The Whiskey Rating Process

Hello, all! Welcome to Whiskey for the Ages, where father and daughter trio, Brian, Hannah and Elora Dawson, explore whiskey and give their unique reviews and opinions on the whiskies they have tried.

As whiskey explorers visit the many reviewing websites and phone applications, rating their bottle seems to be a common denominator among adventurers; everyone has an opinion. However we’ve noticed, the various ways sippers score and appreciate their spirit can sometimes be confusing; their rubrics or methods used to determine a score are rarely discussed. In this post we aim to highlight our individual processes.

As this blog matures, our readers and podcast listeners can find many reviews (over 350 as of this post!) One can interpret ratings and recommendations in the reviews by discerning Brian’s and Hannah’s individual thoughts then decide for themselves if a particular offering is one they might enjoy. Consider our evaluations as tools; use them much like you would read from multiple movie reviewers before deciding which theater to attend.

While this blog was started because we enjoy whiskey intricacies, what we each look for in a spirit varies. What we perceive on the nose, palate and finish is often quite different as well.

REVIEW TOOLS

Discerning some of these finer details comes from the use of a Whiskey Traits and Flavor Wheel created by the team. This aid is free and available for download through the link above or in the “Tools” sidebar. It allows both Brian and Hannah to be as specific as they’d like with flavors, – anywhere from pop rocks candies, to bitter walnuts, to lavender.

The wheel also allows the pair to be broad when pinpointing exact flavors becomes more challenging. In which case they may leave it as “spice” or “old” or may even broaden the scope further when truly stumped, saying “fruit” or “wood.”

Scoring methods can be highly personalized, even between Brian and Hannah. When using the Whiskey for the Ages website, we hope fellow sippers will have a better understanding of what the ratings mean and can make their interpretations and possible purchases more accordingly.

Read on to see how each come score the whiskeys they review.

Brian’s “Comparison Scoring Method”

The Rating Process

I began my whiskey rating process from a purely novice perspective: I knew what I could afford, then what I liked and later which “experiments” fell short. I kept track of these findings.  Soon I began to read other reviewer thoughts on the spirits I was trying; some I aligned with, some I did not.

SIMPLE REVIEWS

Early on my reviews were simple:
NOSE:
Clean, crisp bourbon aroma.
PALATE:
Along with hints of citrus fruit, there is toffee followed by oak and mellow black pepper.
FINISH:
Long and woody with a peppery finish.

TRAIN YOUR NOSE AND PALATE

But I wanted to sense and perceive more; smell and taste what the distillers suggested one might find in the dram which had been written on the bottle notes. About this time I began seeking rudimentary flavor profiles, flavor lists and other tools to transform and train my nose and palate.

Soon, my whiskey (predominantly bourbon) library increased. The more samples I tried, the more I wanted; the more I secured, the more refined my senses became.

Now at the end of each review, I give my overall rating followed by a list of similarly scored whiskeys. The flavors, profiles, proofs and styles of each dram in the scoring group are seldom similar, but the reviewed spirit is better than the group rated below and not quite as good as the whiskeys scored just above.

Cheers!

Hannah’s “Grader Method”

The Rating Process

Because I spent two years in a teaching and grading capacity at university, whiskeys come to me as a completed assignment, essay or exam would, with 100%, or 100/100 being the highest score possible that a whiskey could earn.

GRADING RUBRICS

Much like how I would grade an essay, there are certain things I look for more than others, and thus use the whiskey rating process to score higher. First, I like to assess on a basic level, whether the whiskey “passed” or did not, meaning whether I would buy it again. This is largely based on enjoyment level, but the value/price tag that a whiskey comes with is also taken into account.

Then I break it down into smaller components of the whiskey – flavors, balance, warmth/richness, the finish, complexity, and level of barrel involvement. Each of these is based on what I personally value and appreciate the most in a whiskey.

GRADING TABLE

You can see how each of these is broken down in the table below!

BaseFlavorBalanceWarmthFinishComplexityBarrel
Repurchase: 75Fruit: 5Great: 5Rich: 3Great: 4High: 3Strong: 5
Maybe repurchase: 70Earth: 4Good: 3Fair: 2Good: 2Fair: 2Fair: 3
Bad value: 60Spice: 3Poor: 0None: 0Poor: 0None: 0None: 0
Average; no repurchase: 55Citrus: 2
Bad; no repurchase: 50Caramel: 1
BE SURE TO ENJOY THE POUR

Lastly, when I get to the “No More” stage of my reviews, I like to sit back with my whiskey and just enjoy it. While casually sipping, I let my mind wander, letting the bourbon “speak to me” as it were, telling me where it would most like to be enjoyed. This could be anywhere from a picturesque landscape to a specific moment in time, to an intangible feeling. With this setting, I try to find a photo that captures that scene to share with all of you. I’d love to hear from anyone who wants to test some of my settings out!

These settings don’t have any impact on the rating of a whiskey, as even the ones I don’t care for are given a setting. However, they are a unique and fun way to get to know the whiskeys even more and show – what I like to believe – their best sides.


Whiskey for the Ages looks forward to sharing this blog with you as the team explores the wide world of whiskey, and they hope the ratings and reviews are both entertaining and informative. Get ready for an adventure!

