Tastes
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Benriach The Smoky Twelve
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed January 29, 2022 (edited February 4, 2022)Nose: pleasantly peaty, sea salt, light to medium smokiness, malty almost buttery brown sugar note, dark dried fruits, plum, fig, hint of cherry, lightly toasted vanilla/almond essence, overripe citrusy orange notes, hint of newer slightly dusty leather. The smokiness from peat and sherry finish work well together, but the Marsala wine finish almost seems like a third wheel at times. Not horribly, but it pokes in and out a little enough to give it an interesting touch. Palate: wonderfully peaty (not heavy) up front that gives way to those dark fruits laced with citrusy orange notes, malt, peppery spices that builds nicely after you swallow but never gets overwhelming, transitions into a peaty ashy like smoke quality that’s almost cigar like, medium to long finish that lingers nicely. Not a bad take with the three cask maturation approach. This is one of those that people will range broadly enough on the rating due to personal preference, imo. -
Highland Park 12 Year Viking Honour
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed December 17, 2021 (edited February 4, 2022)Nose: honey, heather, vanilla, medium malt, soft but rich fruity notes, pear, apricot, well rounded sherry touch, lightest wisp of peat and iodine, not an overly broad or wide nose but very pleasant. Taste: malt, ripe fruitiness, lemongrass, some herbal qualities, hint of brine, has a peppery finish with a light peaty ashy smoke. Quite smooth, very drinkable. A very good quality 12 year old that I would recommend. -
Kirkland 23 Year Speyside Single Malt Sherry Cask Finish
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed November 25, 2021 (edited February 8, 2022)Nose: fruit heavy, dark ripe orchard fruits, dark cherry, hint of orange citrus, sherry, cinnamon, allspice, baking spices, malty almost molasses quality, almond or amaretto, some slightly dank cereal notes, dusty leathery notes, tobacco, old oak, light ash char, deep and rich. Taste: just about everything mentioned above, a pleasant medium peppery note, brown sugar, dark fruits with that orange citrus note, nice oily coat on the palette, finishes well to a light ashy smoke. Another solid old Speyside in the Kirkland lineup. Yes, I’m sure you could cherrypick another well known brand that could “drink way better” than this. But for the price, this is pretty dang good. -
Nose: vanilla, cereal notes, rye spice, sweet malt, citrusy orange zest, baking spices, easy going and not overly complicated. Taste: rye spice upfront and fairly solid, baking spices with a slightly pepper finish, a little herbal like bitterness as well on the finish. Overall, a decent sipper for the budget. Very good for mixers, say like Coke perhaps?
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Meikakuna 100% Japanese Blended Whisky
Blended — Japan
Reviewed October 30, 2021 (edited November 29, 2021)Nose: honey, crisp fruit, pear, spiced candied apple, golden raisin, herbal notes, hint of a grassy note, barrel spice, cereal notes, slight fume-like alcohol note or thinner note but not strong and pushes aside quickly. Taste: honey, herbal tea-like quality, a moment of herbal bitterness with light fruit notes in the mix, cereal grain mixed with a touch of malt, medium intense peppery barrel spice that lingers for a good moment, light ashy char on the backside of the finish. An ok entry level Japanese whiskey, but definitely move up the quality scale in the future to other higher end Japanese whiskeys to have a much better experience in what they have to offer. -
Kirkland Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed October 24, 2021 (edited November 29, 2021)Nose: fruity, ripe orchard fruits- the kind you get during the fall at a farmers market, some light sherry, hint of honey, briny sea salt air, medium smoky peat, oaky wood, a little barrel spice. Taste: fruit notes are light and at the front, medium malt, transitions into a soft smoky peat that’s not overall powerful, finish lingers nicely with a decent oily feel. Not super complex and lacks a little depth. Overall, not bad, especially for someone getting into peaty scotches for the first time. -
Nose: light sweetness, honey, vanilla, light fruitiness, apple, pear, light malt, lightly toasted bread or cereal grain notes, a slightest touch of an orange marmalade note maybe? Taste: fairly simple and reflecting of the characteristics of the nose, a smoky char that settles in with a pepper touch, finish fades kinda quick with a little herbal-like quality at the end. Decent scotch and for the price but nothing that will make you think this is exceptional. There are far worse out there for sure. Give it a spin, it’s budget friendly.
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Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey
Blended — Ireland
Reviewed October 23, 2021 (edited December 15, 2021)Nose: medium sweet honey, cereal, some grain notes, butter cookie or shortbread cookie, nutty light brown sugar note hides in there somewhere, light fruit, light sherry, hint of vanilla, hint of citrus- possibly lemon-like, decent barrel spices. Taste: more honey and butter cookie/shortbread cookie, crisp fruits, cereal, even keel barrel spice but pleasant. Not overly aggressive or broad in profile. A standard “right down the middle” Irish whiskey. Not super fancy and not so boring that you wouldn’t like it. -
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt (Discontinued)
Blended Malt — Japan
Reviewed October 9, 2021 (edited February 25, 2022)Nose: Honey, dried fruits- apple, pear, cherry, golden raisins, citrus peel, sherry, light creaminess, lightest hint of a nutty almond note, medium earthy notes, heather, honeysuckle. Taste: Light sweetness of honey mixed with fruit, herbal notes with an earthy touch, nuttiness tries to peek through, pleasant light char that’s almost peat like, a citrus almost lemon peppery note on the finish. Medium finish in length, well balanced whiskey, smooth, easy going. Not overly complex but certainly not too boring. Hopefully the replacement is just as good. -
Craigellachie 13 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed August 28, 2021 (edited February 4, 2022)Nose: fruity, orchard fruits, honey crisp apple, honey, malt, light citrus, orange, tangerine, cinnamon bark note, autumnal hay-like notes, woody spices, rich nose overall, few drops of water open up the malt sweetness some, hint of vanilla hides in the background tries to pop out. Taste: orchard fruits, blend of citrusy notes, lemon, has a nice oily coating feel- gives it a fullness on the palette, transitions to a peppery note, light ashy barrel spice, malt sweetness does show back up in the finish (as suggested) and compliments the spice notes very nicely, slightest hint of a leather note (maybe?), a good medium to long finish overall. Very good for the price point, really enjoyed this one a lot. I would definitely get it again.
Results 51-60 of 113 Reviews