Tastes

Another winner from the Isaly. The peat smoke with honey butterscotch, berries, lemon and some walnut. A well balanced dram with a medium body. Not my favorite Islay but it sure has a complexity and I’d like to explore it with more than one dram in the future.

Very rich. Cherry, vanilla, pepper and wood notes are dominant. There is also a floral element on the nose. It’s heavy and the bite for 50 ABV is quite strong. Enjoyed it very much.

A bit pricey but this tasted really good. Cherry, vanilla, cinnamon and wood. Typical bourbon notes are all there. And on top of that there is this black tea finish I thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite bourbons I’ve tried. Want to purchase a bottle and explore it a lot more.

The one I tried was 57.8% ABV. It was very bright, young, honey & tangy. But palate was very alcohol heavy and it burns. I couldn’t really taste anything after that.

I was excited to try the Swedish whisky. The nose and palate was very bright with lemon and butterscotch. Kind of close to an young Irish. Wood and peat is very mild. Finish was metallic and I wasn’t too impressed with the full flavor profile.

I tired this at a whiskey tasting. It’s shiny, metallic, green apple with butterscotch. Notes were similar to an Irish than a single malt. Not a lot of peat on the nose or the palate. Very subdue. It was an enjoyable sip but I expected more because I’ve heard great things about it.

26 for a 4oz pour. Listed for $115 at Total Wine. It’s full body with raisins, caramel, oily and a fruity and spicy finish. Better than other Macallans I have tried. Not overly sherry. Better rounded than the 12 or the gold. But still the mid palate is flat.

The usual speyside notes cranked up to an eleven with a spicier and fruitier finish thanks to its 120+ proof. This is the only speyside scotch I’ve tied that has a 60%ABV strength and I loved it. I wish I had a glencairn to explore this beautiful scotch. Palate was all full body, sweet but spicy with honey suckle, plums, vanilla and pepper. The 48% first released is listed for 119. I had this at a party so not sure how much is the second release.

It is simple. Heavy oak, cherry and cinnamon. Typical bourbon. And easy sipper.

I found the typical highland/speyside notes. Very sweet and sherry is strong on the nose with strong floral note and vanilla. Not the biggest fan of the palate. It felt smooth, medium bodied also very flat. Finish disappears fast.