West Seattle Liquor & Wine

05/15/2025

The Balvenie 12-Year DoubleWood Single Malt Scotch

Aged first in American White Oak barrels formerly used for bourbon, The Balvenie 12 is then aged for an undisclosed amount of time in Oloroso sherry casks. After this, the scotch is transferred to tuns – large oak containers where these individually aged whiskies meld for a couple of months. Distilled in copper pot stills, this Speyside scotch is bottled at 86 proof (43% ABV).

COLOR: Dark gold

NOSE: Sweet, led by an array of fresh fruits (fruit punch, orchard fruits – chiefly pears, apricots, peaches, & plums) & dried figs, dates, raisins, & sweet cherries, honeyed vanilla, honeysuckle, sweet light smokiness, light butterscotch, sweet malt, & oak/barrel notes with some cinnamon.

PALATE: Oak is prominent at first followed by a creamy, fruity & malty sweetness characterized by honey, butterscotch/creamy caramel with vanilla, & ending with a mix of cinnamon, black pepper, & some oak tannin bitterness (but not too much). The finish brings a pleasant warming heat across the palate. The palate is sweet but not as sweet as the aroma profile suggests it will be. The other flavors meld well with the fruity, butterscotch/caramel sweetness & the cinnamon, black pepper, & oak tannins keep the sweeter notes balanced.

FINISH: Medium (7-8 seconds)

MOUTHFEEL: Medium viscosity

VALUE: Premium sipping scotch for those who enjoy the sweet malt & orchard fruit notes characteristic of many Speyside scotch whiskies.

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The Balvenie doublewood acquired its complex rich and smooth taste from its maturation in two different types of oak cask. Whisky Oak: Many years of maturation in traditional whisky casks mellows the maturing spirit and imparts warming layers of vanilla spiciness. First cask. Sherry Oak: Further mat...

05/03/2025

Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a blend of 4 of the distillery’s mash bills: 2 – OBSK (rye & baking spices); 3 – OBSO (rich fruit); 7 – OESK (baking spice); & 8 – OESO (rich fruit & vanilla). The overall mash bill blend is 75% corn, 5% malted barley + 60% corn, 35% rye, & 5% malted barley. Four Roses uses single story rickhouses & barrels that have been treated with a 45-second burn resulting in a barrel char level between #3 & #4. The Small Batch is aged for 6-7 years & is bottled at 90 Proof (45% ABV).

This tasting note review is based on over 5 separate tasting notes-taking sessions over several months.

COLOR: Light yellow (like apple juice)

NOSE: The aroma profile is light & defined by: Red fruits (a mix of berries & dark stone fruits with some citrus notes), baking spices (cinnamon & light cloves), oak/barrel notes, & a hint of light caramel with some light ethanol.

PALATE: Initial flavor is red berries & red & apple-y orchard fruits with some citrus followed by oak/barrel notes, baking spices, & light caramel with vanilla. The finish is dominated by rye spice, which is introduced by a fleeting oak tannin bitterness. It is noticeably spicier than the baseline Four Roses Bourbon. The oak/barrel notes remain prominent even after the bottle has had time to aerate after being cracked open. The rye spice on the finish mixes well with the fruity, caramel/brown sugar, & vanilla flavor notes.

FINISH: Medium (7 or so seconds)

MOUTHFEEL: Fairly creamy/oily/buttery, especially for 90 Proof

VALUE: Solid value for an “everyday” sipping bourbon & as a great mixing bourbon for cocktails.

Available in only 50 ml size at the moment 😱

50 ml Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Get Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon from West Seattle Liquor and Wine, Seattle, WA, Seattle, WA for $5.7

04/20/2025

Arette Artesanal Reposado Suave Tequila

Named after a horse who, with its rider, won a gold medal in equestrian jumping at the 1984 Olympics, Arette is a well-known tequila brand, initially largely because of its budget “Classic” line which, though much punchier in terms of the alcohol hit, especially in the regular “Classic” line blanco, makes a good mixer. Its “Artesanal Suave” line, as the name says quite literally, is more refined and “artisanal,” making it a smoother sipping and mixing reposado.

Produced by El Llano distillery (NOM 1109) in the Tequila (Los Valles) of Jalisco, Arette uses Valley Blue Weber agave and mineral-rich spring water from the Volcán de Tequila (Tequila Volcano). The Artesanal Suave blanco is made using a roller mill to extract the aguamiel (sugars) from the agaves after they’re cooked in stone/brick ovens. It is fermented in open-air cement tanks before being 2x-distilled in a stainless-steel pot still with copper coils. The reposado is produced by aging the blanco in ex-bourbon American White Oak barrels for 11 months. It is cut down to 80 proof (40% ABV) using the volcanic spring water and is aerated before bottling.

