Tastes
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Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed August 25, 2021 (edited August 27, 2021)Balvenie is one distillery that has given me a lot of dissapointing experiences. And i know it is a favorite among some whisky enthusiasts and collectors, but i always find it excessively light and boring. Well, i got a sample from this famous expression to see if it can change my mind about this distillery. Beautiful reddish blood color, bottled at 47.8%abv. On the nose it is very appealing, specially as soon as you pour the dram. Red fruits, an incredible hazelnut note; nose is quite beautiful. Chocolate butter. A sawdust note hids in the back. It is like a sherry wood syrup if that exists. If i wouldn't know that this is a Balvenie, i would have guessed it was an Aberlour. A nice spiciness is present and citrus notes appear every 20 seconds. After a first sip a Hanuta / Nutella aroma appeared; the sawdust has intensified. Dark Chocolate. On the palate it has a sherry, winey flavor. Very spicy. It doesn't resemble any other light Balvenies that i often critiziced. The second sip was lighter, a little watery as most expressions from this distillery, but the pepper bomb that follows, covers it up to score some more points and hide the flaws. A third sip revealed how really light and watery it is. Drops the ball. Dim vanilla and sawdust. (I wrote this while holding the whisky in the palate). There is a nice spiciness on the Aftertaste. Sherriness is very well crafted in here. Some brown sugar notes and crazy dips. There is some salty finish that has breached through the sherry profile. Aftertaste kept some power after a few sips and manages to get decent points. Overall, this is one of the best Balvenies i have had, without been something special. The overload of sherriness here almost accomplished the mision of hiding how light and uninteresting this spirit is. My usual opinion on this distillery is that it is mostly watery and after a couple of sips of the first glass that opinion became a fact once more. Having said that, this ranks second amongst Balvenies that i haven't been totally dissapointed, (the other, actually very good one, is the peat week expression). My score for it is 87 over 100. -
Kavalan 2010 6 year Sherry Cask (The Whisky Exchange Exclusive)
Single Malt — Taiwan
Reviewed August 24, 2021 (edited August 25, 2021)If you get the words "Kavalan" "Cask strength" "sherry cask" in the same label, you already know it is going to be a very good thing. This exclusive edition was bottled for "The Whisky Exchange" retailers. The expression i had was bottled in 2016 at 57.8%abv. The color on this is simply impressive. Mahogany, a color mostly seen in whisky textbooks. Very dark reddish stuff. On the nose, the aroma is simply perfect. Coffee, cherries, prunes, figs and blackberry marmalade. A Cognac overall feeling, smells like macerated fruits and a hint of hazelnut. You get the idea. The palate is fantastic as well. Starts with a macerated fruit flavor, with pepper. Dark and dehydrated fruits; very winey with Chocolate notes also present. Aftertaste is strong, powerful but enjoyable and rewarding. Blackberries and pepper. Long incredible but straightforward aftertaste. Overall this is an amazing single malt that i feel very lucky to have tasted. Everything here is made for a whisky lover, starting from the natural color of it. The aftertaste wasn't as complex as the rest of the criterias, and that is why this one doesn't get a perfect score, but as they say in Football, "it hit the post!". My score for it is 97 over 100. -
Glenfiddich 25 Year Rare Oak
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed August 23, 2021 (edited August 24, 2021)I believe this whisky review might be a controversial one. I have had some old Glenfiddichs, and my general opinion on this single malt giant, is that some (most) fancy expressions are made just to appeal a wealthy drinker and not really be anything too special to whisky nerds like me. I know that 'fiddich is very fruity at its core, but i really think that they have a flavor-shifting spirit, but they don't tend to explore it fully in some expensive expressions, and i think they do it because most unexperienced drinkers will prefer something smooth rather than bold and interesting. Having said that; this 25yo Rare Oak is bottled at 43%abv, golden color. On the nose, lots of fresh fruits. Grape juice, white wine and cotton candy. A very fresh green apple aroma. Not much else, not a bad aroma though. The palate is the best part of it. Cotton candy, Impalpable sugar, moon pie. Very grapy and spicy. Gooseberries and Chocolate. Aftertaste is decent. Pepper, hay, impalpable sugar and grapes. Overall, as you might have guessed to the short reading of the notes on this whisky, this is not a very complex one. Is it good? Yes, it is super easy to drink and you will most certainly enjoy a dram, but you expect a lot more from a 25 year old single malt, that is called "rare oak" and belongs to the best selling whisky distillery in the world. The lack of complexity makes it impossible to achieve more than 87 points in my score system. -
