Tastes

Stop number 32 on the SDT is Glencadam. This Highland distillery was established in 1825 (hence the name Origins 1825), one year after it became legal to distill spirits in the Highlands of Scotland. This NAS single malt was matured in ex bourbon barrels and finished in Oloroso sherry butts. Bottled at 40% ABV and most likely is chill filtered. It does appear to be a natural golden color, but it could also just be a good job of blending in that caramel colorant. Either way it's not stated anywhere. Fun fact: the line arms on the pot stills at Glencadam are pitched at an upward angle of 15 degrees, unlike the vast majority of stills that are at a downward angle. This forces more reflux in the stills and produces are lighter and more delicate spirit. The nose arrives with bright and warm citrus/orchard and tropical fruits. Oranges, apricots, nectarines, pears and lemon peel. A little mango and white grape juice in there as well. Lots of vanilla, some honey and a touch of salt. The style is very similar to Oban. Brief hints of new leather and cardboard. The sherry finishing becomes apparent with dates and raisins and a little brown sugar. Very light oak and then more vanilla and orchard fruits. I detected some licorice root in the background that added another layer of complexity. The palate pretty much mimics the nose. Citrus/orchard fruits, vanilla cream and a little toffee. Very mild peppery oak. Again, similar to Oban but without the salty seashore notes. No real pronounced sherry notes here. Light to medium bodied, a little oily and dry. The finish is short. Dry with some sweet fruits and a little spice. I think this is an example of a NAS done well. Well, but not exceptional. I think the sherry finishing really did more to mellow out the bourbon influence than it did to add much in the way of complexity, unfortunately. I do think this would have really benefited from an additional 3% ABV. This would be best enjoyed in late spring/early summer. A better finish would have really helped, but it's still a great value for money at $45. Thanks to Pranay for the sample. 3.75 Cheers

Stop number 31 on the SDT is Cardhu. This Speyside distillery provides one of the key malts in the Johnnie Walker blends (although it does not appear the Green Label). This 12 year old is bottled at 40% ABV and has enough colorant in it to make it look like JW Black Label. It appears to also be chill filtered. At one time (and it may still be), this was the best selling single malt scotch in Spain. Let's see what all the Spaniards are making such a fuss about. On the nose it is heavy with honey and cereal malt. It immediately screams JW. Pears, plums, soft oak and wood resin. There is melon and maybe some strawberries, peaches and dull oranges. Very grassy as well but in a very good way. Light nuts, maybe hazelnut and some old cardboard. Toffee, vanilla and faint cocoa powder. Some cinnamon and possibly another type of wood spice, ginger or maybe licorice with a sort of mocha note trailing off. I thought for a moment that there was a beautiful smoky BBQ aroma, but alas it was one of my neighbors grilling up dinner. Heather honey all over the palate. Floral with weak black tea and light milk chocolate. Malty sweet with a little pepper that builds up just enough to make you take notice. Banana, oak, toffee and vanilla. Very interesting and engaging. A medium to light body. A little creamy, but turns very dry. The finish, unfortunately, is rather short. Sweet with oak and pepper and a puff of smoke that fades as quickly as it appears. I have to say that I am quite impressed. I went into this one seeing the heavy colorant and legal minimum strength and expected the worst. What I got was a solid single malt with a strength that transcends its ABV. Very well balanced. It shows like a true 12 year old, some complexity with a little youthful kick. I would love to have a go at this one at cask strength. If you are a fan of Johnnie Walker you will probably enjoy this. Again, very impressed at this colored, chill filtered, 40% Speysider. This may turn into one of those must have on hand for guests type of scotches. Others may think I'm crazy for giving it a 4, but I'm looking at all the things it has going against it and still coming out on top. Plus, at $50 it's a damn good value for money. Cheers, MFers!

