Tastes

A peaty speysider. Crafted this way intentionally to show the world that speyside can use peat in their whiskies. Bottled at 46%abv. Pale straw color On the nose peat, impalpable sugar, smoky note like cigarretes and earthy peatyness (also fresh can of tennis balls). On the palate, very sulphuric. Spicy, exactly like an Ardbeg or a Laphroaig. Typical orange flavor from islay. Finish medium, very "ileach". My overall conclusion is that this is a good whisky because it smells, feels and tastes just as an islay, but if i wanted an Islay Whisky i would have bought one. 92 over 100, because Islay can go wrong, even though this is an speysider. Slainte!

I haven't had a lot of Benriachs, but everytime i have had one, it has been wonderful. This one was no exception. When sherry whiskies go higher abv percentage, its like they are on steroids. Really amazing flavors and bold experience awaits. Well this is a Benriach from an independent Bottler that has yet to go into market. I had a sample of it during my time in Scotland. Bottled at 58.7%abv, tawny color. On the nose, perfect score. Almonds, sherry, cherry, Cognac, blackberries, tobacco, wine, marmalade, raisins bathed in chocolate, sirah or pinot noir wine. Very complex, very fancy, wonderful. On the palate, another perfect score. Red fruits, dehydrated fruits, figs, pineapple, cheese flan. Everything surrounded in caramel. Aftertaste is good, not as perfect as the nose and palate. Tobacco with sherry, ginger. Overall i am right now in a sherry phase of my life, i crave sherry whiskies more than peaty ones lately, and this expression was simply amazing. This dram only missed 0.25 to get a 5 star score. 95 over 100 (actually 95.75) amazing dram. The owners of Benriach are the same ones as Glendronach SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT IN TERMS OF QUALITY. sláinte!

I have been drinking beautiful whisky lately, what can i say? It is because of the samples. I bought whatever i read it was good. And this, was good. Bottled at 46%abv, with a tawny color. The nose is so particular, is that hybrid between raisins and peanuts, that "orange raisin". It is that. So memorable. There is also sherry, blackberry marmalade, a smoke that resembles a brandy shot and maybe grapes. Nice aroma. On the palate, very complex. Caramel, smoke, raisins, mint, oily like kerosene, ginger, tobbacco, ashes, hot. Finish a little oily. Not the best kind. Overall i give this baby a 92 over 100. I would recommend this dram, but depends on the price. I bought a sample and i dont really know the price of the full bottle but 80$ would be fair for it. Cheers!

I usually think Balvenie is overrated and not something i can commonly enjoy. I have read a lot about this "peat week" expressions they have, but i never had faith on it, since i also read a lot of good reviews on their other offerings, which i don't usually share. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. This 2003 vintage, 48.3%abv is an amazing dram, and deserves all the hype it gets. On the nose it has an amazing earthy peatiness, salt, iodine, old oranges, smoky and definitively feels more like a Highland Park than a Balvenie. On the palate it is powerful. All other Balvenies i have had are usually dull. But this one, pure power. Toffee, Inmediate wasabi bomb. SUPER SPICY. Red chilli peppers. Toffee and sweet on the second sip. Aftertaste is salty and ashy. Really something enjoyable. Overall, i give this dram a solid and fair 93 over 100. Great whisky really.

This one is an oldie. A Ballentine's 12yo Pure Malt, which inmidiately trasports us back to before 2005, where the term "pure malt" was a legal definition to a "vatted malt" or as the law compels now: "blended malt". That means that there is no grain whisky in this blend, it has been made entirely from different single malts. Bottled at 40%abv, i would believe this bottle is from 2002 or 2003. 12yo statement. On the nose: Grassy; Dry grass; Hay; Vanilla and Malted barley. On the palate: Super smooth; Vanilla and Heather. Aftertaste is great! It is the best part. Malted barley finish but very elegant; dim peatiness and Heather. Overall this is a very interesting dram, although it could be a little too straightforward, but is like a piece of history nowadays. 84 over 100.