Auchentoshan Three Wood
Single Malt — Lowlands, Scotland
Reviewed August 22, 2021 (edited October 18, 2021)I have never been a big Auchentoshan fan, and i normally pass on it if i have to choose between any of this lowland single malt and other whiskies. Having said that, this three wood expression really surprised me, with some tasting and aroma notes that i really did not expect from this distillery. Bottled at 43%abv, deep copper color. On the nose, pretty appealing. Red fruits: mostly cherries; Bananas. Very clean aroma, maple syrup and chocolate fudge. On the palate, it is really nice, i found some very interesting new tasting notes in here. Starts with some red fruits, caramel and acid prunes; but then it gives you this amazing flavor of chilli jam, that i don't know if you have tried before, but it is essentially a spicy marmalade. Very good. Aftertaste is a little simple but feels very balanced and obeys the rythm of the nose and palate. Cinnamon, pepper and some metallic finish. Sweet and spicy. Overall this was one enjoyable, interesting, spicy dram that felt very different from all other Auchentoshan expressions. If i was in a blind tasting event, i would have never guessed it was from this distillery. Great stuff, my score for it is 89 over 100. -
Nikka Taketsuru 21 Year Pure Malt
Blended Malt — Japan
Reviewed August 17, 2021 (edited June 1, 2022)Long i have waited to try the real competitor of the almighty Hibiki 21. Since the day that Japanese whisky was first made, Masetaka Taketsuru's name was carved in gold. You can even say he was the Nikola Tesla of Japanese whisky. Having said that, this "pure malt" (blended malt) is one of Nikka's jewels. But, was it good? It was. Bottled at 43%abv, copper color. On the nose, incredible apple as soon you uncork it. Definitively some oakiness due to the 21 year maturation; cinnamon. Amazing brownies aroma. Old fruits, old sweet wine aroma. Smells thick. Old blackberries. Some very elegant floral notes. Orange peel. Lemon and other citrus notes has appeared after 3 minutes. Even with all this complexity, it feels like everything is too packed, it needs more time to open. Red fruit syrup. After a first sip, the sweetness exploded. Orange caramel. Sawdust. A third sip gave me a burnt hay aroma, maybe a little peat has been used in here. On the palate, it is very sweet at first. Then a mixture of gooseberries and salt. The oakiness is present in the palate, very salty in a nice way. Acid and sweet. Acid oranges, tangerine. Peppery. The oranges here have become very sweet and sugary. Very smooth. Aftertaste is mostly grassy. Ginger and salt. Very oaky. Elegant. Medium long finish. It has a nice "bite", you find yourself chewing the aftertaste which is actually just a sensation. Dry, very rewarding. There is this "second aftertaste" that appears in your palate after 10 seconds, that resembles cotton candy and feels like sugar syrup stuck in your mouth. Is a ghost caramel that now lurks in your palate. The empty glass aroma is all about sawdust. Overall, this is a fantastic, amazingly crafted whisky. The palate is not perfect and that is where it lost a couple of points, but really this dram gets close to perfection. Very elegant, very complex but at the same time easy to drink and suitable to any kind of whisky enthusiast or plain drinker. It is worth every cent. My score for it is 96 over 100. KANPAI! -
Bowmore 10 Year Dark & Intense
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed August 16, 2021 (edited January 23, 2024)A travel retail expression of Bowmore that is called "Dark & Intense", with a 10 year old age statement, that lived to its name mostly on the nose, and then fell dramatically. Bottled at 40%abv, deep copper color. On the nose, a very complex and enjoyable aroma. Stinky peat, burnt hay. Recently baked brownies. Feels thick; caramel and some dark fruits. Macerated fruits, dark fruit syrup. After 2 minutes it released an incredible cherry syrup and the stinky peat is back. Very velvety and complex. After the first sip, aroma changed into a sweet, cheap, blackberry liquor note which happens to be very appealing. Palate is very soft. Some young woody notes right away, very watery, you can hold it easily for ages. Not very complex, lots of sawdust and hay. A second sip gave me a very nice caramel note, not much else. Aftertaste is not complex either. Very short. Some slight pepper and salt. Dim sawdust. Not much here really. Overall, i really liked the nose on this one, but the rest wasn't very good. There is nothing off-putting in here but the palate and aftertaste are very simple. An unbalanced single malt, but not a terrible one. My score for it is 75 over 100. -
The GlenAllachie 11 Years Old Px Wood Finish
