Peerless Rye Whiskey Absinthe Barrel Finish

Peerless Rye Whiskey Absinthe Barrel Finish

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber gold
55.85% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, white chocolate, burnt sugar, wormwood, vanilla, white pepper. With water, anise, lemon juice, white pepper, grapefruit. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Fennel, wormwood, white chocolate, anise, white pepper, hints of mint. With water, mint, anise, lemon juice, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, wormwood, fennel, anise, malted grains. 

Comments: 

A very unusual finish, but the wood has overtaken the whisky. It tastes of mint and white chocolate, with a huge layer of anise. Interesting and different.

Verdict:

Not bad. 

Peerless Small Batch Rye

Peerless Small Batch Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber 
55.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, brown paper, black pepper, tobacco leaf, honey, cloves, strawberry jam, hints of chocolate. With water, brown paper, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cocoa nibs, brown paper, cooked rice, strawberry jam, mint, vanilla, black pepper. With water, brown paper, cocoa nibs, black pepper, cloves. 
Finish: Medium. Cocoa nibs, mint, brown paper, cookie dough, cooked rice. 

Comments: 

Slightly unbalanced, lots of cereal and black pepper, as you’d expect from a rye whisky. But it’s not very sweet, there are some jammy notes but they’re buried deep.

Verdict:

I like this.

Peerless Double Oak Single Barrel

Peerless Double Oak Single Barrel

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Dark amber 
55.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, nutmeg, brown paper, cinnamon, applesauce, cloves, hints of raisins. With water, honey, strawberry jam, magic marker, raisins, cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, quince jelly, cinnamon, applesauce, honey, prunes, hints of raisins. With water, magic marker, black tea, honey, cinnamon, prunes. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, black tea, prunes, ginger, hints of quince jelly. 

Comments: 

Very sweet and complex bourbon, plenty of fruity notes, and quite estery ones too. There’s some bitterness on the tongue and the finish, which becomes more apparent once water is added. Very pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Peerless 3yo Batch 1

Peerless 3yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt 
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber copper
49.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, salt caramel, milk chocolate, peanut butter, vanilla custard, hints of sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly oily, thickens, warm. 

Tasting:  Sweet salty. Peanut butter, blackcurrant jam, honey, brown paper, cinnamon, salt caramel. 
Finish: Short. Peanut butter, aluminium foil, honey, hints of salt caramel. 

Comments: 

Nutty and sweet, this Peerless is a little different from the others I’ve had. It’s not so fruity, instead it’s a little bit savoury and very more-ish. Perhaps could be a little older.

Verdict:

I like this.

Peerless 5yo Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

Peerless 5yo Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

Official bottling 
Single rye - Kentucky 
Dark amber 
57.05% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, vanilla, toast, hints of blueberries. With water, brown paper, cinnamon, gingerbread, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, loosens, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Black tea, nutmeg, black pepper, honey, raisins, orange peel, hints of blueberries. With water, gingerbread, honey, black pepper, brown paper. 
Finish: Short. Blueberries, black tea, black pepper, cinnamon, honey. 

Comments: 

A very spicy rye, lots of heat and fragrant notes, but once water is added, it turns gingery and sweet. Perhaps a little over proof, but that’s nothing a few drops of water won’t fix. Peerless does good whisky indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Peerless Single Barrel 5yo Bourbon Whiskey

Peerless Single Barrel 5yo Bourbon Whiskey

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber red
56.05% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, brown paper, raisins, strawberry laces, cloves, marshmallows, hints of nutmeg. With water, buttered toast, milk chocolate, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, warm, astringent. 

Tasting:  Sweet. Bananas, blackcurrant cordial, marshmallows, buttered toast, brown paper, strawberry laces. With water, marshmallows, strawberry laces, milk chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Strawberry laces, blackcurrant cordial, raisins, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Lot B170411103. Sweet and fruity, it’s been aged well in good wood. Quite buttery, which I like in a bourbon. Complex spicy flavours overlay some chocolatey malt. Very pleasant indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.