Last year, I decided it was time to get myself something nice for Christmas. At about the same time, I came across an article on “Best Gifts for Whiskey Lovers” (or something to that effect). One of the recommendations was a “Whiskey Advent Calendar” – called “The Depths of Whiskey” – from Flaviar. Twenty-four samples of whiskeys (and whiskey-like beverages: bourbon, rye, et al.) from around the world, all handsomely packaged. The samples were identified only with a number (though the ABV’s were provided), so you could taste them “blind” and then go to their website to find out what it was and compare your notes with theirs.

Since I didn’t really know that much about whiskey, I thought it would be a great way to learn. So I got one. You can find and read reviews of the “calendar” on your own. I would like to note that, apparently, demand was so high that they had to make three versions. I got Version #2.

Here’s what came in that version, along with my notes – as transcribed directly from the little notebook that came with it. They’ll start with color, then aroma, then flavor, and then finish. A checkmark indicates a strong like – consider it a “Can recommend, would buy if I can find it”. The identities were “discovered” after I had completed the tasting and written my notes.

1. Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon (44% ABV)
Rich gold color. Not much aroma – buttery. SHARP flavor – corn/bourbon. Too spicy.

2. Penderyn Celt Welsh Single Malt Whiskey (43% ABV)
Pale yellow – weak apple juice (or urine). Peaty fruity aroma. Too much peat in flavor. √

3. Bank Note 5 Year Old Peated Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky (43% ABV)
Mild aroma, nothing to speak of. BURN! PEPPER salty. NO

4. Ron Colon Salvadoreno 100 American Rye (50% ABV)
Red gold color. Light smoke aroma. Smooth caramel. Nice warm finish. √

5. Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey (40% ABV)
Medium gold color. Sweetish aroma, like bourbon. Mild. Nothing stands out. Hint of smoke. √

6. Balcones Lineage American Single Malt Whiskey (47%ABV)
Orange color, really citrus (may be color). Spice, smoke aroma: clove? Sharp bite, def orange-citrus. Sharpness doesn’t last. Icky chemical finish. Toasted fruit cocktail

7. Stauting KAOS Danish Triple Malt Whiskey (48% ABV)
Yellow! Light flavor, woody. Not bad, actually.

8. Rossville Union Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey (47% ABV)
Proper orange amber. Sweetish aroma. Light flavor – fruity? “Apple” pie? More tingle in nose and on lips.√

9. George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey (47% ABV)
Reddish amber. Sweet spicy aroma. Not too sharp – woodsy? Herbal? Pleasant.√

10. Milk & Honey Elements Red Wine Cask Single Malt (46% ABV)
Nice amber. Mild aroma- Citrus (orange) + floral? Nice citrusy flavor. Smooth. Milky creamy feel. √

11. Stranahan’s Blue Peak Single Malt (43% ABV)
Warm gold – like apple juice. Definite apple cider aroma. Fruity – dates? Figs? √

12. Two Stacks – First Cut Blended Irish Whiskey (43% ABV)
Light gold, apple cider aroma, light smoky is not overpowering. Fruity.

13. Westward Whiskey American Single Malt (45% ABV)
Orange – amber; pinkish tint. Fruity sweet aroma. Odd “ashy” flavor. Peachy finish.

14. Mars Iwai Blue Label Japanese Blended Whisky (40% ABV)
Lite gold, weak aroma. Sour fruit? Nothing stands out in flavor. Dried apricot? Oaky?

15. Port Askaig 8 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (45.8% ABV)
Very pale yellow. Smoky (but not bad) with fruit? Peat / smoke finish. Burnt fruit. It’s irritating my eyes. NO.

16. Powers Gold Label Blended Irish Whiskey (43.2% ABV)
Med gold – apple juice. Sweet – apple aroma. Tart apple-pear. Whiskey cider?

17. Frey Ranch Four Grains Straight Bourbon Whiskey (45% ABV)
Red-gold color. Sweet floral honey. Smooth warm light toasted honey.√

18. Tin Cup 10 Year Old American Blended Whiskey (42% ABV)
Reddish-amber. Pungent sharp sweet aroma. ZING! Spicy, sweet, woody.

19. Omar Bourbon Cask Taiwanese Single Malt Whiskey (46% ABV)
Pale gold – weak apple juice. Fruity-sweet aroma, cidery. Tart, smoky, peppery? Apple finish.

20. Yellowstone Select Bourbon Whiskey (46.5% ABV)
Red-orange. Lite aroma – wood, floral, toasty. Sweet honey, peppery. Fruity finish.√

21. Hercules Mulligan Rum & Rye (43% ABV)
Very red-gold – dark. Sharp – soapy? Aroma. Sweet floral. Sweet, fruity, no idea what. Honey? Almost syrupy.

22. Bushmills 10 Irish Single Malt Whiskey (40% ABV)
Moderate yellow-gold. Sour? Datey/raisin? Thin body. Not much to speak of.

23. Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Rye (47.5% ABV)
Red-gold / amber. Citrusy – burnt orange. Sharp!! Vanilla spice. Mild finish.

24. GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whiskey (46% ABV)
Reddish-amber, tending to brown. Raisin-date, vague sour. Bitter burning pepper YUCK. NO.

THINGS I LEARNED FROM THIS:

A. I really do NOT care for the Scottish style of whiskey. The peat, the smokiness… No thank you.

B. Single malts are overrated. A properly made blend can be just as good or even better.

C. My palate cannot pull out all those little flavor components. Flaviar’s tasting notes included what they call a “Flavor Spiral”, which is supposed to show the many components of the whiskey in question. Nope, sorry, can’t detect any of them. Well, maybe the most prominent one or two, but that’s it. Heck, I’m lucky if I can tell the difference between ‘caramel’ and ‘vanilla’. I wonder if it’s possible to be “taste blind” in a similar manner to color blindness.

D. There are a LOT of good whiskeys out there.