Tastes

Have looked at the bottom shelf scotch and wondered if any of it was drinkable or is it like wretched Canadian whisky. They only seem to come in giant 1.75 bottles which is a big commitment if its garbage. Luckily this was available in 50ml size so I figured lets spin the wheel. Poured neat, decent legs and hey its 86.8 pf so there's that. Nose is weak with ethanol, a wisp of distant fruit and lack of malt. Better than expected mouth feel leads to palate of generic light sweetness and malt with oaky char. Has grain harshness but isn't too bad. Finishes with quick grainy alcohol and char. Overall not a lot of flavor or much of an experience but better than cheap Canadian and might work as a mixer. I will not be buying a handle of this or any other bottom barrel options ...........57/100........its drinkable I just don't wanna be the one doin it

Found this as a new product on sale for $32. What a great surprise! This is some real interesting scotch. Poured neat, nice thick glass coat. Nose is exotic, mango, red grape and pineapple roasted over a burning pile of autumn leaves. Peachy pine wood and sweet notes of earthy peat. Has a lot going on to pick at. Palate is reminiscent of Bunnahabhain 12 yr which is a massive complement. Deep rich flavors power through with creamy malt, roasted fruits, sweet oak, pine sap and dark roast coffee peat smokiness. Finishes long with lingering coffee, oak, pine, malt and fading peat. This isn't the strong Islay campfire peat smoke, its as I mentioned before more of sweet smoldering burning leaves situation which is very different and unique. Its complex, vibrant and delicious with natural color and non chill filtered at 92pf! At the price I paid its an absolute steal....88/100.........Imo much better than popular entry level 10/12 yr single malts, this carves its own path with excellent depth and balance of fruit, wood and peat

Another steal I got at Total Wine. $33, goes for $50 in NH. This is a really nice scotch. Nose is citrus fruit, burning leaves smoke and one of those large rubber erasers for pencil lead. Palate is orchard fruit roasting over said pile of burning leaves, rubber, sweet wood with some malt and bitter pinecone. Nicely balanced and complex. Finish is roasted fruit, smooth malt and smoky drying wood that goes bitter in a good way. Overall a very tasty scotch indeed. Has an overriding note to it, not quite musky maybe more like a clean sweat. This is a similar taste of autumn profile to Loch Lomond 12 . Side by side its a close match with HP 12 more smoky and complex but Id give the nod to LL12 as more vibrant flavor punch, depth and can usually be found for less $$. No matter Highland Park is a winner.............89/100.........definite repurchase

Saw this on sale for $52, seemed like a good value for a 14 yr and the 10 has good reviews. Non chill filtered and 92pf is a thumbs up Poured neat, nice coating of glass. Nose has buttered shortbread, rich malt, cinnamon applesauce and spiced oak. Pretty deep with only a trace of ethanol. Thick oily mouthfeel leads palate of creamy spicy malt with some apple, barley sugar and strong oak . Some heat and sizzle comes through but this is tasty scotch. Its aligned with Deanston 12 profile focusing more on the pure malt flavor with some surrounding accents. Finish is fading malt, some vanilla bean with sturdy oak that dries for some balance. Slightly bitter at end but not unpleasant. Great weight and powerpacked flavor make for an excellent single malt. Doesn't have the smoothness of older scotches(has some heat)and I would give the edge to Deanston but this is still upper level malt imo......89/100.......minor deduction for price and excess heat for a 14 yr

Let me just say one dram of this and you're in a good mood! This is fantastic. Here's my take. Poured neat, nose has spicy cinnamon, brown sugar, pie crust, black tea and nutmeg. Warm and inviting with surprising mild ethanol for 114 pf. Thick mouthfeel brings powerful caramel and brown sugar, yummy nuttiness, doughy rye note transitioning to oaky cinnamon and peppery spice. Is it hot? Well yes a little, but if you can stand the heat and chew it a bit you are rewarded with baklava like delicious robust flavor. Finish is long oak and spicy sweet. The high proof really delivers strong sweetness balanced by the spice of the high rye content topped off by the oak. When you factor in the cost(under $30 usually) this is amazing value. Needless to say I will purchase again and feel a little stupid for waiting to buy it. Highly recommended..........88/100...........Im becoming quite a fan of these 100 pf +high octane bourbons as they really bring it!!!...........Update : have a bottle of Bookers going and have to say this OGD114 is the same juice just younger/less developed. The taste profile is a near match making this at $20 an absolute steal for baby Bookers

