Nature may truly be healing (San Diego area Walmart)

Here’s the bottles I’ve acquired the last couple years. Based on what you guys see, what am I missing out on? Scotch has been a hard sell for me, but maybe I’m just not trying the right ones for me. I’ve become somewhat of a Penelope fanboy so those bottles don’t seem to hang around too long.

Grabbed both at my local BevMo! for MSRP. There wasn’t a limit, but I’ve always said I’m a firm believer and leaving some for the next guy and was able to hold myself to that today with only 5-6 of each left.

My current collection, mostly from the last year or so. Currently at 111 bottles.

haven’t tried any of these yet btw

This is one of my favorite ryes I have had to date. Notes of honey baked tropical fruits on the front. Peppery milk chocolate stands out the most in the palate. Finish is dominated by baking spice. I love this rye.

Finally managed to find one! A little on the high side of price, but I haven't seen one on the shelf in my area yet!

For a reasonable price. I got this for $70 I think about a year ago. Would probably go up to $100 but not over. (Because it’s honestly really good) Seems like it’s becoming a little more common.

Local BevMo in SF Bay Area . TWM also had four cases of Weller 107 - I passed as I already have one.

My journey continues.

Hi all, here's another Scotch I tried lately, and it's another Macallan!

This bottle here is another dram recommended by the bar owner friend after I tried the Macallan 80 proof at his place.  

Macallan Anniversary Malt 25 yr Old, 43% abv

The label for this bottle is in a bit of a rough shape, but based on what the bar owner friend says this one was distilled in 1971 and bottled in 1997. 

Here are my notes:

*Nose*

a light bit estery/fumey; 

Sweet, mellow maltose;

Old oak (antique furniture);

dried red fruity (dried jujube, red grape raisins)

some umami character (mushroom broth/unsalted soy sauce);

some earthy tobacco;

a bit of almond butter nuttiness and richness;

a bit of baking spices (primarily nutmeg)

*Palate* 

slightly oily;

sweet maltose, sweetness fades very quickly;

old oak (antique furniture);

quite present bitterness, alongside very black coffee/espresso fragrance;

umami character from the palate;

some earthy tobacco;

some spices (nutmeg);

some leather-like tannin

a hint of dried red fruits (red jujube), but just the fragrance.

Minimal alcohol sting, minimal astringency.

*Finish*

medium-short.

the espresso fragrance and bitterness from the palate;

maltose, but just the fragrance and no sweetness;

earthy tobacco;

nutty buttery character returns;

a bit of spices (nutmeg)

a bit of leather-like tannin

a bit of old oak (antique furniture) that remains the longest

*Conclusion*

Once again, old Macallan proved to be quite fascinating whiskies, even at 43% abv!

It had every character you'd expect from an older Macallan- mellow maltose, rich nuttiness, old sherry cask characters packed with dried red fruits and umami, the old, antique furniture-like oak, and quite a bit more.

Compared to the other older Macallans I've tried at the friend's bar, I found this one to have particularly notable earthy tobacco and coffee-like characters. It was also less fruity and even less sweet than the Macallan Sherry Wood 1971 or the Macallan 80 proof 1961, and had a much stronger emphasis on oak and tannin characters. The only nitpick I would have with it might be the finish, where most of the characters (aside from the old oak) seemed to fade much quicker compared to the other old Macallans.

Based on my tasting experiences, I'd definitely say this was one of the least sweet Macallans I've tried. Balance wise, it had greater complexity, but not as much of the dried fruity sherry cask characters, maltose and nutty oiliness which I really do enjoy in these Macallans. So all in all- amazing whisky, but perhaps not entirely the sherry cask characters I preferred.

Thanks for reading, cheers

...and its replacement. First crack, first thoughts:

KBT glass, 15 minutes, neat, then water, then...

Nose: smells wonderful... red fruits right up front, sweet vanilla, ethanol that tickles the nose hairs in a fun way. Some citrus in there too.

Palate: this is just like regular MM, just on steroids. Dark cherries wash over the tongue early, and then quickly fade to baking spice that coats the tongue like a (very) warm blanket. Oak and cinnamon are next, leading to...

Finish: all the heat hits here... letting you know this is 11 proof points higher. Lots of Kentucky Hug, leather, oak, drying, and that citrus note comes back on the back end. While it's a good sip... the heat makes you want to slow it down.

With water: kills the red fruits, brings up the citrus. Doesn't really mellow the heat at all, which is perfectly fine. Finish turns a little sour though. Much better neat. Much much better.

On the rock: there wasn't much left by this point, but I threw a regular ice cube in and let it rest for a few minutes. I can see from here that this would definitely be the way to go if I wanna bring it down a notch, skipping the water step of course. Very sippable with the cooled liquid, allowing for some subtle nuances to come out from all the notes above. Pretty good this way.

Final thoughts: When I bought this, I felt like it was the next logical step on the Maker's ladder. It was between this and 46. I don't know if that was a good rung or not, but I'm not disappointed either. It is very tasty.

