Black Fly Beverages Review

Long Island Iced Tea

This one is lightly carbonated and surprisingly heavy on the tequila...and I love tequila. Shockingly, it is not very sweet. I kept drinking and expecting the sweetness to hit me, but it never happened. Yeah, I guess the claims are correct.

Anyways, back to the taste - the tequila is the heavier of the alcohols while the vodka takes a backseat. Normally long island iced teas also have gin, rum and triple sec, but in most you cannot tell the gin and rum are present...OK, maybe a bit of the rum. The triple sec really gives the beverage a touch of sweetness and an orange note, which this cocktail does have so I guess this one has been pulled off successfully.

Soon after the tequila comes a sour, and slightly sweet, lemon flavour which lingers well into the finish cleansing a good chunk of your palate after each sip and hiding traces of the booze very well. The coke (which is another standard ingredient) comes in the form of a caramel note towards the end.

I also got a bit of salt which comes immediately after the tequila. That came as a bit of a surprise, but it goes very well with the tequila.

Overall, a very decent pre-mixed long island iced tea, which yes, is not very sweet.

Vodka Cranberry

Well, the title should pretty much explain this one...also the color gives it away.

Or does it? When I first got a whiff of the drink from my glass I was expecting a strong cranberry note, but what I got instead was Sprite. Oh yeah - Sprite. Or maybe like the red Mountain Dew...with a little bit of vodka.

And does it taste like Sprite or Mountain Dew? Nope, it actually tastes like a strong vodka cranberry mix. The cranberry flavour comes in light both before and after the vodka hits you. After the vodka appears, the cranberry taste becomes very tart and dry as it should and helps the drink finish on a very refreshing note with lingering flavours.

The taste is light and comparable to mixing vodka, cranberry juice, club soda and some lemon/lime at home. I kinda liked it...I actually liked it very much. And if you don't normally add that much vodka to your mixed drinks, add a splash of cranberry juice to tone it down.

Nice!

Tequila Margarita

The beverage does look like a margarita with its hazy, pale lime green color. Poured in a blender with ice, and then blended gives it a picture perfect margarita look. I strongly recommend the blended approach, but if you are feeling lazy, drink it out of the bottle.

Black Fly's aroma is very inviting with salty, lime and tequila infused scent. The taste is pretty solid, in fact, better than the Jose Cuervo Golden Margarita we reviewed a while ago. The cocktail is salty with a strong tequila lime punch which develops into a very sour and refreshing finish with a warming tequila sensation.

There is very little sweetness at first, but with time, it does start to build up. I do not recommend drinking more than a few of these unless you are planning on ending your night prematurely.

The saltiness adds another dimension to this drink, one that could not have been achieved with the Jose Cuervo if your glass wasn't salt rimmed.

Overall, this is a pretty decent margarita cocktail which I recommend if you are feeling too lazy to make your own.

Vodka Citrus

And last, but not least - Black Fly's Vodka Citrus. Vodka citrus is one of my favourive mixed drinks and I make it as so - 1 part vodka, 1 part freshly squeezed lemon juice. That's it. At these proportions you will not taste any of the vodka, but your stomach will probably pay a hefty price with all that acid you are ingesting.

Now, onto the beverage. The aroma tells me that there is a lot more than just lemon - like lime and maybe some orange here and there. The flavour is refreshing, and yes, it mostly consists of lemon and lime...with some boozy vodka notes here and there. There is a bit of sweetness to balance out the sourness, but it lays low at the start and does truly emerge until you are half way into a bottle.

This is a simple beverage, but it is extremely refreshing and will get you good. I liked this one the most so I strongly recommend it.

Jack Daniel's White Rabbit Saloon Review

A few weeks ago I was at the LCBO re-stocking my brown liquid supply and instead of getting my normal bottle of Jack Daniel's, I decided to get the limited edition White Rabbit Saloon, which came in a fancy golden box and only cost an extra dollar (OK, an extra $0.95 at the time).

The first thing I noticed about the White Rabbit was its beautiful deep amber color, which I thought was a shade deeper than the standard Jack Daniel's, but that could have been my eyes deceiving me. Too bad I didn't have a regular one to compare it to.

