Tastes

In Ecuador, where i live, there is this small province called Imbabura. Less than 500.000 people live in the whole province, but guess what, there seems to be a whiskey distillery in there. (I lnow, whiskey with an "e"). I have a lot of problems to called this a Whiskey, and not only because of the "e", but really because on the label it says that it has a honey infusion in it. San Juan de Modogoñez is the name of this blended of cereals that they called whiskey. Bottled at 41.3%abv, golden color. On the nose, this is a honeycomb. Tons of bee honey. Sawdust, recently cut grass and mountainside. Milk and honey. It is a breakfast. Powdery, coffee and milk. Not bad, just very honeyed. On the palate, it is all about acid fruits, like lulo fruit. Sawdust, various cereals and a little watery. Aftertaste is a little below average. Recently polished wood, paper. It gives you this feeling of an old library. Overall, this is not the best spirit in the world, but i don't find it bad at all. It is nothing memorable, but if you ever get to taste this one, you are not going to have an off-putting experience or any of that sort. My score for this dram that fails to follow the whisky laws to be called that, is 77 over 100.

Three weeks ago i woke up to 6 or 7 whatsapp messages all with the same web link, a Forbes article that said that a Whiskey from Perú, (yes a whiskey with an "e"), had won best whiskey if the world, planet, universe, etc. Of course, my first thought was "here goes another award bought", and of course i was incredibly skeptic about it. The name of this Peruvian whiskey is Black Whiskey. This one has been made using black corn, that grows on the peruvian mountains. I managed to buy one online in a Miami store, even if Perú is our neighbor here in Ecuador, it was easier to find it there. I have seen some youtube videos where the owner, a United States of America citizen who lives in Perú, tells the story of how he had this conversation with a New York guy, who literally said "man you have to win an award to make your whiskey famous". Guess what, the whiskey then won. A little suspicious if you tell me... Bottled at an auspicious 45%abv, it has a dark reddish color. On the nose, it has a wonderful aroma. Cotton candy, it doesn't smell like grain whiskey at all. Maraschino cherries, red fruits and a spongy cake. Blackberries everywhere. With a couple of sips, the aroma became a maple syrup, it resembled a lot as a canadian Crown Royal whisky. Nice. The palate started completely muted for 2 seconds. Then, it releases notes of sweet plums, quince and black pepper. It feels a little rough and young, but not bad. In the second sip i had the same experience of the muted flavors for a couple of seconds. Aftertaste has the most classic bourbon finish ever. If i was blindfolded when tasting this one, out of the aftertaste alone i would have guess this one was Blackened whiskey by Metallica, or a Maker's Mark. Sour mash finish. Overall, as you might already guessed, this is not the best whiskey in the world, despite what the San Francisco Spirits Competition 2022 says about it. But, i have to be honest, this is quite good for a mostly grain whiskey. I am not a fond fan of the "e" in the name, since i am a purist, and whiskey is for Ireland and U.S., but as a "Uisgebeatha" this is quite enjoyable. It feels like a bourbon from the start to the end, and my score for it, due to a not very good palate is an 83 over 100.

Remember when i told you that i have tasted the Arran Smuggler's series III, "The Exciseman", and i scored it 100 over 100? Well, i have opened their second (and previous) release, Part II of the collection, called "The High Seas",  and i expected it to be as good. The High Seas were, without a doubt the most uncontrolled way to smuggle various goods in the past (and nowadays). This is the zone of the sea that doesn't belong to anyone. It was only proper for Arran to name their second expression like this, specially when a parcel of this whisky was matured in caribbean rum casks, as well as peated whisky was also used. Bottled at 55.4%abv, this bottle is hiding in a book of course, for smuggling purposes. On the nose, it starts amazingly tropical: Bananas, solid meringue and peaches. Rum and raisins ice cream and butter. It is a very appealing aroma. On the palate, (insert a bad word here to describe how good this is in a very personal and incredible way). The greatest toffee on  cookie dough mixed with some metallic/sulphuric notes with a powerful wasabi. Dulce de leche ice cream, prunes and red fruits. This is out of this world. Intergalactic dram. Aftertaste is powerful, salty, ritz crackers. There is this beautiful knock out punch to your face that is full of red chilli. Fantastic. Overall.... Arran. The name has become a synonym of great whiskies, always. This is the best performance a whisky can ever give you; literally i couldn't ask for any more than this. It makes me feel that if i dare to deduct a point, which would be undeserved, is because i want to be an interesting guy who believes that is superior to this single malt, and i can tell you, i am a flawed man, but this whiskies has no flaws. Out of this galaxy, this is a 100 point score in my books. Slàinte Mhath friends!!

