Tastes

A surprising and underappreciated whisky for the price. I'd give this a 3.5 on my normal scale but bumped it up to 3.75 based on the value. Could even be a 4+ for whisky forward cocktails (great in an old fashioned). The nose is sweet honey and vanilla - very similar to Speyside. Maybe some green apple. Taste is very sweet and syrupy on the tongue with cereals and a slight spicy finish, likely due to its youth. A drop of water brings out some oak in the nose and smoke in the finish. Subtle but adds some complexity to an otherwise simple but tasty dram. One of the best budget whiskies out there. My new go to for a "daily" Old Fashioned or hot weather day tumbler on the rocks.

I have trouble finding much aroma but don't have a Glencairn glass for this tasting so that is perhaps part of it. The flavour is sweeter than I expected. Strong vanilla/oak and caramel comes through with a hint of spice on the finish. Christmas fruits are in the sweetness. The lingering flavours are complex and enjoyable making every sip worth savouring. A bottle I definitely want to keep stocked on my shelf.