The second thing you notice is the strong buttery vanilla nose. Add a splash of water and those notes really come out. The flavour is similar - buttery vanilla up front with a touch of caramel with a warm and spicy finish and a bit of fruits in the far distance. Some woody smokiness is also present and builds up nicely after a few sips.

Overall, I found the White Rabbit much easier to drink than the regular one and for an extra $1 per bottle I would buy it instead of the regular one...if it was not for the limited offering.

Scores:
Cost - $32.90 per bottle from LCBO
Taste - 9/10
ABV - 43%

Overall - 9/10...fantastic vanilla aroma

Aberlour Double Cask Matured 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky

After standing in front of the scotch display for what I thought was 10-15 minutes deciding what to get, I picked up a bottle...or should I say a cylindrical box of Aberlour Double Cask Matured 12 year old scotch whisky. The bottle costs $56.45, but I am sure our neighbors to the south can pick one of these up for a lot less.

The first thing I noticed about this was the deep amber color which was nicely accentuated by the beautiful bottle. The scotch has a sweet, warm, buttery aroma with a lot of spices and a hint of citrus. The mouthfeel is medium to heavy and rather oily. Dried fruits, spices and more of the buttery goodness make up the taste up front with some smoke coming in towards the end. The finish is long, a tad smoky with a lot of buttery and sweet, fruity notes in the short run and some citrus and candied lemon peels in the long run.

I liked this as a sipper and I really thought that a dash of water opened it up a bit more.

Scores:

Cost - $56.45

Taste - 8.5/10

ABV - 43%

Overall - 8.5/10...loved the warmth on a cold winter night

Canadian Club Mixed & Ready Cola Review

When I was in Australia late last year, I saw a whole bunch of pre-mixed whiskey/scotch/bourbon and coke drinks you could buy from any convenience and liquor store. It was their thing I guess, much like you could find Smirnoff Ice and various other vodka-based coolers. Well, something that I saw there was recently introduced here at the LCBO - Canadian Club Mixed & Ready Cola. It was weird seeing a Canadian brand alcoholic beverage sold in Australia but not here...at least not in Ontario. But no more!

Like any other pre-mixed whiskey and coke product, this one has the typical generic coke scent with a note of whiskey hidden among all the sweetness. The taste is pretty good and comparable to mixing Pepsi, and not Coke, with a bit of whiskey. Why do I say Pepsi? Because this is more sweet and more comparable to a Pepsi than it is to a Coke. The sweetness is a bit too much for me, but if you like sugary pre-mixed drinks and whiskey, then you might enjoy this. Also, I think Canadian Club could have done better and added some more of their fine whiskey for an extra layer of flavour. This is weak tasting, but still gives you a kick...thanks for the added "alcohol" (yes, read the label, one of the ingredients is "alcohol" and it appears right next to the other key ingredient - "Canadian Club").

The sweetness brings up something else - its continuous drinkability. What does that mean? Well, I cannot see myself drinking more than 1 of these in a session. Two will give me a headache for sure.

Overall, this beverage offers convenience, but to be honest, I would rather buy a small bottle of Canadian Club (a sampler if possible) and a can of Coke and mix them myself. If you feel lazy and you enjoy a bit of sweetness, then this is the drink for you...or perhaps you might want to check out the competition - Jack Daniel's Cola Whiskey.

Scores:
Cost - $2.95 for a can
Taste - 6.8/10
ABV - 6%

Overall - 6.8/10...sweet, headache inducing, convenient cocktail

Seagram 2012 Review

I bought this can a few weeks ago only because I could not tell what its contents were, which made me a little curious. The only thing that tipped me of as to what this might taste like was the ingredients list - vodka, rum, whiskey and gin among some other ingredients such as sugar. Well, I love all those things!

The beverage has a copper/amber/iced tea-like color and is just a touch hazy. The aroma is a mix of alcohols with rum being the dominant one, followed by the whiskey. The vodka and gin are almost not noticeable. From the non-alcoholic aromas, some caramel and an acidic note are present - not much there.

