Dan Hermann

9.0

Full, flavorful. — 3 months ago

Joan Ziegler

9.1

Refreshing & enjoyably min Saturday night with Rafael! — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

I bought this for the winter months and finished the last of it over the weekend. This is a blended malt named in honour of Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese Whisky. He was the first Japanese who mastered Whisky making in Scotland and brought this expertise back to Japan. It was an incredibly pure and rich Whisky with a certain smokiness. I don’t drink enough Whisky to know the difference but this could easily have been Scotch to my palate. 43% ABV. — 4 years ago

Philip Patston

9.0

Not the fanciest but always dependable. — 7 years ago

Doug Ching

9.7

Bought this in Soichi. Very smooth whiskey. Will buy again. — 7 years ago

Hector Escaton

9.6

A unique bourbon. Vanilla nose with an incredible flavor of cherries on the palate, almost kirsch-like. Very happy with this. — 8 years ago

Ryan Stewart

8.9

Rich amber color. Luscious red fruits, licorice, honey, and cardamom in the nose. Deeper flavors on the palate, with very rich mouthfeel and hints of light smoke. Luxurious finish. Nice to be tasting some Japanese whisky again after a dry spell in California! — 8 years ago

Dave

9.4

It's Blanton's, proofed up to 103. Being a single barrel, Blanton's is consistently good but not consistently great. This bottle is well above average. It smells and tastes like something from the Van Winkle bourbon lineup. Dark cherry, apricot, leather, cigar box. Much more pleasing than last years bottle. I thought the Gold used to be in a skinnier 700ml bottle, but this is 750ml. Maybe I'm losing it 🤔
Listening to Willie Nelson — 6 months ago

Betsy Schermer

9.5

Love the Blanton’s! — 6 years ago

with Buddy

Christo M

9.1

Butterrrrrr — 6 years ago

Ashish Mehts

9.5

Super smooth and great sipping whisky — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Certainly well named - the Japanese are very exact with this description - “Peaty and Salty” nails it. I don’t drink a lot of whisky but as the weather cools down it was a great little tipple - one of the best I’ve had in recent years. Iodine/seaweed notes through the spirit. Not shy at 55% ABV and expensive for this 500ml bottle at $300 AUD but superb quality. — 8 years ago

Joe

8.9

John Ledgend medium blend red. Little rough which must be Zin. But overall very drinkable to pallet. — 8 years ago

Adam Lubin

9.0

Enjoying a bourbon with my buddy, Joe. — 9 years ago

Jerry Raphael

9.0

Very smooth and easy to drink. Had some hard candy notes on the nose and taste. — 2 years ago

casey Burnett

9.5

Gift from Matt. I really like this. Each time I have it. — 4 years ago

Brandon Passley

9.0

Dark and rich. A little sweeter than I expected with the port. Would buy again. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Follow up to the Clos Fourtet and to close out the Allen Brothers Ribcap.

The nose reveals, dark, ripe & slightly stewed fruits of; blackberries strawberries, black raspberries, black cherries, dry cranberries & blueberries. Steeped fruit tea, anise to black licorice, dark, fruit liqueur, dry crushed rocks, dry herbs, dry twigs, cinnamon, light nutmeg, clove and vanilla, leather, cedar, graphite, dry tobacco to cigar ash, dark spice, sweet tarriness, eucalyptus with candied mixed in with withering, dark florals & red, blue, purple flowers that are set in lavender.

The palate is, rich, ruby and round. The mouthfeel is glorious. This is a perfect window for a first bottle of the 08 Dunn Howell Mountain. The dusty tannins are round and about 50% resolved. This 04 has another 15-20 years of good drinking ahead of it...properly stored of course. Dark, ripe & slightly stewed fruits of; blackberries strawberries, black raspberries, black cherries, dry cranberries & blueberries. Steeped fruit tea, anise to black licorice, dark, fruit liqueur, dry crushed rocks, slightly, moist clay, dry herbs-sage, dry twigs, cinnamon, light nutmeg, clove and vanilla, lots of dark melted chocolate, mocha powder, leather, cedar, graphite, dry tobacco to cigar ash, dark spice, sweet tarriness, dry, dark earth, limestone minerals, slightly, moist clay, volcanics, eucalyptus with florals that are candied mixed in with withering. They are dark, red, purple, blue & violets that are set in lavender. The acidity is round and near perfection...Colorado rushing river like. The long, well knitted, balanced, elegant finish lasts minutes.

Just misses 95. It will be there in another 5-7 years and could stretch to 96 at its peak.

The advantage Howell Mountain has is it sits above the fog line (more sunlight hours) and benefits from cool nights giving it slightly longer vine fruit ripening & better acidity.

Photos of; the legend, Owner-Winemaker Randy Dunn, an aerial view of his Howell Mountain Vineyard, barrel room and landing pad to process fruit for fermentation. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Chris McClellan

9.5

What an amazing wine...still very young, initial smell is earth, spice, cut mushrooms, stony and red tart/ripe cherries...coats palate from beginning to end. Acid just holds it taut and nervy all the way thru. Opened up even more as the nite went on..paired with charcuterie...on point and delivered as legend says.. — 8 years ago

with Ryan

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color of apple juice. Nose is nice and humble, with sweet apple, fermented grains, spices, and a touch of nice woody character. Taste of syrupy like caramel, has net and flowering note, smooth yet warm, spices, zesty aftertaste, and very friendly to drink. She is mellow, sweet, peach like fruits, concentrated with good strength. A go to bottle for better mood. — 9 years ago