Tastes
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I got to tell you, this new expression is above average and it is very drinkable. The first Blended Malt for the Chivas family, Ultis is a blend from 5 different malts (undisclosed but i bet one is strathisla). On the nose, Pepper, Orange jam; Starts promising, some Stinky vanilla cream (like Johnnie Walker red label); a little Simple on the nose. Notes of Nuts coming after a sip. On the palate... Water, at first. Then Spices like clove and pepper. Absolutely smooth. Very fancy. Elegant but not flavorfull. Second sip: caramel. Finish with ginger noges, short but pleasant. Overall this is a bottle i would buy. My score for this, 89 over 100. Solid.
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Royal Salute 38 Year Stone of Destiny
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed March 19, 2020 (edited June 20, 2021)Another super premium whisky from Pernod Ricard's Chivas Regal, this time a 38yo expression, called Royal Salute: Stone of Destiny, whose name comes from the ancient red stone used for coronation of scottish kings and later in history, in the coronation of brittish kings and queens. Bottled at 40%abv On the nose, Fresh Orange cut in half (just as Chivas 18yo or Ballantine's 30yo). An artificial orange juice called "Tang", i don't know if you have ever had it but it is just like that. Watermelon (wow! That is a first!); Caramel and Toffee. On the palate: Super smooth, Vanilla esence, Spiciness builds with every sip. Aftertaste is AMAZING. Toffee with spices, such a buttery, pleasant finish. Overall this is what high end blends can achieve. Maybe a little straightforward on the tasting notes, but definitively very well crafted and delicious. I know it is expensive, but if you can have a glass of it, don't doubt, you will love it. 94 over 100. Sláinte! -
This IS a luxury whisky. A blend from whiskies that are at least 40yo, this one is smooth as silk on your palate. A 62 gun salute is the best kind of celebration you can get from the UK royalty, and this is why this whisky gets its name. Even the letters on the decanter are made out of 24 karat gold. On the nose, i get the most beautiful chocolate fudge and freshly cut oranges. After the first sip, this two notes become incredibly enhanced. On the palate, it might be the smoothest whisky i have ever had. Macadamian Nuts, Dark chocolate, a dessert that is called "mil hojas" in spanish, which translates into "Strudel" in english. Dulce de Leche. So sweet and fancy. Aftertaste is salty and there are notes of ginger spice. Very long and rewarding. Overall this is a great dram. A very hard to find and a expensive one too. A proper score for it is at least 95/100. I consider myself lucky for having tasted it. Sláinte Mhath!!
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My war horse. A good, cheap, sherried whisky. Figs, raisins, maraschino cherries, wedding cake, christmas cake, candied fruits. On the palate it is a little rough, but greatly sherried. Dark chocolate and tobacco. Red fruits. Aftertaste has a cinmamon, dark chocolate bitter chocolate. Great dram, 85 over 100
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A very luxury dram, very easy drinkable, as most fancy blends it is delicious and not so complex. The aroma and tasting notes are very clean and made for everyone. Bottled at 40%abv, golden color. On the nose is sweet and appealing: toasted oak, dry honey, herbal vanilla, raisins and almonds. When you let it breathe it releases more dehydrated fruits, figs and raisins. On the palate is very winey and smooth. Herbal, rum, oak (lots of oak due to its 25yo), honeycomb. Aftertaste is medium long, very rewarding and herbal. In conclusion this is a fine dram. Not very complex but very enjoyable. A little straightforward but very well crafted. 89/100.
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Lagavulin Offerman Edition 11 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed March 17, 2020 (edited May 5, 2020)A new Lagavulin is always wonderful news. But this time they got into the pop culture by releasing this "Offerman" edition, in honor of Nick Offerman a tv series famous character who is widely known for drinking Lagavulin. Lagavulin even made a series of "Offerman's documentaries" that you can find in youtube. But the real conclusion that this whisky left me is that this is the second recognizable whisky in the world. What do i mean by this? Well, i have often said that we, whisky enthusiasts, are not as wine master sommeliers, that can recognize a wine and its vintage year with a blindfold; but if you have 10 whiskies in a table and one of them is a Macallan, you probably wouldn't guess which expression it is, but you would definitively recognize the macallan, because Macallan always smell like a Macallan. That has happen to me with Lagavulin. Lagavulin's prefumed peat aroma is recognizable easily. It is different from the "tar" of Ardbeg, the "Fresh can of tennis balls" from Laphroaig, the heather from Highland Park and the toffee/salt from Talisker. Therefore, you can guess that a whisky is a lagavulin by only perceive its aroma. Having said that; lets get into business. Bottled at 46%abv, golden color. The Nose is perfection. Complexity. It starts with a Heathery peat. Then i got Fire; actual fire, this is the first time i got this in a whisky. Fondant; That lagavulin tar/ peat. There is a sweetness to it After the first sip, it becomes meringue, AMAZING. In has become sugary in a beatitul way. The vanilla cake note is so accurate and clean. Lemon pie. But the palate fails to deliver, without been bad. Sour prunes, a little watery (strange for 46%abv), vanilla and some saltiness. Aftertaste is great. Amazing and mild, Not overly peated but the aftertaste sensation of peat and ginger is beautiful. Mild ¿¿gunpowder??; Grassy peat, hay. Overall, Lagavulin did a great job here. Most new markets will buy this just because the "Offerman" marketing strategy, and then, they will be hooked. Great dram, 92 over 100. Sláinte! -
Wow this is terrible. It is my first West Cork and it failed to be everything that it announced to contain: it says sherry finished, but it doesn't tastes like any sherry; it says 43%abv, it feels like 12%abv. It has a very golden color, no reddish sherried colour whatsoever. On the nose it is very fruity, but fails to be interesting. First sniff is full of acetone, to then reveal yellow apples, pineapple, cheap lemon air freshener, apple juice, NO SHERRY AT ALL. On the palate, it is lame. The first note i got was an old stored box, like old cardboard with straws inside. A very dim apple note, and water. Way too watery. Aftertaste is nothing. Ginger and water. A complete dissapointment. Overall this is a very forgettable dram. Nose helps it a little bit but not enough to even reach a 2.5 score. 48 over a 100, avoid it.
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Cardhu Gold Reserve (Game of Thrones-House Targaryen)
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed February 25, 2020This special Game of Thrones edition is.... THE SAME EXACT NORMAL CARDHU GOLD RESERVE WHISKY. Having said that, did we just paid a little more just for a label with game of thrones drawings on it? (which is not even beautiful) Bottled at 40%abv, this is your typical Cardhu, as a matter of fact it resembles a lot of the Gold Reserve... wait. On the nose: dim aroma of Tobacco, Lemon, grapefruit, Caramel and Vanilla. Not that great. On the palate it is very enjoyable. Coffee beans, Toffee, Tobacco, Pepper and Oak spice. Aftertaste is also nice with a mild smoky note with hints of oak and sawdust. Overall this is not a bad whisky at all. Maybe the nose is not powerful enough, shame on me on not even noticing it was the same cardhu gold reserve with a GOT label; 84 over 100.
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