Tastes

For ages i have been trying to taste this very interesting bourbon, that has a "Rock" name, and that is something great in my books, since i consider myself a Rock Warrior. Rebel Yell 10yo Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon, is considered an overly aged american whiskey, since most bourbons never get to be 10 years old. Also, is important to define what a "Wheated Bourbon" is; which is actually a term for a Bourbon that has a mashbill that uses wheat instead of rye for a "non-classical" flavor. This type of whiskies are not super rare, but it is not the standard for most bourbons, where the mashbill is usually composed from 70% corn whiskey (legally they only need 51%, but 70% is often used), 20% rye and 10% Barley. This is a single cask release, the number of the cask was handwritten in a very poor way, that is why i can't decipher the exact number, but is a long 7 digit one. 50%abv. On the nose, starts with some sweet cherry jam, acid prunes and raw rice. Strong alcohol note on the nose. On the palate, incredibly nice cherry syrup; Hershey's strawberry syrup. So sweet and jammy. Cotton candy. Aftertaste is not overly complex; Raw rice, prunes and a pepper bomb. Overall, this was incredibly sweet, way too simple but fun enough to be enjoyed every now and then. Not very impressive; the wheated part of this gave me the rice notes, which i found interesting. My score for this one is 80/100.

If you ever visit a Scottish distillery, the first thing you have to do, is to ask if they have any distillery exclusive releases, and if they do, you have to take that opportunity to taste one of their rarest and not overly expensive whiskies. At Kilchoman, i was happy to taste this 10yo (for kilchoman that is quite rare, since they still are a young distillery, despite their great flavor) which was finished 2 years in a Calvados cask, a type of apple brandy. On the nose, Oranges; Orange peel and Barley and mostly cereal notes. Feels farmy. After a first sip, the aroma changed into gooseberries. Vanilla pop corncereal. On the palate, it is very easy drinkable. Vanilla, oranges, lemon peel. Sulphuric super pleasant. Homemade toffee. Aftertaste is where the peat is. Earthy, peaty  Sugary. peppery and Ashy. Overall, this was a very fruity and sweet dram, fairly peaty in the finish. I really liked it but it wasn't as impressive as some other releases from this distillery. My score for this one is 84 over 100.

Another of Kilchoman exclusive releases, was the UK Batch 3, which was matured in a very precise way to drive all the flavors and aromas. It was actually matured 70% in a bourbon barrel; 5% in sherry butts and finally it has a  25% matured in sauternes wine. Bottled at 49.1%abv. On the nose, a little grainy and a little stinky. Tequila, salty and acid prunes. It is like watering an ashtray. Very ashy. After a first sip, the aroma changed into a more peachy and tropical nose but also dimmer. On the palate, very kind and gentle. A watery vanilla, super smooth. Ghostly ashes and pineapple juice. Dim Ginger. A second sip gave me apricot and toffee. Aftertaste followed the same rythm. Ginger and vanilla notes, salty. It felt dim overall; and that is why this might be my least favorite Kilchoman ever. Some of the notes felt watered down and it could definitively be better for a 49.1%abv dram. My score for it was 20 points on every criteria, leaving me with a score of 80 over 100.

Back in the Kilchoman distillery i had the chance to try some very nice expressions, and one that really called my attention was the madeira matured Kilchoman, which have been finished in various different madeira casks. I often find this type of maturation to be full of flavor, that is why i can expect a lot from this dram. Bottled at 50%abv. On the nose, acid red berries, very fresh. Lemon zest with an ashy feeling. Gooseberries and toffee. On the palate; the madeira profile truly appears. Red fruits, cherries, raspberries. Creamy toffee with red fruits. Delicious. Aftertaste is ashy and "red fruity" not overly complex but delicious. Smoke and bonfire notes for a very pleasant finish. Overall, this was a fantastic whisky. I would not call it complex, it is rather simpler but the tasting and aroma notes it has, are incredibly well delivered. Super enjoyable dram, my score for it is 91 over 100.

Do you ever dream about a whisky you love but bottled at a higher strength?; well, Kilchoman made that dream a reality. This is the Machir Bay we all know and love, bit on steroids. Actually bottled at 59.2%abv for extra flavor, this was released for the 10 year anniversary of the distillery. Fun fact for all: at the distillery we were told that the famous brittish car, the Land Rover was invented by the grandfather of the distillery owner. I don't know if this is relevant, for you, but i accomplish my mision to pass this knowledge that i have obtained in Islay. On the nose, this is very good. Oranges and dim ashes. It is like a new can of tennis balls or fresh towels. I can describe it as a clean Ashtray that still retains a ghostly ashiness. Floral, barley and vanilla formula. It is like vanilla ice cream and lemon. On the palate, it is almost perfect. Toffee, Dulce de leche and salt. Grassy. Lime. After the first sip, it gave me lots of vanilla and coconut. Very creamy. Aftertaste is super sweet, i did not expect that. Chocolate and sulphuric notes; it feels like cloying on lots of toffee. Beautifully sulphuric gunpowder and lemon. Overall, this was great, and it definitively feels like a step up from the regular Machir Bay, which is an extraordinary dram as well. So sweet, fruity and peaty, everything well balanced. I just loved it, lets buy a Land Rover! My score for it is 93 over 100. Slàinte!