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed August 15, 2021 (edited November 27, 2021)It is no surprise that this distillery is winning all the awards lately, and that is because Billy Walker is managing as the master distiller. This special edition was bottled exclusively for the Proffesional Danish Whisky Retailers and has been bottled at 48%abv and finished in a Pedro Ximenez Cask. On the nose, it is very complex but a little dim. Takes time to open fully. Mint, dates, floral, white chocolate, banana bread, dulce de leche, peaches and leather. After a first sip, the aroma gave me cherries dipped in dulce de leche, a very elegant spiciness; vanilla and eggnog. On the palate, is fantastic. Red fruits, red wine and lovely spices.more sips revealed white kit kat and salt. Aftertaste is very rewarding. Red fruits, prunes, tobacco, hay. There is this good oak spice present, Gooseberries and Blackberries. Overall, this is one great dram. Elegant, powerful, complex, delightful. The bitterness, sweetness and oak spices makes this single malt one memorable one. My score for it is 93 over 100. -
Edradour 2009 10 Year Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed August 14, 2021 (edited January 22, 2022)Edradour, Scotland's smallest distillery, was once owned by Frank Costello, the Mafia Kingpin that was the inspiration for the Godfather. Having said that wonderful historic fact, this distillery is one of my favorites and this particular expression is one that i have been trying to taste for a long time. Bottled at 46%abv, with an incredible chesnut color. On the nose, it is just perfect. Cabernet Sauvingon, grape jelly, raisins, champagne cola, cinnamon, church wine and white chocolate. It feels "bloody". Almonds and bread. Amazing aroma. On the palate is a song from the band UB40, because "Red red wine". White chocolate also present here. Aftertaste is dissapointing. Pepper and Sulphur; Winey; new wood. It is very short and dry. It lasts not more than 2 seconds. Overall, this was an unbalanced dram, but not a bad experience. The nose was so beautiful, the palate was average and the aftertaste was sad. Don't get me wrong, i will still buy it, drink it and be happy with it, but i feel this one as a dram for "winey situations". My score for it is 82 over 100. -
Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed August 13, 2021 (edited November 30, 2021)Glenmorangie is one of Scotland's fanciest distilleries. This Malaga Cask Finish is actually a whisky that has been matured in Malaga Dulce casks which is a fortified wine from another Andalucia location (diferent from the sherry triangle) but made from the Moscatel and Pedro Ximenez grapes. The "Malaga" Term is only to describe the origin, but you can compare it to a very sweet sherry. Bottled at 47.3%abv, beautiful tawny color. On the nose, this is a very wonderful, inviting dram. Tiramisu dessert. Red fruits, a nice coffee, cream. Rice with milk, Kahlúa liquor and caramelized apple. After the first sip, the aroma turned into sugar syrup, maple honey, sweet popcorn, marshmallows and tabaco. On the palate, it starts with a beautiful blackberry marmalade flavor. Then it changes to cinnamon and orange. A second sip gave me the tiramisu from the nose and bitter coffee beans. A third sip revealed cotton candy. Very complex. Aftertaste is the weakest part without been bad at all. Lots of hay, salt and tobacco. The second sip was a lot more bitter, with a dark chocolate note, a 100% cocoa one. Overall, this is one great whisky. I actually feel that Glenmorangie has made some not great expressions lately, but they did hit the nail on this one. Yes, it is overly sweet, but i have a sweet tooth. Beautiful dram 90/100 is my score. -
In almost every whisky auction you will find this exotic bottle, and as soon as i got the chance to grab a sample, i had to have it. Well, it seems the reason that everyone offers this bottle in auctions is because it is not very good and they want to sell it. Nikka Tsuru is a good looking bottle, with some cranes shown on the bottom of the ceramic decanter. Actually "Tsuru" is the Japanse word for "Crane" and also is a nice way to tribute Nikka's foundern Masetaka Taketsuru. Bottled at 43%abv, tawny color. On the nose, a little weak and simple. Peaches, a nice burnt hay; slight chocolate. A general herbal fresh aroma. It became a lot better after the first sip. Nice caramel, a dim red fruitiness; a red apple note has appeared. On the palate it is very salty. A salt bomb. Peaches after the salt. A second sip gave me toffee for a second, then the saltiness appeared again and there is some dim citric notes also in there. Aftertaste is almost non-existing, since it is very short. Dry, short peppery aftertaste. New wood. Overall, this is a very dissapointing whisky. The nice decanter and the simplicity of it might deceive unexperienced drinkers, but it is not very good really. My score for it is a sad 65 over 100.
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