The taste is where the vodka appears and takes the lead. Rum starts you off, but within moments a strong vodka taste takes the lead. The taste is way too alcoholic and imbalanced to make this an enjoyable pre-mixed cocktail. The alcohols used clash and don't compliment the non-alcoholic ingredients and flavours...whatever they might be. Caramel, some lemon/lime and a tiny bit of apple were all the flavours I could sense, but they were all overpowered by the alcohol. Yes, this was a very difficult to drink cocktail and I don't think I can recommend it to anyone. Also, the drink is very sweet and you can really start to feel the headache coming towards the end of the can.

Seagram did an excellent job on the can, though. It got my eye and made me spend the $3.

Scores:
Cost - $2.95
Taste - 4/10
ABV - 6%

Overall - 4/10...clashing flavours and too alcoholic

Jack Daniel's Gold Medal 1954 Review

I have to start off this review by saying how much I like this whiskey. I bought it after a long and hard day a few weeks ago and since then I have consumed two whole bottles. OK, not all by myself, but mostly. In fact, I saved the last finger or two of the second bottle just for this review - I like to taste and write my reviews at the same time since I don't have a good memory from all the drinking.

From the picture you can see the beautiful honey amber color this whiskey has, but you can't really tell how deep those hues are. The first time I poured myself a glass, I filled the entire air around me with notes of banana and honey. At first I was surprised how aromatic this whiskey was, but now that I am used to it, I get ready every time I pour a glass. Up close notes of vanilla, leather and cinnamon spice add to the already amazing aroma.

The whiskey is rather oily and swirling it in a glass will decorate the insides with tears slowly rolling back down to the amber sea of deliciousness. As expected, the whiskey coats your tongue and the inside of your mouth with its thick goodness. Sweet honey notes with hints of banana and vanilla start off the taste which is then followed by charcoal and cinnamon spice. The finish amplifies the end of the taste with a nice cinnamon bite and a bit of smokiness and lingers for a while.

This is by far the best whiskey I have had so far this year...OK, true, we are only in March, but this is damn good and one of the best ones you can get from the LCBO at this time.

Scores:

Cost - $39.95 for a 750 mL bottle

Taste - 9/10

ABV - 40%

Overall - 9/10...amazing aroma with a fantastic taste

Maker's 46 Review

Almost two years after the review of the original Maker's Mark comes the Maker's 46, which only recently made its way across the border into the LCBO. So why is this called 46 and what is so special about it?

The name 46 comes from the name given to the staves used during aging. Forty six was the profile number given to each of the staves places in each barrel during the aging process which turns an already aged Maker's Mark into Maker's 46. The bourbon is special because it is supposed to be Maker's Mark taken up a notch...and we already know how good Maker's Mark is.

To start off, I poured myself a couple of fingers and gave the glass a swirl. The deep amber liquid coats the sides of the glass with its oily goodness and slowly rolls back into the bourbon pool. The aroma is very potent and quickly fills the air around you with a pleasant combination of sweet toffee, oak and spices. Maker's 46 has a a very oily initial mouth feel which is quickly cut by the saliva. The taste is very intense with a lot of spices, some toffee and a very clear seared oak towards the end. The finish is earthy with a lot of burnt oak and spice and very little toffee. The spice seems to linger the most out of all the finishing flavours and creates a mouth-watering effect. The 47% are felt and 46 has a stronger bite than its father, the Maker's Mark.

Overall, this is an excellent bourbon, but here are a couple of things to consider before rushing out to get a bottle - one, this costs almost $50 and two, the classic Maker's Mark has been reduced to only $37!

I really enjoyed it and do recommend it if you are a huge fan of oaky notes, but with this bite, spice and price, I would rather go for the tried and true.

Update: I just had this with some coke and it was an absolute delight. The bourbon compliments the coke so well that I thought the mix tasted better than the soft drink itself. I started off with about 1 oz added to a 3/4 full glass of coke (180 mL) and continued with the 2 oz addition, which brought out some of the alcoholic character but still resulted in a very enjoyable mixed beverage.

