Tastes

Was hoping for a Talisker knockoff,... not to be. There seems to be a lot of positive reviews here by many members I respect the opinions of. I dont know if they are grading on a curve cause this is a new distillery but Im just not feeling it. Regular pricing on this is around $55-60 but I got it on sale for $33 at TW. Poured neat this could be the lightest color whisky Ive ever seen just a tick above water. Noses like a smoky though with sweet bbq pit oceanside, wet graham cracker, cardboard and salty oak but not much depth. Palate is smoky,salty and sweet but generic and thin. Traditional smoke fade finish with some ash, tobacco and pepper added. There is nothing bad about this malt its just not standing out. Perhaps its the youth at play but Wee Beastie is young and still packs a punch. I will say there is a refinement not every smoker has and with more age this could be a player. I dont dislike this but would put it more on the level of Ardmore than the big boys. The $33 I paid is fine value but $60 is right out. I cannot score any peated scotch low as they are pretty damn good even when below the competition.........83/100

This is pricey for a 12 yr but not many lowlands out there. Nose is floral pear and malt with nutmeg spiced oak. Rich and inviting aroma. Palate is thick flavored poached pear simmered in baking spices and butter. There is malt, honey, heather, oak and a pinch of salt balancing the sweet. Finish is long fade of palate with slightly drying tannins at close. This is a highly satisfying malt but needs to clipped by a few $ to truly compete. Kept from 4 star by value only......89/100......superior to many 12 yr malts including the similar Aultmore and nipping at the heels of Cragganmore. Actually reminds me a lot of Dalwinnie 15. If this was under $60 its an easy 4 star

Have read a couple good reviews on this but always thought it was gonna be the usual sourced generic bourbon with fancy labeling. For $30's I wanted nothing to do with it. On sale at TW for $16.99 is worth a flyer though. Nose has dusty orange peel, bit of barrel char and some baking spice. Not too bad at all. Palate is Grand Marnier, light caramel and oak with a spicy sizzle. Finishes charred oak, orange peel and some fading spicy sweetness. Flavors are a little thin but pleasant. Nice overall different bourbon experience. While this is better than I expected I would probably not repurchase ymmv.........81/100......I'll give it a solid 3 its good enough especially at price I paid. In the $30's better stuff out there

This is an older review never posted but I just got another bottle on sale for $15 so figured post away. : I wanted to get a rye with a different mashbill. There are a lot with 95 rye and a lot with 51rye. This one at 70% fit the bill . Nose I get juicy fruit gum for sure along with banana and doughy rye combining for a banana bread of sorts. Also some burnt campfire marshmallow and a little dill as well. Palate provides more banana,rye dough, touch of caramel and char with a little heat. Finishes with fading sweetness and cereal, minimal burn with oak/char/dill hanging on. I was leery of JD rye but this is good stuff, suits my sweet palate well. Overall Im surprised and impressed and feel this is a unique enjoyable profile for a rye. 83/100......great value here and the single barrel is even a few clicks better

Another young TW house single malt. Nose is blast of new make malt, little bit pink eraser and some garden herbs with mild oak. You can infer some fruit but its gentle for a Speyside. Palate is undercooked pasta, pinch of dried fruit, more baby new make and green barrel. Its easy drinking but thin and tastes incomplete/ not quite ready. Finishes dry barrel with wispy malt and distant fruit. This is just a budget SM not meant to be dissected more a mixer or palate setter. TW states this is top selling SM and for the price it does serve a purpose. Has no bitter grain twang and can be drank neat for cash strapped scotch lovers. If you are more seasoned there is no need to check this out. The only Shieldaig worth your time is the Islay......75/100.........nothing special but bump for value

Alright here is another TW brand. Looking at an 8 yr Speyside for normal $20 but I got on sale for $11.99. Yes 8yr single malt scotch for 12 bucks. Is it great...no. Does it suck...no. Nose is young bubble gummy new make malt with overripe red fruit. Touch of scotch tape and light oak. Palate is more 3M with fruity malt, apple skin and baking spice sprinkled on a wet piece of wooden furniture. Finish fades the palate and is surprisingly not an instant drop off. Left with toothpicks, tape and malt. It is easy to drink and has no bitter grain or even off putting tannins some lesser young scotches have. It is undercooked though and not very robust in the flavor dept. For what I paid its a great palate setter or cheap mixer and better than bottom shelf blends. For 20 its still decent if your pockets are light but most would be better served upgrading to Monkey Shoulder/Dewars 12/Naked Malt........78/100

On sale for almost half off I couldnt resist. Nose is candle wax with floral fruit, dryer lint and toasted oak. Some graininess sneaks in around the edges. Melted waxy fruit on the palate but now the grain is fully announced. There is some decent malt and light oak but the damn grain washes it out. Finish is twangy sour grain masking the fade of fruit/malt/oak. Its got that funk like someone puked in the high school hallway and the janitor threw sawdust on it. Its a shame as there are some nice flavors here just crushed by grain alcohol......67/100.....can drink it but dont really want to

Amped up version of the 80 pf. Plenty of cinnamon maple cornbread and oak throughout. Im not getting as much cherry as many others have(do get some marischino). Its vibrant and full of flavor but quite unrefined and a bit ethanol boozy. Cheap enough its tough to ***** too much and to be honest this is probably supposed to be a mixer anyway. Not as good as Makers/Larceny/1843 ...........73/100.......the 80 pf is in same league imo

So here is another value scotch that comes in a variety of finishes. Nose is berry fruit roll up with some light barrel wood and pinch of spice. Its pretty low key and blend -like. Palate is red berry alongside some malt with a touch of baking spice and oak. Its not totally thin but its dieting. Finish is standard fare with notes fading slowly leaving fruity malt. This is dominated by the cab finish covering up average at best new make. Not bad but not a repurchase and I will not try the other offerings. I prefer the Glen Moray finished line to this as its more scotchy, Tamnavulin is too cask influenced ......75/100...........end of day its a $30 single malt so I nonetheless enjoyed the bottle just better options out there

I was excited when I found this for $139 at TW. Many strong reviews here hopes were high as this was 3rd most I ever spent on a bourbon(Cowboy/Balmo higher).The nose on this is wonderful with smoky vanilla, overcooked caramel and a bouquet of sweet seasoned antique wood. I would surmise this is what walking down the staircase on the Titanic smelled like. A drop of water can coax out a hint of grassy dill from the rye content. The mouthfeel is thinner than expected leading palate of rich baking spice and scorched caramel with some vanilla coconut milk. Then it hits you....the oak. This is an oak bomb crashing down on you like Lucille on poor Glen. Some cinnamon and stacks of old newspaper settle in there at some point too but the barrel keeps on rolling. Finish is of course massive oak fade with a nice buttermilk surround and some lingering smoky caramel. If you enjoy STRONG oak influence in your bourbon do not pass go just buy it now. I feel a bit overwhelmed by it but really like some parts of the experience. I let this breathe for a while after I opened before review to see if it would mellow and it did a smidge. There is no denying the quality here and overall refinement. If that pushes your buttons you will probably love this. Im realizing I prefer younger heavy flavor bomb bourbons aka Cowboy/Bookers/1920(or do I). Still I cannot give this too low a score as I have enjoyed my bottle and appreciate what it offers but at $150ish probably wouldnt rebuy.......88/100......YMWV