Tastes

Talisker is one of the finest distilleries of all the world. It is my favorite alongside with Glendronach, and i fetch all the expressions i can that they release. Well, in 2022, Diageo gave us their "Special Releases" and the Talisker one featured a Jellyfish, who is an animal that lives in the depths of the sea, which is the main theme of Talisker expressions nowadays. This natural cask strength whisky was bottled at 55.1%abv On the nose, it is a little dim, not the best Talisker has ever done. Apple, salt. Beach feeling; a Plavova dessert, unexpectedly sweet. On the palate, it is delicious; it got back on track. Acid gooseberries, prunes with salt, a lovely red pepper note and milk powder formula. After a first sip, it became a sweet vanilla ice cream. Aftertaste is by far the best part of it. A heavy salt note; kelp, maritime feeling overall. Wow, really amazing. Star aniseed. Overall, this is very enjoyable, it doesn't feel as a natural cask strength dram, you can't feel the 55.1%abv anywhere. It lacks complexity and the nose is too dim that is the worst part. In conclusion, this is a very good single malt, but this is not the best Talisker you will ever have. It still manages to score highly, but for a Talisker i would say that they can definitively do a better job. My score for it is 89 over 100.

Valinch & Mallet is an independent bottler that i just recently found. And it was impossible for me to let this beautiful bottle go away withoit buying it, because it is so crazy. On one side, you will find a super elegant, expensive looking engraving that can be only described as "super fancy". But the other side of the bottle, there is this painting, called "The Peat(y)ful madness", a cartoonish work of art showing a big duck with a spirit still, a unicorn; a wound on the duck's belly where US dollars are falling, and other irrational drawings. This was made by Laurina Paperina, an italian painter, that has the tendency to make exaggerated cartoons of their 80s and 90s idols, and always a Duck, which represents the author. Incredible thing. Bottled at 52.7%abv, this is a "South Islay Shore" whisky, matured from a single Caroni Rum Cask. Only 292 bottles where ever made. (By the way, Caroni Rum is like the "Port Ellen" of rums). Pretty neat stuff. On the nose, it is bipolar as the bottle itself. Cigarrettes, brown sugar, burn grass, ashes, gunpowder and raisins. The rum profile is all over the place. After a first sip it gave me fireworks, vanilla, impalpable sugar. The third aroma gave me a "Laphroaig" feeling: povydone and medicinal notes. Lotion for burnt skin. On the palate is pure perfection. The most beautiful raisin note, it is like a raisin juice. Rum, figs, molasses and red pepper. The second sip, gave me strawberries and red fruits juice; cane. Peaty as well. Aftertaste is awesome, a perfect ending for an outstanding dram. Red peppers, meat, salt. It is a BBQ. A third sip showed me a hint that this has to be Laphroaig, because it resembles a fresh can of tennis balls and a pair of new socks. Overall, this was a fantastic whisky. Everyone on my tasting event loved it. I now need anotyer bottle, and it is very hard to find. It is a part of a collection of 4 expressions, and believe me when i say that i will not leave any stone unturned till i find them. My score for this marvel is 97 over 100.

It is always a nice day when you get the chance to drink a whisky from a distillery you haven't previously tasted, and it gets even more special when it is a single malt from a place that has been mothballed, because that means that the "juice" you are having is part of a final batch. This is the case of Caperdonich, a distillery that definitively closed their doors in 2002 if i am not mistaken, and it might seem not too long ago, but that was 21 years ago. Actually, this bottle #1598 also has a 21yo age statement, and was matured in first fill american oak barrels. It is a 48%abv dram from speyside. On the nose, this is very fruity! Apples, sawdust, pears, fruit salad and a peach Pavlova dessert. Old furniture. On the palate, this is one fine, creamy dram. A full vainilla note. Gooseberries. The second sip can only be described as Bowser's song from Mario Bros movie, because it is all about Peaches. Aftertaste provides a whole different experience, a very nice one. Hay, tobacco leaf, gunpowder. A Salty, long finish. A little metallic in a good way. Overall, i had no expectations for this single malt before having it, and i got to say i was pleasantly surprised. Every fruit note was amazingly clean and well delivered and you will truly enjoy the peaty finish. Perfectly balanced, not overly complex this is a good whisky. My score for it is 90 over 100.

