Tastes
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It is always great to taste a very hard to find whisky, specially if it comes from Islay, and has an age statement of 27 years old. This is exactly the bottle i opened in a private tasting, a 27yo Bunnahabhain, from "The Good Spirits Company", a not very known independent bottler. I always think that old whiskies are a type of time machine, that can make me go to the past, by just asking myself this question: where was i 27 years ago when the youngest drop of this single malt entered an oak barrel?; what has happened in my life and in the world during that time, just to meet this bottle today? Romaticism aside, this one has a pale straw color, and has been bottled at 40.8%abv. On the nose, it is very tropical and sweet. Pineapple, white chocolate; candied fruits, white wine and coconut. There is definitively some salty notes. After a first sip, it gave me the fruits you use when making a wine sangria. Macerated fruits, green grapes and pomegranate. On the palate, it is fabulous. Super hazelnuts with Ferrero Rocher chocolate and hay. The second sip was a little watery, vainilla, pineapple and a slight salt. Very "beachy". Aftertaste is all about pineapple, arazá fruit; it is exactly as a "Piña Colada" Cocktail. Eternal saltiness. It resembles a fancy white rum. And then, all of a sudden, tabacco notes appeared. Overall, this one was absolutely amazing. The most tropical whisky i might have ever had. The typical Bunnahabhain brown chocolate note has changed into a white milk chocolate here to make a perfect mixture with the tropical profiles of this dram. Incredible experience, i am so sad only 179 bottles were ever made, my score for it is 97 over 100.
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Glenlivet Guardians' Chapter
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed October 22, 2022 (edited October 23, 2022)In 2013, Glenlivet asked their "Guardians" (which are a group of people worldwide who have suscribed to Glenlivet promotions) to choose a new, cask strength and non-chill filthered expression, out of three possible single malts, originally called "Classic", "Revival" and "Exotic". People spoke, and "Exotic", a whisky mostly matured in spanish red wine casks, was the winner with 39% of the votes, making this one the first crowd sourced Glenlivet ever. 24.000 decanters where ever released, and they where bottled at 48.7%abv. On the nose, it starts with some nice fruitiness. Cherries, peaches, tobacco and sawdust. Mint. The first bose felt like this is not a young dram. After havinga sip, the aroma gave me orange spongy cake, buiscuits. On the palate, it is very pleasant. Orange peel, super citric, Raw rice and chocolate. Oranges, a metallic note that is really delicious. Red apples. Super complex. Aftertaste offers a good ending to a wonderful whisky. Tobacco, hay, grass, earthiness and salt. It really feels mildly peaty. Dry. Overall, this was a very solid, pleasant, elegant dram. Complex, delicious and full of flavor, this is a winner in my books. I don't think this is super expensive, but it can be considered "rare"; nevertheless i strongly recommend anyone to try this one if you have the chance. My score for it is 92 over 100. -
GlenDronach Octarine 8 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed October 16, 2022 (edited October 20, 2022)One of the most difficult Glendronachs to find nowadays is this 8yo "Octarine", a discontinued expression from one of the world's greatest distilleries. This almost rare expression, was exclusively released for the french supermarket chain, "Carrefour". It originally was 50-60 dollars, but now it goes for about USD.180. Bottled at 46%abv, tawny color. On the nose, its starts a little alcoholy, but also with a fruitcake note very appealing. It is like a plum dipped in wine. Lots of plum liquor notes. Peach halves and dehydrated fruits, raisins and cake. It is lovely on the nose. It is exactly a christmas cake. Panettone. After some minutes in the glass, it gave me the most amazing grated coconut note ever. On the palate; it is very enjoyable for a 8yo, but a little simple on the first sip. Peaches, hints of sawdust and hay. The second sip was much more oaky with less flavor and a little more roughness, but not in a bad way. Aftertaste is a little dry and woody. Dim salt, long finish, sawdust and new polished wood. Definitively this is the least likeable part of this nice single malt. Oakspice. The third sip gave me some of the missing fruitiness from the first two sips. Overall, for the original price and availability it had when it was released, this was a complete bargain and a great offering. Nowadays it feels more like a collector's item, and not the best deal if you drink it at today's cost. I believe that the aroma is by far the best part, it is really enjoyable. The palate and finish could be better, but then again, this is an 8yo, which is a little too young to extract all the flavors and aromas from a cask. My score for this nice whisky is 85 over 100. -