Let me start by telling you... this is not whisky. This is a spirit liquor. Why do i rate it, you might ask, and the answer is simple. It is Freaking great. I have seen this bottle like a hundred times in many whisky online stores but i have never had it in my hands. Finally, the first day i arrived at Scotland, the first dram i took was from this. It is a lemonade. Smells like lemonade, tastes like lemonade, gets you drunk like whisky with lemonade. Maybe some saltiness to it. I think it must be scored at least a 85/100 because it is so great, specially compared to fireball, jim beam apple, jack daniel's fire and other garbage out there. Amazing liquor, if it ever arrives to Ecuador, society will be lost on how good it is. Sláinte.

Continuing my old Ballantine's experience i now give you my review of the 21yo one, i know i started with the 30yo, but that one got a perfect score so that is why i started there, because of my emotion of having enjoyed a nice dram. This one was also great, but its not near the 30yo. Still the notes on this one were so clean and easy, truly delicious. Bottled at 40%abv On the nose, Candy, Impalpable sugar, Red apples, Sider; that outstanding Orange note, fresh orange juice, fresh orange peel. That Vanilla note from all ballantine's was also present. On the palate a little straightforward but in a fancy and delightful way, milk chocolate and prunes. Aftertaste was long and ashy, with hints of wood smoke. Nice. Overall this dram is excelent and deserves a score of 90 over 100.

Even if i hated Ballantine's finest and Ballantine's 12yo, i went to a club last night and after looking the liquor chart, the only one i did not had before was this Ballantine's 17yo. Obviously i asked to see the bottle and it had a gorgeous old-looking label. Well, this is a very good dram. I wouldn't buy it, but i recognize there is a galaxy of difference between the horrible finest and 12yo from this one. Bottled at 43%abv, with a chesnut oloroso sherry color. On the nose the first note is salt and some dry grass. After breathing a little it changes to a sweeter aroma, with vanilla cream, milk chocolate and butter cake. I think it was a little dim and i rated it 21 over 25. On the palate is much much better. And i believe this is the most wonderful hobbie in the world (to review whiskies) because it shows you how a cereal note can be awful sometimes and other times is pleasant. This dram felt very good in the palate with tobbacco and cereal notes, pleasant hotness, and a peppery sensation that numbs your lips a little. Some smoke too. The aftertaste is long and nice, very mouth watering. Overall i rate this dram with a particular high note: 91 over 100 (because of my rating system) but it felt more like an 89 over 100. In any case it is a good dram (that i wouldn't buy) and it deserves the high score i have given to it.

Very interesting dram. It surpassed all my expectations. This is a single malt from Texas, that means malted barley and no corn at all, which is kinda a big deal because we are talking about a U.S. whisky. Nevertheless, as soon as you nose it, the first aroma notes are typical bourbon notes. Bottled at 53%abv, with a beautiful chesnut color. Amazingly thick and slow legs on the glencairn. So many things going on the nose There is definitively some bourbonish/jack daniels profile, i guess to impress U.S. drinkers. On the nose: Banana, Vanilla escense, Vanilla ice cream, White chocolate, Maple syrup, Sherry sweetness, Prunes.It sure feels like its going to grow into red fruits but it doesn't. Amazingly sweet and appealing. On the palate is also a good dram, but not as incredible as the nose. Oily, Cake burnt, Spicy: mild pepper. Some Sherry. Oaky. Sour prunes. A little smoke, woody smoke. Mostly sour and smoky. Sour sherry. Finish is medium, a little hot, ashy. Ginger spice stays a little longer. Malty. Cloying sugar. Overall it feels like they use a virgin american oak barrel but some sherry must have been used also. The only way banana and vanilla are that strong in the aroma is by using a new barrel of american oak. The dried fruits/sherry notes are mostly on the palate. Great dram, totally recommended: my score for it is a solid 88 over 100 but it surely feels like more. Maybe a 4.5 would do it justice.

Never had a Balblair before and i didn't have any expectations. Actually is a good dram, i wouldn't buy it again, but it is enjoyable and if i ever find it in a party i would drink it. Bottled at 46%abv with a pale staw color. On the nose only 4 notes but lovely aroma: cake, butter, chocolate butter cake (lol) and some herbal note. On the palate, more complex and interesting: hay, tobacco, smoke, ashes, bitter chocolate, brownie. It is oily and hot, and the finish is medium long, hot but pleasant. Overall i give this dram an 88 over 100. Cheers!