Tastes

Thanks to Flaviar, I got a tasting sample of this. First off, I hate peat as I've tried many peated scotches, but oddly I do not mind this whiskey at all. Maybe my pallete is changing or there is less peat smoke. Its an odd mix of sweet and meaty smoke, but it works. Letting it sit for about 10 minutes before enjoying really brought everything together. A nice vanilla cream and honey with an earthy and almost meaty smoke backbone.

Toss up on what I like more, 107 or the 12. $28 a pour. Note that this was a neck pour. Nose: Much more than the 107. Lots of vanilla upfront along with brown sugar, butterscotch and oak. Taste: Much like the nose but with mint and some barrel spice. Really silky mouthfeel. 12 years took the harshness of the 107 away. Finish: Short, but sweet and slightly drying.

Still trying to find the one scotch I truly would enjoy as a daily sipper. This is not bad, the peat I still have yet to get into though. Honey and fruit with some smokiness and dryness at the end. Well balanced.

When I first got this bottle, it was OK but not great. After a month of sitting, though, it really opened up. Floral, vanilla, carmels, spice notes and some oak and char as well. The solera style makes this bourbon taste unique and is a gentle, friendly bourbon to have as a daily sipper.

Dessert bourbon! Almost like a bourbon candy wrapped in a sherry shell. Has some nice spice to it as well. Creamy mouthfeel and medium length finish.

Had a 50ml sample bottle. Lots of sherry influence with some of that classic redbreast. I like it, but would rather enjoy the 12, 12CS, or 15 over this.

Chose this over the Bushmills 16 as it was cheaper and at 46% ABV. Bushmills is close to $120 and only 40% ABV. Note that this was based on a neck pour. Nose: Candied fruit, butterscotch, vanilla, cinnamon oatmeal/grahm cracker. Taste: Much like the nose with the fruits and bourbon influences coming through. Oily and creamy mouthfeel. Finish: Citrus, champagne?, grahmcracker, coconut, oak dryness. Well balanced and I can only wonder what it will be like as it opens up.