Agnostic of price, the Jim Beam Distiller's Masterpiece is a tasty sherry finished bourbon. The deep sherry notes with good rye spices, tea, oak, etc is complex and well executed. But I can't get behind a $199 MSRP (I bought it for $180) bottle when I know there are other finished bourbons out there that cost less and taste just as good or if not better.
The Orphan Barrel Barterhouse is not the best and certainly not the worst of bourbons on the market. What is most intriguing is the uniqueness of having a 20 year aged bourbon at a fair price of $75. So high praise for the rarer opportunity, but right dab in the middle in terms of the overall flavor profile.
Lagavulin The Distillers Edition is a smoky, spicy, sweet flavor combination that has a satisfying oily mouthfeel anchoring everything together. The question here is whether you would pick a Lagavulin 16 over The Distillers Edition. I would personally go for the Lagavulin 16 first, but I didn't hesitate to add this bottle to my collection.
The Aberlour 15 Year Old Hand Filled Bourbon Cask was an enjoyable experience, and quite approachable. For a 15 year old whisky I do expect more depth of flavors. The saltiness on the finish starts out as a great accent to the other flavors, but becomes more pronounced over time.
The Foursquare Rum Distillery Port Cask Finish is a prime (yet rare) example of having a stellar nose, but a tasting experience that failed to deliver. I expected the tasting to match the wonderful nosing of the port and bourbon finishings, while still preserving the integrity of the rum. Instead, what I received was thin flavors and overall lack in depth and body.
The Parker's Heritage Collection 11 Year Single Barrel is unfortunately a miss for me. The combination of heat and especially the bitter finish creates a lackluster experience. For $130 and Parker Beam's name behind it, I was honestly expecting more (a lot more).
Drinking the El Dorado 21 Year throughout the last 6 years or so has given me a sense of knowing I'm in for a special treat. Every time I pour myself a glass, I'm surprised by how amazingly complex and nuanced the rum is.
I purchased this bottle at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in April of 2015. Fast forward to now, I'm glad to see the distillery has gained much respect and accolades. In terms of the Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask Cask Strength Single Barrel, this was a warm and inviting, not overly powerful whisky showing good complexities.
It's been a while since I've had this type of richness in mouthfeel and flavor in a Four Roses LE. No doubt, the Four Roses 2017 Limited Edition Small Batch is one of the top notch Four Roses I've had (and that's including private picks and other years' LE's).
The Elijah Craig Single Barrel 18 Year is one of the epitomes of flavor and balance. And to do this with such an old whiskey makes it that much harder and brings a wow factor. Heaven Hill knocked this one out of the park proofing it down just right to 90 proof.