Issue 122 · July 26, 2026
The Notch in the Post
Theme: Marks Worth Keeping
Eight bottles that bear the marks of deliberate craft — small, purposeful decisions etched into liquid form, each one a notch that records patience, skill, and place.
Every maker leaves marks. Not the glossy signatures of marketing decks, but the small, deliberate choices that shape a liquid's character: a particular cut point, an extra season in wood, a vineyard row harvested last. These are the notches in the post — quiet tallies of intention that accumulate into something worth remembering.
This week's eight bottles each carry the evidence of those decisions. From a bourbon aged with uncommon restraint to a white wine that captures a single hillside's mineral voice, they reward the drinker who looks closely and asks what happened here, and why.
This week's aroma focus centers on the interplay between fruit and mineral elements — the ripe cherry against stony earth, the tropical funk against roasted molasses, the citrus precision against chalky minerality. Training your nose to separate these layers is the first step toward understanding how place and process leave their marks.
Don’t see your special bottle? Request a review at reviews.schoolofwineandspirits.com/request-review — we’ll get to it. See every bottle we’ve reviewed to date at reviews.schoolofwineandspirits.com.
Bourbon Four Roses Small Batch
Crafted at Four Roses' Spanish Mission-style distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, this small batch draws from four of the distillery's ten proprietary bourbon recipes, each selected by the Master Distiller for its contribution to the final blend.
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brand: Four Roses
Distillery: Four Roses Distillery
Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Warm amber with copper edges
MSRP: $30–$40
Mash Bill: Blend of four recipes using corn, rye, and malted barley with two proprietary yeast strains
Barrel Type: New charred American white oak
Nose: Ripe red apple and caramel open things up, backed by a thread of floral spice. There's a subtle nuttiness underneath, with toasted oak and a whisper of dried cherry.
Palate: Medium-bodied and well-balanced. Butterscotch melts into vanilla cream, with rye spice adding structure. A gentle corn sweetness keeps the mid-palate generous without tipping into cloying territory.
Finish: Moderate length, with lingering brown spice and soft oak tannins. A faint floral note persists at the very end.
Cocktail — Orchard Lane — 2 oz Four Roses Small Batch · 0.75 oz apple cider syrup · 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · Shake with ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a thin apple slice.
Pair with: The bourbon's apple and butterscotch notes harmonize with the sweet-tart chutney, while the rye spice cuts through the richness of the smoked pork.
Awards: Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023
Scotch Whisky Dalmore 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Produced at the Dalmore Distillery on the shores of the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands, this 12-year-old is matured first in ex-bourbon American white oak barrels, then finished in aged oloroso sherry butts hand-selected by the Master Distiller.
Classification: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brand: The Dalmore
Distillery: Dalmore Distillery
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: 12 Year
Color: Rich mahogany with garnet reflections
MSRP: $60–$75
Region: Highlands
Mash Bill: 100% malted barley
Distillation: Copper pot stills with tall, narrow necks
Maturation: 9 years in ex-bourbon American white oak, then 3 years in 30-year-old Matusalem oloroso sherry butts
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon barrels and Matusalem oloroso sherry butts
Peat Level (PPM): Unpeated
Chill-Filtered: Yes
Nose: Candied orange peel and dark chocolate dominate the opening, followed by notes of cinnamon and dried apricot. A layer of sherry-cask sweetness ties it together with a gentle malty backbone.
Palate: Full and creamy. Caramel-coated almonds give way to stewed stone fruits and clove spice. The sherry influence is assertive but controlled, delivering cocoa and dried fig without overshadowing the distillery's malty core.
Finish: Long and warming, with lingering orange zest, dark cocoa, and soft woody tannins that fade slowly.
Cocktail — Highland Ember — 2 oz Dalmore 12 · 0.75 oz Pedro Ximénez sherry · 0.25 oz orange curaçao · 2 dashes orange bitters · Stir over ice, strain into a rocks glass with a large cube, express an orange peel over the surface.
