Tastes

Bought on Tenerife and made it by an absolute accident. I haven’t been acknowledged with Knockando yet so I just gave it a try. Not to say it was a flop - for the money I paid it might be called a hit pretty much. Very light and delicate both to the nose and to the tongue. But way too inexpressive in its taste - it fades away too quick. Some fruits, vanilla, spices but not too much. The finish is short and gentle.

Much simpler version of Double Oak. Both to nose and taste: Caramelized sweet and not even nuts but a nut butter; also some spices. Very light and gentle (especially after single malts). Really nothing remarkable (in sense of preferences; it can be easily known by its taste). But not to say it’s bad. One can enjoy it cold or in cocktails or if there is nothing more to drink. Finish is good - sweet but not annoying, a bit spiced, and it lasts pretty long. But not the choice even for a bourbon lover.

Much deeper and more complicated than 81 proof version. More spiritous to the nose with tons of caramel, chocolate and figs. More harsh to the tongue due to its proof. No remarkable distinctions from 81 in a taste but seems a bit more satisfying. Finish is not that luscious. I may not call WT 101 a truly remarkable but it’s a decent one.

The style is something between Wild Turkey and Buffalo Trace (aroma is more WT while taste is more BT). Spicy sweet to the nose, less spiritous, some nuts and oak, honey, caramel, definitely cinnamon. Same to the taste - lightly smooth but with a harsh note on the end of the tongue. Sweet, pleasant - very nice in overall. Might be a perfect choice for an evening; I place it a bit higher than WT101. Finish may not be astonishing but still very gentle and satisfying.

Very medicinal to the nose, more smoked than peaty. The similar taste. Did not find it too complex, but after the heavy peatiness comes very rich and mouthfilling sweetness. Not that sharp to the tongue as you expect due to the fact it has only 40% abv. Finish is pleasant and sweet. But lacks of warmth.

Very gentle and balanced. Truly satisfying. Young oak, caramel sweetness and some fruits to the nose. The taste is perfectly balanced. A bit simple but in right proportions. Not sharp at all but might be tough or engrossing (in sense of taste) to a newcomer (Buffalo Trace and Bulleit are more pleasant). Mouthfilling, viscous and very light, so it’s enjoyable to make big sips. Some rye, caramel, spicyness. It is like what would happen if we take all the good bourbons together and then take the average. Finish might be called a disappointment. It is somewhat harsh with clear spirit notes. a bit long so it makes it “disturbing”.

Not that bad, even good despite its notorious reputation of a “cocktail” or a “party” drink. In comparison with Jim Beam it seems to be a more pleasant one, - it’s lighter, better balanced and less spirituous or forthright so to say. The smell is light, caramel sweet with wooden and spicy hints and some nuts as well. The taste is very familiar, given that all the pop bourbons of a similar market price taste almost the same. Vanilla and caramel sweet, very light, with some wooden notes. It performed right above my lowered expectations so I rate JD as a decent bourbon but still not the one you might get for the same price (just don’t bother yourself and go get the gorgeous Buffalo Trace or Woodford Reserve if you are ready to pay a bit over).

Having a Viking Honour edition. The style of the bottle and package is snazzy and fancy with no lack of originality. This is what catches your sight at first and makes your expectations high above average. The color is sweet as it is not very usual. Deep muted golden barley, no limpid. After first tasting I was quite disappointed. HP12 seemed a bit plain, soft, poor in variation (probable reason is I was tasting it after Caol Ila and Lagavulin). But now, after I’ve tried it for the second time I am more to agree with the majority of people telling that HP12 is a wonderful example of “everyday whisky” being a truly decent one. Aroma delivers a quite simple, not an extraordinary but pleasant experience. It’s really soft, meadowy, clear sweet, a bit watery but intense at the same time, with many honey notes along with raspberry/sugary hints, but might seem a bit salty on the flip side. The taste might not be impressive but again it is warming and mild. A bit of soil and wet leather flavors. Some fruitiness (even vegetables like fresh cucumber), freshness, watery but racking sweetness again. Contains a little bit of smoke as well. If searching for the closest analog it’d probably be The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve (quite weird to compare an islander to a speysider, I know), and to the favor of HP12 - VR is a bit less intense and worse balanced. The aftertaste is the only thing that exactly matches with what you expect. Nice, consistent, a bit sharp and longing with spicy and smoky notes. The second tasting reveals some varnish, bitterness and even dampness.

Obviously, I found my whisky. Each Glenmorangie has much in common. This is the youngest one. It is both chill-filtered (this leads to the lack of the complexity) and caramelized (don't see anything bad). Despite the cons, I really enjoy it as I enjoy all the Glenmorangies. First to the nose is sweetness - honey at most, not aggressive citrus at the back. Not spicy, not smoky at all. A bit of warmth, caramel, maybe toffee and raisins. To the tongue - again massive honey, a bit citrus. Apricots also can be felt. Body and finish both are not strong yet very pleasant. But unfortunately I have to admit - it's way too sweet, even lusciously sweet.

Very fruity to the nose - fresh apples, fig, apricot, some spirit notes among them. It feels very young even to the nose straight from the beginning. Same - apples, spirit, some barley, a bit bitter to the tongue. Some cocoa to the palate? Very oily, mouthfilling and mouth-feeling. Just as sweet as it needs to be - some toffee and apricot. What is to mark that it is very-very easy to drink. It has 40% abv which feels like 35%. Very gentle, but really lacks of complexity and diversity. Definitely not “a piss in the bottle” as some comments say but a solid three-point whiskey. (It can also be regarded to Balblair 05 by the taste but much much simpler one). Finish is not remarkable but pleasant. To sum up - very simple and gentle, really easy to drink, but I liked it. Maybe because it is really underrated?