Tastes
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GlenAllachie 10 Year Cask Strength Batch 7
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed July 15, 2023 (edited August 9, 2023)Review #034 Tasted after: Glenallachie 13 Year Madeira Wood Finish (Cask Strength) Appearance (no score): • Deep mahogany color • Unable to look for legs due to water-repellent coating on the glass I was tasting with Nose: 17/20 • Plumbs, figs and raisins initially dominate a syrupy sweet aroma, more time nosing it starts to reveal some red wine tannins and ripe pears also Palate: 40/50 • Syrupy and very sweet, almost like cough syrup but without the medicinal menthol element, looking past that I’m also getting cherries, honey, strawberry preserves, and dark chocolate Finish: 24/30 • Long finish, the cough syrup sweetness from the palate never really goes away, but chili peppers get things started, that fades away to oak spices and leather before finally transitioning to a menthol flavored ending • The finish is long and nice but the ending menthol plus super sweet syrup makes me think I just swallowed cough syrup Total: 81/100 • Scoring rubric 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, still it may make regular appearances in my collection. 4.25 stars. Final thoughts: • A drop of water brings out some extra spices, nutmeg on the palate, then cinnamon and oak spice in the finish, also minimizing the ending menthol flavor • It’s just too sweet, it’s very good but not well balanced, a drop of water is needed to bring it to a truly enjoyable state • Thanks to my brother @Mark-Watson2 for the sample Price: gifted sample Would recommend: no Would buy: no -
Glenallachie 13 Year Madeira Wood Finish (Cask Strength)
Single Malt — Scotland
Reviewed July 15, 2023Review #033 Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): • Light mahogany color • Unable to look for legs due to water-repellent coating on the glass I was tasting with Nose: 14/20 • Sweet and spicy with an ethanol kick that immediately reminds me of rye whisky, also hints of raisins and gingerbread Palate: 37/50 • Black tea, lemon peel, and dark chocolate • Not very complex and semi sweet, maybe a hint of pineapple, but otherwise not getting any major fruit flavors shining through Finish: 27/30 • Long complex finish, this is where this dram really shines • An interesting blend of black pepper and dark chocolate get things started, then just the briefest hint of grapefruit before being dominated by cinnamon and ending on an okay and slightly salty note Total: 78/100 • Scoring rubric 75-79: Good, enjoyable to drink but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again. 4 stars. Final thoughts: • A drop or two of water adds some apricot to the palate and mellows out the finish some • Ultimately I found the rye whisky smell on the nose a little off-putting and the palate to be good but uninteresting, but this is still a dram worth drinking for the finish which is fantastic • Thanks to my brother @Mark-Watson2 for the sample Price: gifted sample Would recommend: no Would buy: no -
Review #032 Tasted after: Auchentoshan Three Wood Appearance (no score): • Light mahogany color • Unable to look for legs due to water-repellent coating on the glass I was tasting with Nose: 16/20 • Very mild, almost delicate, apples and vanilla are the only two I can detect faint smells of, it’s almost somehow sweet, bright, and musty all at once Palate: 42/50 • Once again everything is very subtle, vanilla clearly dominates, but there’s also cinnamon, milk chocolate, and almonds Finish: 23/30 • Medium finish, absolutely no ethanol burn, black pepper and charred wood, trails off to oak tannins and leaves behind a bitter ending taste Total: 81/100 • Scoring rubric 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, still it may make regular appearances in my collection. 4.25 stars. Final thoughts: • A drop or two of water didn’t make any noticeable changes • Another easy sipper, it’s nothing remarkable but would probably recommend to someone just starting to get into scotch • My bottle featured in the photo is missing the top half of the front label, just wasn’t there when I took it out of the box at home, so that’s a lesson to always check the bottle in every box before leaving the store Price: $115 Would recommend: maybe Would buy: maybe115.0 USD per Bottle
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Auchentoshan Three Wood
Single Malt — Lowlands, Scotland