Scores:
Cost - $49.95
Taste - 8.9/10
ABV - 47%

Overall - 8.9/10...great new bourbon, though I still rather have the classic one

Jack Daniel's Iced Tea Whiskey Beverage Review

Today I am feeling like something different, which is why I am cracking open a 4 pack of Jack Daniel's Iced Tea Whiskey Beverage. I got the 4 pack from the sale rack at an LCBO for 20% off, which brought it under $8. The last time I tried a beverage from this Jack Daniel's line, I rather liked it, so I am looking forward to trying this one.

The iced tea beverage looks like an iced tea when poured in a clear glass, which is a great start. From afar you can tell that there is booze in this iced tea due to the strong whiskey smell. Once you get past the whiskey scent, you can detect some earthy, tea notes. The taste is pretty solid. You get an initial unsweetened tea taste, followed by some sweetness and whiskey at the end. Yeah, it does sound weird, but the start of the drink is much like unsweetened iced tea. The finish is a blend of sweet, earthy iced tea and whiskey. The sweetness does build up over time and you will probably have problems finishing the 4 pack in a single sitting unless you really stretch the sitting. Overall, I also enjoyed this beverage, but I think I much prefer the taste of Jack and Coke.

Scores:
Cost - $8 for a 4 pack on sale, or $9.95 regular
Taste - 8.2/10
ABV - 6%

Overall - 8.2/10...a solid pre-mixed drink

Canadian Club Sherry Cask Whisky Review

Today I got tricked into buying one of these new whisky products at the local LCBO. How was I tricked? I blame the slow customers and myself for looking around while waiting. In my hand a nice bottle of riesling, which I was planning on destroying, but instead I had to pick up the new bottle of Canadian Club Sherry Cask. I had to, I mean look at this label...it looks so classy. By the time the cashier asked me moved forward, I wasn't able to snap out of my daze and actually carried the bottle with me to the register, placing it on the counter and taking out my wallet. I didn't realize what I had done until I was home staring at this bottle and wondering what happened to my riesling...oh yeah, I remembered leaving this where I found the whisky. And all this cost me $34.95 CAD...$35!!! Oh well, at least now I will have something strong for a few weeks. I just I had some cold coke.

So before I get to tasting this, I have to write about the "Sherry Cask" part of the whisky. Well, in short, this is a blended whisky that has been aged for at least 8 years in Spanish Sherry Casks. Why are the words "for at least" in the description? With blended spirits, you might get some parts that have been aged for just 8 years, others for longer...maybe even 12.

Once I got past my disappointment, I poured myself a couple of fingers of the whisky with its deep and captivating color. Just look at this color. It is deep through, except for near the bottom where you have less of it, creating a lighter color with a smooth transition. To the swirl, the whisky gets good wall retention time and looks moderately oily. The aroma is surprisingly sweet with notes of caramel, smoke, leather and some dried fruits. On the tongue, the whisky feels medium oily, very smooth and just a just a little heavy. It tastes a little smoky, a touch sweet and has hints of roasted nuts. The finish is short to medium, lightly aromatic and just a little below my expectations. I am not sure if the sherry casks have done much to improve on the flavor and if they have, I certainly cannot tell.

Scores:
Cost - $34.95 for a 750 mL bottle
Taste - 7/10

Overall - 7/10...great nose and palate, but a bit of a letdown at the end

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

I am taking a break from the beers tonight and enjoying a bottle of Knob Creek...well not the whole bottle, but perhaps a large portion of it. I have been eying Knob Creek for some time now and the moment it became an Air Miles special, bringing an extra 15, I jumped at the opportunity and got a bottle.

I don't know where to start with this. The bottles at the local LCBO stores cost $45.95 and come in only 750 mL. Just like Maker's Mark, the tip is sealed with wax, but once you remove the wax you will find that the cap is plain old cork, which comes out every time with a satisfying pop.

