BevX Reviews – Different By Design
Below is a quick look at our latest reviews published at BevX December 13, 2023. Click the links to get the score and the full analysis of each beverage. Every Wednesday we release new stories, introduce our latest reviews, and send our subscribers their weekly, free digital newsletter. (Subscribe here.)
We had another busy week at BevX with new, tasty beverage reviews to share.
We have shifted our reviews format in order to offer more reviews for our review hungry readers. The review pages (links below) will now offer a full tasting note with links to a full detail review for our Featured Beverages.
As always you see all of our reviews here:
Beverage of the Week
Great Lakes Christmas Ale (USA)
This holiday Ale always seems to run dry before Santa makes his rounds so be sure to get your Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale fast. If you are not fortunate enough to live in one of the brewery’s nine states of distribution, find a friend that is and have them send you some… See the Beverage of the Week feature
Latest Reviews
Wine Reviews
Padigan Estate Reserve — Ruby Rogue Valley 2020
Brilliant, dark ruby/purple color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of blackberry and blueberry with supporting notes of cocoa, fig, orange peel, and five spice. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of cassis, red currant, dark chocolate, cardamon, and hints of tamarind. The finish is long and lingering with lovely spice accents. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. $35 – 4 Stars/93 points
Spirits Reviews
Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, medium golden amber color. The aromatics are alluring with the scents of pecan pie, butterscotch, and honey with accents of white pepper and dried apricots. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a caramel and custard-driven core with supporting notes of candied ginger and oak. Full-bodied and nicely balanced with a beautiful balance of decadent sweets and prominent spice. $59 – 4 Stars
Isle of Skye 12 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, pale copper color. The nose is filled with the scents of vanilla-accented cereal with waves of honey, orange peel, and heather with faint hints of smoke and pickling spices. The palate echoes the nose delivering a fruit-forward core with loads of dried apricot with supporting notes of star fruit, dry baking spices, and a bit of citrus and chocolate rising on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with nice balance as it brings together fruit and spice with subtle smoke accents. $27.99 – 3.5 Stars
Isle of Skye 18 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, pale copper color. The nose is filled with the scents of earth and green apples with supporting notes of sea breezes, citrus, and black pepper with hints of campfire. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich fruit-forward core with flavors of fruitcake with accents of caramel, cocoa, toffee, and hints of smoke. Medium to full-bodied with ideal balance as this Whisky marries fruit and spice with complex earth tones. $64.99 – 4 Stars
Isle of Skye 21 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, with a copper/amber color. The aromatics are filled with the scents of treacle and toasted walnuts with supporting notes of tropical fruits and caramel, kumquat, and toffee. The palate echoes the nose delivering a toffee-driven core with generous notes of honey, toasted malt, brown baking spices, and fruitcake with hints of smoke and citrus. Medium to full-bodied with perfect balance as it brings together decadent caramel and toffee flavors with spice and oak. $114.99 – 4.5 Stars
Isle of Skye 25 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, with a copper/amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of caramel and toffee with waves of ginger biscuits, toasted oak, baked apple, and orange peel with hints of smoke. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a baked apple-driven core with waves of brown baking spices, oak, and apricot stone with accents of citrus and campfire. Medium to full-bodied with good balance, marrying baked orchard fruits with spice and smoke. $206.99 – 4 Stars
Calistoga Star 7 Years Old California Brandy
Brilliant, amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of dried fruits with toasted oak, brown baking spices, and caramel with hints of candied orange peel. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich and spicy fruit-driven core with accents of black pepper, clove, oak, and toasted walnuts. Full-bodied and nicely balanced with a dry and spicy finish. $75 – 4 Stars
Four Roses Single Barrel 10-3 T Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, medium copper to amber color. The aromatics are complex and seductive, offering scents of brown baking spices, vanilla, baked pear and apple, vanilla bean, and hints of maple-soaked oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a caramel and fruit-driven core with waves of black plum and red berries. Full-bodied and ideally balanced with a great length. $51.99 – 4.5 Stars
Four Roses Small Batch Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, medium copper to amber color. The nose is gorgeous, offering scents of caramel with generous notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and dried red berries with hints of clove and oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a fruit and vanilla-driven core with supporting notes of nectarine, raspberry, and oak with hints of wild mint and black pepper. Full-bodied and nicely balanced with an elongated palate and long, trailing finish. $59.99 – 4.5 Stars