How I’ll Rate Whiskey

Before I publish my first official whiskey review in this new format, I want to explain how I’ll approach reviews and what you can expect from me.

The most important thing to know is simple: my reviews will always be honest, transparent, and free of BS.

If I receive a bottle or sample for free, I’ll clearly disclose it. If I purchase the bottle myself, I’ll tell you what I paid. I’ll also include the current MSRP whenever that information is available.

Receiving a free bottle will never guarantee a positive review. A brand can send me something, invite me to an event, or treat me incredibly well, but none of that changes what’s actually in the glass.

My opinion cannot be bought.

Every review represents my experience with a whiskey. It’s not a declaration that everyone else must agree with me.

Just because I love a bottle does not mean you’ll love it. Just because you love something does not mean I will.

That is part of what makes whiskey so much fun.

Everyone brings different memories, preferences, backgrounds, and life experiences to the glass.

I grew up in a very small town in Missouri, and many of my tasting notes are connected to my childhood. A whiskey might remind me of my grandparents baking, the dusty attic in their old house, the wood stove in their kitchen, wildflowers, bonfires, working on cars with my grandpa, or days spent hunting, fishing, and camping.

My own cooking, travels, relationships, and experiences have continued to shape how I smell and taste things. Your experiences have shaped your palate too, even if you don’t always realize it.

Neither of us is necessarily wrong. We may simply experience the same whiskey differently.

Whiskey does not always taste exactly the same from one moment to the next.

What you ate beforehand can affect your palate. Something sweet, spicy, salty, or smoky may change what you notice. The whiskey you poured before it can make a difference, also.

Your mood, the setting, and the people you’re drinking with can all influence the experience.

I also believe whiskey can taste better when it’s shared. A bottle you might overlook while sitting at home alone could become one of your favorite pours when enjoyed with the right group of people.

Never be afraid to return to a whiskey you didn’t enjoy the first time, you never know what may have influenced your experience that day.

Keep an open mind and trust your palate.

I’ll give you the important bottle facts, including:

I’ll also discuss the nose, palate, finish, overall experience, and value.

Then I’ll answer the questions that actually matter:

Numeric rating systems work well for many reviewers, but I’ve always found it difficult to define exactly what separates one number from the next. For my reviews, I’ll use a simple five-level scale based on my overall experience with the whiskey and what I’d realistically do after tasting it.

This whiskey doesn’t work for my palate. I wouldn’t buy it or seek out another pour.

That doesn’t automatically mean it’s a bad whiskey. Someone with different preferences may enjoy it much more than I did.

It’s fine, but it doesn’t leave me wanting more. I would drink it if someone poured it for me, but I probably wouldn’t buy a bottle or reach for it again.

This is a good whiskey. I would happily drink it again, recommend trying a pour, and potentially buy it at the right retail price.

This is a great whiskey. I would buy a bottle, recommend it to others, share it with friends, and regularly return to it.

This is truly special.

It is a whiskey I will remember, talk about, and compare to some of the best I’ve ever tasted. I’d hunt for it, buy a backup, and think about it long after the glass is empty.

My goal is not to tell you what you are supposed to like.

My goal is to give you honest information, explain exactly how I experienced the whiskey, and help you decide whether a bottle might be right for you.

Take my opinion, compare it with your own experiences, and then trust your palate.

That is where the real fun begins.

Cheers,

Dara