The bourbon is golden amber in color and very oily-looking from the swirl of the glass. It coats the inside of the glass with slow tears forming and rolling back into the contents of the glass. The bourbon has a very sweet, very rich and warm toffee-like aroma with some hints of vanilla. It feels oily as it coats the mouth and the 50% strength really hits your hard, leaving the tongue slightly numb. The taste is rich with a warm, long lasting finish. Subtle smokey tone and a touch of oak add...no, enhance the bourbon and make it an enjoyable slow sipper. Yeah, I drink it slow, because it is somewhat rough going down due to its high alcohol content. If you can get past that, you will be rewarded with a long lasting, rich finish. Your call.

Unfortunately I do not have the neccessary ingredients to make myself a Manhattan or try Knob Creek in another cocktail. I might revisit this review in the near future once I acquire everything that is needed.

Scores:
Cost - $45.95 for a 750 mL bottle from LCBO
Taste - 8.8/10

Overall - 8.8/10...high alcohol content with an amazing, long lasting finish

Proof Whisky Review

Here is something new and eye catching - Proof whisky. I saw a small display at the local LCBO today and picked up a bottle for $19.95 right away. I love the eye catching simplicity of the bottle and the labels. There is not much info on the labels other than the name, percentage and a website on the back. The label is well designed and features circular relief patterns. Something else that caught my eye was the simplicity of the name itself. As soon as I got home I did a Google search with the terms "proof whisky" and noticed that none of the results are the whisky itself. The first couple of pages were just links to whisky guides or proof definitions and explanations.

The picture that I took is neither over nor underexposed and shows off the whisky color quite nicely. The whisky is light to medium oily, a bit watery actually. A swirl results in immediate tears rolling down the glass and some instant dry spots. The aroma is very sharp and a little rough. Underneath the strong alcoholic fumes subtle sweet flowery, toffee and herbal notes can be detected. In addition, some citrus is also present. The mouth-feel is more oily and does cling to the sides of the mouth. The taste is dominated by strong alcohol, but the same notes as in the aroma can be tasted. The whisky starts off nicely with a burst of flavour - roasted grains, oak, sweet fruits and herbs. But then the whisky overpowers them all and leaves just a brief reminder in the finish that what you just had does have a bit of character. Now, the finish...the finish is like a rollercoaster. The flavours come and go for some time, but the one thing that remains is the smokiness, which is very enjoyable, I admit.

Overall, the whisky is a bit rough, but has a bit of character. For $20 you may not be able to get anything better, but remember that this is a 500 mL bottle and you could get a mickey of something better for about the same price.

Scores:
Cost - $19.95 for a 500 mL bottle
Taste - 6.1/10

Overall - 6.1/10...a rollercoaster of flavours and strong alcoholic taste

Jack Daniels Cola Whiskey Beverage Review

Well look what we have here. It is one of my favorite drinks already mixed for me. Wait, I have fallen into this trap before - premixed drinks. They rarely turn out to be great or even decent. So what do I get for $3.25 CAD other than a cool looking 473 mL can?

The drink does have the typical Jack and Coke aroma and surprisingly it is more whiskey based than coke based. Whoa! The taste is pretty awesome. It actually tastes like a Jack and Coke that I made myself at home. The taste of whiskey is quite strong so you know the kick will be good. The can contains 70.95 mL of Jack Daniel's Old No 7, which is about 2.4 fluid ounces or almost 2 and a half shots of Jack. The Coke doesn't taste cheap either, but it doesn't quite taste like a Coca Cola. OK, so, for a premixed drink this is pretty good, but is it worth it? I think so. If I were to buy a 750 mL bottle of the Old No 7, I would have to spend $29.45 and that can make me about 10.5 drinks. In addition, I would have to spend at least $5 on Coke so for a total of around $34 I can make myself 10.5 drinks. And how much would I have to spend on 10.5 premixed Jack and Cokes - $34.12. OK, not really $34.12, but more like $32.50 if I go for 10 or $35.75 if I buy 11. Not a bad deal, eh? This premixed drink costs about the same as buying the individual ingredients. Would the final result be better if you made it yourself? Perhaps because you can always double up on the alcohol content of the beverage.

Scores:
Cost - $3.25 CAD for a 473 mL can
Taste - 9/10

Overall - 9/10...I love Jack and Cokes and this fantastic

Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey Review

After finally reviewing Jack Daniel's Old No 7 last week, I decided to give the Gentleman Jack a try. Gentleman Jack is a premium whiskey so a 375 mL bottle costs $19.95 CAD while the 750 mL bottle $36.95. This whiskey is one of the more widely spread premium whiskeys so you shouldn't have too many problems finding it.

