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Quality Spirits International Hogs 3

A Candy Shop Surprise!

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@SquidgyAshReview by @SquidgyAsh

21st Mar 2012

0

Quality Spirits International Hogs 3
  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    18
  • Balance
    19
  • Overall
    80

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Distribution of ratings for this: user

  • Brand: Quality Spirits International
  • ABV: 40%

I'm a bourbon man. It's where I got my start in whisky and as much as I enjoy single malts, bourbon will always have a special place in my heart. This being the case when my wife and I finally finished paying off our wedding we decided we'd each get to splurge a little.

My splurge was a bottle of bourbon called Hogs 3. Now I am a little confused by this bottle of bourbon as it says that it was bottled in Scotland and by it's very definition bourbon can only come from Kentucky. Still a little puzzled by this, especially since it says it is a product of America.

But that's besides the point. I pick up this little bottle of bourbon on the recommendation of Jim Murray who gave it an 86.5.

I get the bottle home and crack it open eagerly. It's been too long since I've had a good bourbon.

The smell! Ah that lovely smell. Honey, Vanilla, Cinnamon.... what's this? Red Vines licorice candy?! Brilliant!! This along with some rye and oak is making me thirsty, however there is this faint ethanol smell to it.

The taste? The same with some lovely rye coming through! Absolutely brilliant. A faint aftertaste of honey follows it along with a bit of alcohol bite.

Nice medium length finish that is quite enjoyable.

Now even better I tend to allow my father in law to sample all my whiskies since he's usually nice enough to share his whiskies with me. So I ask him if he likes bourbon at all and he screws up his face "No"

I was flabbergasted! Who doesn't like bourbon?!

"Why?!"

"I bought those bottles of Jim Beam bourbon in the cabinet 4 years ago, see how they've been barely touched? One drink was enough to give me a headache and it was awful tasting!"

"Oh I'm not a Jim Beam fan. You should try a good bourbon"

"No I just don't think that there is a good bourbon out there. I know they're not aged like most single malts, they can't be as good flavor wise."

Next day

"Dad I have a new whisky for you to try!"

Hands him a dram of Hogs 3.

"THATS GOOD!!! What is that?!"

"That's a decent bourbon."

"I like bourbon now, I'm going to go buy a bottle of that for mom and me."

Hogs 3 isn't the best bourbon in the world, it's not worth the 86.5 Jim Murray gave it, but it's a damn good one and it's a steal of a bargain at just a tad over $30 bucks aussie.

If you're not a bourbon fan because you're used to Jim Beam or you just have never tried one, this would be a good bourbon to try. Tastes a bit like a candy shop at times and it's not going to break the bank for anyone.

Nose:

Body:

Palate:

8 comments

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

I also meant to put in that although it's bottled at 80 proof that while good, this is a bourbon which I feel would improve with a proofage of over 100. I do hope they will eventually release a higher proof bottle but I won't hold my breath.

12 years ago 0

@systemdown
systemdown commented

Nice review, I'm definitely in the "don't like bourbon because of Jim Beam" category but I'm sure you will make me change my mind on that! Possibly with this Hogs 3. If you promise it's better than Jim Beam I will give it a go. If it smells anything like Jim Beam.. I may throw up first, but we'll see how we go.

12 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

@Systemdown Hahaha I don't blame you. The few Jim Beams I've tried have really not impressed me at all. My goal for you is to send something like a sample of Hogs, Knob Creek, Makers Mark (if you've never had it) and if I'm lucky enough to put my hands on it) Elijah Craig 18 yrs old (but I think I'm going to have to be bloody lucky to do that). Hopefully that way you'll be able to get a feel for different bourbons.

Interesting enough I've noticed or I feel I've noticed a reduction in the sweeter flavors in this whisky in the couple of weeks since I've had it opened, as has my wife which has me curious if the next bottle of this responds in a similar way.

12 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

Entertaining review. I'm very much in the "give it to me uncut" club myself. There is indeed a huge difference in flavour concentration between 80 and 100 proof.

I don't think that I have ever seen a lessening of sweetness in a bourbon in the first couple of weeks of the bottle opened. Interesting.

I hope that you will also be able to find some Elijah Craig 18 yo. It is usually terrific!

12 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

Yah very weird and a first time for me @Victor so I'm a little interested to pick up another bottle when I can and try it again too. Or maybe I should have said that my wife says it's not as sweet and I'm having a harder time getting the red vines....not really sure if what I'm saying is making sense as it is 5am over here haha.

12 years ago 0

a
alext commented

I bought a bottle this evening based on a few reviews I had read. I was pretty keen to see what you could get for the very low $$.

I have to admit I am pleasantly surprised. Nice low proof bourbon, smooth, very very cheap, surprising amount of oak for a 3yr old, for the $$ it is really quite good, far superior to Jim Beam white which is at a similar price.

Now I'm a bourbon & rye drinker, so I have to make a couple corrections of your review. Firstly, bourbon DOESN'T have to be from Kentucky, it has to be from the USA, there a few other requirements which I wont bore you with the details of - but if you are interested I'm sure Wikipedia could fill in the rest.

Secondly, bourbon must be produced and aged in the USA, doesn't need to be bottled in the USA, because of this it can be shipped by barrel and bottled anywhere in the world, hence why Hogs is bottled in Scotland and still a Bourbon.

Thanks for the review.

12 years ago 0

@Mandalf
Mandalf commented

I'll second Alext's comments and take the liberty to expound on them briefly. As often misunderstood, the term "Bourbon," when referring to a distilled spirit, is not geo-specific like "Tennessee Whiskey." The exact rules dictating the domestic labeling can be found here: www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/5 . Wikipedia's site breaks it down to an elementary level, though not conclusive by any means: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_whiskey .

11 years ago 0

i
immargarita commented

This review totally cracked me up! Great write-up. With that said, gonna try Hogs3 tonight and see what happens and see if it makes me write so eloquently afterwards too ;)

10 years ago 0