Tastes

Malt cereal forward with tasting notes leading to sweet fruit at mid-palate. Not a sweet beginner whisky. But it is far from challenging, like a Campbeltown, Island, or Islay. It does get milder, and smoother, with a couple of teaspoons of water. Not much, or no, peat. It is doubtful that I'll buy another bottle. But who knows where my mood will take me at the store? Oh, and the cork is, aesthetically, the most pleasing cork I've ever seen. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Gentle, heather honey notes lead to a delicately rounded mouthfeel. Very friendly and nice, but not as subdued as an Irish whiskey. At $70-$80 USD, it's a tad pricey. But if you want to make an impression on a beginner scotch drinker, this is a great pick. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Buttered raisin bread, chased down with raisin, fig, and plum juices. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Smooth, with tasty bourbon-cask notes. Not superior to other bourbon-casked scotches in the $60-$75 USD range. And not crazy different, either. But it does have this fantastic pineapple note at the finish. Unique and memorable. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Drinking this neat, the Clynelish 14 is like a sweeter, more intense Oban 14. Adding a teaspoon or two of water brings me breakfast cereal milk, followed by grilled citrus fruits. Amazing. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Maritime smoke with un-defined sweetness. Sips afterwards reveal cured meat with overlays of fruity, honeyed characters. The finish is maritime sea salt, with a decent amount of brininess. A tad too briny for me. I will gladly drink this any day, but I don't think I will buy a bottle. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

The palate is a journey of red fruit and wine-like juices flowing around a butterscotch base. A steal at the going price, and better suited to my tastes than the Glendronach 12 (!) My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

This tastes like a heavily-peated, Highland bourbon-casked whisky. Malt cereals are up front, then proceeded by smoked honey. This is my first taste of the Bruichladdich distillery, and a very fine one at that. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Vanilla, honey, and a lemony sour note from the oak on the nose. The palate is vanilla and a slight fruitiness, then cane sugar. The combination of rum and oak produces a surprising cinnamon and tobacco note (if you can find it in the spice notes that are unique to this bottle). Follow that note and the oak makes itself known in the finish. The cinnamon with the oak reminds me of a bourbon mid-palate-to-finish, albeit with an infusion of rum sweetness. Different and interesting to drink, but not a personal fave. It may fare better with a cigar. I don't know why I didn't like this whisky, despite the glowing reviews. I was extremely disappointed in my palate for missing whatever that was good. I just couldn't lock on the Balvenie flavor profile. While rum was the currency that introduced the world to the English concept of "proof", it hasn't exactly done wonders here. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Honey sweet at first, followed by ginger spice and a slight medicinal flavor. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."