Finally!!! I am glad to tell you that i have had the Chivas Extra 13yo Tequila cask that has been so elusive to me in the past months. This is a very special moment, and quite an unpredictable one, for me since i am a Chivas Brand Ambassador for Ecuador, and i have been wondering if this was a good scotch, specially after trying Buchanan's "Two Souls", another tequila cask finished blend (which i did not like). Bottled at 40%abv, this has been finished in Tequila casks. This one has a 13yo age statement. On the nose, it starts quite like a Tequila. Agave, acetone, mint and lemon peel. After a first sip i got gooseberries and grapefruit. There is a nice Brown sugar note here. On the palate, it surprised me, it was very sweet. Caramel, toffee; Coffee with dulce de leche and ginger. On the second sip i got a super creamy vanilla note. It is so creamy and thick that it resembles the body of a pecorino cheese. Aftertaste was the most "tequila-ish" part. Ginger, salt, agave, pepper and very herbal. Nice. Overall this was far better than the Buchanan's tequila finished one. This one truly feels like you are having a whisky and not other spirit drink, which was my main complaint of the "Two Souls". Super creamy, very enjoyable as an everyday dram, my score for it is 89 over 100. Good job.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company is often releasing old, very rare independent expressions of single malts from various fancy distilleries. This is the case of a crazy old 28 year old Tamdhu, bottled at 46.8%abv, with a lovely label of king Saladin wearing Boxing gloves. This is of course a reference to the Tamdhu way of making whisky, since it is the last distillery to use a Saladin Box to malt the barley. On the nose, there is an apple note thatbis truly a beauty. This is the "applest" apple note ever. This is a super fresh, delicate, very appealing aroma. Dulce de leche, thick honey. Black pepper. It has an aroma like you have overwashed your hands and they are super fragant. Stewed fruits. After some minutes there is a citric fruit peel note rising. Grapefruit. After the first sip, aroma changed into a more artificial profile, like liquid paper. Envelope glue. A spicy note is now very present. It is truly fragant. Smores. On the palate, it is very citric and acid. Unexpectedly citric. Lemon and lime. The second sip was sweeter for 3 seconds, then a citric explosion happens; like those citric lollipops from my highschool years. Some sawdust and dim old apples. It is really an apple juice on the third sip, but the acidity is just too powerful, and this is only 46.8%abv. Aftertaste is all about tobacco and a fruity finish that is lovely. It is like passionfruit, wow! truly surprising. A second sip prove this to be truly "cowboy-ish". Hay, tobacco, bitter and dry. Pretty nice. Definitively some dry fruits. Seeds. Very rewarding. There is a sugary poke that feels great. Overall, this is incredible on the nose and aftertaste, and pretty normal on the palate. It still manages to be quite a memorable dram. It will always be interesting to drink a 28 yo single malt, specially if it has a very rewarding finish. My score for it is 90 over 100.

Well, i have a fully formed opinion of Bowmore. I have declared myself a Bowmore soldier since i visited the distillery, but i often find their core expressions to lack some things here and there, that made believe that this wasn't the best Islay Whisky when i first tasted it. After having some of their rare expressions, i can honestly say that a hard to find Bowmore, or a special release will be always worth buying, since those releases are great. And this is the case of this single malt matured in 1st Fill Ex-Château Lagrange Grand Cru Classé, and bottled 48.4%abv. Chateau Lagrange is one of the few wineries that have obtained the "Grand Cru Classé" denomination, which is reserved for special high end bordeaux wines. This is a 21 year old Whisky. On the nose, it is perfect, crazy complex. It starts with an intense old orange note very appealing. A thick layer of brown sugar mixed with cocoa milk formula, oranges and lemon peel. Incredible. Povidone cream. Recently cut grass. Out of nowhere a red fruit note appeared, like it was lurking behind the povidone note. Super fancy caramel and salt; burnt caramel, Créme bruleé. This is super complex and amazingly interesting. Definitively brown sugar notes. Rum and raisins ice cream have appeared after letting it breath. Apples and lemons. 10 minutes have passed, now it is impalpable sugar. Spectacular. On the palate, it starts with red apples and a  sulphuric, metallic note. Salty and "caramelish" feeling. A second sip gave me Marshmallows, toffee and caramel in such a fancy and delicious way. The a pepper note kicks your soul. Everything well delivered. Lips scorching salt. Gooseberries. Aftertaste has this lovely smoke with hints of hay. Caramel. A little bit salty and short on the first sip. The finish is just an uncanny puff of smoke. Incredible ending, super rewarding. Overall, i dont even know why i am not giving it a perfect score. (Actually it lost 2 points on the palate) because this is one of the most enjoyable drams i have had lately. There are layers of notes that are delivered to you in a wonderful way. Truly a masterpiece, i would drink this forever. My score for it is 98 over 100.

