Tastes

When I need a smoky blended scotch that’s easy to drink and will punch my taste buds in the mouth I can reach for this $30-$40 in my area

This says heavily peated but it’s actually really quite nice and approachable. It’s sweet, I don’t get a lot of smoky peat - more herbal phenolic on the tongue. It doesn’t linger, it’s a pretty clean and approachable taste. I like it at 100 proof, with a small dash of water I felt the alcohol notes got way more aggressive on the next sip but the finish is even sweeter on the back end. It’s a good night cap, probably better after a cigar.

I really enjoy this one... on the taste, I got a blast of smoke - maybe more ashy but it doesn’t stick around too long. It’s followed by a candied sweetness, dark chocolate and it lingers for a bit. I got a lot of herbal notes on the back end of it. I’ll need to sit with a 2 oz pour on the weekend to fully digest it but it’s by far one of my favorite islays so far and it’s so readily available.

This was Christmas in a bottle for me. Spicy, sweet, could almost smell the gingerbread cookies and pumpkin for me (the latter two things not really but it was very sweet smelling). At 100 proof this drinks cleanly and easily. It is delicious imo me and a buddy almost drank the whole thing in an evening. I found this at the DC Costco for $70

It’s good solid, can’t complain. I’ve had the 18/25 at the yamazaki distillery..... this is a much lighter version of a more potentially peaty/medicinally whisk(e)y. I like it. It’s good in cocktails. Good with some ice / chilled or neat. Simple to drink and I wish it was $1.00 for a pour everywhere (as it was in the distillery).