Tastes

My third Kavalan Selection, a type of private releases for certain stores, like The Whisky Exchange; certainly my favorite bottlings from this very awarded distillery. This Rum Cask Finish, has been bottled at 57.1%abv. Uncorking aroma: raisins and chocolate. On the nose, creamy chocolate and nutella. Piña colada cocktail, rum and raisins ice cream. Lovely aroma. Fresh pineapple heart. Hazelnut with waffer. The most perfect aroma note of peach halves dipped in their syrup. Apricots. The aromas did not change after a first sip, but they became cleaner. Pretty good stuff. Cherries and other red fruits have appeared after a couple of sips. Everything feels very "syrupy". Vanilla cold cake. On the palate, it starts sweet with caramel and some salt. Then it becomes very powerful, black pepper, some sugar syrup. A second sip gave me peach syrup, the spiciness is powerful and sends you to aftertaste more quickly. Third sip was very sweet, and easier to drink. Cherries and then again this pepper and salt punch. Finish: Sweet aftertaste, with some sulphuric metallic notes. Ginger. Chocolate and pleasant ashes have appeared on the second sip. Definitively some creamy chocolate with a cigarrette. Overall, this is one enjoyable bottle, intended to be sipped every now and then, revisited and enjoyed again. Powerful but full of flavor, it got a perfect score on the nose, which was fantastic. This is a 90 over 100 for me.

Elements of Islay is one of those collections of expressions that often call my attention but i avoid to buy because of the 50cl bottle. If i am going to buy a whole bottle i expect at least a traditional 70cl one. This one is called "Peat", and it is a blended malt, from "a handful of distilleries from the north and south of Islay". Bottled at 59.3%abv, white wine color. Uncorking gave me an aromatic heathery peat as a first aroma. On the nose, It is actually not overpowering. Very aromatic. Citric and fruity. Gooseberries and grapefruit. Spicy.  Wasabi. Tabasco sauce. Chilli. Newspaper ashes. Fresh farm fruits, stinging spices and aromatic smoke. After a first sip, the sugar syrup notes have gone to the nose. Burnt hay, tobacco leaf. A cotton candy infused with lovely peat.  On the palate, it starts with sugar syrup, then chilli, but very pleasant. It is actually very sweet and scorching but in such a nice way. Very "holdable" in your mouth for a 59.3% peaty bomb. Salt rocks. The second sip is a peat caramel. Sweet toffee with salt. This is remarkably good, powerful but super manageable. This is sweet. Very, very sweet. I love it. Finish: Beautiful aftertaste of burning new wood. Very dry. Not too long and fairly oaky.  The second sip gave me a complex more long aftertaste, full with sugar, peat, smoke and incense. Cigarrettes, with sugar. Mint and marvelous other things. Overall, i got to say that i was a little skeptic of this one, because super cask strength peaty whiskies are often too powerful to be drank on any given day. You have to be on the right mood and be prepared for an overload of feelings. This is not the case. This is a sweet, amazingly enjoyable dram, full of flavor, very easy to drink and rewarding. I loved every inch of it. Every sip was better. I believe we have a contender for my list of this year top ten whiskies. My score for this outstanding dram is 100 over 100.