Reviewed June 14, 2023 (edited June 15, 2023)Review #031 Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): • Deep mahogany color • Unable to look for legs due to water-repellent coating on the glass I was tasting with Nose: 14/20 • Red wine tannins, dark chocolate, raisins, and oranges Palate: 38/50 • Light and dry mouth feel, black pepper, chili peppers, plums, and dark baking cocoa Finish: 25/30 • Medium length with a moderate ethanol burn, the chocolate flavors become a bit sweeter and introduces some walnut bitterness, and ends on a wisp of smoke Total: 77/100 • Scoring rubric 75-79: Good, enjoyable to drink but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again. 4 stars. Final thoughts: • Opens up a bit with a drop of water, the peppery notes are tamed a bit allowing the others to punch through some more, also adds a hint of salt to the finish • This is an easy sipper, but ultimately isn’t anything special Price: $75 Would recommend: no Would buy: no75.0 USD per Bottle -
Review #030 Tasted after: Kaiyō Japanese Mizunara Oak Appearance (no score): • Dark gold color • Unable to look for legs due to water-repellent coating on the glass I was tasting with Nose: 16/20 • Very mild, apples, honeysuckle, and apricots, the slightest whiff of mint on the back end, remarkably I can’t smell any alcohol • There’s not a lot to smell here, but somehow I’m excited for it anyway, my mouth is watering, it seems to hint at being very good and complex without actually giving away how that might be Palate: 41/50 • Like the nose, soft and balanced, I get honey, vanilla, pears, and apricots, overall has a sweet mouth taste Finish: 27/30 • Long finish, walnuts and buttered bread at first, then comes the dark baking cocoa, orange zest, and cranberry bitterness Total: 84/100 • Scoring rubric 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, still it may make regular appearances in my collection. 4.25 stars. Final thoughts: • A drop of water adds a little saltiness to the finish • I did this review on the neck pour, I’ve read this bottle becomes remarkable a couple months after being opened, so I may end up re-writing this later in the year Price: $190 Would recommend: yes Would buy: maybe190.0 USD per Bottle
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Review #029 Tasted after: Suntory Toki Appearance (no score): • Medium gold color • Unable to look for legs due to water-repellent coating on the glass I was tasting with Nose: 16/20 • Vanilla, pears, orange zest, lightly floral, and maybe a drop of honey Palate: 41/50 • Has a thin mouth-feel, and more floral and earthy than other whiskies I’ve tried, but not in a bad way at all, mingles well with other flavors of vanilla, angel food cake, and banana Finish: 24/30 • Medium finish with a mild ethanol burn, I get coconut, cereal, and clove spices, with the surprising ending semi-sweet flavor of bubblegum being the last to linger in my mouth Total: 81/100 • Scoring rubric 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, still it may make regular appearances in my collection. 4.25 stars. Final thoughts: • A drop of water adds some saltiness to the palate, much of the floral sensation is gone, and now I’m maybe tasting a hint of grilled pork chops on the finish? • This walks the line of being delicate, balanced, and easy drinking, and also complex and flavorful enough to keep my attention, definitely unique to others I’ve previously tried Price: $57 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes57.0 USD per Bottle
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Review #028 Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): • Light golden color • Unable to look for legs due to water-repellent coating on the glass I was tasting with Nose: 14/20 • Predominantly green apples, also pears, walnuts, and subtle hints of flowers and honeysuckle Palate: 38/50 • Very delicate, almost oily, the flavors are well balanced but not remarkable, what little ethanol flavor there is here is very bright and mild • Apples, graham crackers, lemon zest, and vanilla Finish: 21/30 • Short but still enjoyable, I get the briefest hints of bananas, pancakes, and marshmallows, ending with oak tannins Total: 73/100 • Scoring rubric 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it. 3.75 stars. Final thoughts: • A drop of water seems to give it a more oily mouth feel and brings out the faintest bit of clove spices in the finish • Great whisky for the price, just not the type of bottle I’d usually reach for • I think someone looking to get their feet wet with whisky might find a bottle of this to be a good start just because of how smooth and easy it is to drink Price: $35 Would recommend: maybe Would buy: no35.0 USD per Bottle
