MrWizard's Ramblings

Few final samples for the end of the year.

What — Notes — Score

Grosperrin FD Truau 1996, Bas Armagnac, 55.5% — Sweet stewed fruits in vanilla sugar. Almost no wood tannins. Later sips bring spirit note and wood spice, but still nearly zero bitterness. Toasted sugar, vanilla, fruit cake. Perhaps too sweet to be balanced — Score: Yay-
High West, Midwinter’s Night Dram, Encore Act 1 Scene 1, 50.8% — MGP & High West Rye, aged in white port. Dilly but in a good way, lots of sugar vanilla and wood. Not too deep but definitely sweet, balanced and desert-like. Probably better one of recent releases. — Score: Meh+
Laird’s Apple Brandy 5.7 years, Single Cask, 60.5 — Ummmm… Pretty tasty apple brandy? Apple, chili, vanilla, good balance without leaning too much into something odd. Think boozy apple sangria with some solid amounts of mulled spice, sans cinnamon. — Score: Meh+
Old Pulteney 16, 2006, K&L SP, Cask #2061, 53% — (Tiny sample). Clean, subtle, ex-bourbon cask. Citrus and stone fruit, some minerality. Utterly beautiful and clean in its style. — Score: Yay+
High West, Light Whiskey 14, Batch 3, 46% — Corn whiskey, aged in 2nd fill casks. Gentle Vanilla in the name here with an odd - yet warming - spiciness upfront. I’m voting this a Canadian well-aged corn vodka. — Score: Meh+
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Rye 7 (2014), 49.5% — This is possibly MGP. Woody… soap? — Score: YUCK!

Tomatin 27, Carn Mor, 46.3%
Distilled in 1987 and bottled in 2014, this Tomatin was aged in a sherry hogshead (#495) and opens with an impressively expressive nose for the proof: roasted vanilla, brown sugar, and sun-dried apricots. The palate leans into black tea with toasted honeycomb or dark honey, and the finish continues that black-tea-and-honey thread with touches of vanilla and malt. The sweetness lingers as clean sugars without becoming heavy or cloying, and notably without drifting into figgy richness or overt spice the way PX or Oloroso often do. Overall: this feels very much like a Palo Cortado sherry cask — and a very good one at that — landing squarely in my preferred lane thanks to those tea and honey notes. Value: N/A; acquired opened on the secondary market.
Score: A-

Ledaig/Tobermory 27, Redacted (Thompson) Bros, K&L SP, 47.4%
This is a 27-year-old Tobermory distillation run with fermentation and cut points identical to Ledaig, but made with unpeated barley — effectively unpeated Ledaig aged in oak rather than a typical Tobermory malt. My suspicion is that this was an in-between “clean-out” run, meant to flush residual peat from the stills and condensers after Ledaig before returning to Tobermory production. Interestingly, the cask was split, with the EU release bottled at 26 years. The color is striking — olive oil. The nose is intensely malty, loaded with orchard fruit, waxy yellow apple and pear skins front and center. The palate is multilayered: it opens with soft sugars and malt, then spins outward into a wild, tropical-fruit-laden compote with spices, chili, and ginger. It reminds me of an unusually balanced, very boozy white sangria — but far more interesting — where the flavors aren’t coming from fruit directly, but from high-quality oak, age, and malt. The different distillation cuts (when condensation starts and stops) seem to contribute both lighter, front-loaded notes and heavier, almost savory layers on the back end. Those savory elements linger into the finish alongside sweet spice, ginger, and just the faintest wisp of smoke. Overall: a super-interesting, highly unusual, and genuinely unique bottling — very much a likely once-in-a-lifetime experience born from a near-magical combination of circumstances. The real question, though: do I love-love it? Grudgingly, yes — but it’s one I had to think my way into appreciating, and that thinking didn’t come easily. Value: I paid $200, which was an excellent deal at the time a few years ago; today, this would likely land closer to $300.
Score: A+

Happy 2026. What a way to end the year!

