Tastes

Aberlour : A'bunadh, a no age statement, single malt scotch whisky hailing from the speyside region. Price : $91.99. Sampled on 3/9/15 with 3 teaspoons of water in a Glencairn spirits nosing glass. Aroma - Rum cake, brown sugar, bittered honey and currants, lots of blackberry, almost to the point of blackberry jam. Taste - Honeyed arrival, marzipan, almond, sherry, rum cake, a distinct saltiness and plum. Finishes with a long lasting flavor and burn. Final score : 4 / 5, would buy again at the right price.

Speyburn 10, a 10 year old speyside single malt scotch whisky from Speyburn distillery. Price : $32.99, Sampled on 3/3/15 with 1/2 teaspoon of water in a Glencairn spirits nosing glass. Aroma - Heavy prune and raisin, sharp alcohol nip, vanilla, light marzipan, perhaps some fleeting cilantro here, brown sugar and pineapple. Taste - Vanilla, fruit, fleeting cilantro again, woodsap, extremely light medicinal smoke. Finishes with a medium lingering flavor and long lingering burn. Final score : 3.5 / 5, You aren't going to find a cheaper single malt, and what you're getting is a decently high quality spirit when you account for the price you've paid. Work equally as well as a mixer for those rare cocktails that call for single malt scotch. Wouldn't necessarily purchase again, but is worth adding under your belt.

Johnnie Walker : Swing, a no age statement blended scotch whiskey. Price : $62.99, Sampled on 5/8/14 with 3/4 teaspoon of water in a Glencairn spirits nosing glass. Aroma - Fruit basket, bright flora, honey, vanilla, light brown sugar, spice, cacao, cherry pits and cherry wood, tea and raisin. Flavor - Sweet and sour, smokey, fudge, raisins and English breakfast tea. Finishes with a medium lingering flavor and burn. Final score : 4.5 / 5, not sure what's up with the low scores here, in my opinion this is one of the finest blended scotches I've had and definitely is the best thing Johnnie Walker produces. Will definitely buy again.

Johnnie Walker : Double Black, a blended scotch whisky. No age statement. Price : $43.99. Sampled on 4/29/14 with roughly 1/2 teaspoon of water in a Glencairn spirits nosing glass. Aroma - Immediate smoke, peat, light fruit, golden syrup, prunes, darker cooked fruits and brown sugar. Taste - Light smoke, slightly sour, light almond and cherry, all around light. Finishes with a quickly fading flavor and burn. Final score : 2 / 5 would not buy this one again.

The Macallan 12, 12 year speyside single malt from Macallan distillery. Price : $62.99 Sampled : 4/24/2014 with 2 teaspoons of water. Aroma - Raisin, plums, dates, marzipan, dark cooked fruits, light warm nutmeg and vanilla. Taste - Vanilla, raisin, currants, dark fruit and German stollen cake. Finishes with a medium lingering burn and flavor. Final score - 3.5 / 5. Would buy this one again for the right price.

Auchentoshan 12 year Lowland scotch, price : $44.99 Had this with 3/4 teaspoon of water. Aroma - Orange marmalade, green apple, light cinnamon, heavy licorice - almost to an absinthe character, almond, pound cake and dates. Taste - Almond, cinnamon, marzipan and cake. Finishes with a quickly fading flavor and burn. Final score 2.5 / 5, found this to fall flat on the complexity, a one trick pony, would not buy again.

Glenmorangie Quinta Rutan 12 year old Highland scotch Sampled : 4/20/15, price $58.99 Aroma - Cherry liqueur, slight bourbon, pears, cab and port wines and sour brandy. Taste - Cherry, almond, marzipan, cooked plum and cherry wood. Finishes with a quick lingering flavor and medium/long lingering burn. Final score, 3/5, might consider buying again at the right price.

Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask 14yr. Speyside, Sampled 12/24/15 Had with 3/4 teaspoon of water Aroma - Coconut rum, light bourbon influences, sweet fresh banana, almond paste, distinctive rye character, oak and heavy whipping cream. One of the best smelling scotches I've encountered. Taste - Buttery, heavy cream, coconut milk, lighty-spiced rum, very smooth and oily texture, very balanced and measured arrival. Finishes with a medium lingering flavor and burn. Final score 5 / 5, one of the tastiest scotches I've had the pleasure of trying, will definitely buy again.

Highland Park 12 by Highland Park distillery Highland scotch, price $52.99 Sampled on 4/20/14 with 3/4 teaspoons of water Aroma - Lots of bright green sour apple, the sourness takes on an almost tequila twang, distinctive rye character, ivory soap, light leather, bittered honey, wood sap, resin and brown sugar. Taste - Gentle smoke, green apple, a bit of rye and a slightly meaty quality. Truly does have "a little bit of everything" in its flavor. Finishes with a medium lingering flavor and a long lingering burn. Final score 5 / 5. This has become my favorite, regular daily dram and thus I would definitely buy again.

Ardbeg 10 by Ardbeg distillery 10 year old Islay single malt, price : 38.99 Sampled on 4/19/14 with 2 teaspoons of water Aroma - Peat smoke, campfires, Ivory soap and marzipan with a hint of green apple. Taste - Peat, woodsmoke, slightly medicinal. Finishes with a quickly lingering flavor and medium lingering burn. 3 / 5 would not necessarily buy again.