cocktail with a twist. It is called Glenlivet New Fashioned. The original recipe is the Classic bourbon Cocktail old fashioned which I have written in my blog as well. I got the Glenlivet New Fashioned cocktail kit in a sipping session that I went last month. So thought would be interesting to make it myself and present it here for you. The difference between them is that The New Fashioned uses Scotch(Glenlivet) whereas old Fashioned is made with bourbon So lets get started, I cannot wait.

Contents of the Glenlivet New Fashioned Cocktail kit

From left to right the recipe, 2 bags of raw sugar, A small bottle of Angostura Bitters, A bar spoon/muddler and a small bar towel, 50 ml of Glenlivet 14 whisky(not included) 

Step 1 Take a mini bottle of the Glenlivet whisky, one cup of ice and one empty cup

Step 2 Combine one pack of cane sugar, 3 dashes of Angostura bitters and whisky in the empty cup

Step 3 With the muddler end of the bar spoon lightly crush the sugar and stir to dissolve(This is where SJ's magic happens) 

Step 4 Pour the cocktail over ice, stir for 10 seconds and Enjoy!

Step 5 Admire the color, aroma of the finished product and savor it slowly

I absolutely enjoyed making and drinking The new fashioned. Hope you enjoyed as well and inspired to make it for you and your loved ones to enjoy.
Cheers ! and enjoy responsibly.
Not in the mood to read? Listen to my SingleMaltLives Podcast instead.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Chivas Regal 12 Blended Scotch Whisky

"Prince of Whiskies" reads the product label of this classic Chival Regal 12 whisky which is for today's review. Chivas Regal needs no introduction to Scotch lovers.It is a global brand and one of the most famous blended Scotch Whiskies in the world. It sets the gold standard for luxury drinks and it's unrivaled quality stretches two hundred years back. It is a premium scotch with a versatile personality suitable for adults of all demographics.
I wanted to delve deeper to find out about this iconic brand. This is when one of the industry experts suggested me a book "A Double Scotch" which I thoroughly enjoyed reading recently. It explains about the business aspect of Scotch Business and I found it very unique as most other whisky books only talk about the technical aspects like the distillery etc. 


Vital Stats-
Chivas Regal 12 Blended Scotch Whisky
Price- $27.97 for 750ml
Age- 12 years,
ABV-40%
Product of- Scotland
Region- Speyside
Distillery- Strathisla Distillery, Keith,Moray,Scotland
Awards Won- Gold 2015, Deluxe blend category, International Wine & Spirit Competition

Tasting info-
Serving Glass- Glencairn glass

Serving Style- Neat
Appearance- Tawny amber
Aroma- Honey & citrus, cinnamon spice as well
Flavor- Sweet honey with notes of butterscotch & hazelnut
Body- Medium
Finish- Long, sweet& smooth

SJ's Rating- Middle Shelf
It is an excellent and classic whisky, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I compared it with it's competitor Johnnie Walker Black which is similar in taste but found Chivas more smoother.This would be a good introductory whisky for those who have started liking Scotch to explore their palette. Since it is approachable and smooth it is suitable for the ladies as well.

Occasions Best Enjoyed- Easy all occasion drinking. Also good as a special gift to loved ones
Cocktails- None , meant to be sipped by itself or on the rocks.

Drunk humor is back..( I will keep this section consistent as most of us enjoy a good laugh πŸ˜ƒ)

Drunk in a Telephone Booth
A drunk went into a telephone booth and dialed at random.."Salvation Army" came the answer.
What do you do asked the man. "We save wicked men & women," came the reply.
"Well, save me a wicked women for Saturday night." πŸ˜ƒπŸ˜„πŸ˜ƒπŸ˜„πŸ˜„πŸ˜„

Happy Thanksgiving!. Enjoy Responsibly & CheersπŸ₯ƒπŸ₯ƒπŸ₯ƒπŸ₯ƒ
Not in the mood to read? Listen to my SingleMaltLives Podcast instead.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin Vapor Infused


Today I am reviewing gin for the first time in my blog. It is Bombay Sapphire London Dry gin-Vapor infused. Reads the product label, "Hand selected exotic botanicals" from a 1761 recipe. It comes in a solid light blue colored glass bottle and is very inviting. This is interesting, according to their website they take their botanicals very seriously and source it from ten different exotic locations from around the world. Following are the ingredients sourced-
1.Juniper Berries from Italy
2. Lemon Peel from Spain
3.Coriander from Morocco
4.Angelica(Root) from Saxony
5. Orris(Iris Root) from Italy
6.Grains of Paradise from West Africa
7.Cubeb berries from Java
8. Cassia Bark from Indo-China
9. Almonds from Spain10. Liquorice from China

Now it is time for the best part- the tasting,enjoy my notes below and sip along if you wish!