The whiskey has a truly amazing deep golden, almost amber color. Swirling it in a glass reveals its wall retention and the slow, greasy drip back into the main body of whiskey. The aroma is mellow and inviting with hints of vanilla, caramel, oak and some dried fruits. Gentleman Jack is oilier than the Old No 7 and the taste packs a much richer flavour. The first thing I noticed was the sweetness and the way it coats the tongue. After the initial sweetness comes the vanilla and the oak along with a subtle smokiness. At the end some of the caramel becomes noticeable. A slight orange taste can be noticed in the finish, which is medium to long and very enjoyable. Don't expect a smooth drink with Gentleman Jack, but do expect quite a bit of flavour.

Of course I couldn't stop just there so I poured myself a bit more and diluted the whiskey with a few drops of water. And when I say a few drops, I really do mean just a few drops, which would be the equivalent of a tiny chip of ice. The aroma was the first I noticed, it had become much more mellower and this time I noticed the sweet scent of maple syrup. The taste did not change much.

Next was the Coke test and this whiskey passed it with flying colors. The Jack and Coke mix becomes very mellow and the vanilla/maple syrup taste bring the overall cocktail taste to a whole another level. If you like the regular Jack and Coke, you will definitely fall in love with the Gentleman Jack and Coke mix.

I am currently not in the mood for a Manhattan, but if I change my mind before the bottle runs out, I will mix one and post the results.

Scores:
Cost - $19.95 for a 375 mL bottle and $36.95 for a 750 mL bottle
Taste - 8.5/10

Overall - 8.5/10...I don't mind paying the extra few dollars over Old No 7 to get the richer flavour

Jack Daniels Old No 7 Tennessee Whiskey Review

It is finally here, the Old No 7, but don't get too excited because this is only a 200 mL bottle, which as you can see is already half empty. The 200 mL bottle retails for $9.50 CAD while the 375 mL and 750 mL ones for $15.95 and $29.45 respectively.

The whiskey has a deep golden color and is quite greasy judging by swirling of the glass and the wall retention times. On the nose, the aroma is strong but with a lot of character - caramel, butter and wood from the aging process, oak perhaps. The whiskey does not feel as oily as it looks, and is sweeter than expected. The caramel jumps out right away and then comes a spicy note. Towards the end, some of the oak emerges and helps create a pleasant, mouth watering experience. The finish is not as long as with some premium spirits, but it is much, much better than most of the similarly priced whiskeys. Jack Daniel's Old No 7 is not the smoothest of the affordable whiskeys, but it sure is one of the best tasting ones.

Also, it is absolutely fantastic in Coke. The sweetness kicks the cocktail up a notch.

Scores:
Cost - $9.50 for the 200 mL bottle, $15.95 for the 375 mL and $29.45 for the 750 mL one
Taste - 8.2/10

Overall - 8.2/10...one of the best affordable whiskeys

Gibson's Finest 12 Year Old Whiskey Review

The last time I was at an LCBO stores I picked up a sampler bottle of Gibson's Finest, which I hope is enough to try the whiskey. The little, 50 mL, bottle costs $2.95 CAD and not many stores carry it.

The photo doesn't do the whiskey justice. I went overboard with the light and used a lot shutter speed. Its true color is gold and very rich. A sweet toffee aroma with a touch of vanilla rises up and invites you in for a sip. A swirl of the glass shows that the whiskey is a little oily and sticks to the walls. The taste is similar to the aroma, only it reveals the additional presence of oak and that the whiskey has subtle smoky character. The whiskey is smooth in the mouth, but not as smooth going down. It has a lot of flavour, which makes it a better choice than some other $20-ish whiskeys, but overall I am not very impressed. The flavour does not last a long time and one can feel the roughness easily. I would buy Forty Creek over this.

I just wish I had bought another one so I can try cutting it with water or in a Manhattan.