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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Catching up on rums, both samples and open bottles.

Rums!

What — Notes — Score

Rhum Clement 2002, Martinique, 17 years single cask, 55.2% — Aged agricole… very old-aged agricole. Tons of cask influence, utterly insane flavors. Somewhat drying vanilla and wood bomb. Weird and interesting. — Score: Yay
Alambique Serrano, Oaxacan/Mexican Unaged Rum, 68.7% — Some sort of unaged single cask of Mexican rum. Drinks like a mix between agricole and ‘regular’ rum. Clean, sweet, slightly grassy. I dig it. Not super exciting but I dig it. — Score: Yay
Fiji 2004, 17 years, Holmes Cay SP #57, 58% — Fijian rum from Holmes Cay!? Sign me up! Rather hot but all that vanilla forward with a touch of funk. It’s delish! Perhaps not outstanding, this leans towards a delicious mix of foursquare profile and somewhat funky agricole/jamaican/guyana profile — Score: Yay
Samaroli Caribbean Rum, 48% — Light base with white-tropical fruits galore and complex secondary flavors that stay mostly subtle — mango, pineapple, a hint of coconut. Sugars, spice, a touch of tobacco, lots of nice touches throughout. Just minutely too light to be truly outstanding. — Score: Yay+
Jamaica 1994-2020 (26), Plantation, 53.6% — This is plantation after all so likely finished in cognac cask. Holy cow this is great stuff. Slightly funky but not too much. Great balance of wood to rum funkyness. Some of the best stuff for me! — Score: Yay+
Foursquare 12, Total Wine Master Series #2, 62% — Ex-bourbon and Ex-sherry. It’s Foursquare… What am I expected to say here? — Score: Yay
Foursquare 14, Total Wine Master Series #4, 62% — Ex-bourbon and Ex-madeira. It’s Foursquare… More wine influence vs sherry sweetness. Gentle spice burn that lingers for a while. Different balance from above but still delicious. — Score: Yay

Malts!

Mars, The Y.A. #1, 52%
Mars The Y.A. #1 is the first release in Mars’ “Yakushima Aging” (Y.A.) series—a limited, NAS blended malt meant to showcase the effects of aging on humid, subtropical Yakushima. It’s fairly wood-forward, with vanilla, light honey, and white-tropical fruits. The palate is somewhat creamy, carrying more tropical notes—leaning pineapple-orange—backed by a near-bitter oak presence rather than char. Supposedly there’s a touch of peat here, but if it exists, it’s buried under the wood. The aftertaste is medium-length and enjoyable, carrying through the palate’s better elements while, thankfully, dropping most of the bitter note. Overall: Young, punchy, and drinkable, though the assertive, somewhat bitter oak keeps it from being more than an occasional or situational sip. Value: N/A; internet pricing around ~$120 sits higher than I’d recommend and that was in 2022.
Score: B

Benriach 15, G&M SP, 59.6%
A 2005 Benriach from refill American hogshead #118. The nose opens with lemonade, minerality, and cereal notes—initially sharp but settling down nicely. The palate is creamy and sweet, with pineapples and sweet orange oil supported by vanilla creaminess and more cereal character. Secondary notes bring chili spice, black pepper, and sweet-heat chilies that carry into a medium-long finish of malty sweetness and a touch of drying pencil shavings. Water pulls the more disjointed layers together, softening transitions and creating a more cohesive experience. Overall: With prominent cereal and citrus notes, this shows a level of flavor impact that exceeds expectations. It’s multilayered, though not fully integrated at full proof, offering complementary yet distinct layers that could interest a connoisseur (HA! Coincidentally, this is a bottle under G&M’s “Connoisseurs’ Choice” brand). A touch of water brings those layers together. However, as is often the case, too much softens its overall impact. Value: N/A, though likely around ~$150 in today’s market—placing it squarely at a solid midpoint on the value bell curve.
Score: B+ (w/ water)

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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

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!