Have you ever had a whisky completely surprise the living heck out of you? For me, it was these two whiskies. So, let’s talk about The Notch. There are two things that surprised me about them but, more on that below. This whisky is created by the Triple Eight Distillery which is a part of Cisco Brewers in Nantucket, MA. These are both crafted from Maris Otter Malt.
The Notch 12 Year
Nose: fruit, vanilla and toffee
Palate: vanilla, wood, fruit and spices
Finish: lightly sweet and fruity
ABV: 48%
Cost: $399-$409
The Notch 15 Year
Nose: sherry, oak and fruit
Palate: chocolate, vanilla, spices and honey
Finish: sherry, sweetness and spices
ABV: 48%
Cost: $500+
Let me start by saying that these whiskies have won some reputable awards. They are also both pretty darn good whiskies. I was able to sample these at a whisky tasting so no, these aren’t bottles we purchased.
Now to the two things that surprised me.
- How much I really liked these. They are well made! The 15 year is the sweetest of the two but it’s not too overly sweet. It has the right amount of sweetness, spices and it’s quite balanced. With the 12 I get a lot more fruitiness mixed in with the spices.
- The cost! I’ll be honest, I didn’t believe the cost, nor did I understand it unless we factor in that the distillery is in Nantucket out of all places. But, even then, my first thought was, no way am I spending that much.
Listen, these are great whiskies and bravo to Triple Eight for all the amazing accolades. With that said, I personally don’t think these are whiskies you need in your life for the sole fact that the price is simply ridiculous. You want amazing American whisky that won’t cost your first born, try Westland, Stranahan’s and even Virginia Distillers.
Cheers!
Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend for people to try it and make up their own minds.
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