Tastes

The nose is raisins and toffee. On the palate: sherry notes balanced by honey - and also the oak, coming across as shortbread. The shortbread continues very briefly on the mid-palate, before the finish when the oak gets slightly bitter. The baking spices then make an understated appearance. The spice does intensify into a warming sensation if you quaff away back to back sips. But it's mellow and held back by the low 40% ABV. Like all good ex-sherry casked whiskies, this makes for a great cold weather drink, but it can be perfectly agreeable during the warmer months as well. The Redbreast 12 is a standard among sherried whiskies. With a friendlier palate than another standard, the Macallan 12 Sherry Oak, this is a reliable dram for a movie or happy hour event. It's a whiskey that doesn't take you on much of a journey. You don't have to spend a lot of time picking at it's nuances. It's good and simple. 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."

Nose is vanilla and fruit. Palate is apples, honey, and a bit of vanilla. Almost reminiscent of a highland scotch - but that could be a wish. The finish is a zing of citrus, then oak to mellow it out. As much as I like this whiskey, it leaves me wanting to open a bottle of scotch even more. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I would 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." Three 1/2 Stars: "Try before you buy." Four Stars: "I got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Smoked ham, sweet undertones of fruity toffee, and candied berries greets the nose. A palate follows of honeyed berry fruits, then greasy bacon, sea salt, a drizzling of maple syrup, and a finish of peppered beef jerky with kisses of mackerel. 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."

Honeyed bourbon sweetness, with salted meat and intense fruitiness. Heat. Smokey finish leading to sea salt and memories of fruit. 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."

Sweet highlights are threaded with a salty tang. The Campbeltown funk translates to me as a salty, tangy, and mildly chemical flavor. Adding water turns it into something lighter and more watery than most other bourbon-casked peers, reminding me of tequila reposado or a rum. I won't be purchasing another bottle again. The Kilkerran 12 is a much tastier Campbeltown scotch. 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."

Did your mother ever brew up honey-lemon tea to alleviate a cold? This is what that reminds me of. 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."

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."

Nose is raisins, figs, and plums. Palate is ditto with a spurt of spice. Following sips reveal hints of vanilla and toffee. Oaky, sweet and spicy finish. This could be better than the Sherry Oak Cask 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 is a special bottle: the one that started me on my Scotch exploration. Notwithstanding that it's over-priced and over-hyped, the big daddy Mac 12 is a classic. I still prefer the Glendronach 12, however, which goes for less. 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."

Bacon with a honeyed-flavor profile. Peat shows up initially on the palate, but as well as in the finish: as charcoal briquettes or burnt wood. Water tames it to reveal typical bourbon-cask flavors. Oxidation after a couple of weeks lends even sweeter, bourbon-cask characteristics. After the bottle is half-way to two thirds empty, the juice gets very citrusy, more so than any other peated expression I've tasted. I wholly agree with NAX515, the Ledaig 10 is a strong contender for a notable place in the peat realm. 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."