Tastes

Maybe the best expression of Jack Daniel's i have tasted so far. This No. 27 Gold is a very sweet, easy drinkable whiskey with clean aroma and tasting notes. On the nose it is wonderful. Almost perfect. Honey, Prunes, Maple syrup, Molasses, Grape juice, Thick caramel. Complex and sweet, Pepper spice. The honey on this is something else, Clove. On the palate it is too straightforward but still a good dram. Vanilla, rum and molasses. Aftertaste is very good too. Very sweet. Honey, pepper and burnt hay. Very pleasant. Overall this is one good whiskey. For only one point it didn't make it to the 4.5 stars. 89 over 100.

This is one of Jack Daniel's tribute bottles for one of their legendary Master Distillers, the Number 3 is for Lemuel Tolley. This one was quite a experience. Bottled at 43%abv, orange ambar color. On the nose: Banana, Vanilla, Prunes, Cherries, Coconut, Sawdust. Cake burnt crest and Hazelnut. A slight Bitterness. FERRERO ROCHER CHOCOLATES. Just wow. On the palate it is a little boring. Vanilla, Pepper, A little watery. Aftertaste is perfect. Just two notes: Butter Scotch and Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Overall this one was totally different from other Jack Daniel's, not too balanced but definitively a rollercoaster. 85 over 100.

THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2006, BOTTLED IN 2016 AMOROSO SHERRY FINISH: Amoroso means "a person who loves" in spanish. And since this my second Talisker matured in amoroso sherry casks, i searched what kind of grape makes this type of sherry wine, and the results were amazingly interesting: NO GRAPE MAKES AMOROSO SHERRY, SINCE AMOROSO SHERRY IS A BLEND OF SHERRY WINES. But what am i talking about here? Let me tell you this wonderful story. It goes like this: Sherry Wine makers used to produce oloroso sherry, which is drier, and then, add a 10% Pedro Ximenez sherry to it, because it is sweeter, to make it easier, more appealing to drink by women, so they would get easily tipsy. Then, women who drink this type of sherry will be more inclined to "perceive" the wine makers as good lovers, more "amorosos". That is why this blend of sherries are called like that. But what about the whisky?? Its fantastic. Bottled at talisker's classic strength, 45.8% this dram has a reddish color. On the nose it is wonderful, perfect. The first note i got was this dessert called "lightning" here in ecuador. You might find it as petisus or eclair, but not a chocolate one, but a caramel, light fondant filled one. That alone deserves 25 points. Blackberry marmalade, peanuts bathed in caramel in vanilla (they are called kandicris from manicris, google it), smoked toffee (if that exists); winey. DID YOU READ ALL THAT? THOSE ARE AMAZING AROMAS. On the palate, it is so sweet. Cherries, blackberries, raisins, grapes, very astringent. Aftertaste is where it feels more like talisker. It is peaty, salty, peppery. You know what i am talking about, a Talisker. Overall this is an instant favorite. The amoroso sherriness has influenced the whisky in a sweet, crazy way. Amazing rollercoaster, my score for it is 91 over 100.

Not the best Laphroaig out there. That phrase defines it. The whole time it seemed like they tried to just put another expression on the market, to obtain easy money. Guess this is the first time i haven't really liked something from the Islay mythical distillery. Bottled at 40%abv, golden color. On the nose: first note, your typical fresh can of tennis balls aroma. Classic Laphroaig there. Vanilla ice cream, what a clean note it is. It is undoubtedly vanilla ice cream. Herbal spice like oregano and sown land; earthy. On the palate it fails completely. Too watery, ginger spice, earthy, alcohol and maybe prunes. Not good. Aftertaste gets a little better, with peaty-earthy notes. A little ashy, sulphuric. There is a mild spiciness also. Overall this is a flawed Laphroaig, not their best moment and definitively the exception for every rule. My score: 70 over 100, barely making the 3.5 stars mark.

If something sells, as much as J&B do, its because it cant be bad. So i grabbed a mini bottle to finally taste this... and even if it has only the classic flavors from a blended scotch, it is actually good. Bottled at 40%abv with a pale gold color. On the nose, classic blended scotch aroma, but in a powerful way: vanilla, cream, caramel, almonds and some dry brown grasses. On the palate very straightforward and simple, but in a pleasant way: caramel, pepper, prunes, oranges and a hot medium finish. Overall this one is a solid 80 over a 100, cheap than everything else, so if you are feeling like grabbing something to drink without much spending this one is the way to go. Cheers.

A very smooth bourbon, lots of caramel and banana on the nose and in the palate with some sour prunes also present. You can drink this one easily. Nothing to die for but not a bad dram at all. Butterscotch also present in the palate. The bottle is actually very pretty, like a cologne decanter. Overall, 80 over 100.

