Tastes

I went to Bulleit Bourbon distillery, and guess what, i found that they have a single malt release! This very appealing black bottle, is the first single malt from this american distillery, is bottled at 45%abv, made fully from malted barley. On the nose, a Glenffidich green apple note. Pears, Whip cream. On the palate i get peaches, hay and honey. Aftertaste is all about peaches, hay, honey and Tobacco. Overall i find this one fruity and "cowboish" in a very appealing way. A nice bet from Diageo's Bulleit distillery. My score for this really fine dram is 92 over 100.

I had the amazing experience to be on this year's Feis Ile, and let me tell you about a fantastic perk i found at Bowmore, on their day of the festival = they had an "Old & Rare" bar, where you could try, for a tiny fraction of the price, super rare Bowmores from previous years. One of them was this absolutely surprising and tasty 16yo Wine Cask from 1992, bottled in 2008. It has been matured on Bourbon & Limousin Bordeaux Wine Casks, with a 53.5%abv WOW THE NOSE ON THIS! EXQUISITE RED WINE. (Yes, i am screaming). Chocolate, red wine madness, lemon & Coffee. On the palate i get marvelous red fruits; So enjoyable. Chocolate, Red wine. It is soooo chocolaty that i, as a fat man, approve this whisky. Aftertaste gave me some beautiful prunes, red wine, acid fruits. Everything super acid. Bloody mary. Overall, this one was absolutely spectacular. I had like 4 of them, i even passed on trying other wonderful releases, just because this was too good, i had to have more of it. Pure perfection, one of the best Bowmores i have ever tried. 100 over 100. Top thing.

Tomintoul is one of those low tier speysiders that are mostly a fruity juice, that has no real body nor excitement, that i usually avoid. Having said that, a couple years ago, i found a miniature of a 33yo expression. I bought it thinking that this one has to be the best that this distillery can offer. The first thing i noticed was that it had a 43%abv strength. The full bottle goes for near 1k, and that made the whole experience more interesting. On the nose, i get classic, very normal Speyside flavors: Pear, cotton candy, pineapple and fruit salad. On the palate, it is very sweet. Cotton candy, Bubblegum, Pear and hay. Aftertaste follows the same rythm. Pear, super fruity, bubblegum, hay. Overall, if you are reading this, and you care for your money, do not expend any crazy amount on this one. There is no difference between this dram to any other 12yo Speyside single malt like a 'fiddich or a Glen Moray. Totally not worth it in my books, my score for this one is a super dissapointing 80 over 100.

Old St. Andrews is Scotland's oldest golf course if i am not mistaken, and they have a very funny, Golf Ball looking miniature, that contains the famous St Andrews blended scotch. Bottled at 40%abv. On the nose, i get grain whisky, red apples, slight citrus, wet grass and maize. On the palate, apples, peaches and milk powder formula. Aftertaste is a mixture of tobacco, burnt hay and grain whisky. Overall, a very easy to drink, enjoyable dram, nothing too special, i believe it is intended to be a souvenir more than a proper, complex dram. My score for this one is 72 over 100.

The Dalmore has released a second Luminary edition; and this one is another celebration of architecture masterpieces. This time, it honours V&A Dundee. Allegedly this contains a rare batch of peated Dalmore, and it is bottled at 48.6%abv. On the nose, this is truly fruitu and sweet. Tangerine, Jellybeans. It feels like every sweet from the videogame Candycrush, lol. Lulo fruit, chocolate. After some sips it became super spicy, with white chocolate notes. On the palate, it is a little watery. Vanilla cream. Tangerine, white chocokate. A little dim. Metallic penny coin. Aftertaste was perfect. Full acid potency. Tangerine, Oranges, Citric madness. Chocolate with oranges; Sulphur, Metallic. After a couple of sips, jellybeans, gummybears and other sugary sweets. Overall, i really was amazed with the aftertaste of this one. I found no peat at all, other than some sulphuric notes. The palate is a little watery and dim, but the nose and aftertaste are very good. My score for it is 92 over 100. A good offering.

