Tastes

Ok so Im in the minority in liking Rebel Yell. I thinks its a great value and a solid wheater. This is supposed to be the highline version of RY with more proof and longer aging so I had high hopes. Poured neat, darker with better legs. Nose has more weight to it for sure. Same notes of cornbread, cherry and dust but amped up with some heat. Mouth feel is still thin but remains soft. Palate is more vibrant with cherry vanilla, oaky cinnamon and good heat. Body is still lacking which I think is just a wheater characteristic and cherry is quite dominant. Finishes with cherry and oak. Im finding this too sweet with more cherry than I want. I don't know what happened but it almost tastes like one of those flavored whiskies, hardly tastes like bourbon at all imo, not good. Adding water does rein in the cherry but I'll take standard RY for half the money and Larceny or Makers are much better for same cost. Definitely would not repurchase.............61/100........fortunately it mixes well with coke as the strong cherry and wheat blend nicely creating a tasty combo

Iis been a while so I thought I would sample and compare Dewars White and Johnnie Red for reference so I got a couple 50ml. Poured neat, thin legs, soft subtle nose with light fruit, gentle malt and just a touch of salinity. Thin mouthfeel with sweet malt turning to sooty char note. More heat than expected for proof. Not a lot going on here but nothing unpleasant. Finishes quick with light malt, distant tobacco note and dries to smoke and char. Seems to be lacking in flavor to me, I like whats there it just needs more. Easy enough to drink though and fairly accessible to the masses. Its not bad scotch by any means . Its workmanlike basic blend. It translates to the Jim Beam of scotch imo. Can't see myself buying a bottle but surely will drink it if offered. 73/100

I quite enjoyed the Dewar's12yr ancestor so this was next up. Reasonably priced($38)for a 15 yr scotch albeit a blend. Poured neat, takes a couple minutes to open up. Nose comes in with sweet candied lemon, ripe fresh cut red apple, mild malt and light wood. Palate is refined malty honey, toffee, wood and grain that adds a touch of bitterness. Even at 15 yrs grain is there. Finish is drying malt and wood with light honey and more grain notes trailing. You can taste the Aberfeldy malt coming through with its sweet richness but the balance seems a little off to me with more bitterness than I like. Its still a pretty good blend but you can get the superior Aberfeldy 12 year for less so no need for this. Plus the 12 year Dewars ancestor is better as well...........76/100

Grabbed a couple 50ml to tryout. I had the rum cask finish and it was "ok" but this has age statement so hopefully better. Poured neat, nose brings some fruit punch and malt with a little baking spice and wood. Palate has more light fruit but a surprising flash of earthy peat comes along with oak and malt. Flavor drops off quickly leading to finish of drying slightly bitter wood and charred malt with not much of an impression left. Its lacks depth and feels thin and too dry. Its not exactly bad but I wont be getting a full bottle...........70/100

Have read many favorable reviews so decided to give a try. $25 on sale so decent price but no age statement to be found. Poured neat, noses buttery malt and grain with light apple and mild spice. Its similar to Deanston Virgin Oak but not as rich or full. Soft mouthfeel leads palate of sweet malt and grain, warm buttered rolls, oak and smoked heavy char with more light apple. Again profile is in line with the Deanston but has some grain alcohol notes. Finishes with drying oak and strong char with lingering light malt sweetness. Overall its actually really tasty scotch albeit with some blend drawbacks. This profile of little fruit and no peat focusing more on the malt is a preference of mine. I do feel Pigs Nose is better than entry level scotch blends like JW red or Dewars white and others. Beats lower tier stuff for sure . Would consider repurchase at $25ish or less however over that I would kick in the extra for single malt and not deal with the grain alcohol...........78/100........if they could just smooth out some of the edges this would be a real solid scotch....its still good, I like the butter, malt and char..........bottle gets better and better over time

Decided to try a few of the Total Wine brands. Got a couple scotches and a bourbon. I really love the Balvenie rum cask so was hopeful. Poured neat, the nose is promising with nice sweet island fruits from the rum cask. Little dose of malt and some barrel wood as well. Its a bit light but still pleasant. Palate starts out good with fruity rum sweetened malt but drops away to dry oak and straw. Not much depth to speak of , this is just too young and has yet to develop any strong flavor or complexity. Its not bad or offensive its just lacking. I like where its heading if it had more time it might get there. Finish is short with dry oak and distant malt, the rum influence a memory in the back. Overall its still a decent budget single malt with some rummy overtones. Im at the point where I need more body and weight from my scotch so would not repurchase........ 73/100.......comparing this to the Balvenie 14 is like high school football to the NFL