Suntory's Hibiki is simply amazing. It doesn't matter if it is the mythical 21 year old or any of their NAS releases. If you ever have a Hibiki, you will most definitively enjoy it. Having said that, i got my hands on a Hobiki Blossom 2021 expression, a 43%abv blended whisky, that was only intended for the japanese market, and obviously the price of it just EXPLODED. It has been finished in Sakura Barrels, a type of cherry blossom tree. On the nose it is outstanding. Pineapple; a Hibiki typical sawdust mixed with hay/metallic note. Pavlova dessert, peach and tropical fruits over vanilla cream. Peach halves in syrup. After a first sip, the aroma changed into this incredible fruit punch and cranberries. A floral field. It is an incredible aroma although a little dim. Grapefruit. On the palate it is so enjoyable that it can be described as almost perfect. Tangerine and pineapple. Some woody character. Salt. Crazy good. The second sip was all about impalpable sugar over a pineapple. White wine.  A sugary water note also present. Aftertaste is salty, with a "crazy dips" feeling. Acidity.  Impalpable sugar, gooseberries, acid fruits. Lovely, ghostly long. Overall, this is magnificent. It is almost unbelievable that blended whiskies can be THIS good. Full of flavor, lovely notes, everything perfectly crafted, long finish; just wonderful. My score for it is 95 over 100, and i might have been a little harsh on the score here.

The single malt giants, Glenfiddich, have release a new collection that i am almost sure is only for travel retail. The four bottles are just amazingly good looking, and the boxes are even better. Very fancy presentation, lets talk about the whisky. Bottled at 40%abv, the Perpetual Collection Vat 01, called "elegant & Smooth", is the first release, and it has been matured in Glenfiddich's very known Solera Vats. On the nose, it is fairly woody. New polished wood, sawdust. Strong fresh fruitiness. Stewed pears and apples. Mashed apples. Honey, cinnamon. After a first sip it became a rum & raisin ice cream. Ginger. On the palate, dulce de leche, very light. Some hay/tobacco note. the second sip was a marshmallow water; vanilla, honey; That is the profile. A sugary, fruity, light water. Milk with sugar. Aftertaste is spicy. Pepper and sulphur. Metalic. The second sip became a horse stable: Hay, tobacco, burnt old grass. I havent have this sulphuric note for a while, it is nice actually. Overall, this is the safest single malt you can ever buy. The tasting and aroma notes are the most typical you will ever find on a whisky. Having said that, this is enjoyable, easy drinkable and fairly nice for a 1 litre bottle. Nothing overly exciting, this is some entry level dram, you can use it to convince people to start trying single malts. My score for it is 80 over 100.

Big whisky companies are trying to appeal to younger consumers. Whisky has historically been considered a drink for people who are a little older, who have more money to spend, since whisky tends to be expensive. We have already seen Glenmorangie X, for mixing and now we have this Johnnie Walker Blonde; specially made for cocktails. I believe it is more expensive than a JW red label, so that makes no sense at all, but here it is, a lovely looking bottle. Bottled at 40%abv, golden color. On the nose, it is very gentle.  Apples, sider and honey. Sawdust; it is actually very dusty. Tobacco leaf, stewed apples.  Almonds  and amaretto liquor. On the palate, Lots of honey. Bitter hay and salt. Very light and grassy. Aftertaste is the best part. An amazing hazelnut taste. Saltiness. Short but tasty finish. Crazy good chocolate and hazelnut. Overall, this is actually pretty good, and it is a hundred times better than a Johnnie Walker Red label. I believe it is also more expensive, which is a complete conundrum for me, since this is marketed and sold as a drink to be mixed in cocktails. Fairly nice, with a price that is not good, my score for this one is 80 over 100.

Billy Walker is like the king of whisky making. He has been doing incredible "uisgebeathas" for a long time. To be precise, he has been making whisky for 50 long years. Nowadays he owns one of the arguably best distilleries in the world, The GlenAllachie, which has earned that reputation because of this member of the whisky Hall of Fame.  That is the proper explanation for my next review, the 4 year old, "Future" expression of GlenAllachie. A Peated single malt for the first time in this distillery's history; it honours the 50th anniversary of Billy Walker making the finest single malts in the world. Bottled at cask strength, 60.2%abv, this very young whisky is quite intriguing. On the nose, almost perfect. Smoked oranges, bacon, honey, BBQ sauce. Sausage, ribs and a nice spiciness. It maintains the fruity profile of GlenAllachie but it also has an aromatic peat feeling. After a sip, the aroma changed into lotion for burnt skin, kerosene and meat. Incredibly stuff. The empty glass gave me some milky reminiscense. On the palate, pure perfection. orange marmalade, chocolate. When you "chew" this dram a powerful red hot chilli will be released into your soul. Vanilla, toffee and oranges. Aftertaste is quite smokey! Tobacco, cuban cigars, orange peels. Very acid in a wonderful way. Hints of salt. Overall, this was incredible, specially when we stop ourselves for a second to think that this single malt is only 4 years old. It is called "Future" as a part of the 50th Anniversary collection, that has other two 16yo expressions: Past and Present. This is a "wink" or a hint where this distillery is going from now on. An amazing single malt, suitable to celebrate 5 decades of wonderful whisky making. My score for it is 98 over 100, Sláinte Mhath!