I don't know if you have seen them, but in this planet there is a bunch of special Glendronachs, that were released some years ago, which boxes are white with different colors depending on the cask finish. Those limited releases often offer a great experience for the drinker, specially if you are a hardcore fan of this distillery as i am. I have tasted the Moscatel and the Tawny Port finish from this "collection" and now i have scored a 19yo Madeira wood finish. Bottled at 46%abv, i have high hopes for this one. On the nose it can't score a perfect score because it deserves more than perfection. This might be the best aroma ever.  The most ridiculous sweet plum note i have perceived. That plum feels like it is inside a fig. And that fig feels like it is inside a date. And that date feels like it is inside a raisin. I think you get the idea of how it smells; Tiramisu dessert, red fruits, quince and all of a sudden: cocoa. Cocoa butter, Toblerone chocolate, herbal, ginger, and chocolate powder formula. Lavender. On the palate it is fantastic, it has this flavor of a chocolate bar that you left in the fridge and it becomes a little white. Red berries, ginger. It is very herbal in such a beautiful way, that i never had a herbal note like that ever. It tastes like an strawberry with the plants on top and everything. Aftertaste... was a little short. Sawdust, sulphuric, dry and a little oaky. Like licking a wooden table. Not the best finish, not bad or off-putting though. Overall, this could have been perfect, but the short aftertaste didn't allowed it. It still is one incredibly enjoyable single malt. I feel you just can't get wrong with any "Glendro". Their spirit just fits perfectly with fortified wine maturations. My score for this very nice whisky is 93 over 100.

The now famous brand of islay single malt, Smokehead, has released yet another expression, now called "Rum Rebels" since it has been matured in ex caribbean rum casks. Smokehead sources its whisky from a secret islay malt that i can bet my life is Caol Ila. Botlled at 46%abv, with a golden color. On the nose, it starts with a "rumy" molasses note. Bacon, glazed pork and aniseed. On the palate, there is a mixture of molasses an new wood. Quince notes. Aftertaste, is peaty, developing nice flavors. Plastic, Velcro and Sawdust. So weird but good. Overall, this is the most average whisky ever. It is not impressive nor bad. I have no problem with it, since you are getting your money's worth for $50. A little boring, a little simple, but still manages to pass the test. My score for it is 80/100.

I believe this is the second release ever from one of Scotland's newest distilleries, Torabhaig. Allt Gleann, means "Old Glen". Smoke and brine, is the slogan of this expression, let's see if it is any good. Bottled at 46%abv, pale straw color. On the nose, it is very crazy and complex. Pineapple, grapefruit, cotton socks, agave and gooseberries.  It smells like a pond and also like a mexican Mezcal. Tuna. So plastic and artificial, soot. It is a fishmarket. On the palate it is very sweet! Vanilla, coconut, creamy meringue and a Coppertone bronzer. Aftertaste is strong and powerful in a good way. It is like fully inhaling a cigar smoke. Salt and pepper; very maritime. Ceviche. Overall this is a very good offering if you consider that it is a very young whisky (less than 5yo). The complexity of the nose can be too much craziness for some people and i totally understand that, but if you are a peat head, you'll never think of this one as a bad dram. I am eager to taste more new expressions from this distillery, my score for this one is 89 over 100.

Wow. Just wow. Glen Scotia is one of those distilleries that i fail to give the attention it deserves. I actually have liked everything i tasted from them, and i was excited to grab this 18yo expression, but i had it sitting in my home bar... till now. Bottled at 46%abv, it has a deep golden color. On the nose, completely overwhelming. Chocolate bathed raisins, red berries, red fruits, caramel and toffee. Everything is very well delivered. After the first sip, it gave me coffee notes and this thick Ferrero Rocher cream. And then... boom! The greatest sweet plum aroma i have ever perceived in a whisky. On the palate it has 4 notes, and they are just perfect. Hazelnut, chocolate bathed almonds; chocolate itself and a creamy vanilla/ marshmallow note. Fantastic. Aftertaste, is where the peatiness appeared with the great notes of dark chocolate. It has a crazy smokiness mixed with angels and raw beautifulness. Amazing, super rewarding finish. Overall, this is perfection in a bottle. Even if i can tell you that it is not overly complex, the aroma and flavor notes it has are very clean, very enjoyable and elegant. I am not the fondest fan of 18yo whiskies, but this is a spectacular dram. My score for it, if you haven't guess it already, is 100 over 100.  Man, that was good!!!

