Tastes

This travel retail exclusive, NAS release from Highland Park is blended to showcase sherry influence over smoke. This bottle contains primarily first fill, sherry whisky and is watered down to just slightly above 41% ABV. I added this bottle to an international order last winter and it has been sitting on the bar staring at me for quite some time. Needless to say, the low ABV hasn’t really excited me. Anyway, it’s a rich copper in color- evidence of the first fill cask aging. It’s oily with large water droplets forming quickly and releasing into heavy, undefined legs in the Glencairn. The nose is intensely sherried. There’s a light, chocolatey smoke mulling about but there’s no hint of heat, wood or ABV. This is as close to a Speyside-style malt as I’ve ever had from HP. The palate relies heavily on the sherry again, but this time the smokiness is replaced with a biting, salty aspect that makes the palate seem overly harsh, in spite of the low ABV. It threw me off quite a bit from the nosing and the two aspects to not jive very well. The finish is medium length and warming, with a spicy oak bite and tell tale signs of youthful spirit. At no point does any heat come into play and only a hint of spiciness lingers. Yawn. Overall, this is the most mixed-up HP I think I’ve had. It wants to focus on sherry finishing, but it gives up the smoke and most of the Island characteristics usually found with Highland Park. I think by cutting the ABV they cut this one short. It seems like they are pushing quantity of product out the door instead of quality. Which, as we all know, is the end goal of most non-age statement whisky. They should’ve saved the stock and just let it age and be used in something better down the road. Factor in a price point above $80 and I can only muster 2.5-2.75 stars, max. HP fans should look elsewhere. Cheers.

I had this travel retail exclusive Laphroaig: the 1815 Legacy Edition sold to me by my friend @PBMichiganWolverine a bit of a discount, as he is looking to offload some of his 500 bottle collection. This bottle retails for $85+ and isn’t available here in the USA (to my knowledge, at least). This was a beautiful, antique gold in the tasting glass and it produced tiny, watery beads around the rim when you give it a twirl. It’s very oily and took quite some time before a few, sparse legs formed. The nose was intensely and richly smoky at first. A heavy hit of menthol and mint seeps through after some time, along with some light berries and fresh cut oak. There’s an earthy undertone that permeates the entire nosing experience. Not a bad intro... The palate is where it kind of went off the rails. The rich smoke and menthol on the nose lead to an impression of a dirty ashtray flavor on the tongue. It was pretty intense. If you let that note subside, which became increasingly tougher with each sip, you were introduced to an earthy mushroom flavor, with black pepper and damp oak. It really didn’t mingle well either. It left me licking and smacking my lips unconsciously as if I was trying to speed up the clearing of my palate. The finish is medium length, smoky again with some lingering pepper burn. The ABV heat is absent, but I think I was still tasting the ashtray note so I seemed to quickly fumble for my glass of water to rush the experience away. All this said, I finished the entire bottle and never considered it a drain pour, but I don’t think I’d seek another bottle (or pour) of this one. @Generously_Paul asked me if it was worse than the Select- and my initial response is “Yes”. I wasn’t as offended by the Select as most people seem to be, though. But, I can confidently say that this is the worst Laphroaig I’ve had to date. It needs some serious rich smoke on the palate to save it and mask that dirty ashtray note. At close to $100 it’s a hard pass. Look elsewhere, my friends. 2-2.5 stars. Cheers.