I have arrived to Islay's family owned farm distillery, the almighty Kilchoman. "Recently" founded in 2005, in my opinion this is the fastest growing distillery of the isle, in terms of flavor and quality. They have their own plantation of barley, and everything is done in the distillery premises, to make a 100% Islay whisky. This expression is the "UK Small Batch No. 2" which is special release,  bottled at 47.4%abv, matured 70 % in Bourbon Barrels, 10 % Oloroso Sherry Casks and 20 % PX Sherry Hogshead. On the nose, it is very farm like. Breakfast cereal; Very dim pleasant pepper, bacon. Cardamom and hints of orange syrup. On the palate, cheese cream with blackberry spicy marmalade super pleasant. Some orange syrup. Cereal and mild spice. After the first sip it gave me a very nice orange and cereal flavors; Vanilla waffer, amazingly sweet, orangy, tangy and mildly spicy. Spectacular. Aftertaste, is all about smoke and this cereal-like pop balls. Cardamom and ginger; Feels farmy. Overall, my first dram of this tasting was outstanding as most Kilchomans i have had in the past. Full of bold flavors and aromas, this is a very interesting, different single malt. My score for this beauty is 93 over 100.

I have been a little dissapointed with some Bunnahabhain expressions lately, and i did not found the tasting at the distillery to be a very good experience, since they just hand you some samples and they do not guide the tasting, the people at rhe distillery just leave you alone to enjoy your whisky, and i believe that it might be appealing to some, but not for me who have traveled from another continent. Having said that, one of the samples they gave us, was this 2004 vintage, Moine Px, which would mean it should be peated sherried.  Bottled at 52.8%, this looks promising. On the nose, it was out of this world. Dehydrated pineapples, peat, earthy. Aromatic chocolaty peat; Heathery peat; Grassy. Some fruit syrup and sherriness.. Sweet. The chocolate has appeared after 5 minutes (yes it was so nice i nose it for a loooong time). Beautiful  coffee; Toffee and coffee. Coffee and cacao, So creamy! On the palate, it was perfect. Chocolate and caramel, Impalpable sugar. Pineapple with some metallic and sulphuric notes. Delicious. Milky, chocolaty and creamy. Salty in the second sip, some cake fondant, more chocolate. Aftertaste continued the perfection. Ginger, prunes, some farm fruitiness, and gooseberries. Peat has appeared with gunpowder. Amazing Overall, this is the perfect Bunnahabhain. Absolutely amazing, it took me back to a nice impression of the whiskies from this beautiful place. Peaty, sweet, sherry, chocolate and much more. Incredible dram, my score is 100 over 100.

Welcome to another Bunnahabhain unpronounceable expression, this time the "STRUYERYER" (that is how it sounds, allegedly, when spoken). Stiuireadair means Helmsman, who is the sailor that steers the helm of a ship. Bottled at 46.3%abv, matured in first and second filled sherry casks. On the nose, it is very tropical. Pineapple, spongy cake, tropical fruits like peaches. Honey; very appealing on the nose, yeasty cake. There is a gosthly chocolate and brownies. I loved it. On the palate, it is very sweet. Vanilla, spongy cake and "dulce de tres leches" topping. It is very spongy and cakey. Reminds me of glenmorangie a tale of cake. Aftertaste was good but was the least good part. Chocolate, salty and gingery. Vanilla, Tres leches and red fruit finish. Overall, this was actually an incredible whisky for a very good price. This is not expensive at all, and it is full of flavor, an instant favorite, everyday dram. It has a decent amount of abv to achieve all this nice notes. My score for it is 93 over 100.

For ages i have told you my dear reader, that i am not the fondest fan of Bruichladdich, but i have also told you that i understand that there is an incredible amount of people who love it, specially the classic 10yo expressions which i find "soapy" and "shampooy". I never fully understood the fandom till this moment, when i have tasted the 80s and 90s version of this classic whisky. It was given to me by the hotel owner in Islay, a small miniature, that was released in the times when Whyte & Mackay was the owner of the distillery and was bottled at 43%abv. On the nose, there is this CHOCOLATE BEAUTIFULNESS; Peaches and tropical fruitiness. Pineapple heart. Its like a hot, nice honey. Recently baked brownies. On the palate it starts with a creamy vanilla. Coconut and ginger. Very good actually, although it became a little watery after a couple of sips. Aftertaste is all about hazelnut and dark chocolate perfection. Impalpable sugar. Very sugary, like cotton candy. Overall, i loved it. I found it complex, full of flavor, good, enjoyable flavors. No soap or shampoo in my list of notes is always a nice thing. Really a dram that can create a fan base, specially if it was only a 10yo, which i believe was not expensive at all. Great whisky, my score for it is 92 over 100.

The last dram i had at Bruichladdich distillery, was a Port Charlotte. Let me explain how this works: Bruichladdich makes 3 whiskies, one with the same name, usually unpeated; Port Charlotte, allegedley heavily peated (really "normally" peated); and, Octomore, an atomic peat bomb. This one is a 2012 vintage of Port Charlotte, matured 10 years in bourbon and finished in a sauterness cask. Poured straight from the cask around 60%abv. On the nose, it has an aromatic peat. Lemon peel, hand lotion, soap and sider. Lemon peel spiciness, malted barley and a humid cardbox. Impressively oily and spicy. On the palate it feels cold. It is like a peach heart. Salt and malted barley. Not too complex. Aftertaste starts with aromatic peat, plastic. Dry and not too long but super fun. Fruit peel and earthy notes. Overall, this is a nice whisky. I believe that it lacks a little complexity bit the peaty notes are well delivered. The nose is the best part with the aftertaste. My score for it is 84 over 100.