Tasting Notes

Producing WhiskyCast has given me the opportunity to taste some really amazing whiskies, and I’m pleased to share my tasting notes with you here. You can search my entire database of tasting notes from this page, and I hope you’ll find it useful.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23

Country: USA

Region: Kentucky

Type: Bourbon

Bottler: Old Rip Van Winkle

ABV: 47.8%

Score: 97 Points

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23-Year-Old Bourbon. Image courtesy Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery.

Those are just a few of the words used to describe the legendary Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old Bourbon. The nose has notes of caramel, vanilla, honey, allspice, dark chocolate, and almonds. The taste is peppery, with honey, allspice, hints of ginger, leather, and wet, ripe tobacco in the field. The finish is long, subtle, and lingering with a mild pepperiness.

It’s hard to put a dram of Pappy into words, though. The first word that comes to mind is “Wow!”

Thanks to Karl Kadar for sharing some of his Pappy with me!