Welcome to Flash Reviews 2026, a running log of informal samples, pours, and quick impressions from the past year. These are short-form tasting notes, capturing the first few impressions, flavor highlights, and overall ranking—without the deep dive or formal breakdowns of a full review.
Each entry includes:
- Date Reviewed – when the sample was tasted
- Sample Provider – who shared or sent it
- Basic Stats – proof, age, barrel finish, etc.
- Quick Take – my immediate impressions
- Overall Score – on my 7-point scale
Think of this as a living tasting ledger, updated throughout the year. Favorites may get a full review later; the rest stay here as a reference for flavor trends, interesting profiles, and palate exploration.
Jump to:
February |
1. Forward Slash – Quintessium (Batch 3)
Date Reviewed: 02/8/2026
Sample Provider: Josh
Type / Stats: Bourbon, 100 Proof, Blend of 6–8 years old, 5 different distilleries
Quick Take:
Smells finished with syrupy red fruits, Sherry-like. Nice baking spice profile with a hint of mint leaf and custard. Slight pot still funk.
Overall: 4.5 / 7 – Bliss
2. Forward Slash – Incantation Volume II
Date Reviewed: 02/8/2026
Sample Provider: Josh
Type / Stats: Bourbon finished in Pear Vanilla Mead Cask, 103 proof, Blend of 5–8 years old
Quick Take:
Deep Wethers caramel and candied blueberry. Honeyed pear and graham cracker. Brief rye spice. Maple and Welch’s grape juice. Interesting smokiness on finish reminiscent of cognac/brandy with deep honey.
Overall: 5.5 / 7 – Angelic
3. Forward Slash – Bad Santa Rye 2025
Date Reviewed: 02/8/2026
Sample Provider: Josh
Type / Stats: Rye finished in Spiced Rum Cask, 108 proof, NAS
Quick Take:
Caramelized sugar with mulled spices. Interesting botanical note — likely from the cask spices. Syrupy with musky brown sugar and cinnamon finish.
Overall: 4.9 / 7 – Bliss
4. Forward Slash – The Gincident
Date Reviewed: 02/8/2026
Sample Provider: Josh
Type / Stats: Barrel-aged gin, 90 proof, NAS
Quick Take:
Lots of lemon—reminds me of a lemon drop shot. Really nice citrus forward gin, just enough barrel presence to round out the notes off-putting to those who say they don’t like gin.
Overall: 4 / 7 – Bliss
5. Beyke’s Blue
Date Reviewed: 02/8/2026
Sample Provider: Josh
Type / Stats: Blue Corn Bourbon, Bottled by Brian Beyke (Green River), 112 proof, 6.5 years old
Quick Take:
Fall in a glass: cornfields, cinnamon apple. Waxy corn, coating vanilla, long lingering cinnamon spice, distant peanut butter.
Overall: 6 / 7 – Divine
6. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof “Tim Did It” Private Barrel
Date Reviewed: 02/8/2026
Sample Provider: Josh
Type / Stats: Bourbon, Heaven Hill, 118.2, 10 years old
Quick Take:
Cherry syrup and waxiness. Mid-palate has baking spices, tannic char, continued red fruits. Waxy corn comes back at the end, almost malted or heirloom. Similar notes to a high rye bourbon. My “bourbon’s bourbon” palate.
Overall: 5.75 / 7 – Divine
7. Forward Slash – Allocated (Bourbon)
Date Reviewed: 02/8/2026
Sample Provider: Josh
Type / Stats: Bourbon, MGP Sourced, 112.32 proof, 11 years old
Quick Take:
Interesting sweetness—more toffee nut or pecan praline. Huge brown butter note. Floral fragrant vanilla and fruity butterscotch. Reminds me of a sweeter ECBP. Nice high-rye spice to finish. This is my palate in a nutshell (pun intended).
Overall: 6.25 / 7 – Holy Heaven
8. Forward Slash – Allocated (Rye)
Date Reviewed: 02/8/2026
Sample Provider: Josh
Type / Stats: Rye finished in Boysenberry, MGP sourced 95/5, 106.72 proof, 12 years old
Quick Take:
Huge blueberry syrup note, slight mulled spice behind it. Blueberry donut deepens to a tannic red grape. Would have guessed red, maybe dessert wine, finished bourbon. Subtle backend spice. Sweet palate; maybe one of my favorite ryes all time.
Overall: 6.5 / 7 – Holy Heaven
9. Westward Cask Strength
Date Reviewed: 02/8/2026
Sample Provider: Josh
Type / Stats: American Single Malt, 125 proof, NAS
Quick Take:
Nerds rope (my wife) peach rings, milk chocolate, dank apricot. Butterscotch, white pepper, mandarin orange, dank hops. Reminiscent of Dark Arts ASM and a similar West Coast version from River Roots.
Overall: 5.9 / 7 – Divine
10. Forward Slash – Patience
Date Reviewed: 02/8/2026
Sample Provider: Josh
Type / Stats: Peated Scotch-esque Single Malt, 105 proof, Blend of 5–9 years old
Quick Take:
Cedar smoke, dark chocolate, red fruits. Not for me, but I can tell this is solid made single malt in the peated scotch style.
Overall: 3.1 / 7 – Only Earthly