After all the amazing reviews and ratings I snagged a bottle. This is some serious cask strength bourbon! Poured neat, clingy glass coat. Nose isn't as strong as I would have expected. Ethanol is present but muted. Has maple, leather, dusty caramel, varnished hardwood and wet leaves. Some rye notes come in after resting including some pleasant dill. Palate is bold oak soaked with thick maple caramel, cashew butter, candy apple, vibrant heat(not harsh) and robust spice. Wonderful heavy damp musky note throughout. Deep and complex with great balance of sweet/spicy with plenty of barrel at 9 years. Long lasting finish of melting caramel and strong musky oak with spicy cinnamon. I find the delivery less of a bomb going off like some high proof whiskey. Its more like a locomotive, once it gets going it cant be stopped powering through to finish. This is the most scotch like bourbon Ive had with the exceptional range and nuance of flavor. I had high expectations for this and Im not disappointed. Well worth the $42 I paid............91/100....fantastic bourbon, buck twenty yet smoooth.....dropping in some H2O opens the nose and blossoms the flavors or stick to neat and enjoy the heat.......I agree with everyone else, anyone that enjoys bourbon needs to try this heavyweight

Finally got this after all the glowing reviews. Poured neat, noses tea leaves, honeysuckle, heather, distant apricot and rich malt with a touch of wood. Irish like with the floral/honey . Its called gentle dram but the notes are there in spades. Palate is bursting with flavor. Gummy salty malt, more tea leaf and spiced wood with a drizzle of raw honey along with the floral aspects from nose. Its along the lines of Aberfeldy 12 only ratcheted up several notches. Finishes with long honeyed malt, sweet spice and salted soft pretzel with delicate dry fading barrel. It is an easy comforting single malt that delivers dense flavors and smoothness that keep you coming back for more..........91/100........Its the Redbreast of scotch, not overwhelming but so damn good with a purity and cleanness to it you have to take notice. Side note : this bottle/cork must be doing some kegels

Was up in NH area over this past week, picked this up at Kappy's in Medford MA for $29.99!!! Neat it noses rich smoke, olive brine, vanilla sweetness and oak. Palate brings smoky malt, salty seasoned wood with mild vanilla. Not as robust or deep as Quarter Cask but tasty nonetheless. Finish is long Islay smoke with malt and wood lingering on. Id give the nod to Lap 10 or QCask but this is solid Islay in spite of 80 proof......88/100..... My buddy and I polished off this bottle in one night so its quite drinkable along with very tasty.

Peatheads rejoice! This is a delicious smoky delight. Poured neat, nose is bbq smoker and pancake batter with malty vanilla and menthol. Palate is more of the same with the smoke taking center stage supported by some spicy heat and glazed doughnut roasting on wood fire embers with barrel notes lurking. Finish is Islay long with slow fade of malty sweet smoke and oak riding off into the sunset. Yes this is damn good scotch!. Carries a sizzle like some non age peaters but its better than the 10yr imo with additional bursting flavor from the smaller casks and a sweeter less briny edge to it. Safe to say someone who likes peated scotch will be on board with this. Even safer to say a Laphroaig fan will LOVE this scotch...........95/100

After the awesome Ardbeg I finally got this on sale for $39.99. Poured neat, oily glass coat. Noses smoke of course along with bandaids, salty meats, olive brine and some nice vanilla frosting sweetness. Palate is sweet malt with char,more smoke and salty/greasy fattiness. Its rich, full and flavorful. Also get some pine sap bitterness as the long finish comes with trailing smoke, brine and char. More peaty,medicinal and salty with less intense smoke than Ardbeg 10 but sweetness and malt flavor are more accessible. It has a refined greasy/fatty note that is just wonderful. Id give the edge to Ardbeg 10yr overall but this is superb as well. 90/100............Another glorious Islay peat/smoke monster