Tastes

Nose: immediate autumn air notes (as suggested) with a bright campfire smoke quality (think autumn harvest), light smoked herbal note, green notes, slightly fruity, a hint of a light candied fruit sweetness. Taste: light to medium smoke that’s pleasant, coastal air, hint of sweetness, light fruitiness that gives way to a light spiced quality, mild smokiness returns mixed with a touch of sweetness. Lingers well and fades evenly.

Nose: light floral perfume note, almost waxy, mild sweet fresh fruit, glimpse of dried vanilla, hint of brininess, hint of spice. Taste: fruit, apple, pear, generally a fresh fruit basket of flavors, spices, ginger, tea, grain notes. A few drops of water open up herbal almost mint like notes, hint of mineral notes. Finish is medium in length that stays pleasant just long enough.

Nose: fruity, sherry, light vanilla note, fragrant with a hint of a floral quality, light and not overpowering. Taste: orchard fruits, sherry note comes through nicely but not too strong, medium spice note from the barrels, smooth, not overly complex overall. Finish is short and easy going. A decent middle of the road scotch.

Aroma: pleasantly aromatic, perfume like, moderate floral note of maybe rose and/or carnations, darker fruit notes, dried fruits, berry, possibly a sherry note, lightest hint of honey and a buttery note. Taste: sweetness of dark sugar and with a fruity quality, peppery spicy note (white pepper?) comes through next and strong, oak spices, mild herbal grassy note, a possibly a hint of a peaty note on the finish. Spicy notes linger on the finish. Very much scotch like. I would imagine this is a blend, but for a mid level budget Japanese whisky, this is quite good. Well done for the price. One worth checking out on the Japanese whisky trail if you can find it.

Nose is deep smoke with a salty air quality. Meaty, smoky. A dried fruit note with eventually push through on the backside, lightly sweet. Letting it sit will open it up and let it become more rounded and sweet, dark fruits. A few drops of water will also open it up to the fruity notes and push aside the smokiness. Taste (without water) is heavy smoke, almost pungent, that reminds me of the the smokiness of a great hardwood fire in the wintertime during a good heavy snowfall. Not a sharp smoke but full and slightly rounded, very rich and savory. Meaty, smoky notes are there too. Dark fruit notes. The water will tone down the smokiness slightly and give way to the fruity quality on the frontside but will finish with that peaty smokiness. Lingers well. Recommend the wilder ride without water. It’s just more fun.

Nose has smoke and is bacon-like with an iodine quality (as suggested). Light fruity note that will push through, apples perhaps. A couple drops of water will push things aside some and allow more of the fruity notes through. Taste is a mild pleasant sweet fruit tone and a great medium soft smoke finish that doesn’t punch too hard. The water will push aside the oils and allow the other flavors to come through slightly more like it does with the nose. Aftertaste lingers very nicely and leaves an even smoked spicy note. Very good scotch for those getting into the peaty kinds.

Nose is sweet, toffee and honey notes with apple/pears or fresh fruit, dried fruits. Taste is light and malty, light sweet and fruity, friendly and well balanced. No sharp edges. Candied nuts and hint of smoke that wisps away. Low on the spicy notes but does show up enough from the barrel. Long aftertaste that is pleasant. Great entry level scotch for those new to it.

Nose: honey or honeysuckle, almost brown sugar-like, lightest hint of vanilla, hint of savory nuttiness, then dominates with dried fruits. Together it almost reminds me of amaretto for a moment but very quick. Has that moment of that citrus touch from the original 10 year. Front-forward sherry tone, pleasant spice notes. Taste: dried fruits, a hint of that nuttiness, light candied sweetness, boldness of the sherry but not overpowering, spicy notes with a touch of cocoa or dark chocolate. Taste is very similar to the nose.

Nose is sweet butter with a touch of honey and fresh orchard (green) apple, light floral note. Slight sharp spice note, possible ethanol-like touch but faint. Fragrant but simple. Pleasant, very friendly. Taste is similar to nose. Has a hint of something similar to licorice possibly at the end. Taste does not last long. Overall, not complex at all. VERY much Irish whisky like which is definitely the category I would put it in. Kudos for making a good budget Irish whisky that’s technically not Irish whisky. Simple but enjoyable for a budget. Drinks better than many budget Irish whiskies. Would mix very well. Worth a try for the buck if you are ever in Asia.