Another nicely aged expression from the lads of "The Whisky Jury". Yet another "Secret Speyside 30yo", but now at a higher strength. 53.2%abv to be exact. As i always tell you, i am not a Speyside fan, i am more into a sherry bomb or a peat overload. Having said that, this might be one of the greatest fruity drams i have had in a couple of years. On the nose, it is a mixture between citric, acid and forest fruits. Gooseberries, lemon peel. Lovely honey. Apricots. A perfumed chocolate note. Peels of different fruits. Mostly citric and juicy. There is a floral profile to it. Red fruits have risen after a couple of minutes. Milk formula and Tiramisu. Peaches and hay. After a first sip the fruitiness becomes more rounded, you can nose the lemon and the peaches and the milk powder all at the same time. It is uncanny how accurate the lemon peel note is. A big, green, fresh lemon. After a couple of sips, this has turned into a Capn' Crunch cereal with milk and sugar; the aroma is very complex, fun and enjoyable. On the palate, i think it did a great effort to impress me. Lemon, lime, gooseberries. It has a spicy, strong chilli. It is very fresh. Second sip started with some sugar syrup; the acidity kicks in after 3 seconds, in a fruity way. The spiciness has been tamed. Sugar syurp and a note that i can only describe as  capn' crunch cereal has appeared. Definitively sugary as more sips reach your palate. Very acid as well. Full of flavor. Is like those acid lollipops. Aftertaste is oaky. Sawdust, very woody in an awesome way, i am not a fan of using "woody" or "oaky" as a tasting note, but here it fits perfectly. It dries out your mouth. It is like licking a paper sheet. Second sip gave me a grassy, hay aftertaste which is very rewarding. It is so dry that you feel all the water in your tongue has ceased to exist. The oakiness has turned into a sweet woody chocolate somehow after a couple of sips. Tobacco. Overall, after having 4 whiskies from this independent bottler, i feel to say that i would blindly recommend anything from them. Even if i haven't tasted one of their expressions, if someone asks me what do i think about "The Whisky Jury", i would say that i just love everything from them. That is the impression i got right now. I hope more whiskies are released, and i hope to get my hands on them. My score for this amazing dram is a 92 over 100.

After i bought this Glenlivet 12yo "Double Oak", i found out it is supposed to be the classic twelve year old, but with a refurbished label and packaging. The phrase "Double Oak" has been added and some pastel colors to the image as well. Bottled at 40%abv, golden color. On the nose; i believe this one is far sweeter and more complex than the old 12 that i remember. Vanilla crest, crushed almonds, chocolate, oranges and lemon. There is a green apple juice that is very appealing. Lots of fresh fruits. On the palate it feels more classic. Orange peel, pepper. Fresh fruits like green apples and jints of sawdust after a couple of seconds. A second sip gave me vanilla and almonds. Aftertaste is a little short. Sawdust. Very dry. Almonds. Hints of a grainy vanilla. Feels like a grain whisky vanilla note. Overall, i am not sure if the formula has changed, but this one did not feel exactly as the old Glenlivet 12yo. This one was far more complex, without been anything too oustanding. If this is going to be left as the quintessencial core range expression, they are in a good track. My score for it is an 80 over 100.

Somehow Bowmore has associated with Aston Martin, and they have released a collection of travel retail expressions, which are basically the same whiskies they already had (10,15 and 18) but repackaged into a fancier, Aston Martin printed label, to appeal fans. This Golden & Elegant Aston Martin 1939 Atom is the same whisky, 43%abv. The car that this whisky commemorates is a concept vehicle, very light for its time, that is why it was named "the atom". On the nose, burnt hay, fondant and Meringue. There is definitively some salt. There is a note that i can describe as an "Aromatic peat with infused lemon". Very appealing grassy peat. Very perfumed. On the palate, it was very enjoyable. A little acid;  Peaty and Earthy. Citric meringue. Vanilla, ints of coconut and a very clean honey note. Aftertaste was very good. A nice smokiness.  Cigarrettes, puffs of smoke. Very enjoyable and easy drinkable. Hay. Stable. Newspaper ashes. Overall, it is always good to try a dram a couple of years later and watch it evolve from its original flavors and aromas, which might feel the same, but actually i believe this 15yo Golden and Elegant has improved with the years. I have also grown a better palate for Bowmore standard expressions. The new packaging is beautiful and it deserves the attention that it is getting. My score for it is 87 over 100.