Back in the year 2000, when Compass Box was founded, their first release was called "Eleuthera", which means "free" in ancient greek. This mythical expression was eventually discontinued and it was lost forever. But the universe has conspired in favor of Compass Box, and that is why they made a special tribute for La Maison Du Whisky on its 65th Anniversary. This special expression was called "Ethereal" which is the definition of perfect beauty, so precious that it is considered out of this world, and it is one of the most used terms to describe the universe. Not only that, Ethereal is actually an anagram for "Eleuthera", since this one is really a tribute to their first blend, the one that now lives only in the vast universe. Bottled at 49%abv, this is a blend of Old Pulteney, Ardbeg, Caol Ila and Miltonduff. On the nose, it starts with a cigar box note; roasted coffee and burnt grass. Povidyn, smoke and gooseberries. On the palate, it is like a marshmallow that fell in a pond. Ashtray. After a first sip, some creaminess appeared. Meringue. Nice thick sweetness. Aftertaste is very enjoyable. Paper, ashtray, liquorice and ginger. Very elegant. Overall, i feel that this blend is one fine, elegant whisky, that has been made for a whisky specialist like LMDW, with a great level of detail. This is not an accident, this was actually well crafted to taste exactly as it does. A nice effort from Compass Box, my score for it is 89 over 100.

A quarter of a century is always a good age statement for a whisky, specially if it comes from the Peat capital of the world, Islay. This is one luxuty dram, the 25yo Bowmore. The official website says that this whisky has been fully matured flr 25 years in ex bourbon and spanish sherry casks. Bottled at 43%abv, with a lovely tawny color. On the nose, starts grassy and peaty. Burnt hay; leather, actually a leather jacket. Some sweetness has risen, cherries and mint liquor. Earthy notes. It has the exact aroma of raw, uncooked rice. The aroma gave notes of old paper, or old envelopes from my law office. After some sips it changed into the most fancy toffee ever, butterscotch. On the palate, it is deliciously sweet, so unexpected after nosing it. Cherry syrup, lemoncello and sawdust. Chocolate everywhere. Aftertaste is peaty and fabulous. Cigarrettes, ashtray and pepper. Dry and woody. Not overly complex, but well delivered. Overall, this is quite an elegant and complex dram. I really liked how the peatiness has transformed into leather but somehow keeps the smokiness after 25 years. The cherry sweetness was fantastic and it came out of nowhere. My score for this amazing expression is 93 over 100.

Scotland's national sport, was their own invention, and it became so popular worldwide that it moves millions of dollars annually. We are talking about golf. Having said that, Bruichladdich released a special collection called "LINKS", which is a particular type of golf course that has the sea near to it, making the grass of the course to be more rugged and difficult. The most popular golf courses are the ones from the majors, and maybe the most popular of all is "The Masters". The Masters is the Augusta Major, played in the United States. This whisky, Bruichladdich Links, Augusta Major, honours a specific hole, number 16, known as redbud. Bottled at 46%abv, pale straw color, this is a 14yo single malt. On the nose, it starts with Raisins dipped in brie cheese. Oranges, orange spongy cake. Candied fruits and yeast. A soapy / detergent note and recently baked brownies. On the palate is quite good. Orange Cake; almost dead grey grass, pepper and a rancid vanilla. It is very "cakey". Lime and marshmallows. Aftertaste is where the peat lived. Burnt hay, tobacco, sulphur and metallic notes, it is like licking the glue of an envelope. Some cigarrette notes as well. Roasted marshmallow. Overall, this is a vintage "Laddie" and it was quite a good one. I liked the sweetness from the nose and palate and the slight peatiness from the aftertaste. A nice surprise, a very collectible bottle that has been lost for years now. My score for it is 91 over 100.