Vital Stats
Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin-Vapor Infused 
Price- $17.99 for 750ml($1.99 for 50ml bottle)
Age- Not applicable
ABV- 47%
Product of- England
Distillery- Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Awards won- None found

Tasting info-
Serving glass- Glencairn whisky glass.
Serving style- Neat
Appearance- White, transparent(Only the bottle is blue the gin inside has no color)

Aroma- Various botanicals, Juniper is omnipresent, some vapor infused aroma
Flavor- Subtle sweet like a mouth freshener, clove.Smooth vapor infused flavor, juniper has well rounded effect not too sweet
Body- Medium , does not really apply to a gin
Finish- Elegant,spicy dry finish
SJ's rating-Middle Shelf
I am pleasantly surprised to how smooth it is even with a high ABV of 47%. Also it is not overwhelmingly sweet like other gins' and has a very pleasing mouthfeel.
Occasion best enjoyed- All occasions, summer time, day party
Suitable cocktails- Gin based cocktails

I enjoyed putting this together. Cheers! & Enjoy Responsibly. Not in the mood to read?listen to my SML Podcast instead!

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Balvenie 12 Single Barrel



Fellow single malters πŸ™‚, you must have known by now that The Balvenie is the  love of my life..My absolute favorite being The Balvenie 14 Caribbean cask. Recently I tasted The Balvenie 12 Single Barrel First Fill. The label says "This bottle is one of no more than 300 drawn from a single cask".  "The majority of the casks used for maturing Scotch whisky are ex-bourbon barrels brought over from America. These barrels are made of a species of oak called Quercus alba, though most perhaps commonly known as oak. And when used for the first time to mature Scotch whisky, they are termed first fill". That makes me feel special and part of something that is truly unique in flavor and making.  I also wanted to try it out because of it's higher ABV of 47.8% to see how it stacks against the lesser counter parts. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.. tasting notes are quite interesting , enjoy!

Vital Stats-
The Balvenie 12 First Fill
Price- $69.99 for 750ml bottle
Age- 12 years
ABV- 47.8%
Region- Speyside
Distillery- The Balvenie Distillery, Dufftown Scotland
Award won- Gold Outstanding, Scotch Single Malt Speyside, International Wine & Spirits Competition

Tasting info-
Serving glass-Glencairn whisky glass

Serving style- Neat
Appearance- Light golden
Aroma-Highly aromatic oak, wiff of sweet bourbon as well
Flavor- The oak comes in strong, hints of sweet bourbon but does not over power the oak flavor
Body- Medium
Finish- Long,robust and smooth

SJ's rating- Top Shelf
It is top shelf no doubt, however when compared to other first fill like Glenlivet 12 this would be my second option. It does justice to the price with its amazing aroma, robust flavor but I feel it lacks the body and the appearance is a little light as well. I prefer darker colored whiskies as I drink the whisky first with my eyes then only with my mouth. It is just me :-)

Occasions Best enjoyed-  Connoisseur tasting, whisky flights. Would be a special gift for scotch lovers
Cocktails- Not meant for cocktails, enjoy it neat with few drops of water

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Glenlivet Sipping Sessions- 14 year old Cognac Cask Collection


I happened to be part of this amazing experience called Glenlivet Sipping Sessions recently. They released The Glenlivet 14 year old Cognac Cask Collection which I am reviewing in my blog today. Also, I will be sharing my experience about the sipping session and sharing pictures about this wonderful time with industry experts and single malt lovers.  
Glenlivet offers very limited runs of special editions of fourteen year old special casks. This 14 year old is finished in Cognac Cask making it distinctively smooth and pleasant a best of both worlds that is whisky and hint of cognac.

Vital Stats
Glenlivet 14 year old 
Price- $49.99 for 750ml bottle
Age- 14 year old
ABV- 40%
Region- Speyside
Distillery- The Glenlivet Distillery, Scotland
Awards won- None found but I give it a personal gold medal
Tasting info-
Serving glass- Whisky shot glass

Serving style- Neat and also as New Fashioned Cocktail
Appearance- Dark Amber
Aroma- Fresh vanilla, hints of white grape from Cognac cask
Flavor- Sweet, rich & velvety flavor
Body- Full bodied
Finish- Long & smooth
Occasion best enjoyed- I enjoyed it in Glenlivet Sipping session as a whisky flight
Suitable cocktails - New Fashioned, replacing bourbon with 14 year old Glenlivet

SJ's Rating- Top Shelf
It is a gem, perfect for my palette and as a staple whisky. It offers a robust flavor and the cognac barrel gives it an unmatched experience. 