So I'm finally getting around to reviewing this limited release from Compass Box Whisky. I was lucky enough to get a generous sample from my friend Lee. I've had it for a while and since I'm between rounds of our distillery tour now is the perfect time to get to know it. This is a blended scotch with malts from Caol Ila and Glen Ord and grain whisky from Girvan and Strathclyde. The Caol Ila is only 4% of the total recipe but it's a mature 30 years old. Bottled at cask strength, 53.1% ABV, natural color of golden syrup and non chill filtered. The nose starts with a sort of sherry citrus like lemons and raisins. After some time it turns more to dark cherries and dates. New leather and cocoa powder. Softer notes like coconut cream, vanilla and fudge come into existence with toasted oak and a nice thread of smoke. Plums and prunes and some nice floral notes are in there as well. There is a lot of American oak at play here presenting notes like ripe banana, caramel and toffee and maybe some almonds. Very mature, full and rich. The palate arrives very peppery and powerful, a huge surprise compared to the nose. Sherry oak, leather and cherry syrup. Like the nose I get coconut cream, cocoa and vanilla. There is a faint orange note in there as well. Caramel, cinnamon and clove. After that it's just more peppery assaults on the tongue. Quite strong. A very oily mouthfeel. Mouthwatering at first but it does turn dry. The finish is medium long, slightly smoky with sherry oak and cherry. I wasn't really sure what kind of profile I was expecting here, but I am certainly not walking away disappointed. It's powerful but has an elegance to it. I have to say, as good as it is I think I prefer the Lost Blend over this one. It's the palate that was the deciding factor. It's just too strong to be a relaxing sipper. It demands much of you unless you add water, which I don't really enjoy doing. Still, I'm very happy to say that I have had a taste of this very limited release. Thanks Lee. Closer to 4.25 than 4.5 Cheers

I received a sample of this Kentucky straight bourbon from my bourbon guy at work. His father in law is a member of the Georgia Bourbon Society and this is a single barrel that they hand picked in 2016. 8 years and 3 months old, 125 proof or 62.5% ABV. Natural color of deep amber and non chill filtered. This has a mash bill that is 75/15/10% corn/rye/malted barley. Initially the nose is a big jumble of flavors and a little clunky. Letting it settle down reveals strong cinnamon and light oak. A good amount of vanilla, brown sugar, toffee and caramel. Surprisingly fruity with red berries, baked cinnamon apples and pears. Rye bread with some honey tea notes and maybe a little nuttiness. It becomes sweeter with bubblegum notes. More vanilla and caramel towards the end. A dash of water allows for more vanilla, oak and apples to come through. Mostly cinnamon on the palate initially. Apples and pears come though next with vanilla and caramel. Oak and a little rye with a general sweetness like cotton candy and overripe banana. Full bodied mouthfeel that is hot, oily and mouthwatering. A long finish with vanilla, oak and a hint of mint. This is surprisingly easy to drink at 125 proof. A good amount of fruit and the cinnamon is not overbearing. A mostly typical bourbon profile, but less oak than I would have expected. A pretty good value at $47 locally given the high ABV. I think it would be best enjoyed with a big ice ball, but it's good neat. I do think that it would be better with a higher rye content, maybe 25-30% instead of 15. I give it a 4.25. Cheers

I have had a sample of this whisky sitting on my shelf for I don't know how long, Generously provided by my friend Lee. Now that I am between rounds of our trading group I have the time to finally enjoy it. Glendronach is a Highland distillery known for its spicy profile and high level of quality. Bottled at 46% ABV, non chill filtered and natural color of a tawny copper. Matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks. The nose is full and intense sherry. Figs/dates, raisins and plums, a real sherry bomb. Caramel and light vanilla. Semi sweet chocolate and fresh coffee notes. Quite mature, but definitely on the sweeter side from those first fill Oloroso casks. Blood oranges, brown sugar and dark cherries. Hardly any oak even after 18 long years. Faint ginger and cinnamon & sugar. Maple syrup after some time and more sherry wine notes. Lovely. The palate is sweet, almost too sweet but not quite, right in the "sweet spot" for lack of a better term. A nice spice profile, again right in the sweet spot. Not overly spicy, but just enough kick to keep your attention. Sherried fruits, mostly dates and raisins. Very light oak and ginger with some maple syrup. The casks have almost completely overtaken the spirit/distillery profile. They do a good job though. Medium bodied and an oily mouthfeel. Mouthwatering and smooth. The finish is long. Sweet and a little peppery. Mouthwatering throughout and full on sherry. This is really not a scotch that is meant to be dissected. It's too good. It should be enjoyed with friends (preferably those who can appreciate a fine scotch) while relaxing or celebrating. Personally I would have liked a little more of an oaky character and a hint of peat, 5-10 ppm, but it's hard to find any other faults here. For the price ($170 locally) it really is a special occasion type bottle. I would definitely buy it for that purpose though. Thanks again Lee, I really enjoyed it. 4.5 Cheers