I’ve avoided bottom shelf blends for quite a long time in my scotch whisky “career”. I peruse them when I’m in the liquor store, but my eyes always seem to drift back to top shelf, single malts. It seems like every time I end up sampling a cheap blend its because a friend or new trade buddy sends me some. Thanks to my friend @Generously_Paul, I get to finally try “the Grouse”. This stuff has some solid pedigree in the mix: Macallan and Highland Park supposedly play a leading role in this mid-level blend. This is still bottled at the bare minimum 40%, and I’m sure it’s chill filtered and has added color- along with a lot of water. The nose immediately indicated Macallan to me. I love the stuff and I’d like to think I could pick it out no matter what it’s mixed in to. There were light fruits and an interesting grassy note, but surprisingly there was no smoke. That’s not a deal breaker, but considering there’s HP in here I fully expected some peat or smoke. The palate was nice and sweet, sherry grapes and raisins with an underlying note of unsugared, corn flakes cereal. I taste the slightest hint of smokiness, but admit I could be imagining it because I just keep thinking “Highland Park”. It’s very creamy and smooth, even mouthwatering. There is nothing offensive here at all. The finish is borderline non-existent. No heat, no harshness, no “whisky”- if you catch my drift. The finish is boring. Watery and bland. This is where I feel like I have to dock it some points. I need to feel like I’ve just drank some whisky- and sadly, I don’t. I guess that’s the ultimate goal of cheap blends- give the drinker alcohol, but make sure they don’t feel like they’ve had anything. Overall, I love the Macallan feel up front. The sweetness is mostly kept in check so it doesn’t feel like a dessert dram. I also get the feeling it would mix well in any number of good cocktails. The price point is very good, too- less than $30 a bottle. Gotta like that. Thanks again, Paul. I really enjoyed this one. A solid 3.5 stars. Cheers.

Well, my friend @Telex (from Maryland) came through with another amazing Springbank sample for me to try: the 19 year old Port Cask Finished. This was a single barrel offering for K & L Wine Merchants and was limited to just a paltry 252 bottles. It’s cask strength and nothing short of amazing. This is what my brain remembers the 2013 Laphroaig Cairdeas Port Wood as tasting like: excellent smoke, deep port sweetness and richness all wound together beautifully. This was bottled at 52.4% ABV and is a rich gold color in the glass, with tons of legs and tiny droplets while looking super oily as it settled back down after a thorough spin. The nose is rich, Port wine with your typical light, Springbank earthy peat. Raisins and plums and raspberry purée swirl around a lightly chocolate and smoky background. The nose is truly remarkable. A little oak cask appears here and there, but not a single bit of alcoholic astringency or heat filter through. The palate is a delicate peaty, smoky balance with the luscious Port flavors. Grapes and berries again with just the right amount of heat leaking through to keep it from being washed over with dessert tones. There’s a razor sharp bite of oak after mid sip that shocks the tongue a bit too much, but it’s also somewhat refreshing. We are drinking whisky here, right? The finish is long, chocolatey with a reserved sweetness that closely resembles a good sherry finished dram. It’s not drying or cloying and there’s a little pop of heat once again- perfectly timed. Some vanilla lingers well after the sip just to keep you tuned in. Great stuff. Overall, this may be the best Springbank I’ve tasted to date. Jason has sent me several great SB drams after I’d mostly written them off as either to harsh when they’re young or too boring when they get some age on them. I think the key here is quality finishing casks. The more I try, the more I like them. This is a beautifully port finished whisky- perhaps even the best port dram I’ve had. I’d be a fool to give this any less than a perfect score. So, 5 stars it is. Thanks again, Jason. Completely amazing.

I received a pour of this extremely well-aged blend a few months back as an extra from my friend @PBMichiganWolverine, from NJ. He recently sent me the last 4-5oz remaining in the bottle. So, I feel like I’m overdue in reviewing this beautiful whisky. This bottle contains whisky from Glenfarclas, Glenlivet and Invergordon- all aged over 44 years of age. Wow wow wow. It’s a deep mahogany in the Glencairn. It’s incredibly oily and forms quick-running legs and big, bubbly water droplets after a thorough spin. The nose started out precariously with a heavy dose of Ludens Cherry Cough drops, but given some time it opened up into a deeper, richer experience with red berries, gingerbread and faint oak. Oddly enough, I got a weird corn flakes cereal note as well. It’s somewhat artificial smelling, yet deeply complex. The palate is heavy sherry, cherry cola and raspberry purée. There’s a tiny bit of light citrus that forms a nice backbone with faint, fresh cut oak cask. I got a serious shortbread cookie feeling throughout the entire sip. Due to the lower ABV and extensive aging I miss out on any kind of heat. The nose and palate tell me there’s significantly more Glenfarclas in here than anything else. The finish is on the shorter side with a big-time sherry sweetness. It doesn’t make the finish feel long but it hangs around until you rinse it away. It’s here where I finally get some much needed oak flavor. It isn’t much, but it’s there. Overall, it’s exactly what I expected from a Glenfarclas-heavy blend with a lot of age on it. When it starts to seem artificial it releases some oak or citrus that really save the day IMO. My only gripe would be that I’d love to experience this at 46% or a little higher. It begs for some heat to round out what could be a perfect whisky. Thanks again, Pranay. Nothing beats trying a whisky that’s almost my age. 4.25-4.5 stars. Cheers, my friends.

