Tastes

Stop number 22 on the SDT is Balvenie. This is my first review of Balvenie, but not the first I've had. This Speyside single malt was matured in a European oak ex Oloroso sherry butt (500L) for 15 long years. Bottled at 47.8% ABV and it appears to be natural color of an amber gold. It is also non chill filtered. This sample was generously provided by Pranay and was poured from bottle number 15, from cask number 2639. Initially on the nose it is somewhat atypical of a Speyside scotch. A definite spice to it with some darker sherry notes. Raisins, red berries and spiced Christmas fruitcake. Strong European oak with cinnamon and toffee. There is also some light vanilla and honey mingling in with the heavier spices. Some bitter orange peel and cocoa powder in the background. After some time to breathe, the more typical Speyside notes start coming through. Oranges and yellow apples and maybe some apricots. Definitely needs time to get past those pungent oak spices. It's very interesting and intriguing and not at all redundant like the beginning of this sentence. Quite the spicy arrival on the palate. Heavy oak and wood spices. Much like the nose, there is a sweetness buried under the spice. Sherry notes and orchard fruits like oranges and cinnamon dusted pears. Some dark chocolate bitterness in there as well but it's mild. The palate really had more of the typical Speyside notes than the nose did, but it's all dominated by the spice level. Medium to full bodied with a nice oiliness to the mouthfeel. It's mouthwatering at first but turns fairly dry. The finish is medium long with apricots and that ever present spice carrying through. The first Balvenie I had was the 12 year Doublewood and I had it on the very first day of my journey into the world of scotch. Couldn't stand it honestly, but after trying this 15 year old I wouldn't mind revisiting it. I remember there being a lot of spice to it and that's probably why I didn't like it, so that's what I was expecting here. I got all that spice but I can now appreciate it. The European oak really did its job and the sherry influence was just enough to add some depth of character. Not sure if this expression is still available or if they have moved exclusively to a 12 and 25 year single barrel, but according to Pranay this one was around $100. Not really worth it in my opinion (all Balvenies seem to be overpriced), but I wouldn't turn down a dram if offered either. A solid 4 though. Cheers CORRECTION: I was under the impression that this was the sherry cask matured version and not the older bourbon cask version. I was incorrect. Please take any reference to European oak and replace it with American oak. I'm surprised they got this level of spice out of ex bourbon barrels though!

Stop number 21 on the SDT is Strathisla. This Speyside single malt is a bit of a rarity. It is almost exclusively sold to Chivas Brothers to be used as their primary blend component for Chivas Regal, and is not often sold as an official distillery bottling. 40% ABV and it appears to have colorant added, making it a solid amber color. I'm also fairly certain that it is chill filtered. A fairly light nose with typical Speyside notes. Fruity: sweetened white peach tea, honeydew, green grapes, apple or pear or both, and maybe some pineapple. Floral honey, some vanilla and light toffee and caramel. Faint charred oak and cereal malt. There was a brief note of licorice but it was gone very quickly. I nosed this immediately on the second pour and got a lacquer thinner smell, but it faded pretty fast, so make sure you give it time to breathe. The palate was somewhat bitter up front but did have a light sweetness to it. Dry oak/tannins with bitter dark chocolate. Light pepper and maybe some sour pineapple. No complexity to it and rather weak. A very thin and light mouthfeel with a light oiliness. Dry. The finish is short to medium short. Bitter with oak and something like a metallic taste that came and went. It was more of a sensation than an actual taste if that makes any sense. I can see why this is a blending whisky and not primarily a single malt. It's too light and lacks enough character to hold its own with the big boys. Likely a high proportion of refill casks, with a fairly good mix of American and European oak, leaning towards the American side. The nose is pleasant enough, but the palate and finish are too bitter and it falls apart at the end. At least at around $40 it's not a big hit to the whisky budget. Thanks to Pranay for the generous sample. 2.75. Cheers