Scores:
Cost - $27.75 CAD for a 750 mL bottle or $14.95 for a 375 mL one
Taste - 6.8/10

Overall - 6.8/10...great aroma for a cheap whiskey, but its true character, or lack of, shows in the taste and finish

Chivas Regal 12 Year Old Scotch Review

Not having had premium scotch in a while, I decided to get myself a small, 200 mL, bottle of Chivas Regal 12 year old scotch. The 200 mL bottle costs $13.95 while the 375 mL $23.45 and the 750 - $44.95. I like these 200 mL bottles for two reasons - first they are cheap, second, they are more easily found than the 50 mL sampler size bottles. Most LCBO stores have at least 1 display with 200 mL bottles with a variety of alcoholic beverages.

Don't pay attention to the color of the scotch in the picture. It does not represent the true color because the bottle is thin and the light is bright. Pouring a couple of fingers into a glass reveals its true color - deep gold/copper. Swirling the glass shows a medium oiliness the scotch has. It sticks to the walls, but it does not stick as much as Century 15 or Maker's Mark. The aroma the scotch gives off is mostly sweet with hints of caramel which reminded me of Cadbury's Caramilk chocolates. A few more swirls reveal a flowery undertone mixed with a sharp alcoholic scent. The Chivas Regal 12 year old has an oily and sticky mouth feel. The taste is similar to the aroma only stronger on the alcohol. Some smoky notes appear at the end and come back again in the finish which is medium to long. Surprisingly, the caramel flavour does not last a long time in the finish, but makes way for the flowery notes. For a premium scotch, the finish is flavourful, but I have had better ones.

Once I had a couple of fingers straight, I decided to go for the spring water and cut the next pour. This resulted in a stronger caramel aroma with less of the alcoholic scent, a slight overall improvement. It even unlocked a bit of the smoky character which was previously more noticeable in the finish. The taste changed, but only slightly. I was able to detect a hint of the sweetness not only at the beginning but also at the end. The finish remained the same.

I will not be trying it in a Rob Roy tonight, but if you have tried it, leave a comment and let me know how it is. I will update this post in the future if I decide to make a Rob Roy with this Chivas Regal.

Scores:
Cost - $13.95 CAD for 200 mL bottle, $23.45 for 375 and $44.95 for a 750
Taste - 7.8/10

Overall - 7.8/10...it's OK, but nothing exceptional for a premium scotch

Jameson Irish Whiskey Review

It's great to finally have a bottle of whiskey at home, though a budget one. I haven't had Jameson in years since I discovered how great of a budget mixer J&B is. I decided to get a small bottle and re-evaluate what I think of Jameson and put some words on paper...well, not really paper. A 375 mL bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey costs $15.45 CAD and is available in most stores.

The whiskey has a nice golden color and looks just a touch oily when gently swirled in a glass. The aroma is quite pleasant for a cheap whiskey with toffee and some sweet fruits in the distance. The whiskey is not the smoothest, but at least it has some flavour - some butter, dried fruits and a touch of toffee. The finish is not the greatest, but I have had worse whiskeys. It is mostly spicy with no long lasting flavour. After the first glass, my mouth was a little numb.

Once I tried a couple of fingers neat, I decided to cut another couple of fingers with a splash of spring water to see if I can unlock any hidden treasures. It didn't quite work for the aroma. Though the toffee scent became stronger, the alcohol became even sharper, which killed the remainder of the noticeable scents. It didn't do much taste-wise, other than to, once again, sharpen up the alcohol.

The third test was mixing and of course, I made myself a Manhattan. Nope, not too good for that either. Like with the Centennial whiskey, Jameson simply did not have a flavour strong enough to compliment that of the sweet vermouth and the bitters. Even with a splash of vermouth, its sweetness overpowered the lightness of the Jameson's flavours.

Scores:
Cost - $15.45 CAD for a 375 mL bottle, $29.95 CAD for a 750 mL bottle
Taste - 6.2/10

Overall - 6.2/10...some flavour, but has no long lasting finish. You can easily find better whiskey for this price

Forty Creek Barrel Select Review

I once again decided to try something that it is not beer and the Canadian whisky Forty Creek found its way into a glass on my desk. This is not a premium whisky so a 750 mL bottle costs only $24.45 CAD.

