Tastes

Doing a re-review; it’s been months since I touched this bottle. On the nose: caramel cooking down when you make it home, dried mango, and vanilla On the palate: BIG caramel/brown sugar (made me think of wheated bourbon caramel notes even), big oak (aged in semi-tropical Taiwan so major barrel impact), vanilla and mango and pineapple in the background. Not a thing wrong with it, just wish it had some more complexity. It’s unique and makes me want to try out the higher tiers of Kavalan’s offerings, but this isn’t anything special in my opinion. Would be an awesome intro single malt if not for the price.

A quality wheater. Notes of caramel, baking spice, sweet tea and some smoke from the barrel. Plenty sweet, but definitely retains complexity and quality

On the nose: peach, apricot, vanilla, maybe strawberry. All organic fruity sweetness On the palate: the nose represents the flavor well! Peaches, apricots, nectarines, a touch of maltiness (to be expected with the youth of the spirit), vanilla custard, honey, and some brininess that makes it taste almost a touch smoky (it is an Islay after all, though it is unpeated). The flavors and texture are very full thanks to the 50% Overall, this is a super fruity and full dram! A stone fruit lover’s whisky for sure! Another killer expression from Bruichladdich!

On the nose: peat smoke, berries, sherry, and vanilla On the palate: Peat smoke leads into brine, honey, sherry/red fruit, oak, and black pepper and a finish that lasts. The sensory experience: sitting at a campfire at sunset as a wave crashes against the shore before you

Wasn’t sure what to expect with this, but was intrigued by William Grant and Sons presenting a bourbon blend. Starts off with barrel tannin bite and brown sugar sweetness, into a sweet middle layered with notes of anise, mint and herbal flavors, plenty of cinnamon spice and then a finish reminiscent of southern sweet tea! This has a lot going on, and while the bourbons used are clearly young, the complexity coming from the blending of five bourbons valiantly attempts to compensate for that. For me, the complexity of flavors makes up for the youth of the whiskeys blended, but this may be a turn off for some. This blend has a high quantity of flavors to deliver complexity, but potentially at the cost of quality depending on your pallet. Judge for yourself!

Notes of vanilla, orange, baking spices and a creaminess make for a combination like an orange custard tart. And what a value! I love to gift this to friends and family who are trying to get into scotch and longtime whiskey drinkers alike. I think it’s probably the best intro scotch based on the value and the absence of any peated whisky in the blend that can turn some people off. I prefer it neat, it’s great on ice, and an excellent mixer for the occasional Godfather or Penicillin cocktail

Brings notes of honey, vanilla, light cinnamon and oak. It’s a sweet and subtle scotch, but not one to wow

More akin to Redbreast than base level Jameson! Getting notes of honey, buttery shortbread, pear, plum/sherry-influence dark fruits and some light oakiness. I’d liken it to Redbreast 12, but less rich and with more light flavors. Damn shame it’s discontinued!

Fruit cake, vanilla, and dried fruit on the nose; very reminiscent of panetone (Italian fruit cake). On the palate: honey, vanilla, light sherry, plum/red fruit, oak, and a lasting sweet finish. The sherry is well integrated, as opposed to being a sherry bomb. A sweet but balanced and oaky dram. Very nice

Light/clean peat smoke leads into sherry/fruitcake sweetness, and then overbrewed jasmine tea and orange, and then a slightly lingering sweet finish. A killer complex whisky. A real kitchen sink of peaty, sherried, and classic single malt whisky