Tastes

Disappointed. Bought a bottle of this based on reputation, and deeply regret it. This is a sweetness bomb. Vanilla and honey punch you in the face on the nose and in the palate. Finish is disappointingly thin and short, and lacks much complexity. This is everything I hate about bourbon, done to perfection. If you like cloyingly sweet bourbon then this is the drop for you.

This is absolutely fantastic. Warm, sweet, rich. Huge bite on the front, which wakes your mouth up, only to then deliver something truly delicious. Well done Kathleen.

Fruit up front, smoke on the back. Pretty close to perfection. If this was double the price it would be good. For the price it's absolutely fantastic.

What a dissapointment. Black Label is usually a triumph, and was hoping this would push the blend into a Laphroaig PX direction. Instead it just tastes like they mixed a bit of expired sherry in with the blend. The smoke suffers as a result, and there is a bad-wine like bitterness. All around a shame.

Hot on the tongue, rough flavours. Grabbed this to try as an alternative to jw black, this is vastly inferior. This is going in cheap cocktails and next time I'll stick with the Johnnie.

Reminds me a bit of macallan. Of the 3 exclusives, this one feels the burn of the 110 proof the most, which overwhelms some of the sweetness. Palate is thin but eventful. Finish is lingering fire and smoke.

Remarkable for what it is. A bit medicinal on the nose. First taste is that classic Yoichi vanilla sweetness, but it immediately fades to a wonderfully Peaty, Briney glow. Body is a bit thin, due to the lack of an age statement, but the way it lingers in your mouth is the stuff Islay dreams are made of.

Incredible whisky. Flavours are complex and exciting, but also inviting at the same time. Gets better as you go along too. Was incredibly fortunate to try this, a bartender took a liking to me and offered me some from his secret bottle. I get what all the fuss is about.

After finally cracking my bottle, I can understand why this is a controversial drop. Where other whiskys go for one big bold flavour (smoke, peat, fruit, etc), or have outstandingly complex flavours mingled together, this does not. The overwhelming impression from drinking Blue Label is "smooth". Nothing is yelling loudly, everything is calm and soft and gentle. I can see that after spending big $$$ people wanted something big, and this isn't big at all, its small and quiet...and that on its own is truly outstanding. One bit of advice - even if you're an avowed 'on the rocks' drinker - skip the ice or even the water with this one. It is so gentle so as to completely disappear with even a little water.

This is a great, cheap rye. Goes well as a mixer (try a horsefeather), and theres enough going on to enjoy it straight up. If it was more expensive it wouldn't rate anywhere nearly as high.