Gibson's Finest Rare 12 Year

A decent pour, but not exceptional. It has the expected oak and vanilla top notes, perhaps with honey or a similar sweetness. It isn't a robust whiskey, and there's no smoke or peat. It goes down very smoothly, especially with ice and a little water. Be careful not to add too much water, though, as it's easy to dilute too much.

Initial taste has some lingering heat. There's a roughness from the rye, with underlying sweet toffee, citrus peel, and cloves.

Sweet aroma, smooth on the palate, with a spicy cinnamon finish. Update: After sampling more whiskeys, I've adjusted my initial rating to a lower score for better consistency on the scale.

Sweet caramel. Easy and smooth. Nice to sip on and I'll try it with cola. My gut tells me this would be great with ginger ale.

The most mellow and light so far. Still sweet with some vanilla and spice, but significantly less pronounced than Crown or Canadian Club.

Light, despite its stronger aroma. Flavors are reminiscent of vanilla and caramel, finishing with a floral note.