Whiskey Review Round Up: Kinsey Whiskeys

There’s an interesting profile here. A cherry soda bite with a floor polish nose rises up in a wave to a sweet, sour-apple candy taste in the back of the tongue. A raw almond bitterness lingers afterwards. Final Thoughts & Score: Not bad. Though the price point, and the unpleasant aftertaste certainly doesn’t make it a winner in my book. I’ll drink the rest of the bottle – most likely as a mixer – but I have no plans to buy another. Tasting Notes: Kinsey Rye Whiskey Vital stats: The Kinsey Rye Whiskey is 86 proof blend, aged for an unstated amount of time in white oak. It sells for about $40 for a 750 ml bottle. Appearance: In the glass, it’s a golden orange with thin, fast legs. Nose: Citrusy, with a hint of mowed grass and cracked pepper. Palate: A sharp, hickory and birch-bark flavored first sip leads in to a buttery finish with a mild, sweet aftertaste. Final Thoughts & Score: The buttery finish was not what I was expecting considering the harsher first sip. A splash of water opens up that finish while tampering the initial bite. Not bad. Not great, but not bad. Tasting Notes: Kinsey Whiskey (Aged 7 Years) Vital stats: The Kinsey Whiskey (Aged 7 Years) has been aged – yes – for seven years in reused oak. With a mash made entirely from corn, it is 86.8 proof and sells for about $40 for a 750 ml bottle. Appearance: In the glass, it’s a pale amber with thin, slow legs. Nose: Again, rather faint. A hint of honeysuckle and brown sugar. Palate: Smooth and sweet, with a medium body. Vanilla on the front of the tongue with a banana aftertaste. It finishes with a burnt-caramel fade. Final Thoughts & Score: This is definitely my favorite of the collection. Though weak-nosed, it’s got a lovely body and flavor profile, coasting to a smooth-sweet finish.