COLOR: Light yellow/straw

NOSE: Main aromas include cooked agave & baking spices (chiefly cinnamon, nutmeg, & cloves), black pepper, vanilla, caramel & butterscotch, oak/barrel notes, citrus, & herbal/vegetal notes.

PALATE: The flavor profile is led by sweet, cooked agave & baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, & cloves), vanilla, caramel & butterscotch, oak/barrel notes, black pepper, & citrus.

FINISH: Medium

MOUTHFEEL: Medium viscosity with a buttery/creamy/oily mouthfeel

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Spirit Type: Tequila Reposado Producer: Arette Agave: Estate Grown Blue Weber Agave Where: Jalisco Country: Mexico Taste: Light golden in color with cooked sugar and hay on the nose, followed up by baking spice and black pepper on the palate. A lingering agave sweetness and light spice on the finish...

04/15/2025

Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey

A blend of bourbons aged for 6-8 years (there is no official age statement on the bottle) & bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV) using Kentucky limestone-filtered water, Bulleit uses a high rye mash bill of 68% corn, 28% rye, & 4% malted barley. Its distillates are sourced from an undisclosed distillery with early reports claiming the source is (or was) possibly Four Roses. The bourbon blend is aged in new American White Oak barrels with a #4 level char.

COLOR: Dark gold/amber

NOSE: Initially muted, but aromas emerge the longer it aerates in the glass. Uncomplex aroma profile but a pleasant one consisting of caramel, prominent baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, & a hint of cloves) with some rye spice & light black pepper, oak/barrel notes, citrus peel, leather, & a hint of fresh cherries in the background.

PALATE: Polar opposite of the subtle/muted nose – Very spicy with powerful ethanol. Main flavor notes are some sweetness from caramel & dark brown sugar, vanilla, & cherries followed immediately by a punch of black pepper, rye spice, & the baking spices with oak/barrel & grassy notes including some oak tannins, leather, & dried citrus peel. Sips finish dry, though hints of sweetness remain on the back palate.

MOUTHFEEL: Thin.

FINISH: Medium-short (6-7 seconds)

Bulleit Bourbon is inspired by the whiskey pioneered by Augustus Bulleit over 150 years ago. Only ingredients of the very highest quality are used. The subtlety and complexity of Bulleit Bourbon come from its unique blend of rye, corn, and barley malt, along with special strains of yeast and pure Ke...

03/23/2025

Seeking part-time cashiers and clerks

West Seattle Liquor and Wine is seeking part-time cashier and clerks. Hours are flexible. Pay is above average.

03/05/2025

Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

Bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV), Maker’s Mark’s introductory level bourbon is a reliable workhorse whisky that can serve as either a budget-friendly daily sipper as well as a good mixer. A wheated bourbon with no age statement given, its mashbill includes red winter wheat, in place of rye, alongside the corn and malted barley.

Maker’s Mark’s classic bourbon is ideal for cocktails.

COLOR: amber/gold

NOSE: Crisp, sweet orchard fruits & cherries/red berries; caramel; light vanilla; slight citrus note; sweetness from the red winter wheat

PALATE: Initial fruity sweetness; light caramel with a hint of vanilla; prominent oak/barrel notes; hint of citrus

MOUTHFEEL: Smooth with some medium creamy viscosity

FINISH: Medium length

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If you're looking for a smooth, sweet and easy-to-drink whisky, you've found it. Maker's Mark Classic Bourbon was carefully developed by sixth-generation distiller Bill Samuels Sr. to be just that. Still made to his unique recipe, this full-flavored bourbon is subtly woody with flavors of vanilla, c...

02/21/2025

Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

https://seattleliquordelivery.com/shop/product/elijah-craig-small-batch-bourbon/5ada7de233e88928f50e21c4?option-id=fc9aa914dd1cc356d10adca80650ac33bc5c65a208d167392fa55103da3ba282

Distilled by Heaven Hill, Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon has no age statement and a mashbill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye. Bottled at 94 proof (47% ABV) using Kentucky limestone-rich water, the bourbon is a light copper color. According to Elijah Craig brand lore, its eponymous founder in 1789 was the first whisky distiller to age his distillate in newly charred American White Oak barrels, either because an accidental fire charred his aging barrels and he used them anyway or because he decided to age his whisky in former (charred) sugar barrels.

