Tastes

Almost any time a great movie gets lined up for a sequel the expectations are high. Unfortunately, sequels are usually lousy. The same formula fits in the scotch mold and this time, sadly, with the same results. While A Tale of Winter isn’t necessarily bad, it just doesn’t have the qualities that made A Tale of Cake so great. It’s too bitter. It’s too spicy. It spikes too hard for a 46% ABV. It has a low end Macallan palate, with the notoriously overpriced Macallan price tag. If you can find a taste before it goes away I suggest you try it, but be warned: It’s the Ghostbusters 2, the Batman & Robin, the Dumb and Dumberer of scotch sequels.

Caperdonich. What a great name. Great color, straw gold with a hint of auburn, and a light coat with speckled legs. Good nose, but spikes a bit at 48%. Vanilla bean and butterscotch all the way through. The palate is rich with creamy toffee, more vanilla bean, butterscotch, caramel, marzipan and almonds. Lightly fruity with an excellent finish. An absolute shame this distillery is no longer in operation. (KM)

Distiller lists this as a “peated” single malt, which seems a bit misleading. The process may have been there but the taste certainly isn’t. The Crag 12 starts off with a nice floral nose to match the palate. “Clean” could be a good way to describe it with notes of lemon grass, soap, heather, dried cherries and a nutty finish. If there IS a hint of peat it’s minimal. Overall, a good introduction into the Cragganmore brand, and contributes nicely to the renowned Johnnie Walker Green Label.

Maps used to say cool things like “Here be dragons!” Now they just say stuff like “Portugal.” Anyway, Ardbeg offers up a dragon-scorched barrel for their annual Ardbeg Day release. If smoke isn’t your thing, turn (and run) away now. The nose is hot. Burns. Coughed a little. Not my proudest moment. The palate is heavy on the ash, and the subtleties struggle to find their way through. Aggressive. Little bacon. Little clove. Lotta smoke. All of this mixed with branding that I just can’t get onboard with (and a $110 price tag) solidifies my love/hate with the ever-formidable Ardbeg. I’m 50/50 on the brand - half I really like and half I really don’t. Unfortunately this ventures into really don’t territory for me. (AT)

2020 Whiskey Exchange WOTY winner, and I’m not mad at it. Excellent complexity with subtleties around every turn. Briny. Smoky. Hints of vanilla. Citrus. Bacon. And the peat. Ahhhhh the peat. Classic Laddich smoke, and a true testament of a genuine maritime whisky.

Girl Scout Trefoil cookies, in whiskey form. Vanilla shortbread, a touch of caramel, and a buttery, malted finish. A little thin, but expected at 80 proof. A great every day dram, and a solid benchmark 10.

Classic Laggy nose and palate, but less Band-Aidy™️. Slightly sweet, maritime salt, sulfur, green apples, a hint of that Offerman fresh-scent cologne and a splash of peat drench, but not overbearing. Cap it off with a semi-long and slightly bitter smoked toffee finish. Good stuff. Bacon-wrapped shrimp on deck!

Take the Jura 10 and brine it for 7 minutes, add 1 drop of liquid smoke, and baste for 2 years. [TA-DA!!] The Jura 12 is born.

Despite the flood of negative reviews and, at best, lackluster rebranding (the branding has always been bad in my opinion but still) Journey is surprisingly good. Light smoke, vanilla, almond, and a little bit of coconut in an inexpensive no-age statement from Jura. Nothing ground-breaking by any means, but an easy sipper from a good brand.

Heavy vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, and extra sweet tobacco leaves. Nice finish with the bitterness of dark chocolate and espresso. Throw in a pinch of spice and you’ve got a solid showing from the ever-consistent Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery Fun House & Water Park™️.