After Obi-Wan Kenobi passed, his force ghost version appeared to Luke Skywalker in Hoth, when he was about to die, and Kenobi's ghost told Luke to go to the Dagobah system, where he will meet the strongest jedi that have ever lived... Jedi Master Yoda. Now, The Glendronach, one of my all time favorite distilleries, made a special limited whisky for The Profesional Danish Whisky Retailers: a 12yo dram, matured in selected oloroso casks, which box and label had a recognizable color, Lightsaber Green. As you might already know, There are 4 unofficial Starwars expressions of The Glendronach: the 10yo Luke Skywalker; the 9yo Darth Vader; the 25yo Mace Windu and this 12yo Yoda. It was really the whisky enthusiasts who named the expressions that way, since Glendronach have never said one word about the free publicity of this very limited collection. It is widely accepted that the first one, the Luke Skywalker was not ever intended to be compared to his Lightsaber; but after the first unofficial comparison, the rest of the bottles were unequivocally released with a non-so-hidden intention. Bottled at 46%abv, using the power of the force. And if you don't believe it, that is why you fail. Lol. On the nose, a galactic aroma. Dates, figs, red fruits and milk powder. Beautiful cinnamon, plums, caramel and tobacco. Hazelnut with waffer. Almonds and Oloroso sherry. After a few sips, a quince dessert aroma has risen. There is this old Library feeling to it. On the palate, it is as good as you would expect. Chocolate, hazelnut, Red fruits; it is very astringent, grapy and winey. The second sip turned into a creamy chocolate with waffer. Super elegant stuff. Aftertaste is full of "midichlorians", the force is strong here. Winey, grapy, tobacco. This is a Glendronach with hints of smoke and a fancy bitterness. It is just incredible. Overall, don't be afraid to open this bottle if you ever find it. As Yoda once said, "Fear is the path to the dark side". To be absolutely clear on how good this whisky is, this single malt is 5 times better than the standard Glendronach 12 which is way sweeter, with strong notes vanilla cookies; this one is much more winey, grapy and chocolaty. My score for this legendary dram is 96 over 100. May the force be with you.

If you had tasted at least 80 whiskies in.your life, you already know that Macallan is usually overrated. In the fourth quarter of 2021, this most famous and expensive distillery released one expression to celebrate the new year. It was called "A Night on Earth in Scotland". This bottle comes in arguably the most beautiful packaging ever, made by the Visual Designer Erica Dorn, who has worked with Wes Anderson in movies. The whole idea is to commemorate Hogmanay, which is the scottish celebration of new year's eve; one incredible party. The whisky itself, is bottled at 40%abv, with a light ambar color. On the nose, the first aroma is very good, then it drops dramatically. Fancy vanilla cream, Nestle's Coffee mate, it feels very dessert like. Biscuits, almonds; it has a dim but nice citric note. After the first sip, it gave me prunes, sawdust and nothing more. It is weak. Aroma has abandoned the glass after 3 minutes. On the palate it is very watery. Starts with plain tap water. Vanilla, hints of lemon meringue and a very little sulphur. A second sip gave me coconut. Very dissapointing. Aftertaste continues downhill. Orange peel, very acid, very nice, but just for a couple of seconds; then it turns off. Meringue, very short finish. Overall, this is very expensive, not because of its high price, but really because you are not getting your money's worth. If you are lucky, you might find it around $200-250; and you might feel compelled to buy it, but if you plan to drink it, you might feel that you lost your money. After having it, along with other 20 people who agreed with this critic, i can honestly say that the only reason to buy it is for collection, and investment, because "the juice" is nothing. Go grab a glass of water in your kitchen and it is the same thing. My score for it is 71 over 100, someone give me my money back, please.

