Highland Park – 16 Year Twisted Tattoo

Highland Park – 16 Year Twisted Tattoo

October 7, 2021

Name: Highland Park – 16 Year Twisted Tattoo

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malted barley, citrus, flowers

Taste: Malted barley, orange, smoke/pepper, red wine

Review:

Highland Park 16 Year Twisted Tattoo is another expression in the Viking series by the Highland Park Distillery (aka the marketing team). I have previously reviewed the Valkyrie expression and I was not very impressed and there now seems to be a pattern developing in my reviews of this series.The scotch is a single malt bottled at 46.7% abv, naturally colored, and aged in Spanish Rioja wine casks and first fill bourbon casks. The Spanish Rioja is a nice twist, but I have it on good authority that Spaniards keep their good Rioja in house and ship the crap stuff to the rest of the world.  I question the quality of the wine that imparted the flavor on this scotch. I found the nose and taste to be very similar which in my experience is not a good sign and the wine taste to be nothing special. Basically, this stuff is “ok” at best.

The art on the bottle is by a Danish Tattoo artists Colin Dale and it represents the Midgard Serpent. The seperant is the classic “snake eating its tail” which represents an unending circle. This circle is believed by some to represent the continuous circle of life. I believe, and this is just my opinion, Highland Park must have lost out to Johnnie Walker in obtaining the marketing rights to “Game of Thrones”. So instead they created this dual edged bullshit marketing campaign. You get little history of the Scottish with the Viking origins info and a little feel of the G.O.T. Have I mentioned before that I am half Scottish? We are descendants of Vikings but it is not brought up much because it would piss off the people from Iceland.

I can just hear it now……”Paging Mr. Draper to the Highland Park Distillery main conference room……you marketing presentation is about to begin…..”

 

Priced around $90 and it is ok but over priced for marketing reasons and the age. Maybe Odin’s adopted son Loki made this stuff? He is the God of Trickery. Thanks to Frankie for letting me try this one without paying!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

 

ChrisHighland Park – 16 Year Twisted Tattoo
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Nikka Single Malt Miyagikyo

Nikka Single Malt Miyagikyo

February 23, 2021

Name: Nikka Single Malt Miyagikyo

Color: Amber

Nose: Fresh light fruit, honey, malted barley with light oak

Taste: Medium body, lighter fruit, spices with soft smoke

Review:

Japanese whiskys have been on the rise over the last few years as many may have noticed. Ironically, there has not been a large media campaign in the USA with respect to product placement in film and television. I have noticed over the years when a liquor product is used in media you find people drinking the following week. Remember Mad Men in 2009? I can only think of two movies that had Japanese whisky in a scene; “Lost in Translation” and the “Wolverine” so the big interest developing in the USA must mean one thing, whisky from Japan is very good.

When I say “very good”, I mean they are excellent and do not taste like shit, however, that can come at a price for some bottles from Japan but not this one. This whiskey is delicious, light, well balanced, interesting exotic fruit and subtle wood/smoke flavor. I really enjoyed this one and I highly recommend it.

Very well priced and a great value ranging between $80-110 depending on where you find it.

Note:

Due to growing demand of Japanese whiskies, the age statement is starting to go away. Non Aged Statement (NAS) is taking over because of production needs. Do not let this stop you from trying this whiskey or any other whiskey.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

 

If you like it, drink it!

 

ChrisNikka Single Malt Miyagikyo
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Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon

Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon

November 18, 2020

Name: Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon

Color: Brown

Nose: Caramel sweet, corn, light wood

Taste: Wheat, wood, caramel, strong alcohol

Review:

Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon is another in a growing line of expressions from Maker’s Distillery in Kentucky, USA. The mash bill is 70% corn, 16% Red Winter Wheat, and 15% Malted Barley. The bourbon is aged 5-3/4 to 7 years in a limestone cellar which is not really impressive since most of Kentucky is limestone. Private Select is bottled non-aged stated and ranges from 54% to 57% abv (108-114 proof). In this expression ten custom wood staves are added to each barrel to create a unique flavor profile. The combination of the 10 different staves and can be customized with 5 different flavor profiles with a retail partner to produce a desired taste. After the barrel is finished, and some creative math is calculated, it gives 1,001 flavor combinations with this expression. I guess they did carry the “1”.

So in summary, it is Maker’s Mark high proof bourbon with special pieces of wood for flavor that is bottled with less water in it. I know this because the price difference is scaled with proof and label. 

Scale in % abv versus price:

Maker’s Cask Strength Bourbon with special wood to create something different is different, but is still kind of the same stuff. The secret about Maker’s Mark (besides the wheat) is the is amount of water and marketing. Less water means higher proof and a little Mad Men Marketing and there ya go! You can drink Maker’s Cask Strength for less and the high proof will make it difficult to determine the flavor profile without water to cut it for the average drinker. This is the kind of bourbon I like to make my high-quality cocktails with.

Priced around $75 and worth the money if you got it the money or want to give “more specialer” gift to someone.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

 

ChrisMaker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon
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