Tastes
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Nice, deep hue; Bourgogne makes its influence on the well malted nose, and along with it comes red berries; I taste cherries, heather honey, sweet malt, and J.K.'s hard cider; this one burns tart and tannic, and it's fruity finish is long and smooth; where it lacks in depth it makes up for in the finish; a nice one for a mature summer night.
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A nice color for this one; the first whiff reveals smoke and malt predominately, followed by softer notes of vanilla, sweet cereal, and orange zest; this one is on the lighter side in both flavor and body, and the palate adds a pinch of rock salt and quite a great deal more vanilla to what the nose has already given; eventually English toffee comes to play a more forward role, whereas the peatiness shows up for a cameo in the rounded finish; a light dram, albeit with complexity of flavor.
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Revisiting an old friend, this time in its home on the Isle of Skye. Color is straw-like gold; the nose is vanilla, peat smoke, and toasted hazelnuts; on the tongue it is hot, peppery, and briny immediately, with a balancing, rich flavor of salted caramel — the malt shows up following these but is more subdued, and the oiliness helps the flavor stay on the palate for quite a while; the peppery burn lingers and lingers (probably my favorite aspect here), while the aftertaste is smoky and mildly wooded. The Talisker 10 is mundane and should be celebrated as such — it's what makes this one so great for me.
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First impressions of the nose bring to mind the finesse of Laphroaig and the smoky vibrancy of Port Charlotte — I'm intrigued from the first moment; nose continues with smoked meat, malt, and morning dew; taste is of more sweet and smoky meat (prosciutto?), and next comes honeydew and medicinal, herbal tea; the complexity the peat offers this dram is pretty extravagant; the finish is long and smooth, like a nice English tobacco blend; Mull has impressed me with this one — Islay aficionados, do try. Great to have this in Glasgow's lovely Kelvingrove Café. Five stars for overall taste and value.
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The copper color is beautiful — I could look at it for an hour; the first thing that comes immediately to mind is smoked venison summer sausage, and soon after I smell seaweed, charcoal, peat smoke, and orange (when it's grilled with chicken breast) — the nose, even more than the color, has me paralyzed; the palate boasts sweet smoke from a blazing bonfire, the northern woods, more smoked game, maple bacon, and burnt cereal (think oven-baked barley with molasses); the eternally smoky finish leaves me wondering what lodge I've just been to, having eaten my fill of hunted game and roasted vegetables; the aftertaste is more of the seaside, with mineral salt and peat coming to the fore in a brilliant way; an experience I won't forget — earthy, peaty, smoky, hunted fare. I was always skeptical, but now I understand the hype. Now to try the presumably highly underrated Lagavulin 12. Definitely a 4.5.
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Glenkinchie 12 Year
Single Malt — Lowlands, Scotland
Reviewed July 18, 2015 (edited December 24, 2016)Nostalgic after-the-rain scent of a field of tall grass and mixed flowers in southern Indiana (a feeling locked in to memories of my childhood) — sweetness of hay, quite malty, and very floral; hints of vanilla and tropical fruit (dominated by lemon) on the palate, with a subdued but bountifully spicy maltiness; tea-like bitterness in the mouthfeel with a deep burn; definitely light in body but woody enough, the finish is lengthy and peppery; aftertaste is of dry prairie grass and has a malty depth; mundane but elegant, this reminds me of Deanston Virgin Oak but with far more assertiveness and surety. A pleasure to share this dram with my dear friend Kory in celebration of his marriage! -
GlenDronach Original 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed July 11, 2015 (edited March 3, 2017)Beautiful color of rich copper. The nose reveals the Pedro Ximénez quite conspicuously; I smell overripe red grapes, honey, heavy malt, and it's pleasantly musty and sweet smelling. Incredible taste: rich Highland malt, sweet red grapes, pecans, nutmeg, baked peaches, barrel spices; and later, sticky sweet fruitiness along the lines of dates and dried cherries. There is a fairly tart and tannic mouthfeel at play, with a refreshing minerality. The finish returns to spiced raisins and malt and offers a lengthy, honeyed burn. This is a special Highland dram — a more-than-qualified spokesperson for the region. -
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select
Tennessee Whiskey — Tennessee, USA
Reviewed July 10, 2015 (edited December 29, 2019)Deep chestnut in color. Nose of caramel and pecan praline. I rarely take so much time to enjoy the aroma; this one has made quite the impression. The nose is well represented in the taste, but smoky oak and menthol come to the fore after a moment on the palate. Vanilla comes along steadily as the glass continues. A sweet pipe tobacco note brings the finish, but it's tinged with a medicinal syrup taste that feels overly synthetic. The glass ends full and oaky, wrapping up all that the whiskey has offered thus far for a nice finish. Pleasantly surprised — pretty superb overall! Easily 3.5 as opposed to just 3 stars. -
Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year
Blended Malt — Scotland
Reviewed July 3, 2015 (edited August 7, 2017)Dry and earthy to the nose, sea breeze, light malt, sherried perhaps; taste of salted fruits (sour apples, cherries), white pepper, hint of peat, nicely smoky; light body but nonetheless exciting; dry finish with sweet smoke and a peppery, medium-length burn; well balanced, excellent; easily the best blended malt I've ever enjoyed. -
Macallan Fine Oak 15 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed April 20, 2015 (edited August 3, 2021)The first work of the bees in springtime, aromatic and floral, peach blossoms, freshly peeled Minneola orange, sweet apple... and that's just the nose. A longer draw and you sense its richer aromas, like maple syrup and cocoa. I taste peaches, spiced cider, baking chocolate, honeysuckle, and this all supported by a lovely oak flavor that brings depth but delicacy. This dram sports an all-present body and an enlightening, revitalizing mouthfeel. The finish is spicy, on the dry side, and full of a dozen other niceties, like menthol and lightly sweetened strawberries. All-in-all: delicate, peach, oak, sophisticated. Fine oak indeed. Update: this whisky was great but only deserves three stars for the value. Typical Macallan, it would seem, in that it's overpriced compared to what other distillers offer for similar bottlings.
Results 121-130 of 145 Reviews