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Category: Spirits

Copper Plate Vodka 750mL

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Well folks let’s close out the year in the traditional style – by which we mean another on the list of cheap vodkas that are cheap for a reason. The reason being that they suck. This generic entry is Copper Plate vodka which makes you think there might be some electrolyzing or other shit going on to make it perfect – they themselves assure you that it is flawless. Well we here at Honest Booze Reviews are here to tell you the truth, and we’re not even gonna hide it behind the fold – this vodka sucks shit.

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Tequila Reserva de la Familia Extra Anejo Tequila 750mL

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Merry Christmas week everyone, before we begin the review of this really good tequila – a quick PSA. This comes in a wooden box, said back of wooden box is only really tacked shut – as such be wary of the back falling out and with it your bottle. We speak from first hand experience watching a ~$200 bottle tumble to the floor (luckily to carpet; unbroken), and if you are reading this before buying and bringing home – just make sure it’s on a secure surface because you really don’t want to risk a drop of what’s inside.

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Laphroaig ‘Lore’ Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 750mL

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We first had a sample of this back on a whiskey Wednesday event, and given the course of that was a few folks and multiple tastings one after the other without a proper tasting it earned a solid A. Now though 3 years later it’s time to put it under the lights properly and see whether the Lore of this whiskey holds up. In short it does, but if you’re encountering this review due to a frantic google search in the local liquor store seeing if this is up to snuff – you likely have already spotted the main downside, namely the price tag.

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Chivas Regal ‘Mizunara’ Blended Scotch Whisky 750mL

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Now this is not aged as long as – well we don’t know because it’s a blend, but it’s shorter than the 18 year we’ve had on this site ages ago (and still love dearly for it’s ability to mix well). The trick they’ve taken with this one is instead of aging in American or French oak barrels (as is the common way) they’ve opted for some Japanese ‘Mizunara’ oak instead for both added rarity and presumably to make headway into the large Japanese loving whiskey market.The problem is that because this seems like an idea cooked up no less than maybe 5-10 years ago, it might need some more time in that Mizunara.

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The Busker Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey 750mL

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As we inch closer to Christmas expect the reviews to have more of a whiskey bent, simply by nature of gifts, although we do have something truly special for xmas later this month that’s not a whiskey. Here we have a gift we got ourselves as it’s been a while since there’s been an Irish Whiskey on the site. Thankfully this is a gift well received, and despite it’s very brash design, be assured it’s not nearly as brash in the glass having been calmed with spices and honey.

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Peerless Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750mL

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Sometimes it’s been a hell of a week so you decide – fuck it, let’s splurge and buy an over 80 dollar bourbon just to feel things. However while for the most part Scotches are fairly stable at that price range, with bourbon you really are making a shot in the dark. All to often everything is priced wildly with some things being far less or too much with no barometer to help you. What then of this expression with it’s barrel shaped bottle and Wegmans pedigree? (Yes because of the single barrel labeling this actually says Wegmans on it which is hilarious) Oh right, the result – well it’s mixed.

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Cantinero Orendain Reposado Tequila 750mL

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It’s a bit unfortunate when something doesn’t taste like it smells. This comes up often in spiced rums smelling like a delicious bevy of spices only to taste like sugar – but sadly it’s true here as well. On the whole a tequila that has some smoky aspects to it without it being an Anejo and mellowed out sounds enticing. However the result here is a more on the palm sugary side and is above all – middle of the road. Mixed or straight it simply just does nothing great.

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Tomatin Highland Single Malt 12yr Bourbon/Sherry Cask Scotch Whisky 750mL

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Ahh some nice Highland scotch, not a peat monster or too light and fruity – sounds great, and there’s the sherry cask to rain our parade. The problem is however how hard it is to tell if such casking is actually the best parts of this whisky. Overall it’s not great, but at it’s best it’s the fruity aspects that make it work in at least a few categories, while doing awful to mediocre in the rest.

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Lussa Gin 750mL

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It’s been near on a decade and yet the word Jura still evokes a spirited response (and not a good one), but it would erroneous to fault an island for one bad scotch – so let’s see how they’ve fared at gins, which recently we’ve been on a kick for with scottish gins so this should be interesting. The short version is that if you are looking for a truly unique sort of gin in this day and age, you will certainly find it here, and more so there are places where this gin does rather well. However as you’d expect there’s a big butt on the horizon.

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