Tastes

It's alright. Too much rye for my liking.

It's not the worst thing I've had, but even at the low cost it's not worth it.

I'm not usually a Speyside guy, but I gave a bottle of the Shieldaig 30 to a Speyside-loving friend for his birthday and we opened it together. On the nose was citrus (he thought more orange, myself more lemon) and warm spices. Creamy mouthfeel with notes of citrus (the orange came through), baking spices, and sweet chocolate. Long finish of dark, dried fruits.

I tried a bottle of High Plains single barrel, so the ABV was a little over 60 and I added a few drops of water. This was definitely a Balcones, but the sherry dominated. Within the Balcones line up, I prefer their Peated Single Malt, Brimstone, and Lineage as they all have more enticing complexities.

Smoke and black pepper. Pretty good for the age and price.

I've never had anything else by FEW, so I don't know how it compares to the rest of their lineup but I like this. It's a bit punchy and sweet before coffee flavors come in on the back end. I found adding just a bit of water or a single ice cube really opened it up.

Bold, sweet, and rich.

This was Chivas-esque and had a French whisky mouth feel. Very easy and relaxed.

This was pretty damn good. There is more depth to the nose and palate than just about anything I've tried. What came through strongest was dried fruits, Cabernet, a hint of chocolate, and not so much smoke as an aroma of a freshly baked dessert. This whisky deserves to be savored with fine dining experience.