Pair with: The whisky's cocoa and orange notes mirror the torte, while the sherry richness complements the bittersweet chocolate and the candied citrus peel garnish.
Awards: Gold, International Wine & Spirit Competition 2023
Irish Whiskey The Legendary Dark Silkie Irish Whiskey
Sliabh Liag Distillers, founded by James and Moira Doherty beneath Europe's highest sea cliffs, revived a Donegal whiskey tradition dormant since the 1840s, blending in the peated, maritime style once native to Ireland's rugged northwest.
Classification: Blended Irish Whiskey (partially peated)
Brand: The Silkie
Distillery: Sliabh Liag Distillers (sourced and blended in Donegal)
Proof: 92 proof (46% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Deep amber with copper glints
MSRP: $45
Mash Bill: Blend of Irish malt, grain, and pot still whiskeys; portion of the malt component lightly peated
Distillation: Sourced Irish whiskeys triple-distilled in traditional Irish style; blended and finished at Sliabh Liag's Ardara facility in Donegal
Maturation: Matured in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks
Chill-Filtered: No
Nose: Toasted oak and dark toffee lead, followed by wisps of peat smoke, black cherry, prune, and a whisper of clove. Time in the glass draws out roasted coffee bean and singed orange peel.
Palate: Full-bodied and oily, with dark chocolate, treacle, and dried figs meeting a restrained coastal smokiness. Malt-driven sweetness balances a savory char, with black pepper and stewed plum threading through.
Finish: Long and warming, with lingering cocoa, pipe tobacco, and a dry ember-like smoke that fades slowly into cracked walnut.
Cocktail — The Cliff Walk — 2 oz Legendary Dark Silkie, 0.5 oz Pedro Ximénez sherry, 2 dashes orange bitters, 1 dash chocolate bitters. Stir over ice, strain into a chilled coupe, express an orange peel over the top and drop in.
Pair with: Slow-braised short ribs with dark chocolate mole, or a wedge of aged Cashel Blue with fig preserves.
Awards: Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2020); Gold, Irish Whiskey Awards Blend category.
Tequila Chinaco Blanco
Founded by Guillermo González Díaz Lombardo in the Tamaulipas lowlands, Chinaco was the first 100% agave tequila ever exported to the United States in 1983 — a bottle that quietly reshaped how Americans understood the spirit.
Classification: Blanco, 100% Agave
Brand: Chinaco
Distillery: Tequilera La Gonzaleña
Proof: 80 proof (40% ABV)
Age: NAS (unaged)
Color: Clear
MSRP: $45
Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave, grown in the lowlands of Tamaulipas
Cooking Method: Agave is cooked in masonry ovens, milled, fermented with proprietary yeast, and double-distilled in copper pot stills. Bottled unaged directly after distillation.
NOM: NOM 1127
Additives Free: Yes
Nose: Fresh cooked agave leads the way, layered with bright citrus peel, green herbs, and a whisper of white pepper. Faint mineral and damp earth notes give it a distinctive terroir signature.
Palate: Silky and medium-bodied, opening with sweet roasted agave and lime zest, moving into cracked black pepper, wet stone, and a subtle grassy herbaceousness. There's an unusual savory depth for a blanco — olive brine and green vegetal complexity.
Finish: Clean and moderately long, with lingering agave sweetness balanced by peppery warmth and a mineral echo that keeps calling you back.
Cocktail — The Lombardo Highball — 2 oz Chinaco Blanco, 3/4 oz fresh lime juice, 1/2 oz agave syrup, 3 dashes celery bitters, topped with grapefruit soda. Build in a tall glass over ice, garnish with a grapefruit twist and a sprig of mint.
Pair with: Grilled shrimp aguachile with cucumber and serrano, or fresh ceviche with lime and cilantro.
Awards: Widely praised in industry publications as a category-defining tequila; regularly cited among the top Tamaulipas expressions.
