Tastes

My first Compass Box ever. To describe it in one word: interesting. Specially on the nose. Bottled at 43%abv, with a pale staw-pale gold color. On the nose is the most fruity dram i have ever had, easy to detect, great for starters in this tasting business. Caramel and hay was my first impression, then pear, apple juice, fresh lemons and finally some cream. On the palate is a little normal (boring), with oranges and spices, a mild hotness and a medium spicy finish. Overall i give this dram an 87 over 100. It is a blended Malt, important fact. Cheers!

This is a great dram. And i would definitively buy it. Those were my two first impressions, but after a couple of drams i understood that some points should be deducted because of its "straightforwardness", and that is why i changed the score from 5.0 to 4.5; still qualifying as a great whisky. Bottled at 46%abv, it has the most transparent color ever, white wine color. A blend of Laphroaig, ledaig, caol ila, ardmore and another highland malt, this is a very intense whisky. On the nose is beautiful. It is the best part: Tennis Balls, Nerf Toys (those sticky tennis balls half pink half green), almond M&Ms, Peat that reminds me of Highland Park whiskies, salt, pepper, morning coffee (same aroma as old ballantruan 10yo), Bailey's liquor (almond oil). Spectacular and very interesting aroma. On the palate is nice. But after 3 sips gets a little boring. Full mouth ashy, peppery sensation. All spice notes. Even though it is very spicy it is pleasant. Aftertaste is spicy, bonfire and sulfur notes are there. Very long. Is like your tongue were scorched. Very balanced. Overall i give this whisky a 94 over 100, and it is a dram to enjoy with food with strong flavors. Not for everyone and not for everyday, still an incredible dram. Cheers!

I really liked this one. A much more mellowed bourbon, with very sweet toffee notes, vanilla and flan caramel (creme caramel). Delicious. Same sweet notes with some red fruits too. It is like any other bourbon but a little bit refined, with more bite. Sorry for the simple review. 80 over 100. Slainte!

A new Travel Exclusive from the Giants of Chivas Regal. This time a 18yo Japanese oak Finish in first fill mizunara oak cask. This is the standard 18yo finished in this "water oak" (as the translation for mizunara says) casks. Bottled at 48%abv, it has a orange amber color. Nice. On the nose, this is not similar as the standard 18yo. The normal one is much more perfumed and orange citric. This one has a strong thick caramel note right away. Coffee. Very clean lemon peel. Dulce de leche, chocolate. On the palate, it is very smooth. Vanilla custard. Caramel. Sawdust. Very straightforward and smooth. No alcohol at all. Aftertaste is the best part. A beautiful tobacco note. Burnt oak. Wasabi and herbal spices. Very pleasant. Overall, this is one fancy whisky. A little straightforward though. It is very different from the standard and can be enjoyed by anyone. 88 over 100.

This beautiful bottle of a special Royal Salute edition has an age statement: 32 years old! That is big. The amazing bottle has a Crown attached to the cork. Why? Because this expression of Chivas Regal commemorates the union of the scottish, english and ireland Crowns in 1603. This is one rare and old bottle to find. Bottled at 40%abv, tawny color. As most fancy bottles, this is a very delicate, light, straightforward, easy drinkable whisky. On the nose: banana, burnt caramel, some herbal notes and rubber. On the palate: old oranges, brown sugar, banana, copper, dim cherry notes, prunes. Aftertaste is delicate and spicy, with ginger, salt and clove. A lovely, easy dram. I give it an 87 over 100.

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.

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!!

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

Bottled at 40%abv, with an amontillado sherry color. On the nose, a sherry profile: sherry, cola, salt, peat, apples, blackberry marmalade. On the palate, caramel, almonds, wood, oranges, ashes and a hot long finish with a little spicyness. Overall it is an 83 over a 100.