Event Details and pictures 
Glenlivet Sipping sessions in partnership with The purple heart foundation

Ticket- $10( All proceeds help the purple heart foundation)
The cause- The purple heart Foundation raises money to fund programs and services across the country that support veterans and their families.
Venue- Peerspace loft,Dallas
Date/Time- Oct 24,2019 7pm-9pm

The entrance to Glenlivet Sipping Session @Dallas uptown
Beautiful Neon lighting welcome sign

Bartender in action as I started with a Glenlivet 14 neat
The host was very knowledgeable about Single Malt Whisky and got my questions answered πŸ˜ƒ

Her in depth knowledge transfer..A Double Scotch book she recommended 


Having a fun time ..the whole crew were so genuine and friendly..couldn't ask for a better time


A hearty steak at Perry's Steakhouse..what else after drinking like a fish to satisfy the hunger cravings

Bullet Rye Manhattan & Jameson on the rocks

Top it off with a heavenly cheesecake..I was in cloud nine!

I had an amazing time at the event. Hope you enjoyed reading it. Cheers! and enjoy responsibly.    Not in the mood to read, listen to my SingleMaltLives  podcast. 

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Highland Queen Majesty Sauternes Cask Finish



Highland Queen Majesty Sauternes Cask Finish is for today's review. The product story reads "Since 1961, Mary Queen of Scots has embodied the enduring and noble values, history and independent spirit of Scotland. Highland Queen Majesty Sauternes Cask Finish has been carefully selected from the the finest malts in Scotland to offer a distinctive and smooth whisky, for the enjoyment of all. The result we leave with confidence to your judgement". Let me see if it matches up to the legacy πŸ˜ƒ. Upon some research I found that the whisky comes from Tullibardine Distillery along with other distilleries for its blended expressions. Enjoy my tasting notes! 

Vital Stats-
Highland Queen Majesty Sauternes Cask Finish 
Price- $22.99 for 750ml bottle
Age- NAS(No Age Statement) 
ABV- 46%
Company-  Alexander Murray & Co Ltd
Region- Highland
Awards won- None I could find on the net.

Tasting info-
Serving glass- Glencairn whisky glass

Serving style- Neat
Appearance- Light Amber
Aroma- Pleasant aroma green apple, white grapes from sauternes cask, citrus & honey
Flavor- Intense oak flavor slightly sweet taste from the sauternes wine cask. Vanilla & honey notes
Body- Medium
Finish- Smooth, long and dry. Does not linger is mouth too long.



SJ's rating- Middle Shelf
I loved it for the intense and robust flavor like Glenlivet 12 First fill. It does not get the top spot for one reason.... the finish which is very short. However for the price, it is more than worth the money
Occasions best suited- For casual gatherings with friends. I enjoyed with friends while playing cards.

Cocktails- Not applicable. It does go well with club soda if it is too strong for some people.

Cheers! and enjoy responsibly. Not a big reader? Listen to my podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/344792

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon



Buffalo Trace Bourbon..what can I say about this...it was an unknown liquid for me until I tried it out not too long ago. Do not be fooled by the lower price tag, it packs a surprisingly delicious flavor which I am sharing today in my review. I have been emphasizing in my blogs that the price of whisky is not necessarily an indicator of it's flavor.Buffalo Trace is a perfect example of this. 
It has a timeless history and any words would not do justice to the impeccable craftsmanship behind their whiskey. According to their website... Buffalo Trace distillery opened way back in 1792(Oh my....) and for over 200 years it has been defined by dedication to one craft- making fine bourbon whiskey. That sums it up pretty well and I am attesting it's legacy in my blog. Honestly I would give it an honorary Top Shelf just for it's legacy. However, everyone has their own tastes so sharing my experience with this whiskey. Enjoy! 

