I’m not sure what audience Agitator is going after, but apparently its the crazy drunks? Wait, how did I end up here? – Oh, never mind.
I guess I’m a rule breaker and a rabble rousers.
According to Agitator’s web site, Agitator starts as a 21% rye whiskey that is aged for two years in new charred white oak before spending a few months in California Cabernet Sauvignon barrels.
Agitator Kentucky Bourbon
Let’s see how that effort pays off.
The Nose
The first thing that hit me on the nose was the alcohol. Swirling the Glencairn Whisky Glass made my eyes water. This whiskey is only 86 proof, but the alcohol on the nose would have made me guess higher. It wasn’t until I added some ice and let it open up that I could appreciate any of the more delicate notes. Once it opened up I could really smell the oak and vanilla. I was expecting to maybe smell something from the time spent in the Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, but the nose is all bourbon to me.
The Palate
The first sip matched the nose. Straight, the alcohol smacks you in the face. Opened up a bit with some ice or water and I can appreciate the oaky vanilla on the sip, and it does finish with a red wine dry, acidic mouth feel that hints at a bit of sweet fruit.
The Score – Agitator Kentucky Bourbon
I’m giving Agitator a 50/100, but because of its red wine roots, I am very curious to find out how it does in a Manhattan, as this is a Mixed Drinks Only bottle from here on out.
Color
The color of dehydrated urine after you’ve been punched in the kidney a few times.
Proof
43.0% ABV | 86 Proof
Pros:
If you like a dry finish, this might be right up your alley.
Opens up with a bit of ice or water.
Red wine finish.
Cons:
The straight whiskey has a very strong alcohol punch.
Is $30 bucks too much for this? The fact that I’m not sure makes it a con for me.
Slane Irish Whiskey is blended from three casks. Those include virgin oak casks, seasoned Tennessee/Bourbon casks, and Oloroso Sherry casks.
Slane Irish Whiskey
The Nose
The nose is sweet and malty that changes to caramel as it fades. I can imagine the faint hints of sherry as well, but I’m not sure if that is real or the power of suggestion because I know its in there. Having a Glencairn Whisky Glass is a must to appreciate those more subtle notes.
The Palate
The palate is malt and butter cookies that is sweet and creamy as it hits the mid tongue. The finish is all dry sherry. I’ve had a few other Irish Whiskeys finished in Oloroso Sherry casks, but I have to be honest that this is the first one that I really liked. They did a great job blending the malty goodness of the base Irish Whiskey with the dryness of the sherry.
The Score – Slane Irish Whiskey
I really enjoyed this bottle of Slane and plan on putting a bottle in my Whiskey Safe. This is a great bottle for new drinkers who are now getting just a bit more into what makes a good nose and wonderful palate. Slane earned very point of its 74/100, making it Sip Worthy.
Color
Light golden brown.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros:
Pleasant malty sweetness on the nose.
Perfect balance between the opening malt and the closing sherry notes.
Whoever blended this whiskey serves a medal.
Great whiskey to transition a new drinker from more basic flavors to something with a little more complexity.
Great value for the price.
Cons:
If you aren’t a fan of Oloroso Sherry, you may not like the finish on this whiskey.
Tito’s Vodka blew up a few years ago but I’d never had it. At least until one of my older boys asked me to get Vodka and sugar free Ginger Beer to make some Moscow Mules for a long delayed game night. (Before he moved out we would play board games once or twice a month with him and his girlfriend.)
Tito’s Vodka
So I figured if I was going to make some mixers, I’d try this Titos Vodka and see how it sips.
The Nose
The nose is clean and simple alcohol. Yes, I did put it in a Glencairn Whisky Glass, but there isn’t much to appreciate here. Vodka doesn’t really have a nose.
The Palate
The mouth feel is light and crisp, and benefits from its corn case as the first thing you notice is sweet. The finish is black pepper and alcohol heat. This is a fairly simple flavor profile, but I’d also describe it as clean.