Laphroaig Cairdeas 2022 Warehouse 1
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed October 14, 2022 (edited December 25, 2022)When Feis Ile arrives, some serious whiskies arrive as well. Laphroaig has a wonderful collection, called "Cairdeas" that comes every year when Islay is having their famous party. The 2021 expression was out of this world, that is why i was eager to taste this 2022 "Warehouse 1" Cairdeas. Bottled at 52.1%abv, this is Laphroaig's most "Laphroaigish" whisky ever. Pale straw color. On the nose, it starts with something that can be described as a earthy brownie. Floral, earthy, rubber boots, sown land and a horse saddle. Pine tree, sharpie marker and povidyn. It smells like Mr. Clean products; iodine and pepper. Wet grass, seaweed and welding. On the palate, it is a vanilla water. Vanilla ice cream, plastic. Artificial notes; it is very tasty. Simple, but well delivered. Aftertaste was my favorite part. Rubber, grass, a pleasant spiciness and salt. Eternal salty finish. Blood and metallic flavors. Overall, this passed the test. It wasn't as incredible as the 2021 expression, but this screams "Laphroaig" all over the place. A very well delivered and round expression, this one won't dissapoint anyone. My score for it is 91 over 100. -
The Dalmore 2009 Vintage, Single Cask by Ian MacLeod, "The Eagle"
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed October 14, 2022 (edited January 2, 2023)Dalmore is a whisky that i cherish. I always look for their new expressions, and to be honest, i have never understood the excessive criticism it usually gets, but people tend to give it a hard time because they often bottle their whiskies at 40%abv. Well, an independent bottler, Ian MacLeod, bought a single cask of 2009 Dalmore (something quite hard to do) and they bottled it to please some fans, at an astonishing 59.3%abv. Only 299 bottles where ever released, for the Taiwanese Market, with a beautiful brown eagle label and a metallic can that shows the picture of the same majestic bird in a very appealing way. In the glass, it has a reddish copper color. On the nose, absolutemy impressive. It starts with the typical Dalmore orange note; then it releases coffee, Brandy and Chocolate. Caramelized apples, dehydrated fruits and cherry "brigadeiros". After a first sip, the aroma became a fruit salad, very tropical. Kiwi, hazelnut and cocoa. Letting it breath for a longer time gave me a powdery, milk white cocoa note. A very sugary orange and apple strudel. On the palate it had this INCREDIBLE CHOCOLATE AND RED FRUITINESS; yes, in caps lock. Hints of salt and chocolate. It just feels spectacular, super sweet like a white chocolate with maraschino cherries. Ritter's white chocolate and coconut flan. Aftertaste is all about ginger, sawdust, chocolate, a very spicy but pleasant Wasabi and cherries. Great note of orange peel as well. Overall, this will compete for my top ten ranking of the year. This might be the best Dalmore i have ever had, and trust me, that is quite the statement from a man that loves this distillery. Ironically, this is actually not a distillery bottling, but it has showed me that when you are trying to please a crowd of cask strength freaks like me, Dalmore has a spirit that can be bottled at powerful force and it will deliver an amazing result. My score for this one is 100 over 100, just because i can't give it one thousand points. Slàinte! -
Everybody knows by now that i just love Talisker. I have always said that if i ever have to live in a lonely island due to a shipwreck, if i had to choose which whisky i would take, there are only two options for me, Glendronach and Talisker. Having said that, a rather new, not very promoted expression of this amazing distillery has been recently released, and of course i had to taste it right away. "SURGE" is the name of this new Talisker, and i believe it belongs to the duty free expressions, to the same "collection" where previous releases are Skye, Storm and Dark Storm. Of course, it is bottled at the classic 45.8%abv. On the nose, super salty, incredibly maritime. Cocoa and dark chocolate. Raisins. It is like a salted chocolate. Pretty thing. On the palate the Dark chocolate became very "refined". Salt and ery maritime. Oysters and scallops. Aftertaste followed the same rythm, because lets tell the truth here, this is a very good profile for a whisky: Chocolate, smoke, sea salt. It has a wonderful smokiness and a sulphuric beauty. Overall, i might be biased because i really love this type of maritime single malts. I have loved almost every Talisker there is, and believe me, i have tasted A LOT of their expressions (i even had a 50yo once) (independent bottler though). Talisker surely played it safe here, but the thing is, that they can effortlessly create a whisky and chances are that it will be amazing no matter what. Great stuff, for a lovely price, my score for it is 96 over 100; scoring 24 points in each criteria. Sláinte!