Stop number 30 (and the final stop of round two) of the SDT is Kilchoman. Sanaig is one in Kilchoman's core range of expressions. 46% ABV, and like all Kilchoman whiskies, it is natural color and non chill filtered. This one is an amber gold in color. Rich soft peat on the nose. Less intense than the Machir Bay. Grilled apricots and peaches, unexpected but quite pleasant. Lemongrass, a little lime and oranges. Sherry sweetness, raisins, dates and plums. No real oak to speak of, but a sawdust sensation is there. Caramel and burnt sugar and a touch of dark chocolate. More like a Lagavulin than a Laphroaig. After time in the glass I got a distinct mocha note followed by maple syrup. The palate has more peat than the nose indicated. Meaty. Bonfire and cigar ashes. Cocoa dusted oranges, mocha and pepper. A little salted caramel to round it all out. It has a youthful zip but shows maturity beyond its years. On the verge of true elegance. A medium bodied mouthfeel that is dry. The finish is long and rich. Peat smoke and dark sherry/mocha. This is like the fraternal twin of Machir Bay. Born together but distinct personalities. This is comprised of both sherry and bourbon maturation, but mostly sherry. The Machir Bay is the opposite. The Oloroso casks really mellowed out the young spirit. I would buy a full bottle even at $5-10 more than its brother. I would prefer to wait until it had a few more years of maturation to it as I feel it could be something amazing. Another 10 years in sherry casks and then maybe finishing in virgin American oak could do wonders. Thanks to Scott for the sample. Looking forward to round 3 and all the wonderful samples therein. Solid 4 Cheers

Jameson is a staple with my wife and her whole family. They are part Irish and love to fly that flag, so I figured it's time to review their whiskey of choice. It's only the most popular blended Irish whiskey in the world after all. 40% ABV, chill filtered, and it appears to be colored to make it a nice amber. The nose is very light and bright. Citrusy like lemon and grapefruit. Corn Flake type cereal notes. Floral honey and lemongrass. Very light oak. Slight alcohol smell and there is some type of mineral note that is not very appealing. It also is musty like a damp basement with a lot of old boxes in it. The palate is very lacking in complexity. Strong butterscotch flavor typical of many Canadian whiskies. Slightly peppery and slightly floral. Really not much else. The mouthfeel is very thin and is dry The finish is medium short and is more sweet than anything, but not overly so. Overall, this one seems overly engineered in the hopes of pleasing the masses, much like Johnnie Walker. It's immensely popular, but I'm sure it's mostly used for cocktails and Irish car bombs (and I've had more than my share of those on St. Patrick's Day with my in-laws). It is smooth and easy to drink, so that is one plus for it. As a sipping whiskey though, I'll pass. This review is from October 2016 from Barreled

I'm finally getting around to reviewing this Islay single malt that I've had sitting on my shelf for what seems like over a year. It's been open (but preserved with gas) since November 2016 and I've only had a few sips here and there. Kilchoman is Islay's newest distillery, established in 2005, but has quickly made a name for themselves. Grown, distilled and matured exclusively on Islay, always non chill filtered and natural color. This one is a pale straw color and bottled at 46% ABV. It is matured in ex bourbon casks and finished in sherry casks for a few months. Although it's a NAS expression, I believe it contains whiskies that are between 3-6 years old. This was bottled March 28, 2016 The nose is greeted immediately with bright citrusy peat. Like a lemon cake with powdered sugar that was rolled in a peat bed. Smoked bacon and cold bonfire ashes. Slightly medicinal Laphroaig-y notes. Brine, sea air and a mineral note. There is a faint sherry influence, some dates and raisins, but nothing all that strong or notable. More citrus emerges in the form light oranges. Some white grape juice towards the bottom of the glass adds some sweetness. Mostly just smoke after that. Very good for how young it is. Smoked brisket dusted with lemon zest on the palate. Salt and pepper with a little oak. There is a sweetness to it in the form of soft vanilla and caramel/butterscotch. Some vegetal notes with what I can only describe as a muted mint note in the background. Like with the nose, mostly just smoke after that. Medium to full bodied with a dry mouthfeel. The finish is a bit odd. It's long and short at the same time. Peat smoke lingers for a long long time, but everything else kind of falls off the table and becomes very dry. I have to say, if they can get this kind of quality out of 6 year old stock, Kilchoman has a very bright future ahead of them. For the age it is very good. Flawed in that it lacks complexity, but overall it hits all those peaty chords that I come to expect from Islay. For the price ($60) however, I'd rather save $10 and buy a Laphroaig 10 or Ardbeg 10 as I enjoyed them more than this one. Still, I'd be very to try a 10 or 15 year old Kilchoman (if they can keep theirs stocks up) in the future. 3.75 Cheers