The Score – Tito’s Vodka
Titos Vodka scores a 69/100, making it perfect to drink in Mixers or On Ice. The simple taste profile costs it points, but it is crisp and clean enough to sip if your looking for something without a lot of depth – or if you just like that corn sweetness this Titos opens with.
Color
Clear as water.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros:
Crisp and clean.
Sweet opening and a nice crisp pepper finish.
Cons:
A little pricey at $30 bucks for what is essentially corn alcohol.
Fairly simple taste profile. There is not a lot of complexity here.
Blade And Bow scored a 48/100 as a sipper, which relegated it to the Mixed Drinks Only category. Which means I wasn’t super excited about what a Manhattan would do for this Blade And Bow whiskey. I find that a Manhattan can soften some rough edges, but usually results in a 10 or 15 point increase (max) to the base whiskey.
Blade And Bow Manhattan
The makers of Blade And Bow might not have been super happy with my score as a “straight sipper”, but hopefully they will be a little more pleased with what their bourbon can do as a mixer, especially for a Manhattan.
I used my normal two to one formula, mixing two parts whiskey with one part vermouth, then adding in a few drops of Orange Bitters, and this Blade And Bow really shone through.
My issue with Blade And Bow as a straight sipper was the soft sweet opening and the hardness on the swallow that was kind of a punch in the face. The good news is that the vermouth really evens this out, turning this jarring sip into something much smoother. The vermouth takes that rough finish and just smooths everything out in quite a lovely way. So much so, that this is the all time biggest increase when comparing a whiskey to its Mixed Drinks Only pairing.
The Score – Blade And Bow Manhattan
This Blade And Bow Manhattan scored an all time high 90/100 (as of 3/17/2021). If you love a good Manhattan, this is a must try. This just might might help me justify spending $50 on another bottle – which is crazy for a mixer right? But still, it’s that good in a Manhattan.
Mr. Whiskey is a blended Irish offering that is matured in IPA Casks. At $22 this is what I’d describe as a budget offering, but don’t let that scare you off, this dram punches way above its price point.
Mr. Whiskey
The Nose
I poured an oversized dram into a Glencairn Whisky Glass and swirled it gently before putting my nose to the glass. The nose is floral with hints of malt. This is a gentle, subdued nose which is perfect for the beginner.
The Palate
The mouth feel is light and watery and opens with sweet vanilla that turns to malt as it reaches the mid tongue. The finish is more malt mixed with just a hint of butter cookies that ends with just a flash of roughness.
The Score – Mr. Whiskey
Mr. Whiskey scored a 70/100, making it Sip Worthy, but more importantly, this whiskey also made into my Whiskey Safe. At this price to value, I plan to keep a bottle on my shelf at all times.
Color
Light straw color.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros:
Classic Irish notes.
Amazing price to value.
Cons:
Incredibly affordable as anywhere close to $22 bucks.
While it is an easy sipper, there isn’t a lot of depth here.
There is a little roughness on the finish, its not overbearing, but it is there.
Death’s Door Whiskey scored 68/100 as a sipper, but at $40 a bottle for me (Northeast United States) there are better options for two twenties – so I was curious how it would do as a Manhattan. If I wanted to buy a Sipper only had $40 I would go with Smooth Ambler Contradiction Whiskey. If I was looking for an Irish Whiskey in that price range I’d go with a bottle of Dubliner Bourbon Cask Finished Irish Whiskey
The good news is that a bit of vermouth did take off the rough edges of this Death’s Door whiskey. I used my normal mix of two parts bourbon to one part vermouth. Shake with ice and then poor into a Lowball YETI Rambler so it doesn’t sweat or get warm in your hand.
The Score – Death’s Door Manhattan
The bad news is that Death’s Door only saw a small bump when made into a Manhattan. It scores 74/100, making it Sip Worthy, but at the lower end of the scale. The problem is that it started out at a 68 as a Sipper, so this is a tiny step forward in taste.
If I’m going to spend close to $40 for a bottle to make Manhattan’s with I’m going to go with a Basil Hayden’s Manhattan.
