Have you ever read the back of a whiskey bottle, or the tasting notes from a blog or magazine?  Exotic, unfamiliar fruits and greasy mechanical parts abound — even colors are used to describe the taste of whiskies.  Sometimes I wonder whether I am reading a flora and fauna guidebook to an industrial seascape or a connoisseur’s tasting notes.  One of my favorite retailers’ in-store whiskey expert always seems to be able to roll out a litany of delectable berries and spices, flowers, and baked goods. Sometimes his description of the flavors does little to provide me with any insight into the whiskey, as I am not sure if I have ever actually tasted an elderberry. In the off chance that I have, I possess no recollection of the experience. The lack of common reference points, and the sheer variety of interpretation, can often bedevil any attempt to effectively communicate the [...]