Compass Box is famous for making some bespoke expressions for important whisky bars and restaurants of the world. This is the case for "Juveniles", a wonderful looking bottle, that actually has a rattle bell on the bottom. Juveniles is actually a "Bistrot  Vins" from Paris, place that was honoured by this bottle. This is a blended malt made from Clynelish, Balmenach, Glendullan & Strathmill, with a 46% abv. On the nose: Pineapple and meringue. Sawdust, gooseberries, very fresh. Spongy cake. On the palate, it mimics the same notes. Pineapple and beautiful meringue. Sugary notes. Meringue sweets. Acid. Cotton candy. Aftertaste is very sugary. Sugar with milk. Pineapple creamy. Overall, this was a truly enjoyable expression. Soooo easy to drink, very sweet and citric. This one is a dangerous dram, since i feel that i can have a full bottle without much hesitation. My score for it is 92 over 100, which is very surprising for a not too expensive Compass Box.

This year's Feis Ile 10 year old Lagavulin edition, is a heavily charred oak expression, bottled at cask strength (56.7%abv), which follows the path of the Offerman Edition No. 3, a very good release from last year. On the nose, it starts with a nice vanilla, peat. Such a fishy, peaty Lagavulin. Fishmarket aroma and acid, citrus fruits. Oysters. The palate is Salty, peaty and fishy. Marvelous flavor. So enjoyable. Aftertaste is where the smoke lies. Spicy pepper, and the classic Lagavulin peat. Bourbon cask influence here. Overall, another lovely expression from the kings of Islay. Of course it is a little rough on the edges, but peat lovers will definitively find this one appealing. 23 points on every criteria for a total score of 92 over 100.

Sometimes the planets align and i get the opportunity to try some epic, legendary whiskies which are mostly rare to find. Thisnis the case of the 2020 Islay Jazz expression from Lagavulin, the 22 year old one. A "Laga" with that age statemente makes me a lot more demanding. I cannot expect a simple or an average dram. This must be exceptional to fill my expectations. Bottled at 52.6%abv, there were only 2004 bottles ever made. On the nose, i was immidiately thought: wow, oranges with peat!. Cigarrette, ashtray. Tangerine peel. Lotion. Amazing aroma, astringent. Perfect score. On the palate, it starts a little watery, then it becomes a bomb of flavor, made of vanilla, herbal notes, spices, peat, smoke. It has an atomic aftertaste. It feels like a wrap of herbal, smoke and orange notes. Incredible Overall, it accomplished its mission. This one was perfect. One of the most amazing Lagavulins i have ever tasted, and i have tasted a lot of spectacular ones. Complex, powerful, tasty, peaty, fruity, everything is here. There is no way i can deduct points from this, it wouldn't be fair for a great product. My score for it is 100 over 100.

I was invited to a very fancy restaurant in Loisville, Kentucky; and of course i ask for their bourbon list. I found this whiskey thatbi have been wanting to try for a long time. The Noah's Mill. A wonderful "old paperish" looking label, on a brown bottle that seemed very vintage. This one comes at an appealing 57.15%abv. On the nose, it starts salty. Salted caramel. Everything very salted. Fish market. Smells beautiful. BBQ sauce. On the palate, i get Lemon, toffee. Strong pepper and corn. Thick caramel. Aftertaste follows the rythm. Caramel, toffee. Coffee with milk and a hint of smoke. Overall, this one was a very balanced, powerful but enjoyable dram. I really love how good looking the bottle is. The flavors and aromas are a little bit classic, but well delivered. My score for it is 88 over 100.

Lagavulin Islay Jazz expressions are amongst my favorites, but they have become quite pricey lately. This is the case for last year's Oloroso Sherry Cask expression; which i happened to find on an Islay bar to grab a good glass of it without having to pay for a full bottle. This comes at 53.9%abv and it is a limited expression of only 3000 bottles. On the nose i find it super sherried, strawberry syrup, coffee & dulce de leche. Oranges, tangerine, dulce de leche, liquid paper. Coffee with milk. On the palate, i have a paper note, oloroso sherry, some old oranges, red fruits & oranges. Lime. Aftertaste reminded me of Crazy dips; mineral peaty aftertaste. Overall, this one was super delicious and powerful. Complex enough but at the same time super easy to determine the flavors and aromas since they were very clean. My score for this beauty is 96 over 100.