Okay, so I’m a little OCD. Okay, more than a little.
I really cling on to habits, and I crave a sense of order in my life. If you haven’t figured it out yet, this blog is no exception. I post a review every Saturday and a bit of “Whiskey Trivia” on Wednesday. My reviews are always in a certain format and seldom venture too far off from that formula. My images are all shot and edited in a consistent way, and my writing style doesn’t differ too much from blog post to blog post.
So, if I’m that crazy, how do I organize my reviews?
It’s really pretty simple. First, I find a whiskey in my collection that fits into a category I haven’t reviewed in a little while. If I just reviewed a Scotch, then I might review a bourbon. If I already reviewed those, I might check out a rye whiskey.
After selection, I make sure I have a picture of the bottle. I pour just a little bit into a snifter with no ice or water. I’ll then smell the whiskey and start to write my background story. Typically, I have some kind of story to share about how I came to hear about the whiskey or what my first experience with it was.
Next, I do my best to identify the key characteristics of the nose of the whiskey. I try to spend as much time as I can on this section before taking that first sip (which is actually very difficult!). Once I am ready, I take a small sip, and let the whiskey sit in my mouth for a little while. I try to absorb all of the flavors and determine what I can pick up from the taste. I’ll do this several times until I have an accurate description of the full spectrum of the whiskey being reviewed. Afterward, I will identify the aftertaste and the associated experiences.
The last thing I do is rate the whiskey. My rating system isn’t an exact science; rather comparing the whiskey I am reviewing relative to the rest of the whiskeys I have tried in my lifetime on a scale from 1 to 100.
So that’s it! Not much to it, but I hope it helps produce some interesting reviews.
-Ryan
2 comments
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As a Kentucky heritage background . My great grandmother bootlegger during prohibition
I find their sour mash to be of excellent quality with a Carmel, chocolate flavor . Most enjoyed sipped when the bottle is stored in the freezer . Or over ice in a glass. Have tried name brands like JB , J D. They have a bitter sour taste. Not palatable for sip or drink. Mixed or not. Mixed best to distract from their offensive bitter tounge bite. Straight sour mash of ten high presents a smooth sip. As said before. With a chocolate, caramel mid and aftertaste. Soothing to the palette. I Ask Ten high PLEASE DO NOT SURCOME TO THE PRICE GOUGING SINCE COVID. Alow us with limited income to continue enjoying your Fine southern sour mash as intended. At prices affordable still. To enjoy your wonderful distillation process. Snobs Excluded.
I completely agree with your review of 10 high Bourbon. Which I suppose is actually a sour mask whiskey? I come from the land of Bourbon, Kentucky. I have tried several bourbons in my lifetime. Along with several other whiskeys 10 high may be the worst I have ever had. My brother and I often agree that there hasn’t been a whiskey that we didn’t like. Then we tried 10 high. Now we know there’s at least one. I think you were very high with your 52 rating, but that is my personal opinion. For those drinking on a budget may considered Evan Williams 1783. A friend of mine told me about this several years ago. It can be found for $15-$20 a bottle. I found it very pleasant straight or as a mixer.
[…] ML bottle, a tasting notes diary, and a Glencairn crystal nosing glass (the same one pictured in this post). It was relatively inexpensive, so I took a risk and bought it. If I didn’t enjoy the […]