Gin Whitley Neill Quince Gin
Created by fourth-generation distiller Johnny Neill in Birmingham, England, this gin infuses quince — an ancient fruit long prized in Persian and Mediterranean cuisines — into a London Dry base built on a family recipe dating back to the 1880s.
Classification: Flavoured London Dry Gin
Brand: Whitley Neill
Distillery: Whitley Neill Distillery (City of London Distillery)
Proof: 86 (43% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Crystal clear with a faint golden tint
MSRP: $25–$35
Style: Flavoured London Dry
Botanicals: Juniper, quince, coriander seed, cassia bark, orris root, angelica root, liquorice, lemon peel
Base Spirit: English grain spirit
Distillation: Pot distilled in copper stills
Nose: Juniper leads cleanly, quickly joined by ripe quince and orris root. There's a warm cassia bark spice note and a gentle floral quality reminiscent of rose petals, with a lemony brightness running through.
Palate: Silky and aromatic. The juniper backbone holds firm while quince fruit adds a honeyed, slightly tannic quality unique among gins. Coriander seed and a whisper of ginger give the mid-palate structure, and there's a subtle violet sweetness just before the finish.
Finish: Clean and moderately long, with juniper reasserting itself alongside fading floral notes and a final peppery kick.
Cocktail — Quince Collins — 2 oz Whitley Neill Quince Gin · 1 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.75 oz honey syrup · 3 oz chilled club soda · Build gin, lemon, and honey over ice in a tall glass, stir gently, top with soda, garnish with a lemon wheel and thyme sprig.
Pair with: The gin's quince character echoes the classic membrillo pairing, while the juniper and spice cut through the creamy richness of aged Manchego cheese.
Rum Hampden Estate 46 Pure Single Jamaican Rum
Produced at the historic Hampden Estate in Jamaica's Trelawny parish, where rum has been made continuously since 1753, this expression is crafted using natural fermentation with wild yeasts and distilled in traditional copper pot stills to achieve its signature high-ester character.
Classification: Pure Single Jamaican Rum
Brand: Hampden Estate
Distillery: Hampden Estate Distillery
Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Rich golden amber
MSRP: $40–$55
Base Ingredients: Jamaican blackstrap molasses
Distillation: Double retort copper pot still distillation
Nose: Ripe tropical fruits — mango, pineapple, and overripe banana — hit immediately, followed by a funky ester character that's unmistakably Jamaican. Underneath, there's butterscotch and a light vanilla from the barrel aging.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied with remarkable vibrancy. The tropical fruit continues on the palate, joined by caramel and a slightly smoky, roasted quality. There's an earthy molasses depth and a pleasant oiliness that carries the flavors across the tongue.
Finish: Long and persistent, with dried fruit, warm spice, and a distinctive funky note that lingers and invites the next sip.
Cocktail — Trelawny Daiquiri — 2 oz Hampden Estate 46 · 1 oz fresh lime juice · 0.75 oz demerara syrup · Shake hard with ice, fine strain into a chilled coupe, garnish with a lime wheel.
Pair with: The rum's tropical fruit and funky ester notes complement the mango salsa, while its roasted depth mirrors the smoky char of jerk seasoning.
Red Wine Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-à-Vent Les Trois Roches 2022
Made by Pierre-Marie Chermette at Domaine du Vissoux in the southern Beaujolais, this cuvée draws from three parcels of old Gamay vines planted in the granite-rich soils of the Moulin-à-Vent cru, vinified with native yeasts and minimal intervention.
Classification: Moulin-à-Vent AOC
Brand: Domaine du Vissoux
ABV: 13.5%
Primary Varietal: Gamay
Blend: 100% Gamay
Vineyards: Les Trois Roches — three parcels of old vines on granite soils in Moulin-à-Vent
Maturation: Whole-cluster semi-carbonic maceration, native yeast fermentation, aged in used Burgundy barrels for 12 months
Color: Deep ruby with violet highlights
MSRP: $35–$45
Nose: Concentrated dark cherry and blackcurrant open with a floral lift of violet and wild rose. There's a stony, mineral quality beneath, with hints of fresh-turned earth and a touch of black pepper.