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Featured image (Glencairns) Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash
Cover image (pencils) Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Review

Hannah’s Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Review

Original review written on December 14, 2019

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Good taste, great nose, but the two are not the same. I could be convinced to buy again, but if the price went up too much, I’d likely do without. But this is a very decent bourbon. I look forward to reviewing this distillery more in the future. 84/100

VITALS:
Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Review Bottle

– Made in: Kirby, Wyoming, USA
– Distiller: Wyoming Whiskey Inc.
– Classification: Wyoming Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: Minimum of 5 years*
– Bottled: October 27, 2016
– Mash Bill: Two yeast strains used, including a high yield and a proprietary yield. The propriety yield yeast is said to provide more fruit flavors.
Corn=68%; Wheated=20%; Malted Barley=12%*
– Casks: Char undisclosed
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 44% (88 proof)
– Price: $39.95 USD in Idaho

*For more information visit wyomingwhiskey.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

Though not full of woodsy flavors, I picture this spirit being a perfect breath of fresh air in a wood-working shop, taking happy sips when you take a step back to admire how far you’ve come, and even how far you have yet to go.

Photo by Ricky Kharawala on Unsplash

NOSE:

There is a brightness on the first shallow inhales, almost like a white wine. The oak is sweet with floral and fruity notes. I can detect white pepper as a subtle spice with a pinch of ginger. As far as specific fruit, I’d say apricot and raisins. Deeper inhales coax out a simple syrup that is just shy of caramel and apple. The proof is low enough that any experienced whiskey drinker can breathe as long as deep into the dram as they’d like without fear of getting burned – a great feature for a bourbon with such a nice bouquet.

PALATE:
Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Review Glass

– Mouth Feel: Fresh and a little sinus-clearing, but pleasant.
– Balance: Blended. Not outstanding, but not awful. Average.
– Visual: Tawny in color (could be argued to be a little lighter), there are fat legs that drop slowly in the Glencairn, leaving behind a stunning crown.

– Taste: There is freshness in a slight citrusy tang that morphs to become an apricot fruit leather. Green grapes creep in second that are a little overripe. I’d say the citrus is most similar to grapefruit, but it’s overshadowed quickly by maraschino cherries that are married to a brittle hay/straw bale. The raisins from the nose sit quietly at the back of the palate.

Not much spice is here either, aside from the pinch of ginger from the nose. Aside from the freshness and brightness from a lemon-scented wood polish, there is very little oak detectable.

With a Kentucky chew, vanilla bursts through in a dark and rich variety. The chew also is the only place in this bourbon where the alcohol has any strong voice, given its low proof.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. Not an overabundance of bourbon warmth left over, but enough to feel lit from the chest to the mouth for every breath. Very nice!
– Between sips: Believe it or not, but I find marshmallows here! This seems to be the only spot where any kind of caramel shows up, but it is SO subtle. As a fruit lover, I’m not disappointed by this.

– No More: The flavors don’t change the further into the glass I get, but the warmth does continue to grow.

The empty Glencairn is a peaceful and gentle oak aroma, just enough to lull you into serenity.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Yes, but I’d be hesitant to pay $50 for it.

RATING: 84/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 84/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
To access other whiskies by this parent company, click Edrington.

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Whiskey Reviews

Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Review

Brian’s Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Review:

written and posted on 15-December-2019

WYOMING WHISKEY SMALL BATCH REVIEW:

Overall, Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch is a nice addition to most anyone’s bunker. It is not likely to “wow,” but its aromas and flavors are quite nice. I would buy it again and have a pour when I would like something simple after an easy day of easy toil.

WYOMING WHISKEY SMALL BATCH VITAL STATS:
Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Review

– Category: Wyoming Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Small Batch
– Region: Kirby, WY, USA Distillery: Wyoming Whiskey, Inc.
– Mash Bill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malt Barley
– Yeast: Two (proprietary) strains (one said to add slight fruity notes)
– Barrel Char: unpublished
– Barrel entry proof: unpublished
– Batch: 39
– Age*: Aged a minimum of 5 years in one of three Kirby, Wyoming rickhouses
– Bottling Date: 27-October-2016
– ABV: 44% (88 Proof)
– Price: $39.95 USD in Idaho

*see more at https://www.wyomingwhiskey.com/

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I shared the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

What a wonderful nose! I could breath this in all night long. It is fresh, clean and pleasant with no alcohol burn. There are faint wafts of fruit trees and wheat fields in the wind. Prolonged nosing adds fresh apples, lemon citrus and a hint of sweet maraschino cherries. There are subtle spices of ginger, nutmeg, white pepper and rich vanilla. Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch’s sweetness comes in as a surprising essence of yellow cake batter, caramelized light brown sugar, and pecan toffee. Any wood I detect fades in and out as notes of light cedar.

PALATE:

Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch has the typically warm bite of a low ABV bourbon, but its taste is a bit disjointed from the aromas sensed on the nose. Gone are the sweeter elements of fruit and cake, replaced by roasted corn and wheat, and a strange essence of grassy, ground oregano and citrus zest. Its spices are of ginger and black pepper and present as savory browned butter in a slightly burnt pie crust. What sweetness there is comes in as light vanilla, simple syrup, and of faint burnt malt and fire roasted marshmallow. Wyoming Whiskey is also an earthy dram, with a little leather mixed with the woody char of strong, seasoned and spicy oak.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
This is an unusual whiskey as its aroma and taste are so different. It is silken in the mouth and there is a slight and unexpected, but not unpleasant, coppery aftertaste. In the Glencairn, little clinging droplets greet the eye between sips and form a nice inverted crown. As the dram is downed, a liquid curtain coats the inside of the glass, giving way to fat, medium-slow dropping legs which return to the tawny pool.

FINISH:

Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch finishes short on flavors but with similar but greatly subdued tastes detected on the palate. It is warming in the throat, but not as much as other whiskeys, likely owing to its lower alcohol content. The empty Glencairn is full of oak accompanied by a faint and disappearing aroma of brown buttered sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla.

MY RATING: 86/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
But it won’t be a must have in the bunker.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 86/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies by this parent company, click Edrington.

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Brian’s Whiskey Reviews
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