The good rating/awards and positive reviews combined with a sale price($15/375ml) convinced me to give this a shot. This has replaced the 12 yr Special Reserve in the Dewar's canon. I'm not a big fan of blends however this is quite a pleasant surprise. Poured neat, nice legs and unexpected soft creamy mouthfeel. Nose is malty and fruity with light smoke, mild vanilla and good depth. Palate is surprising strong delivery of malt, caramel dipped fruit, gentle smoke and wood. Sweet and smooth with no burn, nice and easy but very tasty. Miles ahead of Dewars White Label. Finishes with lasting maltiness, wood and char. Only 80 pf but does not seem watered down at all. Its not that complex but has solid hefty flavors with depth, Im impressed. Goes down easy and tastes great........84/100 blend score...would purchase again.

Finally saw this at Total Wine for $35 so had to. 10yr is about $10 more so comparison is needed. I will say the neck pour was like a scotsman in your face screaming loudly. Thats the aggressive nature of the hot smoky peat. It did mellow with air so waited to near bottle end for assessment. Poured neat nose is salted bacon fat and peanut butter. Throw in some volcanic ash and a bit of fresh malt and you're there. Palate is peaty malt with chili pepper and heavy charred barrel. A light sweetness works itself in but is always a bit player. It was much more smoke laden through the first half of bottle and spicy hot too. It calmed into a relatively drinkable Islay bargain. Finish is not as long as other contenders but still solid with standard smoke and drying malty wood notes. Overall a solid value and the new smoke & coke king. Nowhere near as complex and deep as other Ardbeg choices so you do get what you pay for here. A young raw somewhat flawed scotch that redeems itself with bold purity that you cant deny. I went back to back with the 10yr as my son was visiting and got me a bottle for fathers day....good kid. The 10 is more oily with greater complexity, richness , depth and sustain. Well worth the upcharge and makes a case for skipping wee beastie altogether. I contend this is not a dig on WB rather than a testament to how massively strong the 10 yr is. Imo this stuff is worth the purchase/repurchase especially if the 10 has a high cost spread in your region.

Ok so Im back trying blended scotch again. Truth be told I saw a youtube review on this by the "sommelier and the mooch" ha these guys are a riot. I actually work just a couple miles from these guys "whiskey academy" in South Austin. I put a lot more stock in this site with excellent reviewers that I enjoy and appreciate their opinions. Well anyway they said this was good stuff , I saw it for $20 at specs so what the hell. This blend has some going for it. Its 100 pf(rare for scotch) non chill-filtered(love that) and supposedly high malt/grain ratio. Poured neat, nose is melted butter, light red apple, good dose of malt, some wood and hit of grain. Pretty standard stuff for a decent blend. Palate is where it comes alive. Blast of butterscotch malt, woody vanilla and lively grain. There is some heat and rawness with an ethanol edge but the flavor overrides this to a degree. Doesn't bring peat but you can imagine a light smoke if you try. Finishes drying malt and oak with fading vanilla and some bitter grain twang. Overall this delivers a good tasty punch and at price I paid is good value. If you like blended scotch this will probably work as its like a good budget brand amped up to 100 pf. I prefer single malts but I appreciate what this is bringing to the table and might repurchase as a low cost blend with some power...........76/100 blend score......probably good as a mixer with strong proof and flavor..........don't pay more than 25$ though

Like the 10yr and Lasanta, was looking forward to this. Poured neat, ruby color with nose of berries. Black & raz both coming through with good malt presence. Has a strawberry cheesecake note that reminds me of Chivas Extra. Creamy mouthfeel leads into palate of dark fruit, malt richness and roasted coffee surrounded by barrel oak. Very nice depth. Finish is drying oak, malt, trailing fruits with more light roast coffee. Overall an excellent scotch. Strong maltiness and deep fruits only the dry finish holds it back from upper level elite score. I like it more than Dalmore12 and would need to revisit Lasanta to call that one ..........86/100.....$44 at Total Wine, will keep this one around for a delicious port cask finished single malt