I was lucky enough to get a sample of this limited release bourbon as a bonus item in our little trade group. This single barrel from Four Roses is made with the OESF recipe. It is roughly 11 years old, barrel proof 55.9% ABV, natural color of a dark amber/bronze and is most likely non chill filtered. I believe I saw that less than 5000 bottles were produced during this run. The nose is powerful. A huge punch of alcohol right away. Let it sit and it becomes spicy and sweet. Lots of oak present. A corn sweetness is there, but I get a strong hit of rye, even though it's only 20% of the mash bill. It is fruity as well. Baked apples with cinnamon and clove. Lots of caramel and toffee with some vanilla. Very herbal and floral as well. Much more so than I was expecting. It reminds me of a camomile, honey and vanilla herbal tea I used to drink. The more I nosed it the more of that tea I could pick up on. Very unique. More sweetness comes in, like cotton candy stuck to a charred oak stave with pink bubblegum. Earthy/herbal notes again, this time sandalwood and sawdust. Familiar, and yet at the same time completely different than any other bourbon I've had. The palate is hot (not surprising at this strength) with the rye spice up front. Oak and more of that camomile and honey tea. Vanilla, cinnamon and cloves. Chocolate covered cherries and caramel apples. After that it was too hard for me to get anything else due to the high ABV. Intense flavors. A full bodied mouthfeel, hot and mouthwatering. The finish is long. Sweet and sour with oak and tea. I was quite surprised by the camomile tea notes. Can't say I've had anything like it before. Cask strength/barrel proof whiskey can be a bit taxing when trying to pull out all these flavors, and this one was up there so I can't say that I would seek this out as a sipping whiskey, but it is very good. It's also very expensive. I believe this one was around $250. Not worth it in my opinion, but I'd never turn down a dram. Thanks to Ryan for the sample. A solid 4. Cheers

I bought a half bottle (375 mL) a couple weeks ago to use as a cheap mixer for a party I went to. Cheap for a scotch anyways ($16ish for the half bottle). I ended up having about 1/4 of the bottle left so I figured I'd give it a good shake down. Red Label is the cheapest blend in the JW line. Bottled at 40% ABV and loaded with colorant making it an orange/brown amber. Very much chill filtered as well. The nose is young but lively, and a bit harsh. Not as harsh as some other blends I've had like Isle of Skye 12 YO. Don't drink that stuff, it's poison. There are some pleasant fruity notes like apricots, apples and pears. Definitely citrus notes of lemon and lime. Some oak and a sweetness like honeyed dates. A nice subtle thread of smoke tying everything together. Really not as bad as many people make it out to be. The palate is where this really takes a turn for the worse. Almost nothing on the arrival. A light malty character. A light pepper that builds a little the more you drink, teasing that it wants you to think it's a Talisker but falling far short (yes I know Talisker is a major component in JW but this is ridiculous). More lemon/lime citrus and more of that smoke that is the signature of all JWs. A really weak palate. The mouthfeel is light, watery and thin. Medium short finish, smoky with some citrus. While Compass Box has challenged what it means to be a blended whisky in the past few years, this reminds you of what the common consumer believes a blend to be: a whisky meant to be mixed, or taken as a shot. I can honestly say that the only thing I would do with this is mix it with club soda or just over ice with a thin lime wedge. It does it's job though. Not really as bad as most connoisseurs would lead you to believe, but not as good as many novices would have you believe either. Very simple and no real complexity to it and a bit overpriced, but it's the name and the consistency you're paying for with JW. Unless I'm buying it for exactly the same reason I bought it for this time, I will not be seen purchasing Red Label any time soon. 2.5 stars Cheers