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Bunnahabhain 12 Year Cask Strength (2021 Edition)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed October 11, 2022 (edited March 2, 2024)I am going to spoil this review for you. I will start with an statement that will normally go on my conclusions about a single malt. That statement is: THIS IS A FANTASTIC, OUT OF THIS WORLD WHISKY. So, Bunnahabhain released on 2021 this 12yo Cask Strength expression, and it immidiately caught my attention. I searched for a bottle and bought it as soon as i found one; but i was keeping it to taste it along a group of people in my whisky masterclasses. Finally, almost one year later, i opened it, along other 3 fantastic whiskies, but this one impressed everyone. Bottled at 55.1%abv, tawny color. On the nose, it is incredible. Starts with an artificial alcohol note like liquid paper, but then the chocolate takes control. Chocolate bathed raisins, dark cake and almonds. Cinnamon and wet paint. Barley, skin lotion, chocolate powder. Red fruits and mini oranges. On the palate, it is perfect. It is like a chocolate lotion. Strange but incredible. Acid prunes, pepper bombs and milk chocolate. It actually relieves you from any stress you might have. It is chocolate with chocolate, bathed in more chocolate. Nesquik formula. Aftertaste was simply sublime. Raisins; Crunch chocolate. Super dry, Cinnamon and a 100% pure dark chocolate. Overall, there is no reason why you shouldn't try this. Every whisky should be like this one. Incredibly well delivered, it is full of flavor and it is super enjoyable for a 55.1%abv single malt. Is this the best "Bunna" i habe ever had? Maybe it is. My score for it is an uncanny 97 over 100, and for the price it goes, it should be rated 10000 over 100. -
Compass Box Rogues' Banquet
Blended — Miltonduff, Glen Elgin, Clynelish, and North British, Scotland
Reviewed October 11, 2022 (edited October 13, 2022)Insert the song "King for a Day" by Jamiroquai, and lets start reviewing a Compass Box release that describes a very opulent Banquet. A blend of North British, Miltonduff, Clynelish and Glen Elgin, this is Compass Box Rogue's Banquet. It was released at the beggining of the 2020 Covid Pandemic, and it had the intention to relief people who where unable to abandon their homes due to the virus. The label might be the most beautiful one that Compass Box have ever made, and that is quite the statement. Some of the characters that appear on the label, belong to other expressions of compass box, like the hedonism muse that is in the center of the banquet, or the famous Peat Monster who is guarding the whisky barrels in the basement. True art. Bottled at 46%abv, light ambar color. On the nose, beautiful aroma. Apples, hay, stewed apples like baby's Gerber mashed fruits. It has a thick and creamy feeling. Honey, fruitspice. After s couple of minutes the aroma changed in something much more tropical like pineapple that has been left inside the fridge, peaches and prunes. After some sips it gave me vanilla cookies, dinosaurs or animals vanilla cookies for kids. On the palate, old pineapple, tobacco and cardboard. Hay and grass. Aftera first sip, it gave me vanilla, peach halves and pepper spice. The grain whisky can be felt but not in a bad way. Cookie dough and orange juice. Aftertaste mantains the good performance. Salt, hay, recently cut grass. Gunpower and a very long pepper finish. It is like licking the glue of an envelope to seal it. Salty and maritime. New wood. Overall, this is one of my favorite Compass Box ever. It was so elegant, complex and super enjoyable. It feels absolutely well delivered, perfectly balanced and full of tasting and aroma notes. They really made something great with this one. My score for it is 92 over 100. -
