Let me start by saying; I make beer for a living! As a brewer, I spend a lot of time (sometimes too much time) thinking about flavor; what makes a flavor “good”, what flavors pair well together, and how to create specific characteristics of flavor. My job also requires me to regularly train my palate to identify flaws and off flavors as well as breaking down and identifying underlying hints and notes. Over the years, I’ve become pretty good at this, and I enjoy helping others to learn how to train and hone their palates as well.

What has all this experience taught me…? Taste is completely subjective!

I can’t tell you what beer you’ll like best, or what’s the best whiskey on the market, or that chocolate banana pistachio frozen custard is the best dessert of all time.  These answers can differ for all of us. What I can do, is tell you what I like and why. I can speak to the quality of a whiskey, what flavors I taste, and if I like it or not. For some of you this may mean, using my positive reviews as something to avoid, and my negative reviews as recommendations.

My hope for the Zbourbon community is, that even if our palates disagree, you can still find value in my reviews.

Have I lost you yet…? Still reading?  Alright! Cool!

So, what are some of my likes you say?  Well, I like long walks on the beach, short walks to the bar, rainbows and cheese!  I also like all the alcohols!!! But whiskey is definitely my “go-to” these days.  While I do enjoy Scotch, Irish, Canadian, Japanese, Rye, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana (if it has whiskey in the name… I’m probably gonna like it) whiskey… there is a special place in my heart for bourbon… wheated bourbon to be specific. But man, if you take that wheated bourbon and finish it in some crazy cask!  Well, I’m as giddy as a soccer mom rocking her new Uggs and sipping a pumpkin spiced latte while making her very first pilgrimage to the Silo’s in Waco!  Anyway, where was I?  Oh yeah, whiskey… generally I prefer my whiskey neat, somewhere between 105 -120 proof, well balanced, on the sweeter side, warm but not hot, oaky, and in good company.

Cheers!
-Brian-

Penelope Rosé Cask
Old Forester Signature (100 proof)
Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey
Weller Antique 107
Angel’s Envy Rye

Garrison Brother’s Cowboy Bourbon
Widow Jane Decadence
Weller 12
Barrel Seagrass
Good Times Honey
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Remus Repeal Reserve Series 6