I am always guilty of not having enough Bruichladdichs. This life trend started when i tasted the Classic Laddie which i hated, (i know many people love it) because it tasted like soap, shampoo and rice candy. The bottle didn't help either, since it looks exactly as a shampoo bottle. Then, i tasted the Black Art, and it wss fantastic. Eventually i tried not much more, but the initial prejudice was always there: "here comes the shampoo whisky". I even started being skeptic about any organic whisky; luckily Waterford and Nc'Nean showed me that organic single malts can be very good (not benromach). So, i bought this Bruichladdich Rocks (2nd edition), which have wrongly advertised as a whisky you shoud drink with ice. It is really about the geological rock formations on Islay, which happen to be thousands of years old. Without any expectation, lets see how this 46%abv, golden color dram behaves: On the nose, it is quite different from other Bruichladdichs: red apples, Malted barley, Iodine, recently baked brownies and yeast. After the first sip, aroma changed into caramel and salt; hints of Honey. On the palate, it was beautiful. It has this loaf of bread note which is amazing. Yeast. Oranges. It is like the "Yeastiest" whisky ever made. More sips gave me more bread and more oranges. Aftertaste is very rewarding. Pepper, loaf of bread, yeast and Salt notes that are mild but elegant. Hay, dry burnt grass, very long finish. Overall, this is the decisive vote for this distillery, and now, after having this beauty, i pledge to taste more from the only distillery on Islay that i have had fewer than 8 expressions. Very good whisky, enjoyable and complex; delicious. My score for it is 87 over 100.

Nc'Nean is one of the few new distilleries that have blown my mind. Their first release, the organic malt, was really surprising. Now they have put away this special yearly expression called "Quiet Rebels". The Quiet Rebels are each one of the workers in the distillery, which are only a handful, and this first expression is also called "Annabel", who is the quite interesting owner of the whole thing. Annabel Thomas was the mastermind and the owner of Nc'Nean; she picked the name, which is a shorter version for the Gaelic Godess-Fairy-Queen-Witch Neachneohain, also called Nicnevin, also known as Gyre-Carling; the queen of spirits, the mother of fairies, the one that loves nature. It is only suitable for that name to be the one picked, since this is the first completely eco-friendly Distillery. Nothing ever goes to waste, and even the incredibly looking bottle is made of re-used glass. This one has a strength of 48.5%abv, and has been matured in ex bourbon, and Hungary's Tokaji wine casks. On the nose, banana bread. Pineapple, spicy. After a couple of seconds, it released a recently baked brownies note. Bee honey, wax, cake and marzipan. It is chocolate powder; like Nesquik. A second sip released yeasty notes. Very, very, very good aroma. If the aroma was good; the palate was out of this world. Chocolate, Brownies, Bee honey  and Hazelnut. In Ecuador we have this banana bits bathed in chocolate from a brand called "Republica del cacao" (translates into cocoa republic). It is exactly that. A third sip gave me marshmallows, that are bathed in a chocolate fondue. Coconut, almonds, milk chocolate. This is a dream dram. Aftertaste was very good. Salty, peppery with hints of ginger. The first sip was fairly spicy; but the second sip changed everything. There is a very mild but incredibly elegant smokey note, reminiscence of tobacco leaf and coconut. Overall, before even tasting it, I thought to myself, "this is going to be good; there is no way the distillery owner will name a bad whisky after herself"; and guess what: it wasn't good, it was FANTASTIC. I even had the Glendronach Yoda on the same tasting night and i can assure you i will remember this dram for ages and maybe ill forget about the "Glendro". My score for this wonderful single malt is a well earned 95 over 100, and maybe it deserved more and i am not been fair here. Slàinte.

There is this travel retail collection from the whisky giant Glenmorangie, that i believe it is called "the legends", where some spin offs of popular releases are available. I had "The Accord" one and was fairly good. Now this "the Elementa" is my dram for tonight. It is a 14yo single malt, matured in new charred oak casks. Bottled at 43%abv, golden color. On the nose, it has the Glenmorangie DNA; Orange peel, vainilla, chocolate and fruitcake. After a first sip, the aroma clarified into an orange leaf and pepper. On the palate, starts peppery and has strong notes of chilli, in a pleasant way. Hints of oranges and tangerine. A second sip was all about vanilla cream, oak spice and Mint fondant. Aftertaste is spicy. Pepper, aniseed; clove and oranges. Overall, for a 14yo Glenmorangie, it is dissapointing. The offered spiciness is not really impressive, the typical "Glenmo" oranges are here, some vanilla and all of the boring normal notes you can get from any other dram. I often find that travel retail exclusives are inferior, and this is one of those cases. My score for it is 76 over 100.