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Whiskey Review: Amador Straight Hop-Flavored Whiskey

We review Amador Straight Hop-Flavored Whiskey, a release that blends single malt with a hoppy distillate made from Racer 5 IPA

OVERALL RATING

  • Carin Moonin is a Portland-based whiskey enthusiast and writer.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Tawny gold, or like golden apple juice. It nicely coats the glass.
Nose:
With this many steps having gone into the creation of this whiskey, it’s unsurprisingly powerful and complex. It’s quite ripe, almost port-like. Cut grass, vanilla wafer cookies, some hops though not super-prevalent—and an undertone of…is that weed? Yes, yes it is. (What? It’s legal in Oregon.) as they are on the
Palate:
The hops aren’t as powerful on the nose as they are on the palate. It is also quite smoky, like you’re sitting around a campfire and the taste has gotten into the drink. Like an un-peated Scotch. It gets smoother on subsequent sips, but—like a campfire you need to tame—would benefit from a splash or two of water. This is not a whiskey “daily driver,” by any means, but not all whiskies need to be. That said: I’m more of a purist. I like whiskey and I like hops, but I’m not sure I like them simultaneously The Amador is certainly a novelty, but not one I’d choose on a regular basis. It’s well-made, but not really my jam. I’d call it a good collector’s whiskey for someone who likes scotch, or hoppy beer–together. Final score: 82/100
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Carin Moonin

Carin Moonin swapped a 5th-floor walkup in Hoboken, NJ, for a house in SE Portland a decade ago and hasn't looked back. She appreciates Portland's vibrant whiskey scene, finding it complements both the weather and her mood. Carin enjoys exploring the diverse world of brown liquor and its many facets. Her writing has been featured in publications such as Salon.com, DailyDot.com, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, and others. When she's not indulging in whiskey or writing about it, you can find Carin running, reading, or on the hunt for free samples in grocery stores.

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