Elijah Craig Small Batch is a budget-friendly daily sipping and mixing bourbon with some classic bourbon aroma & flavor notes.

COLOR: Light copper

NOSE: The aroma profile is quite light. Oak/barrel notes lead; light, sweet Orchard Fruits; hints of Caramel & Vanilla; light Brown Sugar; hint of Citrus; Black Pepper (particularly at the close of a sip); light Alcohol. Adding a couple drops of water raise the Caramel & Vanilla notes.

PALATE: Oak/Barrel notes most prominent with a mix of sweet Orchard Fruits, light Caramel & Vanilla, & Black Pepper. The alcohol note is light on the palate, just like the nose. The dominant flavor note is Oak/Barrel with light sweetness in the background. Sips close with Black Pepper & some warming Alcohol heat on the palate.

I feel that my whisky palate (& more specifically my bourbon palate) has evolved & matured quite a lot since earlier this year. While this bourbon is still not my ideal flavor profile, I can see this being a good mixer for cocktails & I may keep it in mind for that purpose in the future. It wouldn’t be my first or second or third choice as a sipper, but it would be fine in a pinch.

The bourbon coats the sides of the glass well & has good viscosity.

FINISH: Fairly short.

MOUTHFEEL: Good viscosity with some legs/tears

VALUE: Good basic, introductory-level bourbon that is a serviceable, budget-friendly daily sipper & mixing bourbon for cocktails.

Elijah Craig is credited as the first distiller to age his whiskey in charred oak barrels, earning his place in history as the 'Father of Bourbon.' The charred barrel transformed the clear liquid inside into an intense amber whiskey made rich with the flavors of the wood which we now recognize as Bo...

02/21/2025

Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley Scotch Single Malt

Bruichladdich’s The Classic Laddie – Scottish Barley is produced at the distillery located in the Rinns of the island of Islay. Islay is part of the Inner Hebrides archipelago off of Scotland’s western coastline. Unlike the bulk of Bruichladdich’s releases, The Classic Laddie is unpeated. Bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) with no added coloring and non-chill filtered, it is made from 100% organic Scottish barley grown in Inverness-shire grown near the distillery’s malting partners, Bairds. The barley is grown on single farms that change depending on the time of the year. The final product is a blend from “up to” 76 different casks “comprising” four vintages and seven different cask types. The scotch is then brought to bottling proof using three different water sources, all located within two miles of Bruichladdich – An Toran, the distillery’s own reservoir, and natural spring water. The finished spirit is a light yellow color, resembling a lightly colored apple juice or cider.

It is possible to find out more details on one’s specific bottle by entering the batch code on the bottle on the distillery’s website. My bottle is from Batch 24/011. My batch was aged in mostly first and second fill casks including those formerly used for bourbon and a variety of Spanish and French wine casks including from/for Ribero del Duero (Tempranillo), Bourdeaux Pauillac (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, & Merlot), and Rhone (Syrah and Grenache). The ex-bourbon barrels used are sourced from Jack Daniel’s, Heaven Hill, and Jim Beam. Other batches use other types of ex-wine casks including those for Madeira, Rivesaltes, Sauternes, different sherries, and Mourvèdre.

COLOR: light yellow

NOSE: Sweet orchard fruits (juicy apples) with citrus & honey; Sweet malt; Oak; Salinity (like a sea mist); some light caramel & vanilla; light herbal note

PALATE: Creamy & “smooth” (especially for a 100-proof); Orchard fruit-forward with citrus (like an orange); Honeyed fruitiness; Sweet malt mixed with Oak tannins; Black pepper; Caramel & vanilla; Dark caramelized sugar notes; Salinity

MOUTHFEEL: Medium to light-medium (with water drops)

FINISH: Medium (around 7-10 seconds)

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The signature style from Bruichladdich Distillery. Crafted using local barley and hand-selected casks to create a floral, elegant and crisp flavor.

02/21/2025

El Tesoro de Don Felipe – Blanco

One of the flagship tequilas produced at the La Alteña distillery, founded in 1937, El Tesoro Blanco is produced using traditional artisanal methods including using only fully ripe agaves grown on master distiller Carlos Camarena’s own agave ranch, cooking harvested agaves in stone/brick ovens, and macerating the cooked agave to extract the sugars with a tahona wheel made of volcanic stone. This tequila is double distilled using copper pot stills after open-air fermentation with agave fibers in wooden tanks before being bottled at 40% ABV using deep well water. The deep well water imparts a minerality taste to the tequila, reminiscent of drinking fresh mineral water. Importantly, La Alteña does not use additives in its tequilas.