Death’s Door is an interesting whiskey. Instead of using a traditional whiskey yeast the distillers use a champagne yeast on an 80:20 mash bill of hard red winter wheat to malted barley.
The Nose
Thankfully my initial fear that this was going to be more akin to white lightening than bourbon were ill founded. Death’s Door’s nose reminded me more of vodka than whiskey. There is malt and alcohol, but for me, the nose is very neutral and not very pronounced. I do have a minor sinus cold, so I’m curious if that will change when I’m back to 100%.
Death’s Door
The Palate
The mouth feel is clean and crisp and the opening on the front of my tongue is creamy malt, that almost, but not quite, turns into butter cookies. That opening is quite lovely. I wish it had finished as nicely. As the whiskey reaches the back of your throat a few of the rougher notes come through. It is unsweetened dark chocolate and raisins left in the sun.
The Score – Death’s Door
I enjoyed this Death’s Door and will save what’s left of the bottle to see what a few of my friends think of it. The whiskey spent just a little bit of time in uncharred Minnesota oak barrels, but I think the champagne yeast played a bigger part in the flavors at play in this whiskey.
I’m giving Death’s Door 68/100 points. This makes it perfect for Mixers or On Ice. I would call this a novelty, and it is different, but it isn’t making its way into my Whiskey Safe.
Pros:
The champagne yeast adds a creamy note that reminds me of Irish Whiskey in a pleasant way.
Different, very different. if you like trying new things, you should try Death’s Door, even if its a one time buy.
The opening on the front of the tongue is all malt, creamy sweetness.
Cons:
If your looking for bourbon, this is going to be an odd duck for you.
The finish is a little rough on the back of the tongue.
$40 is a little bit high for this bottle. $25 or $30 seems like a fairer price.
Jameson 18 is a blended whiskey that is created from two pot-still whiskeys mixed with a portion of single grain whiskey. It’s initially aged in ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, then moved to first-fill bourbon barrels before bottling.
Let’s start by saying that the last few weeks of my life have been completely nuts. There was a layoff, then a job offer, then a much better job. So a happy ending, but a crazy week.
How did I mourn friends and colleagues I will no longer get to work with and celebrate a new beginning at the same time? I went out and bought a bottle of this Jameson 18 Year.
The Nose
The nose on this Jameson 18 Year is surprising. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. There is a pronounced ethanol/alcohol on the first sniff. It’s not quite a burn, and it doesn’t smack you in the face, but it is there, and it does overpower some of the other more nuanced notes. Those nuanced notes are wood and spice and just a touch of malt and sherry. Overall I was quite surprised with how mellow the nose was. I was expecting more complexity, but it just wasn’t there. After about 15 minutes, the alcohol notes fell off and I did get a mix of honey with the malt.
The Palate
The front of my tongue was honey, but the mid tongue and finish were all wood char and spice. I was honestly expecting a bit more smoothness and some butter cookies, which is what I associate with good Irish Whiskey, but the 18 Years spent in barrels clearly infused this with a lot of oak, char, and sherry. To me that finishes just a little rough.
I enjoyed this Jameson 18, but at the same time I have to take into account the price of this whiskey compared to its overall taste. I will drink this Jameson 18 every time you offer it to me – but it’s not making its way into my Whiskey Safe and I’m honestly not likely to buy another bottle.
Why?
The packaging is really cool. The wooden box and bottle packaging is top notch – but whenever there is this much quality on the packaging side I worry about what I’m really paying for. I’m guessing a decent part of the $140 I paid for this Jameson 18 went into the packaging. That means that this whiskey doesn’t quite stand up against some cheaper offerings.
Jameson Distiller’s Safe scored a 95/100 and is in the $70 range. Redbreast 12 is in a similar price point and scored a 96/100. Both are roughly half the price.