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Ailsa Bay Sweet Smoke Release 1.2
Single Malt — Lowlands, Scotland
Reviewed June 1, 2023 (edited June 13, 2023)Review #027 Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): • Medium gold color • Unable to look for legs due to water-repellent coating on the glass I was tasting with Nose: 15/20 • True to name, the nose is both sweet and peaty, reminiscent of campfires on cool fall nights, some vanilla and floral notes too, pleasant but not overly complex Palate: 42/50 • Nice oily mouth feel • Honey dominants, but there’s also caramel, green apples, semi-sweet pastries, and just a hint of vanilla Finish: 24/30 • Medium-long finish, this is where the campfire smoke makes an appearance, and it smolders down to ashes as a mild peppery ethanol burn carries through to an ending that reminds me of the flavor left behind in your mouth after eating a heavily buttered piece of bread • Mostly seems to be a continuation of the palate, not a roller coaster for your taste buds but builds well on the mouth flavors Total: 81/100 • Scoring rubric 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, still it may make regular appearances in my collection. 4.25 stars. Final thoughts: • No major changes adding a drop of water, maybe just tones down some of smokiness • Grabbed this at the Edinburgh Airport duty free store in 2022, it’s not overly remarkable in flavor profile or complexity but well balanced and easy to drink, and a good value for the price I paid then If someone who is a beginner with peated whiskies asked me to recommend a bottle, I’d point them towards this one Price: £50 Would recommend: maybe Would buy: yes50.0 GBP per Bottle -
Review #026 Tasted after: Bowmore 18 Year Appearance (no score): • Medium mahogany color • Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs form quickly Nose: 18/20 • Sweetness and fire embers, grilled pineapple, smoke, vanilla, hay, leather, and a light mustiness that reminds me of old books Palate: 47/50 • The flavor comes out of no where, but it’s a welcome bold uppercut to my tastebuds • Remarkably sweet, there’s oak spice but cherries and red currents dominate, campfire smoke, something tropical like mangoes, limoncello, and sea salted dark chocolates • Full credit for the limoncello flavor goes to @Jose-Massu-Espinel I didn’t click on that being here until I read his review Finish: 27/30 • Medium long finish, the alcohol burn and oak spice remain in perfect balance, gradually some cinnamon makes an appearance but there’s no flavor roller coaster here, it knows it’s delicious as-is and is content to let it ride until the last stop Total: 92/100 • Scoring rubric 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, I will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection if feasible. Final thoughts: • This is a really, really good dram, it’s a shame it takes 25 years to produce a scotch this good but certainly it well worth the wait! • The price tags I’ve seen on these bottle may intimidate me from making a solo purchase, but would likely buy on site if I found one on sale Price: taste from a friend’s bottle Would recommend: yes Would buy: maybe
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Review #025 Tasted after: Bowmore 15 Year Appearance (no score): • Medium mahogany color • Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs form quickly Nose: 17/20 • Vanilla, strawberry jam, rubber, and oranges, it’s hard to smell the peat smoke but you can tell it’s there Palate: 45/50 • It’s surprising how smoky the palate is given that it’s nearly non-existent on the nose, red currents, orange marmalade, a touch of honey, and a light saltiness Finish: 27/30 • Nice long finish, oak spice gives way to cinnamon and baking spices, a mild alcohol burn carries the spice along a long slow transition to ashes and smoke Total: 89/100 • Scoring rubric 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, I will likely try to keep a bottle of this in my collection if feasible. 4.5 stars. Final thoughts: • Radically different than the 15 year but in a very good way, the bourbon casks seem to dominate the nose but the Spanish sherry influence rules the palate • A drop of water really brightens it up a bit by bringing out more citrus flavors Price: $170 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes170.0 USD per Bottle
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