Vital Stats
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Price- $22.99 for 750ml (Pictured $4.29 for 50ml sampler bottle)
Age- N/A
ABV- 45%
Distillery/Region- Buffalo Trace Distillery Frankfort,Kentucy
Awards won- 2016 Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition among many others

Tasting info-
Serving glass- Glencairn whisky glass

Serving style- Neat
Appearance- Dark Amber
Aroma- Very pleasant and complex aroma of caramel, chocolate with hints of cinnamon, clove spices & mint
Flavor- Rich vanilla, sweet, spicy with toffee and citrus
Body- Medium
Finish- Incredibly long and smooth. Taste lingers in the mouth forever
Occasion best enjoyed- Outdoors like camping and a good gift for a bourbon lover. Suitable for all occasions.
Suitable cocktails-  Old Fashioned, Manhattan

SJ's rating- Top Shelf
Buffalo Trace is a hidden gem... a Rolce Royce of bourbons. It is smooth and delicious bursting with rich flavor. Highly recommended. With a robust 45% ABV, it packs a punch and knocks out competition with its unique flavor. It is now among my top go to bourbons like Makers Mark and Woodford Reserve. 

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Topo Chico mineral water- Palette Cleanser

Fellow Single Malters , today I am reviewing a different kind of beverage -Topo Chico carbonated mineral water. I know it is not what I usually review but it is an essential drink for a proper drinking etiquette. I am turning the spotlight to the neglected humble club soda that lies on the table with the boozier liquid taking all the attention. 
As humble as it may be, Topo Chico has an interesting history behind it. The company began in 1895 and was acquired by Coke in 2017. It is sourced and bottled at the Cerro Del Topo Chico, Monterrey, Mexico. It is said that the water has healing properties which makes the drinker happy,strong and refreshed. I can attest to this on a hot summer day,a big fan of Topo Chico like most Texans and would like to visit their factory in Monterrey soon. I am not sure about the availability of Topo Chico elsewhere in the country. 

Vital Stats
Topo Chico Mineral Water
Price- $9.99 for 12 pack(12oz bottle)
Country/Region- Monterrey, Mexico
Beverage type- Carbonated water(Also comes in lime and grapefruit flavor)
Calories- Zero

Tasting notes
Since this is not whisky it would be silly of me to review it in that way. I need to come up with a different template to rate non-alcoholic drinks. All I can say is it  crisp, cleansing and hydrating what else can one ask for? The best way to drink is with a slice of lemon.(Just like Corona ). Not to forget it is a great mixer for whisky based cocktails like Mint Julip.
SJs Rating-  Top Shelf

A palette cleanser like Topo Chico is carbonated and does an excellent job in resetting the taste buds after a delicious meal. It also hydrates as you loose water when drinking alcohol which is a diuretic. While any club soda like San Pellegrio will do, I prefer Topo Chico because it has a clean, crisp taste and the packaging is cool too, it feels like a beer bottle.
Bonus tasting etiquette  
-Do not put overly aromatic perfume because it will interfere with the aroma of the whisky.
-If you use a hand lotion try a neutral one so that it does not hinder your(or others) smelling ability.
If you do not like carbonated water here are other options that work just as well
Coffee or Espresso (Black) 


Mint- I like Altoids minis

Leaving you with very cool vintage ads of Topo Chico

I enjoyed putting this together, hope you guys enjoyed reading it.
 Is reading not your thing? No problem! listen to my SingleMaltLives Podcast

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Aha Yeto Reposado Artesanal Tequila



Hello Single Malters, I am back with the Aha yeto Tequila series with it's artesanal Reposado. Not too long ago, I had reviewed Aha Yeto Artesanal Blanco Tequila & Aha Yeto Artesanal Anejo Tequila. Today's tequila has been sponsored by the very lovely people at Old Town Tequila. They are a superstore of Tequila and Mezcal. I would love to review Mezcal in my coming days. Looking forward to a long lasting partnership with Old Town Tequila in the days to come. 
Aha Yeto Reposado is made with 100% Agave and is aged under a year. It is made from estate grown , mature agave plants by highly experienced distillers to capture the highest quality alcohol to bring the agave's characters. With so much skill and love into making this golden liquid , it is meant for sipping straight. Only then can you appreciate the unique flavor this authentic tequila has to offer.
Compared to similar competing tequila like Patron, I find this much more flavorful and very unique. 

