Corsair Wildfire Hickory Smoked Barley

Corsair Wildfire Hickory Smoked Barley

Official bottling

Single malt - Tennessee
Amber gold 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, maple syrup, damson jam, toffee, pear drops, magic marker, black pepper, photocopy paper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Damson jam, magic marker, strawberry jam, chocolate, popcorn, maple syrup, black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Limes, black pepper, chocolate, popcorn, damson jam. 

Comments: 

Sweet and smoky, but the smoke is light and toasty, perhaps more like popcorn than malt peat smoke. No water needed, the mouth feel and flavours are excellent as is. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Corsair Wry Moon

Corsair Wry Moon

Official bottling
Single rye - Tennessee
Colourless
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sour cream, white grapes, orange juice, gooseberries, limes, hints of pomegranates. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, tingly, slightly slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, white grapes, limes, pomegranates, yoghurt, orangeade, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, malted grains, limes, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

New make rye spirit from a very good US distillery. It’s surprisingly fruity, with little of the spiciness that characterises rye whisky. Maybe that comes with wood. But it’s very pleasant indeed, and there’s a nice tart note of lime, in common with some of the other Corsairs that I’ve had. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Corsair Ryemageddon

Corsair Ryemageddon

Official bottling
Single rye - Tennessee
Amber orange
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Limes, orange juice, black tea, pickle brine, brown paper, blackcurrants, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, syrupy, sticky.
Tasting: Sweet sour . Orange juice, black tea, pickle brine, brown paper, limes, red grapes, hints of cinnamon.
Finish: Short. Cinnamon, orange juice, pickle brine, hints of chillies.

Comments:

My first single rye whiskey - it's taken me a long time to dip my toe into that particular pond. I'm sorry to say that I'm a fool, I should have done it a long time ago. This is spicy, tart and flavourful. I like the black tea, and the astringency characterised by brown paper notes and even pickle brine. Yummy yum yum, lots of the orange juice and lime that made previous Corsair whiskies so tasty.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Corsair Rasputin

Corsair Rasputin 

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Tennessee
Red gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, cherry, brass polish, cream, key lime, hints of burnt plastic. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, watery, spicy. 
Tasting: Bitter. Cherries, chocolate, brass polish, coffee, key lime, burnt plastic, hints of sour plum. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, key lime, chocolate, cherry, sour plum. 

Comments: 

The distillers brewed a Russian imperial stout (one of the very best beers one can drink), and used that as the mash from which the whisky was eventually distilled. The whisky has been hopped, which dramatically changes its flavour profile. This is experimental, and it shows. It is fragrant and complex, with loads of wonderful flavours - but offset by an acrid tang of what I can only describe as burnt plastic. The finish is wonderfully long and complex though, and I can still taste sour plums, limes and coffee, 5 hours and 2 meals on.


Verdict:

Not bad.

Corsair Small Batch Triple Smoke

Corsair Small Batch Triple Smoke

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Tennessee
Yellow gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, key lime, honey, grass, smoke, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, fizzy, airy, turns watery. 
Tasting: Bitter sour. Orange juice, key lime, honey, lemon zest, grass, hints of leather. 
Finish: Short. Key lime, lemon zest, grass, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

An unusual sort of American whiskey. No notes of bananas, not a hint. Instead, I get loads of citrus and smoke. Well, it certainly does what it says on the bottle, but it's a gentle smoke, subtle, and not in-your-face like the Islays. Deliciously refreshing.


Verdict:

I like this a lot.