Tastes

For a blended whisky, Johnnie Walker Black Label is pretty good. It's light and has notes of dark fruit, with a subtle smoky finish. Nothing mindblowing, but a pleasant sip. This is a perfect whisky for someone trying to get into smoky whiskies, though I can see why a more experienced drinker could be bored by it.

A passable blended whisky, but quite bland and nothing memorable. The palate has notes of honey, apple and apricot. The finish is heavy on the ethanol and sherry, something I'm not that fond of (it's a personal thing). This is one of those whiskies that I like less and less, the more I drink it. When it comes to blended whiskies in a similar price class, I prefer Johnnie Walker Black Label and (I can't believe I'm saying this) even Red Label.

I bought a 35CL bottle of this one as a joke, just to see why many consider this to be one of the worst whiskies ever. To be fair, the Red Label isn't bad, but it's quite bland. On the palate I get a bit of apple, honey and peat, but that's about it. The finish is short, smoky and fades pretty quickly. Not a memorable whisky and it's clearly one that's meant for mixing, which is reflected by its cheap price point. I've certainly had much worse whiskies (f.e. Canadian whiskies).

Admittedly, I bought Tincup because of the cool looking bottle and the fact that it comes with a free 'shot glass' (the cup on top of the bottle). But it turns out it's a pretty good whiskey on its own. The nose is light and sweet, on the palate I get cinnamon and black pepper. The finish is incredibly smooth and contains hints of toasted oak. Personally I'm more a fan of higher-proof whiskies, but overall Tincup is an easy-drinking whiskey with enough spiciness to keep things interesting.

One of the first premium bourbons I've tried, and it's a smooth, easy-drinking whiskey. I find it pretty similar to Buffalo Trace, but the palate has a sharper mint taste and is more peppery. Solid stuff, but personally I prefer Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (which is even smoother).