Tastes

The peat and smoke are there, but it's muted compared to the 10 year old or Quarter Cask. But that's not necessarily a bad thing! There's still a lot of flavor here: salty-seaweedy peat and mild smoke, oak sawdust, faint citrus and dried fruit (think raisins), sweeter than you might expect. Good stuff! The Distiller score rates the 10 year old higher, but as much as I enjoy a big, peaty slap in the face, I respectfully disagree with the Distiller's 96 for the 10 year old vs the 90 for the 18. The 18 has more depth and is richer than its younger sibling. jm2c :)

I've avoided The Glenlivet. I'm not really sure why. But I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did. This is a decent Scotch whisky, easy on the palate, easy on the wallet. To me, it was more nutty than fruity, but the fruit is definitely there. There were also notes of grass/hay, hints of vanilla. The finish lasted longer that I expected. A pleasant surprise.

A fair amount of vanilla custard in the nose, a whiff of bourbon, citrus. On the palate, nutty and citrus up front. There's something a little rough around the edges, but that passes quickly and moves into a sticky sweet finish. Time in the glass softens the rough edges to some degree. Not bad at all, but not a favorite.

A combination of aromas in the nose; vanilla, oak, florals, slightly grassy, a bit nutty, hints of sherry, slight whiffs of smoke. On the palate, this whisky offers a host of flavors, very similar to the nose, all in harmonious combination with nothing really overpowering. This whisky is an exercise in balance, at least on my palate. The finish could stand to be a little longer, but it's moderately long as is. The Orkney smoke/peating is very different, and to my palate considerably milder than the Islay whiskies. Whether that makes Highland Park better, worse, or equal is up to you.

Batch 47. Wine like aromas lead, hints of vanilla, old sawn oak, (I've done some woodworking, and this whisky very much reminds me), a bit nutty. The sherry notes lead on the palate, along with the oakiness, some dried fruits. Muted honey/vanilla notes show up after a bit. The finish dropped off sharply at first, but then raisins showed up, and lingered for a nice, moderate finish. At 60.7 ABV, I expected it to be really hot, but other than a little stinging on the tongue at first, the burn was almost non-existent. It didn't burn going down either. Your experience may be different, but if you like sherried whiskies, put this one on your radar!

Very much an Islay single malt, with its peaty smokiness, bit of band-aid, a little salt, faint vanilla after some time in the glass. Smokiness is not overbearing but it's there from the beginning through to the l-o-n-g finish, which is moderately dry. This is a good Islay. If you've never experienced a smoky Islay whisky, suggest you nose it for at least 5 minutes and let your senses get used to it before you taste it, and give it some time in the glass. Quarter Cask is a good one; glad I bought it!

If you're used to the port finished 21 year old, this is definitely a departure. This 15 year old is drawn from a single traditional oak barrel with no other finishing. I'm getting a mild honey/vanilla mixed with some oakiness, and a trace of grassiness in the nose. Those notes continue into the palate, and there is some spiciness in there, too. Giving it some air and time in the glass is not a bad thing. Finish is moderate, and gains a little sweetness.

I tasted this bourbon along with several other bourbons on the same day. I tried cleansing my palate between bourbons, but either I didn't clean it enough, or this bourbon just plain hits me wrong. I got subdued oak up front along with the requisite vanilla notes, but I also caught a nip of bitterness. And that note I find so off-putting in some bourbons was there, too. The finish was soft, mellow and pleasant, though not very long. Overall, considering the day and the fact that I was tasting several bourbons, I would try this one again just to be fair. I've read other's reviews and this bourbon seems like it should be a good one, but my first impression is there are a number of bourbons that are better. Not quite worth 2 stars for me.

I was a little apprehensive about trying this. Although I like the basic Woodford, my concern was that the oak would be overpowering. My concern was unfounded. This bourbon does a very good job of balancing its flavors. The oakiness is definitely there, but not over the top. The vanilla and caramel notes balance the oak nicely, and there are spicy notes as well. Overall, a very nice bourbon, and a notch above the regular Woodford. 3 1/2 stars

Sherry cask influence is definitely there with some caramel and a little bit of grassy earthiness. Some roasted malt notes show up. For me, after about 25 minutes in the glass, the flavor profile deteriorated a little bit, with the alcohol gaining prominence.