Ardbeg Ardcore (2022 Committee Release)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed October 10, 2022 (edited July 23, 2023)Recently Ardbeg has suffered some backlash because people think that their latest releases aren't as good as they were 4-5 years ago. In my personal experience i have liked almost all of them, some where better than others but i believe that "Scorch" or "Fermutation" were actually amazing drams. Having said that, their expression that suffered the most critics was this "Ardcore", made using "Dark Roasted Barley" (i don't know if it is the same as the one the same company, LVMH, uses in the almighty Glenmorangie Signet, which is an incredible whisky). I already rated the normal "Ardcore", and now it is time for me to rate the committee release; which is basically the same single malt at a higher strength, 50.1%abv. On the nose, starts with notes of wood polisher, cotton socks, lots of sawdust; smoked chitterling. I also get some liquid paper and a wet dog, lol. Letting it breath a little released an aroma of nerf toys, organic soil; it actually smells like a fish market and a cow stable mixed together. Not my favorite Ardbeg here. On the palate, it fails to develop something interesting or bold as the bottle marketing suggests. Vanilla, sweet bread. It feels weird, not very pleasant. Glue and hints of chocolate. Aftertaste surely feels like the best part. Plastic, very long finish; car tires, oily and Kerosene (in a good way). Overall, this is in no way, shape or form a good value for your money. It is not a bad or off-putting, it just lacks emotion and complexity. It feels like Ardbeg really threw something cheap and unfinished here. The normal release (46%abv) is a lot better and it wasn't impressive. My score for this one is a dissapointing 83 over 100. -
Bruichladdich 1993 The Italian Collection, Barolo french Oak matured
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed October 9, 2022 (edited February 3, 2024)If you ever google "King of wines", the answer you are going to obtain is "Barolo". This very luxurious italian wine, is made from a special type of grape called "Nebbiolo" that grows on the Piamonte region of Italy. Barolo has a type of sibling, made with the same grape, called Barbaresco, but since i don't know anything about wine, we are not entering that territory. Well, in 1993, Bruichladdich decided to mature their whisky in a french oak cask, which previously had the Italian Barolo in it. This is of course, part of the famous "Italian Collection" by Bruichladdich, long gone from store shelves. This 14yo Whisky, has my attention. Bottled at 46%abv, it has a lovely dark orange, tawny color. On the nose, it is perfect. Plastic, red fruits and impalpable sugar. Green apples, Nesquik chocolate powder and burnt hay. After letting it breath, it gave me cigarrette ashes, grapefruit, and warm beer. It smells like those fake mini fruits people serve in weddings. Glazed bacon; grease and smoked lamb. Quite a rollercoaster. On the palate, the only way i can describe it is "beautiful". Incredible chocolate, tasty red fruits, grenadine, and dulce de leche. Impressive. Aftertaste is the perfect ending for this. Salty, hay, pepper and yeasty. This is super pleasant. It is like bread mixed with dark chocolate. Overall, this is one the most complex, full of flavor single malt i have ever tasted. I am not a very good fan of Bruichladdich, but this one is the best one i have had; maybe tye 25 black art can be compared to it. Absolutely marvelous, i have only deducted 1 point in the palate, because even if it was super enjoyable, that criteria wasn't as complex and spectacular as the other ones. My score for this out of this world whisky is 99 over 100.
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