The Score – Jameson 18 Year Irish Whiskey
That price to value makes it hard to score Jameson 18 with a high score. To be honest, regular Jameson is only $25 at the “super store” across state lines and while its not super complex, it is smooth and easy to sip. How do you compare a $25 whiskey and a $140 whiskey? For me, the taste to value has to be a part of that, and that is where Jameson 18 falls apart. Both these whiskeys score an 80/100, and that means that I’m going to choose the cheaper option here every time.
Is Jameson 18 more complex then regular Jameson? Yes, 100 percent. But not $115 worth, and that is the crush of the issue. I enjoyed sipping this Jameson 18, but I can’t see myself buying another bottle at $140. The cost to value just isn’t there.
Color
Sweet golden amber.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros:
Does Jameson put out any bad products?
If this is a gift or someone else is buying your drams, who’s going to turn this down?
I had this whiskey on my bucket list, and now I can check it off.
Cons:
At $140 this is just too much as there are offerings at half the price that beat this hands down.
I recently found Redbreast 12 at $70 and at half the price I’d take that every time.
I had this whiskey on my bucket list, and now I can check it off – does that mean I’m one step closer to dying?
Howler Head is made from a Kentucky Straight Bourbon in North Charleston South Carolina which is infused with natural banana flavors.
Howler Head Whiskey
The Nose
The nose on this Howler Head is an interesting mix of banana and cough syrup. It reminds me of the banana flavored antibiotics that I gave my kids when they were little.
The Palate
The mouth feel is clean, very sweet, and exploding with banana flavors. I can’t get the association out of my head, this tastes like someone ground up Banana Runts and infused it with alcohol. You can’t really appreciate the alcohol, which worries me, because this level of sweetness and flavoring could easily lead to someone drinking more than they should. It is 40% ABV, but it doesn’t taste like that. It tastes like candy.
The Score – Howler Head Whiskey
I don’t want to be a snob, but this is more candy than whiskey for me. Sure, its like dessert, but its so heavily sweetened and flavored that after a single dram I just can’t think about pouring another. I’m going to give this a 50/100, making it a Mixed Drinks Only whiskey – but there is so much flavoring, this is a mixed drink even without any other mixers added.
Color
Murky urine after not drinking enough fluids mixed with faint cloudiness.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros:
Very mild alcohol taste. The candy flavors hide all the alcohol.
If you like candy flavored whiskey, this will be right up your alley.
May be great if your trying to get a newbie to like whiskey.
Cons:
If you don’t like candy flavored whiskey, you are not going to enjoy this.
Very sweet.
Tastes like dessert, which might be good, except after a single dram the sweetness and overly rich banana flavoring doesn’t make me want to pour another glass.
I’ve had this Willett Pot Still Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey sitting on a shelf for a few weeks and finally decided it was time to crack it open.
I’m always nervous opening offerings with really distinct bottles. I’m afraid that the unique bottle is there to distract you from something else. Happily, at least with this Willet Post Still Reserve, that wasn’t the case.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
The Nose
The nose on this starts a little on the punchy side. Even without swirling the Glencairn Whiskey Glass at all the ethanol just flows out of the glass. That alcohol overpowers the more refined notes, at least until you open it up with a few drop of water. Those drops of water really let the brown sugar and vanilla shine though.
The Palate
This reminds me really heavily of Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon with its brown sugar that really sits on the mid tongue and then transitions to oak and char on the finish. Is it as good as the Old Forester? Not quite. It’s good, but it doesn’t finish as smoothly as the Old Forester in my opinion.
The Score – Willett Pot Still Reserve
I enjoyed this Willett Pot Still Reserve Straight Bourbon, but not enough to put it in my Whiskey Safe. That rougher finish cost it some points for me, although the price does seem reasonable for this level of whiskey. Willett Pot Still Reserve Straight Bourbon scored an 81/100.
Pros:
The brown sugar and vanilla is really enjoyable.
If you like a sweet middle and an oaky finish, you will love this.
Cons:
Some small rough edges on the finish.
Hard to hide the bottle if your sneaking new whiskey into the house as it is quite distinctive.