Stop number 20 on the SDT is Glenrothes. This is a first for me from this Speyside distillery so I didn't really know what to expect going in. This NAS single malt was previously known as the Alba Reserve, the name was changed for better clarity as to what was actually in the bottle and I have to say it is a change for the better. 40% ABV and it appears to be natural color of a pale gold, but it is not stated anywhere if it is indeed natural that I could find. I do believe that it is chill filtered. This is matured exclusively in first and second fill ex bourbon barrels. The nose give the impression that there are both young and old casks at play here, but mostly young. Lots of coconut and vanilla with some dust oak. It's soft and creamy with a sort of berry medley. Raspberry, strawberry and blackberry. Floral honey and more vanilla and lightly toasted oak. There is also a waxy quality to it. It's a light nose, but very pleasant. The palate very much echoes the nose. Plenty of vanilla, floral honey and berries and cream. Soft oak. There is a subtle bourbon note and possibly sweet red wine that produces a dryness, very light though. Coconut and a mild spice cap everything off. Again, light but enjoyable. Light bodied with a creamy but somewhat thin mouthfeel, semi dry. The finish is medium length with soft oak and coconut fading away. Given the light color and overall light feel, I would think it's safe to say that there are many more second fill casks than first fill. Not knowing the rest of the expressions from this distillery it's hard to give an experienced opinion, but this one feels more like a Highland malt than a Speyside, closer to Tomatin or Glenmorangie than say a Cragganmore or Craigellachie. It's very approachable and would be great for warmer weather, even on the rocks on a hot day, relaxing in the sun. Great for the scotch noob too. 43% ABV would have been a better strength, but I think 46% would have changed it too much and taken away from its delicate nature. The die-hard Islay fans (like myself) may not think too much of this one because of its light and delicate nature, but it's a damn good dram for what it is. 3.75-4. Thanks to Ryan for the sample. Cheers

Like both Lee and Pranay, this review is actually for the 20 year old Linkwood bottled by Signatory. Stop number 18 on the SDT is Linkwood. This Speyside single malt was bottled by the independent bottlers of Signatory. The whisky was matured in two Hogsheads, cask numbers 5927 and 5934. 43% ABV and it is natural color of white wine or pale straw. It is non chill filtered. A very fresh and crisp nose, indicating to me that the Hogsheads are most likely refill or possibly third fill, not allowing for much maturation. Apples and pears with lemons up front. Peaches, and something that reminds me of artificial strawberry or watermelon flavoring. Light vanilla and anise/licorice and pickled ginger. After some additional time some sherry sweetness emerges. Very faint oak and cocoa powder can be found as well. There is a light pepper arrival on the palate. Apples and pears with cinnamon follow. Honey, toffee, dried apricots and some vanilla. A light taste overall. Not bad but nothing too complex, again showing the lack of maturity. Light to medium bodied. Somewhat thin and dry. The finish is medium short. Dry with light citrus, peach and pepper. The flavor profile is typical Speyside. Not what I had hoped for a 20 year old, but I am not going to condemn Linkwood based on this independent bottling. This has a feel more like a 12 or 14 year old. This just confirms that it's the amount of activity in the casks and not just the amount of time in the casks that makes the whisky a winner or not. Thanks to Pranay for the sample this review is based on. 3.25. Cheers.

Stop number 19 on the SDT is Glenlivet. This distillery is in the Speyside region and is the best selling single malt scotch brand in the world. This expression is from the Nadurra (Gaelic for Natural) line. This one is a NAS that was finished in casks that previously held "heavily peated whisky". Where these casks came from and how long they were used in the finishing process is anyone's guess. Being "natural", this is a cask strength whisky at 61.5% ABV and is non chill filtered and natural color of a Chardonnay or golden straw. The nose has a fairly strong alcoholic burn if you dive right into it, but it's not that bad when you consider the ABV. Big citrus notes. Lemons and oranges primarily. Baked apple with cinnamon, subtle peaches and apricots come in after the citrus. A very light earthy note showed up after a few minutes...possibly peat? Vanilla buttercream and something like brown sugar dusted raisins. Adding water creates a malty character and an ever so distant tequila aroma. Stronger lemon notes. Better without the water though. The palate arrives hot and peppery, but tolerable. Soft peat smoke upon swallowing. A bright pop of citrus. Light oaky character and buttercream. With a little water I get some light exotic fruits like kiwi or maybe mango and coconut. The high ABV makes it hard to discern too many flavors, but there isn't a ton going on. Nicely warming though. The mouthfeel is very oily with some heat. Mouthwatering, turning semi dry. The finish is medium long with some heat, light peat and some citrus. This has been a perplexing bottle so far. When first opened, it was very easy to nose and drink. Warm and inviting. After pouring out 8 oz worth of samples and letting it sit for a week I went back to it. Maybe it was just me that day, but it set my nose and mouth ablaze! Almost undrinkable without a hefty dose of water. Let it sit another 3 weeks and it settled back down. It's a good whisky, but I feel it really NEEDS to be at cask strength, or at a minimum of 55%. Anything less and I think it would fall apart. I like it though. Good citrus flavors and enough peat to make you say yes there is some peat and not just meaningless words on the label. I don't feel that it's worth the price tag though. $90 locally is a bit high for what's in the bottle, even at cask strength. 3.75 to 4.