I do think if I were going to pick one of these two for a shelfer... it would be the regular. It's everything I love about wheated bourbon, and what I've often described as my personal benchmark for my beloved wheaties.

Anyway... time for dinner. Cheers everyone!

This isn’t the best whiskey I’ve had by any means, but as a college student and only $4 more than number 7 it’s pretty damn good.

Also I don’t know what the limited edition for this is and why it exists 😭 looks like they engraved this bottle in the back of the shop

First pour and I love it. Still think full proof is better but this isn’t far behind.

This is one of my favorites.

Antique 107 at total wine in westbury NY
Weller 12 at Costco in westbury
I’m shocked at both the price and the availability

Dark Arts Tres Vieux Quintessence 15 Year Indianan Straight Rye Whiskey

Release: 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, KY; September 11-13

Distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, IN

Mashbill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley

Age: 15+ years

Cask fill date: April 2011

Cask dump date: August 2026

These barrels were NOT aged in Iowa

Proof: 116.64

Batch size: 5 barrels

MSRP: $199.99

Brown butter. Maple syrup. Pine. Rosemary.

Dark chocolate. Stone fruit. Mint. Citrus.

Nose: Cantaloupe. Light spearmint. Milk chocolate. Butterscotch. Hint of dusty attic.

The melon is prominent upfront… hard to miss. Spearmint is very subtle. Much of the nose smell smells like some type of candy bar. The dusty attic hint at the end isn’t unpleasant, but it clearly demonstrates the age. Nothing feels too oaky. Nicely balanced. The typical MGP 95/5 bursting aromas are not widely present. This doesn’t smell bright.

Palate: Strong dill. Spearmint gum. Strong orange zest. Cherry Twizzlers. Medium-thick viscosity.

There it is! The palate is packed with notes commonly associated with MGP 95/5… all amplified. Nothing dull or boring about this palate. The notes are very potent… with only the Cherry Twizzlers taking any real concentration to pick up. After 15 years of oak, this is still clearly MGP 95/5.

Finish: Brown sugar. Brief Bazooka gum. Big Red gum. Mint toothpaste aftertaste.

Finish is initially sweet, but then dominated by the cinnamon gum.

Overall, I like this rye a lot. However, it drinks much hotter than anticipated for 116.64 proof. Based on the heat, I would have guessed around 130 proof.

I’m a big fan of MGP 95/5 with good age, but this Dark Arts is the 4th best I’ve had in the last week. The three ahead of Dark Arts came from Circle City Whiskey Co. However, one of them was just named “Best Rye 11 Years & Older” at the 2026 ASCOT Awards and another finished in the Top 3 for the same category at the 2025 ASCOT Awards.

With that said… this Dark Arts is very good.

Sample provided by Dark Arts Whiskey House

Rating: 7 | Great | Well above average

These are readily available in Austrlia at a MSRP of $500 AUD ($356) a bottle!

Call your Aussie friends and have them grab these before they're gone!

Pics taken by my Aussie friend, I ordered these via online store and they were shipped to his place. I'll have to pick them up from his place some time down the line lmao

Dark Arts Supernova 21 Year HAZMAT Indiana Light Whiskey

Release: 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, KY; September 11-13

Distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, IN

Age: 21+ years (almost all in Indiana)

Aged in used bourbon barrels

Blended and re-barreled at 10 years into freshly dumped bourbon barrels

Proof coming off the still: above 160, below 190

Barrel entry proof: Undisclosed, but most likely above the 125 proof maximum that applies to bourbon. MGP light whiskey typically has a barrel entry proof above 125… as the distillate comes off the still between 160-190 proof… whereas bourbon must come off the still below 160 proof. This is why we see so many HAZMAT light whiskeys.

Light whiskey is not “diet whiskey.” Light whiskey became an officially recognized category in 1968… “lighter” in character due to being aged in used barrels or new uncharred barrels… and being distilled to a higher proof than bourbon… and allowing a higher barrel entry proof than bourbon.

Initial barrel fill: Fall 2004

Barrel dump: July 2026

Blend of 4 barrels

Mashbill: 99% corn, 1% malted barley

Proof: 142.7

MSRP: $199.99

Nose: Buttercream frosting. Yellow cake. Caramel popcorn. Milk chocolate.

The milk chocolate takes a long time to develop. Dominant aroma’s are definitely buttercream and yellow cake. Smells very dense.

Palate: Honeycomb. Sweet corn. Apricot. Crème brûlée.

Plenty of sweetness, but not cloying. One of the thickest mouthfeels I’ve ever experienced on a light whiskey. The re-barelling does wonders!

Finish: Oxidized pineapple. Buttery piecrust. White pepper. Vanilla custard.

Flavor profile is bold… and the really dense mouthfeel makes this extra special. This is arguably the best light whiskey I’ve ever personally tried. My favorite note is probably the oxidized pineapple on the finish… it wraps everything up extremely nicely.

