Tastes
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Batch A119. Natural amber color, clear, and viscous. Nose is intense, with dominating rye, intermingled with vanilla, and oak. Palate is complex, with sweet, sour, and umami interplay, more rye, vanilla, cinnamon, leather, oak, anise, banana, mint, and raisins. Finish is long, dominated by rye with moderate oak coming at the back. At 67.6% ABV it does need water, and a teaspoon somewhat tames the rye, and allows more subtle notes to sound brighter. Overall, an excellent and complex bourbon that is not overloaded with oak which you may expect from a 12-year-old.
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Springbank 15 Year
Single Malt — Campbeltown, Scotland
Reviewed September 7, 2019 (edited November 28, 2019)Natural gold color, not chill filtered, medium to high viscosity. Nose is complex, with fruit, black pepper, lemon zest, and smoke on the back. Palate is rich and round, with sweet notes of tropical fruit, vanilla, oak, leather, caramel, cereal, and sherry intermingled with pleasant and mild pit fire smoke. Finish is long, dominated by fruit, lemon zest, and vanilla, with a slight hint of smoke on the back. This is bottled at 46% ABV, and a teaspoon of water intensifies sweetness, adds banana notes, and somewhat changes the finish with more lemon zest lingering flavors. Overall, an excellent dram, just like it’s younger cousin the 10-year-old. I can’t say one is better than the other, but 15-year-old appears to have a little less smoke and bit more subtle complexity. Both are phenomenal whiskies. -
Springbank 10 Year
Single Malt — Campbeltown, Scotland
Reviewed September 7, 2019 (edited November 30, 2019)Natural light golden color, not chill filtered, medium viscosity. Nose is delicate, with hints of tropical fruit, lemon zest, vanilla, and smoke on the back. Palate is rich, full-body, with a nice balance of sweet and sour notes, and deep complexity with banana, pear, lemon, oak, vanilla, toffee, and smoke. Finish is long and smooth, with lingering notes of lemon zest, peat smoke, and fruits. A teaspoon of water adds sweetness and intensifies floral character even more. Though this is bottled at 46% ABV, I don’t think water adds much to this already excellent and round dram. Overall, this is one of the best 10-year old whiskies that tastes much older its age. Highland Park lovers, you’ll love this one as well! -
Color is pale straw, clear, and light viscosity. Nose is delicate with herbal aroma, and hints of wheat, oak, and vanilla. Palate is a perfect balance between sweet and sour, with no bitterness or smoke. Round texture, with notes of lemon grass and lemon zest, caramel, oak, and vanilla. Medium to light body, with no elements dominating the palate - a true harmony indeed. Finish is short but nice, with more lemon, vanilla, and herbs. A few drops of water open more sweet character of this whiskey. Stronger citrus on the palate - oranges and tangerines appear in the nose, palate, and finish. Overall a very pleasant and smooth dram, with clear character and a unique taste. Quite different from traditional Scottish whisky.
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Gold color, clear, medium to heavy viscosity. Nose is somewhat weak, with apples, black pepper, vanilla, and caramel flavors. Palette is much richer, dominated by sweetness intermingled with some salt notes, oak, vanilla, butterscotch, and cinnamon. Finish is short but sweet. A few drops of water open more citrus notes, and round the pallet. Overall very pleasant and much enjoyable, although somewhat lacking in complexity. With the $27 price tag though, it definitely deserves high appraisal.27.0 USD per Bottle
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Aberlour 12 Year Double Cask Matured
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed August 2, 2019 (edited August 23, 2019)Amber color, clear, medium viscosity. Nose is delicate, hints of oak, malt, vanilla, and Sherry. Palette is rich with Sherry, caramel, Maple, oak, and vanilla. Aftertaste is short but pleasant. A few drops of water mellow out the oak and put forward some fruit notes, nuts, and lemon. Overall very pleasant and balanced, but a few more years wouldn't hurt it.55.0 USD per Bottle -
Gold color, clear, and viscous. Nose is rich, with delicate peat smoke, tobacco, hay, dried leaves, and some sea salt. Palate is umami dominated, full body, round texture, with hints of tar and medicinal smoke, salt, oak, seaweed, and caramel on the back. On the second taste notes of dried fruit, peach, butterscotch, and vanilla. Finish is long and complex, with an oak and vanilla base, but with some nuts and fruit on the back. A few drops of water change the smoke characteristic to more of a campfire, palate develops more lemon and oak characteristics. Overall a well balanced dram with moderate amount of peat and a variety of interesting flavors.
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Kirkland 20 Year Speyside Single Malt Sherry Cask Finish
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed July 27, 2019 (edited May 3, 2020)Amber color, clear, viscous. Nose is delicate, mature, with forward notes of Sherry, almonds, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, Maple, and honey, no smoke. Palate is sweet, with salty and bitter notes, full body, and round texture. Aftertaste is long and strong, with oak, vanilla, butterscotch, and more Sherry. A few drops of water open more nuts on the nose, and pallet suddenly gains Apple, raisin, and cherry tones. Finish gains some cocoa notes. Overall complex and well-balanced dram, definitely worth the money and very enjoyable. -
Straw color, clear, medium to light viscosity. Nose is delicate, with hints of hay, caramel, raisins, coffee, and honey suckle. Palate is well balanced between sweet and umami, with bitter aftertones. Hints of oak, molasses, barley, and nuts. Aftertaste is short, somewhat bitter and nutty. A few drops of water round the pallet, but don't change the taste. Overall not a bad dram, but not as complex as I wish it was.
Results 41-50 of 68 Reviews