It's been 2 weeks since my last review. The reason, a total remodel of the only bathroom in my house. From the ceiling to the subfloor, everything was replaced and it left me no time for a review. It still needs to be primed and painted, but it's done otherwise so I figured it's time for a reward. This Single Barrel from Knob Creek is from a hand picked barrel from the Georgia Bourbon Society (I know a guy who knows a guy). It comes in at 60 % ABV and is a natural color of dark copper or rust. I do believe it is non chill filtered. This selection was bottled in September of 2015 and is 9 years old. CINNAMON! The nose is dominated by cinnamon. I was told this was the case when I was given the sample but I didn't think it would be this apparent. The typical bourbon notes are all there as well. Vanilla, toffee, caramel. Some very sweet notes as well like cotton candy and bubble gum. Little to no alcohol burn. A slight charred oak note but not very strong given the 9 years in the barrel. There are some fruity notes after the cinnamon diminishes. Ripe red berries, peaches/apricots and underripe bananas. Typically when I get these 2 oz samples I drink them in thirds. The first third sits in the glass and breathes, the second third I nose right away. This one gave me a sweet cinnamon latte feel on the second pour. The third pour is more or less to confirm anything nosed on the previous two, or to experiment with water. I did add water to this one because I was curious. A few drops does nothing but intensify the cinnamon. A few more drops produces a hay/barn note that hangs around briefly but then gives way to oak and cinnamon. The palate is more and more cinnamon. Charred oak, much more than what was previewed on the nose. Burnt toffee/caramel. A light corn sweetness comes through once you get acclimated to the cinnamon. The higher ABV makes it hot at times but it's fairly easy to drink overall. Like the nose, water brings out more of the cinnamon and oak. The mouthfeel is oily, slightly hot and full bodied. A touch on the dry side. The finish is long and full of cinnamon and oak, turning dry Much better and fuller than the standard 100 proof version. It's not too complex especially given its age and higher proof. If you couldn't tell, cinnamon was the dominant profile. This is what Fireball wishes it could be. There are better bourbons out there, but this is really good for a Beam product. Locally this goes for $50 for the standard single barrel and I would say that's a fair price for the quality. Solid 4 out of 5. Cheers

Part 4 of the Glenmorangie Pioneering Collection Sample Pack reviews. This is a re-review of this single malt scotch. I first reviewed this one in February of 2016 and loved it then. Like the Lasanta and Nectar D'Or, this is the 10 YO original that is extra matured for two years. This one is spent the final two years in port pipes. It is 46% ABV and is non chill filtered. It is natural color that Glenmorangie claims is ruby red, I would call it an amber bronze, but arguing over a color seems silly. The nose is very fruity. Dark red berries up front. Plums, nectarines, tangerines, and oranges. I'm not sure what the grapes used to make port wine smell like, but I get a strong nose of grapes similar to Concord grapes, though not as overly sweet. It's strong though, like a sparkling grape juice. If you can sift through the intense fruitiness you get some definite bourbon-y notes, think Buffalo Trace. Some light brown sugar/molasses and some oak hiding in the background. A really great nose if you like the strong darker fruits typical of port finished whisky. The palate is quite fruity and sweet. Sweet red wines notes and oranges. Full bodied. Like the Nectar D'Or, there is a spice that bolsters the palate, but not nearly as strong as the D'Or. Very well balanced between the sweet fruits and spice. The mouthfeel is fairly light, typical of Glenmorangie, but it is very mouthwatering. The finish is medium length and more sweet than spicy with more of those beautiful port flavors. I just love these port finished whiskies, and I would love to see an Ardbeg that is port finished. I feel that if the Benriach Solstice was unpeated, it would be very similar to this Quinta Ruban. I gave this a 4.5 rating last year when I was still a whisky novice and I wholeheartedly stand by that rating now. It's that good. The only thing I feel could help raise the rating would be a hint of smoke. Nothing like the Benriach, but maybe 1/4 of that. I know Glenmorangie does not peat their barley but it's just something I think would make it all the better. The price on this one is so friendly too, at around $60 it's hard to knock it. By far the best Glenmorangie I've had. Go get a bottle! Review is a few months old from Barreled

