Later in NYC I found a dusty old bottle of Rhetoric on the bottom shelf behind some other Orphan Barrel. This was >5 yrs post-release, very hard to find.

Rhetoric 23 has a very pronounced butterscotch note that I’ve not experienced in another bourbon yet.

We tried a few other new bottles as well, it’s always more interesting to taste a variety of scotch back to back than to sip on one glass all evening.

But this was the real gem of the evening, which I tasted it blind: clean finish, novel oak flavors I mostly associate with high-end bourbon. My guess was 20 yrs on oak, then a sherry cask finish. But it’s actually *34 yrs* in a refill sherry cask. This is now the oldest scotch I’ve ever tasted.

Taste is subjective. According to a tasting guide book, my #1 favorite scores only 83/100.

Biggest challenge is blind tasting is the ABV. The higher proof whiskeys are at an inherent disadvantage.

I’m inclined to dilute the higher proof to harmonize ABV, but it would no longer be tasting the as-bottled spirit.

Earning a perfect score was The Dalmore 15, my favorite.

Why single-blind tasting is important:

tldr:

To me, this is a good bridge between bourbon and scotch: it still has the sweetness of bourbon, but because it ages in refill casks, the oak barrel flavors are more mellow. Just a hint of smoke, no peat. My favorite when there’s snow on the ground, lit Christmas tree and an evening fire.

This post literally made me think “I wonder if @gradybooch.bsky.social has a bsky account.” And he does, working to rebuild my follows from X

Wow! Thank you.