Tastes

My 499 review comes from an Islay Malt. Maybe the most forgotten one by me, Caol Ila, which i respect but i don't really have the same appreciation as an Ardbeg, Laphroaig or a Lagavulin. Actually this high strength abv dram was a part of a future release from an independent bottler that is going to enter the market soon (in fall 2019). Bottled at 59%abv, pale straw color. On the nose, lots of things happen here bit not necessarily the most appealing ones. Lemon, peat, pure alcohol or as we ecuadorian call it: PURO. Agave from tequila, grapefruit, dry grass and tea. The kind of tea that old people drink. Not my favorite aroma, but complex enough to get a solid score. On the palate, very few notes, very clean and delicious ones. Chinese Tea. Chocolate, dry feeling, lemon. No more, but it is really good. Aftertaste is where the islay profile really gets to you. For a 59%abv there is no alcohol kick or unbearable spiciness. Smoke, peat, beach notes, sand, peppery spiciness. Overall, this is not my favorite dram, but i have to be objective and due to its complexity and well craftedness i give it a 90 over 100.

My scoring system will give this dram a 91 over 100, but it really feels like less. It is a good dram, but i prefer the 12yo one. Bottled at 43%abv with a pale staw color. On the nose, the peat is lovely, that "fresh can of tennis balls" or "permanent marker" type of peat. Pepper and champagne. Lovely. On the palate is nice but kinda boring. There are ashes everywhere, very very soft dram, oranges and cough syrup. The finish is the best part. Eternal. With a soft spicy mint note. Overall i give this dram a 91 over 100, buy a sample and decide for yourself. I would buy the 12yo over this one.

Wow. Amazing dram. I think i have met the most smooth islay whisky out there. Bottled at 43% abv with an amber color. On the nose it is fantastic. Main notes are: Peat Peat Peat Peat Caramel Sea weed Fish Salt Oil Olives Prunes...... and peat. On the palate it is delicious, smooth and balanced. Starts so gentle, not harsh at all. Oakyness and spicy is so balanced and beautiful. So sweet it can be considered a dessert. Some almonds can be found. Phenolic in the nose and in the mouth. Just perfect. Olives. Short tobacco aftertaste. Overall it is a 92 over 100, it lost 8 points because the finish is very short but it is a spectacular dram. Cheers!

Sometimes simple is good. Simple is successful. This is the case of bushmills 10yo, one of the most sold irish whiskies ever. The only Bushmills i have had before was the "original" and i didn't liked it. This one is different, it doesn't even give you that "grain whiskey profile". It is a very straightforward dram, but gets the job done. Bottled at 40%abv. On the nose, only to notes: blackberry juice and berries. Actually very perfumed. On the palate: plum and lots of cream from the grain whiskey that is inside the blend, in a very lovely way. Aftertaste is spicy, clove and pepper. Overall i give this fine and super cheap dram an 83 over 100 and now i know why it is a blockbuster.

I have read some amazing reviews for this whisky. People are absolutely nuts about it, they say it is amazingly balanced and full of chocolate. I had the bottle for some time, and it thought, "ok, it is time to see what all the fuss is about". I have now tasted it and it is a good whisky but nothing i would die for. On the nose, it is the best part, i got cocoa cream; Hay and Burnt grass, Cotton, Coffee and of coursw that Chocolate kote everyone is rambling about. I am not going to use my "since this is an islay dram i wanted peat and since there is none, i am going to destroy this" card, because i knew beforehand that this whisky had almost no peat on it. On the palate it is a good dram. Orange notes, more Chocolate; Milk powder. It is very nutty. I liked it. Aftertaste was good also, without been great. It is mostly burnt hay and orange /chocolate notes. Overall i think this is a very good dram, just not excelent. It almost made 4.5 stars, but to be honest i don't think it deserves it. 89 over 100 is my score for it.

Rewarding. That is my summary of this not so complex whisky that i have enjoyed. It is not something that will change your life but i just truly had a good time tasting it. This is my third Bunnahabhain and frankly the other two did not impressed me much (Shania Twain quote). Ceòbanach actually means "Smoky Mist" and it is properly pronounced 'kyaw-bin-och'. This is the heavily peated expression from this distillery, famous for been "not so peated". Bottled at 46.3%abv, natural pale straw color, un-chill filthered. On the nose, this is very interesting. Right away when you open the bottle, you will feel the peat and yellow apples. But those are fake aromas; when you pour yourself a dram, the notes change into this very creamy, peaty whisky. The most amazing and accurate aroma note is Rum Raisins ice cream. It is amazing how clean that aroma is here. Earthy peat is intense, sometimes too powerful as alcohol not as peaty. There is a marvelous tropical sweetness. Grapes and White wine. Beautifully perfumed.So far this is the best bunna' on the nose. So creamy. On the palate it is quite spicy. Definitively some raisin influence.Turns spicy fast. Rum raisins ice cream. Aftertaste has a lovely tobacco smoke. Very rewarding. Nice Pepper, Puffs of smoke, very pleasant. Ginger and salt. Overall this is a very good, straightforward dram. Not complex but somehow manages to be pleasant and "fun". I had to reason it a little while, because it was good enough to trick my scoring system into something higher, but a fair score for it is 88 over 100. For $70 a bottle, this one can be recommended.

Almost a 4.5 it didn't quite live to my expectations. Safe to say that in a blind tasting i even wouldn't guess this is an islay dram, its peatiness is too dim. On the nose is very weak but gets a lot better on the palate and the finish is great. Bottled at 46.3%abv, with a very attractive tawny natural color. On the nose is very light. Brown cake (wedding cake) raisins, brownies and a earthy peat (not smoke, earth, dirt). On the palate is a lot better, full smoke, tongue burn, hay, spices (pepper), oak. Finish is spicy, mouth watering and very long. This is the best perk of the dram. Overall i give this whisky an 86 over 100. Cheers.

What an amazing dram this was. After i couldn't live to the 18yo hype, (it wasn't real for me), this very special distillery blew my mind with this whisky. You can just buy a bottle and drink one dram after a dessert. Bottled at 46.3% On the nose: Dark fruits with chocolates. Prunes very clean. Dulce de leche and baked apples. Much more delicate and refined. Mostly prunes. That typical burnt hay from bunnahabhain appears. On the palate, only two notes, but excelent ones: super vanilla / chocolate and slight citric flavor. Aftertaste is also amazing. Oranges with dulce de leche. Sweet with a slight ashiness. Oak spices stay very long in your mouth. A very pleasant dry herbal note. Overall this whisky is just amazing. It lost some points on the palate due to its "straightforwardness" but it is definitively a wonderful dram. 94 over 100.

One fine Bourbon. Lovely and pleasant to taste. Bottled at 45%abv, with a polished mahogany color. On the nose is fruity and "artificial". Prune and orange citrus aroma, cocoa powder, milk powder (formula), vanilla, caramel, chocolate. On the palate is great also. Tangerine, slight ashes, oak and black pepper. Delicious. Body is medium and the finish is very spicy and long. Overall is a great bourbon, one of the best i have had, 84/100.

beautiful blended scotch. very balanced, state of the art. On the nose you get a friendly aroma filled with vanilla, cream, herbal and flower notes. on the palate starts a little sweet, like caramel, butterscotch and maybe chocolate, dark chocolate. Then the sweetness fades into an spicy note but very gentle and balanced, with a tiny bit of bitterness. the after taste is also medium and gratifiying. To put it in a word, this whisky is balanced. lovely dram i just had. i almost forgot. there is orange somewhere too