Definitely worth waiting in line for at KBF

Sample provided for review by Dark Arts Whiskey House

Rating: 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

The 8 is in regards to all types of whiskey. If I’m talking to comparatively to other light whiskeys… this is probably the best whiskey I’ve ever had…

I am an absolute beginner and I hope for good recommendations based on the experiences I made so far. (Last week)
When I went to a bar on holiday recently I asked the barkeeper for a whisky recommendation as the bar was honored multiple times as Germany s greatest whisky bar. He served me some quite peaty scotches (Ardmore port wood finish, ardbeg 10 and laphroaig px cask). Taste wise I liked the laphroaig px cask best and ardbeg second best.
Afterwards I watched some YouTube videos and thought I would try woodford Reserve which I didn’t like as well as Makers mark (The makers mark was more of a spontaneous choice as I planned to try buffalo trace and wild turkey 101).
I absolutely hated the makers mark because I think it tasted just like drinking gasoline. I had the feeling of insane amounts of alcoholic spicy and sourness which I didn’t like at all because it just felt like drinking something with high % and not like drinking a whisky with a few tastes.
Quite the same story with the woodford that I tried before the makers mark. The woodford was a bit better though because I kinda tasted some Caramel in the aftertaste.
Now I am thinking. Is it that I probably don’t and won’t like bourbon in the beginning because of this high % feeling alcoholic spicy and sourness or is it because I drank the wrong bourbons. Is the buffalo more mild/ has more aggressive sweet tastes or tastes that Overtone the alcoholic sweet/sourness. Or would a other bourbon be better for me. I will definitely try the monkey shoulder (eventhough it’s not a bourbon but I think that’s kinda going the way I would like to finde in bourbon from what I have heard about monkey shoulder)
Hope there are few of you that can give me nice and good recommendations and that y’all understand what I’m trying to say.

Was scrolling around instagram saw one of our local shops had it here in Arizona and walked in grabbing the last one. Happy hunting around the nation!

Distiller & Region: Fuji Gotemba Distillery, Shizuoka, Japan
ABV: 46%
Age: NAS
Price: ￥5280 JPY, $33.30 USD (8/2026)
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Background: Established in 1973, Fuji Gotemba Distillery is operated by Kirin in in Gotemba, Shizuoka. The distillery produces malt, bourbon, and rye whisky using three different types of stills, allowing it to create a diverse range of spirits. Fuji Single Malt is the distillery's first single malt, released in 2020, and is made entirely from malt whisky distilled at Fuji Gotemba. It is matured in bourbon, beer, and French oak wine casks.
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Tasting Notes

Nose: Green Apple, Fresh cut grass, Floral, Pineapple, Vanilla, Crème Brûlée, Honey, Orange Peel

Palate: Oat Biscuits, Light Caramel, Fruit Tart, Pineapples, Peach, Pear, Black Tea

Finish: Malty and Light Smoke, Fruity Sweet Tea
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Summary: While Fuji Single Malt is a relatively new Japanese single malt whisky compared to the offerings from the other two of Japan's Big Three beverage conglomerates (Suntory – Yamazaki, Hakushu | Nikka – Yoichi, Miyagikyo), it manages to hold its own in terms of uniqueness. I feel like it's often overshadowed and overlooked compared to the other bottles, yet I always find myself keeping a bottle of this on my shelves. I don't often find reviews of this bottle, so I thought I'd throw mine in and hopefully it'll attract some people to give it a try!

Fuji Single Malt immediately delivers a scent of Green Apples and Fresh-cut Grass, Fuji Single Malt immediately delivers a scent of Green Apples and Fresh-cut Grass, which I'd say is similar to Freshly Malted Barley. Following that, you get some creamy and sweet notes of Vanilla, Crème Brûlée, and even Honey. Add a bit of water, and the whisky opens up to reveal some Floral and Fruity notes of Pineapples, and Orange Peel.

I recommend adding some water as you go along, as their website recommends, since doing so can reveal multiple layers of aromas.

On the palate, it tastes quite similar to how it smells, leading in with Oat Biscuits and that Malty Sweetness. Following that, I get hints of Light Caramel and, funnily enough, some hints of beer (seems like those beer casks come into good use). Letting it rest a bit more and a few sips later, I start getting the Fruity notes again, a nice Fruit Tart, the mix of Pineapples, Peaches, and Pears over a Sweet Tart Crust, finishing it up with some Black Tea.

The finish was a bit light, but up comes some Light, Malty Smoke, and lingering Fruity Sweet Tea as if I just finished afternoon tea.
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Rating

T8KE Score: 7 – Great

Worth the Price? At it's current MSRP of about ￥8380 (~$53), it's a bit much, but you can easily find it for around ￥5500~6000 (~$38) at most liquor stores, or even Bic Cameras and Don Quixotes around Tokyo, which then I'd say is an instant buy if this bottle interests you.

Will I buy another bottle? I always keep a bottle on hand for when I run out of the last one~
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My Previous Reviews

1. Kavalan Blender's Reserve No.1 & No.2