Tastes

Nose: Bright grassy and hay-like aromas, honey and mild notes of orange zest and pears. Over time in the glass it blooms a little but there are no rich foundation aromas. The dry glass aroma is honey and maple syrup. Palate: Soft, silky texture on the arrival, which is grassy and has fresh honeyed stone-fruit notes (nectarine, apricot, peach). There is almost no progression and the whisky lacks depth, but it's a good palate nonetheless - just simple. A little mild ginger spice appears towards the finish. The standout feature is the texture which is excellent and very pleasantly waxy, if a trifle thin. Finish: Short. Soft fruit flavours that tail into delicate sweet ginger. This is the second of the Johnnie Walker “Origins” series I’ve tried. Like the Islay Origin bottling I had previously it is a blended malt crafted from whiskies made in one region. In this case the component whiskies all come from the highlands. Clynelish and Teaninich are the feature malts and both are instantly identifiable when you taste it. It’s a competent, light-bodied blended malt with good texture and it is very easy to sip, however it lacks the depth of the Islay Origin blend. I had the distinct impression this was only brought to market because the blenders were handed a brief to create four regional blends and there had to be something completely from the highlands (but why just the northeast?). Clynelish and Teaninich are excellent malts but both mainly contribute top-notes (particularly Teaninich) and texture (particularly Clynelish). Consequently this comes across like a band with two fine lead guitarists but no rhythm section. That impression is reinforced when the whisky is used as a mixer, as it disappears almost completely. Clynelish and Teaninich are also both frequently used by John Glaser in his blends, but he invariably adds something smoky or sherried into the vat to provide body and balance. It’s a pity Jim Beveridge and George Harper didn’t follow that approach here. I can't help but wonder whether a dash of Talisker or Oban in the blend might have improved it. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)

Update 2May 2024 I retasted this yesterday at the distillery and made identical notes to my original post here (see below) so there is no need to change anything, apart from the fact that I noted even more vanilla than before. This is a good malt for the price and one that should not be underestimated. I’m upgrading my rating slightly. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars) ————————————————— Nose: Pear drops, apple, lemon, vanilla, malt and floral honey. There is a density and weight to the nose with hints of an aroma that is intriguing and reminiscent of lanoline. Palate: Soft malt and fruit. Creamy, almost buttery (butterscotch?) in the development with lemongrass, hazelnut, caramel and a good deal of sweet vanilla. It’s a very easy palate with good texture. There is a little hot ginger towards the finish. Finish: Medium. Fruity resolving to sweet earthy malt with citrus overtones. On the one hand this might seem a typically light, fruity Speysider, however there is a depth of profile to both the nose and palate that is less typical. While there are certainly fruity notes in abundance here this is fundamentally a malty profile, and it has much in common with Glen Grant. I hesitate to use the terms “gateway” or “beginner” in reference to any malt as it seems dismissive, implying that easy whisky is best reserved for serving to inexperienced palates. This is unfair as a less challenging whisky can be just as pleasant in the right context as any Mortlach or Springbank. That said, this is a comparatively straightforward expression that focuses on warm, soothing aromas and flavours. The character is generally soft but there is a slight spicy heat in the later palate. A good quaffing whisky that also works as a mixer, where the sweet vanilla and floral tones are highlighted and the spice edge cuts through. So yes, I would offer this to a novice … not because it is simple but because it is approachable and good. “Above Average” : 82/100 (3.25 stars)

Nose: Mild cereal and malt aromas with vanilla and pear notes. There is an ethanol presence but it’s not off-putting. Palate: A little hot on the arrival and you taste the nip of ethanol. Barley sugar and orchard fruits but the palate is very light and has a dash of vanilla sweetness. I didn't detect any smoke or peat - I feel that anything resembling that is more likely a tannic character imparted by old refill casks. Finish: Short, with a tinge of hard and bitter notes in the aftertaste, most likely from very young, pedestrian-grade grain whisky matured in tired old casks (a fault which is shared by most of the lower-tier blended scotches). Not a particularly interesting whisky but not unpleasant either. It’s an acceptable workhorse but don’t expect too much from what is one of the more affordable blended scotches. Water brings out a sweetness on the palate and as a mixer it adds a slightly sweet, cereal, vanilla and fruity background. A dash of water brings out a little sweetness on the palate. As a mixer it adds a slightly sweet, cereal, vanilla and fruity background. Not too bad on the whole, considering the price point, but it is up against some stiff competition, not the least from stablemate blended scotch Ballantines 12 Year Old, which is very much cut from the same cloth but ramps everything up a couple of notches. There is not a lot of difference in price so if you can find the 12 year old on special it is better value for money. “Adequate” : 73/100 (2.25 stars)

Nose: Green apples, maple syrup, a hint of lemon and a very faint note of ash or char like vanilla sugar that has been caramelized and almost-but-not-quite burnt. The nose improves with a little time to develop in the glass, gaining depth and body. Palate: Light, grassy, fruity arrival with a little ginger. Not a lot in the development – some apple and walnut notes, and an almost vodka-like ethanol taste is discerned. The texture is forgettable but not bad. Finish: Short. Mildly spicy and fruity with a faint saltiness in the aftertaste. The nose reminds me much more of a mid-shelf blend than a malt whisky and the palate follows suit. This has a simple profile built around apple-juice characteristics (maybe some pear notes as well), thinned honey or syrup and mild spice. It’s not awful but neither is it particularly inspirational. It stands up to neat sipping, just barely, but does not provide much of interest to enjoy. It’s better as a mixer for long drinks. It is in the same price bracket as several better single malts and suffers from the comparison. It is also outclassed in both price and quality by the usual suspect blended malts Naked Grouse and Monkey Shoulder, and for that matter there are blended scotches that outclass this for a good deal less money. I've yet to be impressed by any Singleton bottling and I can't see myself buying this again. “Average” : 75/100 (2.25 stars)

Nose: Immediately peaty, maritime and with that signature note of sherried-asphalt that proudly shouts "Lagavulin". There is a sweet orange and stewed fruit presence that has excellent density – you’d almost think there was a PX cask involved. A very good nose that develops with time. Palate: Rich and full arrival, dried fruits, thick ashy smoke. The development is limited and you could be hard-hearted and call this two dimensional, but what is there delivers 100%. The texture is mouth-coating and heavy. Finish: Medium. Sooty smoke, a note of salted toffee and some vague fruity notes in the aftertaste. Warming and satisfying, you can taste barley sugar in the lingering aftertaste. On the box it says this contains a “variety of Islay whiskies with Lagavulin and Caol Ila at its heart”, but it's hard to see how it could be otherwise – Diageo only owns two Islay distilleries so guess what is in here? This is a good blended malt crafted with the touch of a master. Forget the fact that it is limited in depth, this is a showcase for maritime smokiness against a buttery, creamy background. Not long ago Diageo released the Centenary Blend which was an excellent scotch, but somewhat inaccessible for less experienced whisky drinkers and very expensive at around AUD$100. This, however, is the everyday smoky blended malt par excellence. It’s way better than contemporary Black Label (which has fallen from grace in the last few years) and more elegant than Double Black, both of which are blended scotches, of course. At AUD$70 it is about 50% more than Black Label and more than half-way in price between Black Label and Green Label. However as it is a blended malt the price is fair. Is it Green Label Lite? No, it has a different character. It's very approachable and satisfying, enjoyable as a sipping dram, and too good to dilute as a mixer. I think I’ll buy a second bottle while it is available on special. Great value and recommended. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)