Unlike Centennial 10 Year Old, the last whisky that I reviewed, Forty Creek has an attractive deep golden/amber color. The aroma is very alcoholic and a bit overwhelming, but I was able to detect some distant sweet hints of toffee. A few drops of water helped bring out the sweet aroma, but the alcohol scent was still very strong. The whisky has a thick and oily mouth-feel. The taste is similar to the aroma with toffee and vanilla being responsible for the flavour. The finish is floral and warm. One thing I should note is the smoothness. There is still some roughness, but overall this is a fairly smooth whisky for the price.

Are you willing to spend an extra $8 for a bottle of whisky? If you are, I strongly suggest you try Century Reserve 15 Years Old, which retails for only $32.80 CAD. It offers a lot more character, but does not cost as much as the premium spirits.

Scores:
Cost - $24.45 CAD for a 750 mL bottle
Taste - 7.2/10

Overall - 7.2/10...great affordable whisky with some character

Centennial 10 Year Old Whiskey Review

The current LCBO theme is whiskey...well, technically they are trying to push scotch, bourbon and whiskey. Most locations are stocked with various kinds of whiskeys and scotches that I have never heard of or seen there before. I was at an LCBO I don't normally go to when I decided to play the whiskey game and get a bottle of something I haven't had before. The choice was not simple, there were at least 15 different kinds of new, affordable whiskeys and many premium ones. I was debating between the Wiser's Small Batch and Centennial 10 Year Old. I went for the latter for two reasons - it was only $23.95 for a 750 mL bottle and the bottle was much nicer.

The color is a little pale - light gold/copper. The smell is fairly bland, it smells of rubbing alcohol more than anything else. There is a very...very distant hint of toffee that gets lost in the strong alcohol scent. Once you detect it, the scent becomes a little sweet. Lately I have been drinking my hard liquor neat, but I decided to use an ice cube for the Centennial. It did the trick, I detected the sweet toffee scent much quicker and this time the whiskey smelled OK. The whiskey is surprisingly smooth for one that costs $23.95, but the taste is somewhat bland. It does not develop until the finish, which is on the toffee side. The taste lingers briefly and it disappears, leaving a clean aftertaste. I did not enjoy this whiskey too much. It just left me expecting more in terms of scent, taste and finish. After I had a few sips, I dropped a drop on my hand and waited for it to evaporate. Once it evaporated, there was hardly a scent. I have spilled small quantities of scotch/whiskey/bourbon on my fingers before and every time the spill dries up, a pleasant, sweet caramel/toffee scent is given off from the spot for a while...not with this one though.

Since I had no Coke at the time, I made myself a Manhattan to see if I can use the whiskey better. It did not work too well, the sweet vermouth overpowered the whiskey even in small quantities. If it wasn't the vermouth, it was the bitters that overpowered the whiskey. I was not able to find a decent combination between the whiskey, vermouth and bitters. Because there is hardly a taste, I think this might do well in other cocktails where one is not supposed to taste the alcohol. The smoothness I think will help as well.

Scores:
Cost - $23.95 CAD for a 750 mL bottle
Taste - 5.9/10

Overall - 5.9/10...the smoothness rivals that of premium spirits, but the taste and finish are very bland. I really hope I got a bad batch, because if the taste was a bit better, this would make for an excellent cheap whiskey

Century Reserve 15 Years Old Review

Holy crap, this is really good, surprisingly good. Only $32.80 CAD and it is absolutely amazing. It is pale in color and has a light taste and aftertaste. Smells and tastes very aromatic. I detected some citrus fruits - either lemon or orange. Yes, I am quite inexperienced at this point. I also detected some caramel and toffee taste and slight aftertaste. There is something else, a slight licorice taste. The second glass I had reminded me of eating chocolate brandy cherries and a bit of those chocolates filled with whisky. This is my new favorite whisky.

Scores:
Cost - forget this one
Taste - 8.4/10

Overall - 8.4/10...try it, it is worth the $30 CAD