Whiskey (alternately spelled whisky) is a spirit that promotes geekdom as much as the tech industry. Whiskey enthusiasts obsess over arcane knowledge about barrel aging, grain composition, and expert ratings in the same way tech geeks obsess over the provenance of each PC's central processor and graphics card. And like the computer market, whiskey comes from many sources (Ireland, Kentucky, Scotland, Taiwan, etc.) and has many styles (Bourbon, Irish, Rye, Scotch, Tennessee, etc.). Yet to the uninitiated there may not be a perceptible difference between a $15 bottle of whiskey and a $300 bottle. Distiller (for iPhone) (free) cuts through the confusion and offers expert opinions for the neophyte and enthusiast alike. We reviewed the iOS version of the app, but the same information is available on an Android app and on the drinkdistiller.com website.

The Distiller app is an easy-to-use expert in your pocket when you find yourself in a bar or liquor store facing a wall of whiskey bottles. If one catches your eye, you can look it up and see how it compares to other whiskeys you've tasted in the past. Using the app on an iPad will display a bit more information at once, but the information itself is the same no matter which device you view it on.

Distiller is an offshoot of the drinkdistiller.com website: Account holders will be able to share their ratings and remember individual whiskeys, but you can search the app for recommendations without signing up.

Search Distiller for "Wleller", and you'll get all these wheated bourbons and their ratings.

Search the Wall of Whiskey

Users can search for either an individual whiskey or brand line, which brings up individual reviews by a panel of experts from the spirits and hospitality industries. In the example to the left, we searched for bourbons by the W.L. Weller brand, which is considered to be one of the better midpriced bourbons on the market. You are subject to the expert's taste in the brown spirit, but each review uses a standardized graph and verbiage for each whiskey's taste profile. For example, if you look up Highland Park 12, you'll see that its flavor profile skews sweet and rich, with a balance between other factors like peat, spice, smoke, fruit, and floral flavors.

Sharing Tasting Notes

Under the flavor graph, you'll find recommendations for other whiskeys, with notes how they differ. Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve is listed as "less floral" than Highland Park 12, so it will be a good choice if you like Highland Park 12, but are looking for something with less heather in it. In the review for Buffalo Trace bourbon, the expert's note that he tasted New Jersey sweet corn was quite descriptive and jibed with my experience with the whiskey. You'll find other geeky notes presented well, including the age of the whiskey (if any), what type of cask or barrel the spirit is aged in, average purchase price, alcohol content (measured in proof), and a description of each whiskey's origin and category. These are the specs and stats that whiskey geeks live for.

Quite a Collection

You'll find a wide selection of reviews from the low (Rebel Yell) to the high (Booker's 25th anniversary), but we do note that some common (Old Crow) and esoteric (Highland Park Loki) bottles are missing from the library. The selections tend to follow famous names in American, Irish, Japanese, and Scotch whiskeys available in the US market, but more spirits are being added actively.

The app worked quickly on 4G HSPA+ and 4G LTE connections, so you're golden as long as you have connectivity. Distiller will also offer up suggestions after asking factors like if you're in a bar buying by the drink, or if you're looking for a special bottle to share with friends during the big game. By the same token, you can look up your favorite whiskey, and see if there is something similar but different and new to tempt your tastebuds. On the whole, the Distiller app isn't an end-all, be-all authority on all things whiskey, but it is a great on-the-go resource to guide you to the right dram for your tastes.

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Further Reading