Tastes

The top one of the three "Explorer's Club Collection" from Johnnie Walker, and by far the most expensive one. It is the "blue label" of the "explorers club collection" in every sense, its elegant, expensive and doesn't live to the expectation. I have the three Explorer's Club Collection Bottles, (i believe there is a fourth one, equivalent to red label, i didn't buy that one, it just seems it is going to be awful). Previously to this one i have had the "brown" boxed one, called "the spice road", which is a beautiful whisky. Well, The Royal Route, is bottled at 40%abv, with a rare mahogany color, and i say rare because it is mahogany but also transparent, i dont know how to describe this, you need to see it to know. Overall the bottle is pretty straightforward, no complexity at all, inusual since it should contain very old whiskies in it (at least for the price). On the nose, Stinky Peat and tobacco. That's it. Not Bad, nothing special either. On the palate is delicious. Elegant, made for fancy people (lol) but it is still a blend, that means they are not going to take any risk, they need to sell something everybody will like, not thinking in us, the "wannabe connoisseurs" who want experiences in whisky, not fancyness or marketing. caramel, vanilla, cinammon, and spices, are the palate notes, very smooth, elegant, very easy to drink, toffee, pleasant hotness, ginger, Tobacco ash, medium bodied, finish is full of spices, medium also. I was saving this bottle for a very special event, but yesterday i was in a party and the host opened one. I couldn't resist the temptation to taste it (i actually drank 4 glasses, neat). It is a lovely Whisky, but as i have said before, it takes no risks, it is not that appealing to you, my fellow Whisky Critics. 80 out of 100. Slaintè!

I truly believe this is a good dram, but it just doesn't cost $105. For seventy dollars it would have been a good deal. Bottled at 40%abv, amber color. On the nose is very good. 4 notes very noticeable: Cocoa, Wedding Cake with Raisins, Tobbacco leaf and perfumed smoke. On the palate is a little straightforward. Very similar to the nose: tobacco, cocoa butter, oak and crackers. Finish is medium-long with bonfire notes and ashes. Overall i give this dram 88/100, nice and interesting, but you can get a lot more for the price.

Yesterday i received a surprise birthday party and i opened one of my relics, a bottle of Swing Superior. Nobody knows too much about this bottle but it is supposedly from the 90s. Actually a very fancy easy drinking whisky, bottled at 40%abv, with caramel color. On the nose Creme brulee, Acetone, Lemon, Vanilla, a typical JW. On the palate, Cake, Tobacco, Slight peat and biscuits. Finish allspice very pleasant very complex. Really a wonderful aftertaste. Overall i give this "rarity" an 89 over 100. Good dram without having to overthink it too much.

On the nose, vanilla and mint. On the palate, vanilla and flowery flavor. Short finish. Very bitter. Nice whisky. Superb experience super smooth. The caramel on this stands up. 88 over 100

Smoky on the nose, specially if you smell the bottle once opened. Then i lost the smoke in the glass and got Vainilla and a little caramel on the nose. on the palate is sweet at first, very sweet caramel and then at the finish you get a bitter kick, but is very short. Very oaky. 88 over 100.

beautiful whisky. very creamy and full of vanilla and almonds on the nose, with peaty smoky notes. on the palate is sweet at first with a honey and vanilla flavor. medium body, you get a spicy sensation after a couple of seconds. the finnish is bitter for a beautiful complex whisky. Lots of honey. 85 over 100.

Chocolate. Strong on the palate. Medium to long lasting flavour. Couldnt find the smoke on it. A white elephant. Marketing monster. 80 over 100

Is a very good 12 years blended scotch, on the nose you get cotton, vanilla, beautiful aroma. On the palate i found caramel. I also got an spicy aroma and its hot in the palate. The finish is medium, hot and dry. i prefer it over Johnnie Blue. Slightly peated. 85 over 100

I hated Jim Beam. White label and apple were very low rated whiskies, but this one... this one is a Marvel. It changed my whole perspective of the brand. An instant favorite. When i tasted it i wanted to score it with lower points because i am not a fan of the brand, but this was so good that i gave it the true score. On the nose, fantastic: cola, grapes, a dim spicyness, perfumed vanilla. Letting it sit for a couple minutes will release banana aromas, caramel, banana split, banana ice cream, and wood smoke like a fireplace. Simply outstanding. On the palate two notes, but beautifully crafted: banana and cinnamon. Finish is long, creamy and spicy. I really enjoyed it, i have read good reviews everywhere before tasting it and it did not dissapointed me. I rate this baby a nice 92 over 100 and i absolutely recommend it. Cheers!

Wow this is a very enjoyable whiskey! And for the price it is almost a gem. It is called Jameson signature because at the beggining of Jameson times, the distiller used to sign his bottles to give the costumer something that cant be falsified. Bottled at 40%abv This is a very strightforward whiskey that works fine. On the nose: just banana and caramel. Nothing else, but in this case you dont need more. On the palate, banana and pepper. What a pleasant spiciness here! Aftertaste is simple but lovely. Peppery finish. Overall i give this dram an 87 over 100, and for the price tag it is very recommendable.