Part three of the Glenmorangie Pioneering Collection Sample Pack. Nectar D'Or is finished for two years in Sauternes casks (French white wine) and is the most expensive of the extra matured range of Glenmorangie. It comes in at 46% ABV, is non chill filtered and is a natural color of golden honey. Very strong vanilla on the nose with citrus notes of lemon and lime. White wine notes and something reminiscent of marshmallows. Furniture polish, but not in a bad way. As it develops lightly toasted oak appears along with oranges and tangerines. It's basically a more citrusy and intense version of the original 10 YO. The palate mimics the nose with strong vanilla and citrus. There is a surprising amount of spice if you hold it on the tongue for more than about 10 seconds. It really helps to bolster the flavors. Rounding it out is a hint of salted caramel. The mouthfeel is very dry initially, but oddly will become mouthwatering the more you drink. The finish is medium length and dry. Hints of honey and ginger finish it off. My first impression of this single malt was that it was lackluster and underwhelming. The more I let it sit in the glass, the more I nose it and drank it the more I was able to appreciate its subtle nuances. It's elegant yet bright on the nose and spicy enough on the palate to keep you interested and coming back for more. Although very different, I would put this about on par with the Lasanta, but not close to the Quinta Ruban. I would give this a full 4 stars/rings but the fact that it's the most expensive in the extra matured range, but not the best one of the three, drops it a little. 3.75. Cheers Review is a few months old from Barreled.

Part 2 of the Glenmorangie Pioneering Collection Sample Pack. Please note that this is not the same as the original version of the Lasanta, which was 46% ABV and finished in Oloroso Sherry casks only. The Lasanta is the same 10 YO original whisky, but is matured an extra 2 years in a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenex Sherry casks. It is 43% ABV and is non chill filtered. Unfortunately colorant has been added, but like the original, I think it is only to keep the batches the same color. This one is a beautiful butterscotch amber in color. The nose is very pleasant. Sweet dried sherried fruits greet you up front. Red berries, figs and raisins. Light brown sugar notes. Oranges, floral honey. Given some extra time in the glass I get some light maple syrup and roasted nuts. On the palate there are more of the sweet sherried fruits. Slightly burnt brown sugar and oranges. There is a light spice coming in at the end from the oak and some nuttiness. The palate is unfortunately a bit of a letdown. The flavors are all there but lacking in intensity. It's good but not great. The mouthfeel was a bit unexpected. Somewhat thin and quite dry. The finish is medium length, sweet but again it's dry. Some lingering fruits and a touch of spice. I'm not really sure how I feel about this Glenmorangie. I really like the nose. It's sweet but not too sweet and has a fair amount of complexity. The palate just leaves me wanting a little bit more. The finish was a little too short. I wish this was still the original version of Lasanta, I feel the extra 3% and cask selection would have made for a better whisky. I think this is friendlier than the Macallan 12 YO Sherry wood and I would pick this one over the Macallan to stock my shelf to offer to my friends who aren't big whisky drinkers. For the price it's still a hell of a scotch. 3.75-4 Review is a few months old from Barreled

Part one of the Glenmorangie Pioneering Collection Taster Pack reviews. This Highland single malt comes in at 43% ABV. It is unfortunately chill filtered and has colorant added. The color is a pale gold, so it can be assumed that there is very little artificial color added and only done so to make sure there are no variances between batches. The nose is very light and airy. Light citrus notes. Honeydew, floral honey, and some mint off in the background. Soft oak and a hint of vanilla. It's a mild nose, but pleasant. The palate is light as well, but less so than the nose. Some vanilla up front with oak spices. Orchard fruits start to develop like oranges and peaches & cream. There is some pepper that can become a little intense if you hold it long enough on your tongue. The mouthfeel is a bit thin and slightly creamy. Mouthwatering at first but does turn a little dry in the finish. The finish is medium short with some mildly peppery oak and can be a touch bitter, but not in a bad way. Glenmorangie uses the tallest pot stills in Scotland, which produces a very pure and clean spirit. The light character is by design so it must be judged accordingly and not compared to the likes of Ardbeg or Highland Park. This is the best selling single malt within Scotland so they must be doing something right, and the fact that this can usually be found for $45 or less makes this a great buy. 3.75 On a side note, I'm glad we get the 43% version here in the States and not the 40% version sold in Europe. This review is a few months old from Barreled