Scoring

Published by root on Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Tasting Notes Through the Years
Credit: SKU http://recenteats.bl … s-through-years.html

As a whiskey drinker gains experience, the nature of their tasting notes changes. Here’s a general example of how whiskey tasting notes tend to change through the years.

Novice - One Year Experience
This is good whiskey.

Intermediate - Four Years Experience
Nose: Caramel and butterscotch.
Palate: Soft caramel notes, molasses, maple syrup.
Finish: A nice caramel note with some mint and spices.

Advanced - Eight Years Experience
The nose opens with Gaviota strawberries, green figs and a light alfalfa note in the background, after which it picks up soft tobacco, leather and Meyer lemon rind with the heft of a midnight fog that lifts gently off the ocean surface in a coastal town in Northern Maine. The palate shows seaweed, sponge cake, candied oranges and preserved lemons, with water bringing out allspice, Malaysian vanilla and spearmint. The mouthfeel is velvety with an oily residue akin to that of Ardbeg circa 1972-78. The finish is medium-long with traces of gooseberry, Blenheim apricot pit and anise.

Veteran - Over Ten Years Experience
This is good whiskey.

Disclaimers

The scores are based primarily on drinkability neat; if I want another pour, it scores higher.
Everyone’s tastes differ, so if our opinions diverge on a bottle, that’s perfectly fine.
Almost anything rated highly will have price, availability, or both as downsides.
Expect to see some “+” and “–” marks, since many bottles fall between grades.
Grading follows a loose bell curve — very few will earn an A or an F.
Anything graded C+ to B is worth trying at a bar, while B+ or above suggests buying a bottle if your palate aligns with mine.
Pricing and value are assumed to be around MSRP and are not factored into scores.

Grades

    A: Exceptional. Must-try or must-buy. The one I’d take to a deserted island.
    B: Good and above average. The bottle I’d reach for among many.
    C: Mediocre but fine. I’d drink it if nothing else is around — or mix it.
    D: Flawed. Only fit for a basic mixer or a desperate moment.
    F: Disgusting. Drain-pour. Avoid entirely.

Similar grading that overlaps with mine, shamelessly copied from https://whiskeyreviewer.com. Give them a read they’re good at the whole review thing.

Same Grades as above

    A+: A masterpiece and one of the ten best whiskeys of its type. Above five stars.
    A: An outstanding bottle of whiskey, but missing that tiny something that makes a true masterpiece. Five stars.
    A-: A fine bottle of whiskey sitting right at the top end of the premium range. Memorable and well worth savoring.
    B+: Very good stuff — solid, well-made, and highly enjoyable, but just missing that spark or magic touch that would bump it into the A tier.
    B: Good and above average. The best of the mass-market bottles and most premium brands land here.
    B-: Decent and drinkable, but lacking the depth or character to really stand out. Three stars.
    C+ to C-: Average whiskey. It does the job, nothing more or less. A C- is two stars.
    D+ to D-: Below average. Noticeable flaws and off notes. A D is one star, a D- half a star.
    F: Zero stars. Rotgut.

Value vs Enjoyment

Bottle value isn’t always factored into the grade, but for bourbon there’s a clear point of diminishing returns past about $125, and for single malt, somewhere around $250. Exceptions exist, of course — BTAC bottles come to mind — but those benchmarks hold true in most cases. A $15 bottle will differ dramatically in quality from a $150 one, but there’s little real improvement between $150 and $500.

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Top Lists

Top Malt:

Top Bourbon/Rye Whiskey:

  • Booker’s 2018-01 Kathleen’s Batch and 2021-02 Tagalong
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  • George T. Stagg 2019
  • Parker’s Heritage Collection 2020
  • Remus Gatsby Reserve 2022
  • Stagg Jr Batch 13 (but I hear Batches 10+ are all good)
  • Shenks 2020
  • Untitled 14 yr MGP 72.5% Private Cask #13 Prav Saraff Pick