Tastes

I don’t usually drink blends. As the word itself describes, blends are blend. Everything is mild. There’s no character of its own and no distinguished flavor. On the other hand, it’s very easy to drink, very smooth and gives you a hint of different characters of different thpes of malt. On the nose it’s very sweet with honey, hints of vanilla, mild zest and very malty. It’s above average if you want to know what a malt smells. The palate is even more mild with only 40% ABV. It doesn’t give a full mouth and the flavors will die off quickly. It will have the lemon zest, honey, vanilla and cereal with a bit of smokiness that is particular to Islay, but it’s not so peaty. So, the smokiness is there for the experience, but not distinctive. It’s a good first scotch for those who are not familiar with it. But if you have a trained palate, it won’t be that good.

This is the most Bourbon a scotch can be. If you love bourbon, you’ll love this one. I like both, but I prefer the distinction between both rather than drinking a scotch with a bourbon taste. It has a golden/amber color, thick oily legs and close to a full body. On the nose, it’s full of vanilla and caramel notes with hints of apple. Not as much as the 18, but you can clearly nose the apple. On the palate it’s less complex. Very bourbonny with honey/molasses sweet sensation. Maybe some zesty taste, but very mild. It wasn’t easy for me to distinguish other tastes. The finish is a bit spicy with a little heat. You can really get all the flavors from a Bourbon. And that’s all. Cheers.

Had a pour of this one at a hotel bar. It was tough to distinguish the nose as i was served in a open cup. I moved into a wine cup and it improved the experience. It has a light gold color and medium legs. Caramel is upfront on the nose with some baking spices and a hint of raisins. The palate is very sweet mixed with the nutmeg, pine tree feeling and finishes with pepper and a cereal taste. Not bad for their signature bourbon.

This was a good find! I can’t find it in Texas, but i found it in Florida. Very good Islay whisky with aromas of lemon zest, some vanilla and brine. Good influence from the coastal sea shore bringing a delicate salty notes with the smoke. After some drops of water, the floral aromas arise with more lemon and brine. On the palate, at first it was more grassy with vegetable notes and then the sweet lemon zest comes. More towards the finish it becomes very floral and pepperish. With drops of water it became a little more sweet with more vanilla and orange honey notes. The texture is more oily than normal, bringing a creamy feeling with thick legs. It has a light gold color and you wouldn’t think that color would bring that much flavor. Excellent! Cheers!

Heard of this brand in a cool documentary called Water of Life. Excellent dram! I had a couple of sips before making my review. Although a non-chill filtered, it’s a light yellow colored with thin legs. With 50% ABV, I was expecting thicker legs. On the nose, a roast brine come forward immediately with an applewood smoked bacon in it and a hint of medicinal smell on the back end. After some drops of water, hints of orange and lime come up with the smokiness. On the palate is smoky. The citric notes come along the pitey notes. There’s also a BBQ burnt end taste to it, mostly a brisket fat type. It’s more salty than sweet, but the sweetness comes lightly in form of sugar cane distilled cachaça. Very good overall with a lasting finish more on the citric smoky side. Awesome whisky, delicious and fulfilling!

I took some time to go through this one. This is a William & Grants whisky selected by Total Wine and branded by them through Quality Spirits International company. Visually this whisky is thin and young although its color is a medium dark copper. The finish in french wine cask must have brought a darker color to it. On the nose, I first had caramel and toffee. Then i also got some apple and pear, but the sugar alcohol comes strong and not elegantly. It’s definitely young, thin, not creamy and full. On the palate it’s like a licoir type of feeling. Very thin in the mouth, not developing the flavors in the aroma. I got some of the french wine finish notes in the beginning, like caramel, raisin (very subtle) and then everything vanishes and you’re left with sugar alcohol notes. No finish at all. As soon as the alcohol evaporates, very little is left. For this price point, it’s good for beginners and for drinks. The experience is not full nor rewarding. But it’s ok as a cheap dram.

First try of this famous Benromach 15yo and that’s exactly why I love single malts. That’s the experience that i love from start to finish. You look at this scotch and it’s a beautiful dark amber color, almost copper with thick legs and so dense. Beautiful on the nose. First aromas are full of toffee. Then it seemed to me there are hints of olive oil mixed with bread and sweet cream. Seems a little like a salty caramel on a slice of sweet bread. So good! On the palate you’ll get the smokyness and peatyness, but not strong. Very gentle combined with toffee and then orange peels. After some time, the aroma brought the orange peel preserve that i tasted. Overall, extremely elegant, sophisticated, balanced and complex. Very good! Cheers!

This is the famous Appfelstrudel whisky. Great aroma and flavors of a delicious apple pie. Cinammon, vanilla and everything included in a delicious green aple pie. Fabulous whisky!