Palate: Dense yet vibrant. The cherry fruit is layered with a firm granitic minerality that gives the wine its distinctive spine. Subtle toasted notes from restrained oak aging add weight, and the tannins are fine-grained and persistent without being austere.
Finish: Long and mineral-driven, with cherry, violet, and a lingering earthy quality that speaks to the granite soils of the appellation.
Pair with: The wine's dark cherry fruit and fine tannins complement the richness of duck confit, while its earthy minerality mirrors the earthiness of braised lentils du Puy.
White Wine Domaine Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Émile 2022
Produced by the Trimbach family, now in their thirteenth generation of winemaking in Ribeauvillé, Alsace, this flagship cuvée is named for Frédéric Émile Trimbach, who expanded the estate in the late 19th century, and is sourced exclusively from the Grand Cru vineyards of Geisberg and Osterberg.
Classification: Alsace AOC
Brand: Trimbach
ABV: 13%
Primary Varietal: Riesling
Blend: 100% Riesling
Vineyards: Grand Cru Geisberg and Grand Cru Osterberg, Ribeauvillé, Alsace
Vinification: Hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressed, fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel and large oak foudres, aged on fine lees for extended period before bottling
Color: Pale gold with green-silver reflections
MSRP: $55–$75
Nose: Precise citrus — lemon oil and grapefruit zest — leads a tightly wound nose of white flowers and crushed stone. Underneath, subtle hints of green apple and a faint honeyed quality suggest depth beyond the initial austerity.
Palate: Taut and focused, with a razor-sharp acidity that frames flavors of lime, white peach, and mineral-driven salinity. The mid-palate reveals a subtle toasted quality and a hint of marzipan complexity that adds dimension. The texture is lean but not thin, with a concentration that signals serious vineyard work.
Finish: Exceptionally long, with persistent minerality, citrus pith, and a lingering green apple freshness that keeps the palate alive.
Pair with: The wine's bright acidity and mineral core cut through the cream and melted cheese of a classic tarte flambée, while its subtle honeyed depth complements the caramelized onions and smoky lardons.
Train Your Nose: Today's Aroma Spotlight
This week's aroma focus centers on the interplay between fruit and mineral elements — the ripe cherry against stony earth, the tropical funk against roasted molasses, the citrus precision against chalky minerality. Training your nose to separate these layers is the first step toward understanding how place and process leave their marks.
Each product in today's lineup connects to a specific aroma profile you can train with your kit. Whether it's the charred oak of the bourbon, the coastal brine of the scotch, or the agave earthiness of the tequila — your nose is the instrument. Use the kit references below to isolate each aroma before your next pour, then see if you catch it in the glass.
Today's Kit Reference
| Today's Product | Key Aromas | Train With |
|---|---|---|
| Four Roses Small Batch (Bourbon) | Apple (Red), Butterscotch, Vanilla, Rye, Oak | Bourbon Kit |
| Dalmore 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Scotch Whisky) | Orange, Cocoa (Dark), Caramel, Almond, Clove Spice, Dried Fruit | Whisky Kit |
| The Legendary Dark Silkie Irish Whiskey (Irish Whiskey) | Cocoa (Dark), Dried Fruit, Peaty, Smoky, Clove Spice, Orange | Whiskey Kit |
| Chinaco Blanco (Tequila) | Agave (Cooked), Citrus (Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit), Pepper, Earth (Mineral, Soil Notes), Grass, Herbal (Mint, Thyme, Eucalyptus) | Tequila Kit |
| Whitley Neill Quince Gin (Gin) | Juniper (Green), Floral (Rose), Cassia Bark, Coriander, Ginger, Violet | Gin Kit |
| Hampden Estate 46 Pure Single Jamaican Rum (Rum) | Tropical Fruits, Banana, Caramel, Vanilla, Molasses, Roasted | Rum Kit |
| Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-à-Vent Les Trois Roches 2022 (Red Wine) | Cherry, Blackcurrant, Violet, Floral (Rose), Toasted | Wine Kit |
| Domaine Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Émile 2022 (White Wine) | Citrus (Generic), Apple (Green), Honey, Marzipan, Toasted | Wine Kit |
Explore the School of Wine and Spirits
Develop your ability to identify these aromas with confidence using the School of Wine and Spirits Aroma Training Kit. Our Aroma Masterclass Kits are designed to teach it to you, one aroma at a time.