Exciting, exotic, impressive. My new Journey in Bourbon finally gave me something to feel happy: Hudson Baby. This New York 100%corn Bourbon, doesn't taste like a bourbon, actually it doesn't taste like any whisky i have had before. Bottled at 46%abv, it has a beautiful Mahogany Color. On the nose, it is one of those "Jack Daniels". Grapes, Wine, a little wood, maybe a slight smoke, Smells just like Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 or Johnnie Walker Select Cask Rye Finish. On the palate is where everything happens. Strange Flavors never before found: First of all it has a GUAVA JUICE NOTE. In Ecuador we call this Guayaba in Spanish, i look it up in English and it is Guava. but made Juice. We drink that in breakfast, is popular. Also it felt like a "little Tomato" (spanish: Tomatillo) Juice. also for breakfast lol. A little Oily, like Kerosene (have i ever tried Kerosene? i would be dead if i did i think), incredibly spicy, but not pepper or cinammon, it is like WASABI. Thick, full bodied, almost edible rather than drinkable. Mouth Watering with a very long bitter and spicy end. Absolutely impressive, exotic, this is not for every day, it is not for 3 or 4 drinks in a row, this is just something that is there for you to have once every month to experience something different. 90 out of 100. cheers

I wanted my 150th Whisky review to be memorable, so i spent one of my samples for it. I loved highland park 12, i gave it a great score but now i have tasted this 21yo and i have mixed feelings. Bottled at 47.5%abv, with an Auburn, polished Mahogany color. On the nose it is AMAZING. 25/25 points here. After staring those beautiful long legs on the glencairn, i got an strong alcohol note at first, then wet forest, medicinal plants, elegant coffee, hazelnut, prunes, oranges, vanilla cream, toffee, overall an outstanding citric, open pine breeze, a mountain forest aroma. Simply gorgeous. On the palate, it was TOO DAMN POWERFUL and strong. Maybe too much to enjoy it. Absolutely smooth the moment it enters. Then it gets strong macho hot oakyness, with a hint of orange, never expected to be this strong, a lot of character, like a punch in the face; notes of cough syrup, pepper, hint of smoke. Aftertaste is powerful hot and spicy. Medium-long finish, much too strong for a 21 yo. Other notes: Caramel, pepper, strong mint candy. Oranges. Dry brown grasses. Ashes. Very complex and mouth watering. This one won best single malt of 2009 on the World Whiskies Awards, but it is not for me. I know many will enjoy this dram. Overall i give this baby an 87 over 100. Cheers!!

Almost everything that Highland Park does is great. The most northern of Scotland's distilleries are also known for their amazing marketing, and "collections", from the vikings to the smugglers (who were also vikings), this is one of my favorite distilleries. This time i am reviewing Highland Park 17yo The Light, one of a two bottle collection, (the other one is "the Dark") which are inspired in the seasons on Orkney. This one of course represents spring and summer. Bottled at 52.9%abv we can expect lots of flavors. On the nose, it is citric and slightly peaty. Artificial tangerine notes, Artificial orange also. A dim Highland Park traditional peat. Burnt grass. Nice aroma; Lemon and after breathing a slight chocolate note comes up. On the palate it gets very mineral and salty. Coastal, Earthy. Mostly mineral and coastal to reveal a chocolate explosión on the finish. After first two sips vanilla is felt, since your mouth get used to the peatiness and the minerals. Finish is lovely. Chocolate with peat and ashy spiceness. Incredible aftertaste. Burns your lips nicely as any other hp. Overall this is a beautiful dram. A little expensive, but it is a lovely bottle with some nice juice on it. My score for it is 94 over 100.

A new expression from this amazing distillery, this time a 16 yo whisky that sells itself as "Gentle". I don't know if i want any "gentleness" on a Highland Park which is one of my favorite peated whiskies. This one has been matured in European sherry seasoned oak casks and american white oak casks. Bottled at 44.5%abv, not as dark colored as you would expect from a 16yo. On the nose i liked it a lot. Very complex here. Orange, Very perfumed, Heather peat, perfumed moss, lemon pie, very gentle and light. Lemon cream meringue, Tangerine, Impalpable sugar, Earthy peat and Milk powder. Lots of things happening here. On the palate it just doesn't deliver the promise you got on the nose, without been a bad whisky. Brown sugar, Molasses; Very light and gentle; Pepper spice. Very fruity like bitting some fresh mango or a tropical fruit that has gone a little old. Aftertaste brings the experience up again, with Ashes, earthy peat, Bitter oranges. Long finish with a slight saltiness on it. Overall this seems a little unbalanced, but manages to be a good whisky. It could be better, and for $106 you can certainly have a better option. 85 over 100.