Vital Stats
Aha Yeto Reposado Tequila 
Price- $47.99 for 750ml( Mine was sponsored by Old Town Tequila)
ABV- 40%
Age-Under one year
Country of origin- Mexico
Distillery- Distileria Rancho El Cabrito
Awards won-2010, Spain Awarded Highest grade (94 points) , imported alcoholic beverage

Tasting info-
Serving glass- Glencairn whisky glass

Serving style- Neat
Appearance- Faint golden yellow
Aroma- Agave slightly aged in barrel. Nice aroma almost like an anejo. Wiff of Fresh lemon and citrus
Flavor- Exactly like expected. Very subtle on the palette, spices, clove, cinnamon, peppermint
Body- Medium
Finish- Subtle on the mouth, light and smooth. Lingers a short time.

SJ's rating- Middle Shelf 
Very pleasant tequila to sip. Middle shelf because it would not do justice to Anejo which is better apparently as it is aged more. Aha Yeto Reposado has it's own character. It is a light sipping tequila good for summer.
Enjoy responsibly. In mood to listen and not read? Check out my SingleMaltLives Podcast for more whisky reviews.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Dewars White Label


Today I am reviewing Dewar's White Label-True Scotch.The product story in the bottle reads "A scotch of unusual subtlety and refinement. Up to 40 of the finest malt and grain whiskies are blended together in perfect harmony, to create this time honored blend". Dewar's was established in 1846, talk about being around for a while :-)
Now the fun part..enjoy my tasting notes and find out if Dewar's White Label lives up to it's legacy.

Vital Stats-
Dewars While Label Blended Scotch 
Price- $18.99 for 750ml ($2.29 for 50ml sampler bottle)
Age- N/A
ABV- 40%
Country/Region- Scotland
Manufacturer- Bacardi
Awards won- Gold,Blended standard 2018 The Scotch Whisky Masters

Tasting info-
Serving glass-  Glencairn Whisky Glass

Serving style- Neat
Appearance- Light Golden
Aroma- Lemon, citrus, honey, pepper spices , fruity aroma
Flavor- Bursting with subtle spices, oak. Taste of clove and cinnamon
Body- Medium
Finish- Lingers in mouth for a while. Quite smooth and enjoyable

SJ's Rating- Middle shelf
Highly enjoyable and smooth like a well rounded whisky. It is a little light on the palette which is why it is in my middle shelf. It is a good value for money and a crowdpleaser. Also good for mixing. Compared to similar blended whiskies like Johnnie Walker Red I enjoyed it more as it is more refined flavor. It is almost like a single malt I loved the flavor. 

In the mood to listen whisky reviews and not read? check out my SingleMaltLives Podcast

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Patron XO Cafe coffee liqueur



Today I am reviewing Patron XO Cafe Coffee Liquor.It has a natural coffee essence so is more like coffee flavored tequila than a liqueur. Patron silver and anejo are very popular but I had never tried their coffee liqueur so decided to give it a shot. Patron was established in 1989, not the oldest of distilleries around but it sure has made it's presence as a good tequila brand all over the world.  Now let's get to the tasting info to reveal how it's sweet tasting liquor has to offer. 

Vital Stats-
Patron XO Cafe Coffee Liqueur
Price- $19.49 for 750ml bottle ( Pictured $1.59 for 50ml sampler bottle)
Age- Not applicable
ABV- 35%
Country/Region- Mexico
Manufacturer- The Patron Spirits company
Awards Won- Gold,Flavored Tequila-2019. The Tequila and Mezcal Masters

Tasting info-
Serving glass-  Glencairn whisky glass

Serving style- Neat
Appearance- Pitch Dark
Aroma- Pleasant coffee aroma with a whiff of flavor added like vanilla
Flavor- Coffee with alcohol, very smooth like desert. Dark chocolate notes. Also tastes somewhat like  ice-cream coffee
Body- Medium bodied
Finish- Strong lingering sweetness

SJ's Rating- Middle Shelf  
I don't like sweet alcohol too much. I will have it occasionally as a nice after dinner desert but can't do it as a regular drink. However it is quite smooth and enjoyable.

Some Sweet humor πŸ˜„πŸ˜„

Bad Excuse
Harry was sick and tired of being constantly badgered by his wife Barbara for spending so much time at the bar. Hoping it would help matters, Harry invited Barbara along with him. "So what would you like?" harry cordially asked, as she took her seat next to him. "Oh I don't know" Barbara replied, "I guess I'll take the same thing as you." "OK" said Harry to the bartender, "We'll take two Johnny Walker's on the rocks!" Barbara barely took a sip of the drink before she started gagging "Oh my gosh! Get me a cup of water! This stuff is horrible! How do you drink this garbage?" "See?" said Harry "and you think I come here just to have a good time?!"