Our books on Amazon go deeper into the science and history behind every sip — from America's Spirit, Scotland's Spirit, Ireland's Spirit, The Ultimate Northern Italian Wine Journey, The Tequila y Mezcal Revolution, Chablis, and Côte d'Or pocket guides.
Explore our Aroma Masterclass kits and books at schoolofwineandspirits.com
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Every notch you carve in your tasting vocabulary brings you closer to understanding what's truly in the glass.
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Until tomorrow's pour — cheers.
Robert R. Mohr, CPA, CGMA, WSET Level 3, WSG Certified Spirits Specialist — author of America's Spirit, Scotland's Spirit, Ireland's Spirit, The Ultimate Northern Italian Wine Journey, The Tequila y Mezcal Revolution, The Definitive Pocket Guide to Chablis, The Definitive Pocket Guide to the Côte d'Or, and Strategic Tuning. Published author of the Aroma Academy Tequila/Mezcal and Distiller's training kits.
The Still & The Vine is a daily publication of the School of Wine and Spirits.
Four Roses Small Batch
Four Roses
Four Roses Small Batch demonstrates how blending four distinct recipes can create something more integrated than any single component. It's an everyday bourbon that punches well above its price point, built on balance rather than brute force.
Dalmore 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Dalmore
The Dalmore 12 is a textbook example of how thoughtful cask management shapes a whisky. The split maturation between ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks creates a layered complexity that rewards attention without demanding expertise.
Whitley Neill Quince Gin
Whitley Neill
Whitley Neill Quince finds an unusual but effective botanical focus. The quince doesn't overpower the gin's foundations — instead, it introduces a tannic fruit complexity that plays well with juniper and spice, creating something genuinely different without gimmickry.
Hampden Estate 46 Pure Single Jamaican Rum
Hampden Estate
Hampden Estate 46 is the distillery's gateway expression, and it's a generous one. The ester-forward Jamaican character is fully present but accessible, making this a bottle that works equally well neat or as the backbone of a serious cocktail. It represents genuine terroir-driven rum at a fair price.
Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-à-Vent Les Trois Roches 2022
Domaine du Vissoux
Pierre-Marie Chermette's Les Trois Roches is Gamay at its most serious — a Moulin-à-Vent that demonstrates why this cru has historically been compared to Burgundy. The 2022 vintage delivers concentration without sacrificing the energy and transparency that define great Beaujolais.
Domaine Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Émile 2022
Trimbach
Cuvée Frédéric Émile is Trimbach's flagship Riesling, sourced from the Geisberg and Osterberg Grands Crus. The 2022 shows youthful intensity and structural precision — this is Alsatian Riesling at its most intellectual, built for aging but already compelling in its taut, mineral-laden youth.
The Legendary Dark Silkie Irish Whiskey
The Silkie
A characterful, sherry-and-peat-tinged blend that punches well above its price — a modern echo of Donegal's historic distilling character and worth keeping on the shelf.
Chinaco Blanco
Chinaco
A living piece of tequila history — the first 100% agave brand imported to the US, still made with integrity by the González family. Chinaco Blanco is idiosyncratic, terroir-driven, and utterly worth keeping on the shelf.
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