MrWizard's Ramblings

A local group I’m part of is doing a Christmas Calendar of blind samples 2025 holidays. There are 13 samples with 13 guesses and 13 blind reviews. This is organized by friend Chris, thus the title. The bottles are supposed to be $80+. I’m usually fairly wrong on my guesses but it’s fun to try. I’ll be updating this as I go! Previous year’s events are here:
https://www.aerin.or … y:entry241206-234357
https://www.aerin.or … y:entry231203-180411
https://www.aerin.or … y:entry221204-210258

Name — Brief Notes — Guess: — Like/Dislike — Reveal:

1. KK — Nutty, not very high proof. Rich in vanilla and oak tannins. Low proof helps here. Higher would be dangerously bitter. — Guess: Jack. Heritage Barrel of some sorts — Score: Yay — Reveal: Knob Creek 15 (2001), Batch 1, 50%
2. V1 — Proofy… Sharp roasted nuts note, doesn’t overwhelm. Lots of wood. Lots of vanilla too. Quite sweet. Coats the palate and sticks around for a while. — Guess: Heaven Hill. Larceny BP or Wheated Grain-to-Glass — Score: Yay — Reveal: Russell’s Reserve QBB/NDA “Parabola” 2021, 55%
3. JLazz — Full proof something. Lots of chili, cinnamon that linger around. Good dollop of wood as usual here. A bourbon I’m fairly sure. While still sweet, there’s a touch of a sour note in this for me, though it makes it more mouth-watering. — Guess: Old Forester SBBP — Score: Yay- — Reveal: Woodinville, SFWBSS SP, Bourbon Butcher, 59.17%
4. IT — It’s Ian! This tastes… Rye-forward, though still I think it’s a bourbon… Or a very soft rye. Pine, eucalyptus, dill. Sweet notes stick around for quite a bit. Lots of wood, leaning bitter on repeated sips rather than sweet. Probably decent amount of time in cask or some sort of double-dip. — Guess: Heaven Hill ~15, the 8.5% malted barley mash. — Score: Yay- — Reveal: Bardstown Rye. West Virginia Barrell Company Toasted Cherry Oak Casks, 55%
5. YN — That’s me. Fiery, off-profile Macallan that needs a ton of water to be coherent. Not too bad, just not great without water. — Guess: N/A — Score: Meh+ — Reveal: 2009 Secret Speyside (Macallan) 15 Year Old “Signatory” K&L Exclusive DRU17 A197 #5, 65.2%
6. JL — Bubble gum and flowers! Oh my! And a miniscule touch of coffee? This could be a malt finished in a something else or just a super interesting malt by its nature. Fairly thin palate suggests younger age. Lots of flavor though. The aftertaste is short and sweet with some funk. I wish the aftertaste lasted longer and was a touch cleaner for better enjoyment. — Guess: Milk & Honey. Westward ? — Score: Meh+ — Reveal: Lost Lantern Gentle Giant (3yo Balcones), 57.6%
7. ML — A peated scotch almost certainly, but which one?! Sweet & smoky nose, quite intense on proof, but not too much. Lots of woody, smoky notes on the palate and aftertaste. Almost no salinity that’s indicative of Islas. Some fruits. Doesn’t feel sherried… Lingers for a while. I like it! — Guess: Ardmore. Peated Arran. Benriach. Orkney/Highland Park. — Score: Yay — Reveal: Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 2 (released 2019), 60.9%
8. KJF — Sweet, funky, cinnamon, vanilla wood. Light nuttiness. Aftertaste that lingers. Bourbon. This is familiar stuff. — Guess: MGP-sourced something. Too many things to list of off as possibilities. — Score: Yay- — Reveal: Penelope 4 (MGP) Toasted Barrel Shoppe SP, 57%
9. KM — Very sweet and fragrant. A bourbon again I think. Lots of fruits rather than typical bourbony things, yet still leather, baking spices, and burnt vanilla. I’d be shocked if it’s not something finished. — Guess: Old Elk. Finally something from Heaven Hill? — Score: Yay — Reveal: Hirsch (Willett) Double Oak, 9 years. California Food Mart SP, 56.2%
10. MBA — Nuts. Lots of roasted… Pecans? High proof, somewhat spicy, but not quite enough to be a rye. Just a spicy bourbon I am thinking. Lots of wood here too. Cinnamon lingers but leans more woody and more baking spices. — Guess: (Beam) Baker’s 13? — Score: Yay- — Reveal: Bookers, 2020-2 “Boston Batch”, 63.25%
11. V2 — Finally a rye, I think! Maybe? Quite gentle for a rye. Lots and lots of wood. The usual dill, mint, eucalyptus are heavily restrained and hiding behind a wood mesh, balancing each other. — Guess: Redwood Empire Rye? Sagamore? Angel’s Envy SiB. Something off the beaten path — Score: Yay+ — Reveal: Found North Double Barrel, New Char & Tawny Port 13 & 14, Bitters & Bottles SP, 56.8%
12. CB — Now it’s definitely a rye! Dill pickles, yet still sweet! Lots of wood, vanilla, spices. Maple syrup. Chili in the aftertaste. This is quite high proof compared to most samples this year. — Guess: I don’t really know ryes! Willet? — Score: Meh+ — Reveal: Short Barrel Straight Rye, G1-005 “Barrels United Pick”, 63.5%
13. MH — Another rye. Slightly bitter-wooded, but that may be my palate right now. Lots of toasted oak and char flavor notes. Sichuan peppers and baking spices in the aftertaste bring interesting numbing sensation. Middle of the road proof — Guess: EH Taylor Rye — Score: Yay- — Reveal: Parker’s Heritage Bourbon finished in Curacao Barrels, 55%

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Happy Holidays!