The tequila is crystal clear and shimmers as light hits it in the glass. The aromas are a delightful mix of cooked agave, cinnamon and sweet baking spices, minerals from the deep well water, vegetal and herbal notes, and a hint of sweet, spiced vanilla. Coating the glass beautifully, the blanco brings to the palate cooked agave and sweet baking spices, a hint of sweet vanilla, a peppery bite, and a bit of fruitiness at the very end. It has an earthy character and provides a look at how tequila was traditionally made before the era of mass production. The blanco forms the basis for all of El Tesoro’s aged tequilas including the reposado, añejo, and extra añejo. Great neat, El Tesoro Blanco will also make great cocktails.

El Tesoro Blanco is available here at West Seattle Liquor & Wine.

A Wine and Liquor (Spirits) store located in 4714 42nd Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116, USA

02/17/2025

Four Roses Bourbon

Four Roses’ standard entry-level bourbon is produced using a blend of the distillery’s ten bourbon recipes that are created using different mixes of two mash bills and five proprietary yeasts. “Mash Bill B” uses 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. “Mash Bill E” uses 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley. The bourbon, like all of Four Roses’ releases, are produced using local limestone-rich water. After fermentation, the distillate is distilled using both column and doubler stills before then going for inspection to distillate holding tanks. Four Roses uses single-story rickhouses to age its bourbons in 53-gallon barrels. Four Roses entry level standard bourbon is bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) and is aged a minimum of five years.

COLOR: Golden yellow-brown

NOSE: Aromas include prominent rye spice & oak/barrel notes with light oak tannins, orchard fruits (peach, pear, & some apple), & light caramel with vanilla.

PALATE: The flavor profile largely mirrors the nose with the addition of some floral notes. There is a sweetness to the flavors but the bourbon is not overly sweet.

FINISH: Fairly short

MOUTHFEEL: Light, only briefly coating the sides of the glass with an initially buttery/creamy/oily mouthfeel, though the finish comes quickly with the longest-lasting flavors being the oak/barrel, fruit, & spice notes.

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Four Roses Bourbon is sophisticated Bourbon with a contemporary flair and is a worldwide favorite. Enjoy this smooth and Mellow Bourbon with its long and soft finish. It has hints of pear and apple that complement its floral aromas that lead to a smooth, mellow finish complete with honey and spice.

01/18/2025

Glenlivet 14-year-old Cognac Cask Selection Scotch Whisky

Glenlivet 14 is an 80 proof (40% ABV) Speyside scotch matured first in oak barrels used to age bourbon and sherry wine. The scotch is then finished in former cognac brandy casks. It is aged for a total of fourteen years and finished for at least six months in the cognac casks. In the glass it is a deep gold color.

On the nose, the most prominent aroma was of sweet, juicy orchard fruits like apples and apricots mixed with a hint of dark cherries, raisins/figs, a very light caramel, and a hint of the malt. The fruity aromas reminded me of a fresh apple juice. The raisin/fig aroma, perhaps from the cognac cask finishing, lurked behind the orchard fruits and was mixed with some baking spices. The aroma profile reminded me a lot of the VDC’s Courage & Conviction Double Cask Reserve, which also has a very orchard fruit-forward aroma profile. Overall, I found the Glenlivet 14’s aroma profile delightful. Aside from the malt smell, its aromas reminded me a bit of a fruit liqueur. After the glass was empty and had sat for a while, there were prominent aromas of caramel and brown sugar more than the initially dominant fruitiness.

Flavor wise, on the palate the initial fruity sweetness transformed into more dark red fruits like dark cherries with a hint of spiced figs/raisins, reminiscent to me of a fig newton, more than the apples/apricots/orchard fruits on the nose. The maltiness, which came across to me as a light smokiness on the back breath/exhale after taking a sip, followed prominently after the initial fruity sweetness. There was a lingering heat and malty flavor on the back palate after the swallow. The sip was less sweet than the nose suggested and was actually quite drying in the mouth. I could taste the oak/wood influence and there was a slight oak tannin bitterness as I swallowed a sip, but it was not unpleasant. Instead, the bitter notes balanced out the initial sweetness. I didn’t get strong caramel notes on the palate and the slight hint of vanilla I did pick up reminded me more of a vanilla extract rather than pure vanilla.