Thanks to a blind tasting flight challenge sent to me by @Generously_Paul I was able to sample this NAS Yamazaki whisky. I don’t have the typical notes I like to take as I was more tuned in towards trying to identify the differences between 5 different whiskies and spirits. This one stood out particularly because of the different types of wood they use in Japan. Sandalwood and Mizunara oak offer a very different take on the aromatics. More tropical and fruity flavors come through on the palate as well. This is very different than most scotches and provides an awesome take on single malts. This is easily a 3.75-4 star Yamazaki, even though it’s a NAS. It’s pretty close to the 12yo, but still miles away from the 18. At the price point of $65-70 though- it’s a pretty good deal if you can find it. Thanks again, Paul. Cheers.

Thanks to a blind tasting flight challenge sent to me by @Generously_Paul I was able to sample this 18yo malt from Cardhu. I don’t have the typical notes I like to take as I was more tuned in towards trying to identify the differences between 5 different whiskies and spirits. What I did notice about this one was how harsh it was for being aged for quite a long time. I remember some great sherry notes and not a lot of heat, but I’m inclined to think that the quality of the casks used here was a bit lacking. That said, I’d give this a middle of the road score of 3 stars and I’d be happy to revisit it later on and put it through its proper paces if I can land another pour somewhere down the road. Thanks again, Paul. The challenge was a blast. Cheers.

I was given a sample of this from a local friend who has given up on drinking spirits. I’m not sure if this stuff is rare, expensive or hard to find. I’m not even sure what a bottle costs. I just know it’s a 16 year old, 100% Canadian rye whiskey. It’s bottled at 53.5% and is dark copper in the tasting glass. Heavy droplets curve the entire rim and it makes lots of legs. The nose it typical rye spice, pepper a little pine and dill with an underlying vanilla and oak note. The palate is hot and peppery baking spices, sugary cola with a nice hint of bubble gum on the tail end. To be 100% rye, it’s not overpowering at all- even at 54%. I think that’s what I like the most about it. I’m not a big rye person, so when I get one that seems really well restrained I feel like I can enjoy it more. That was the case here. The finish was medium length, oily with some lingering oak notes. Overall, it’s very easy drinking with a lighter than expected mouthcoat and feel. I’m glad I was able to give this one a try as I aim to expand my American bourbon and rye portfolio. Thanks to my buddy @RyanS1865 for this one. 4 stars. Cheers.

The Glenlivet Nadurra line, which translates as “natural”, has many variations on that theme. This particular bottling claims to contain whisky that has been aged in first fill, American White Oak barrels. This bottle was from Batch 0115, which signifies it was filled in January of 2015. The Nadurra aspect indicates it is natural in color and isn’t chill filtered. It’s bottled at 59.8%. It’s light gold in color, oily while not offering up any leg action and only leaving tiny beads behind around the rim of the tasting glass. The nose is a bit closed off at first and I had to wait it out for 20-25 minutes. Once it relaxed I got tons of orchard fruits, vanilla and cereal grains. There’s an oaky and nutty backbone fighting against the hot alcohol notes. The palate has a nice tropical fruit and citrus introduction. Cinnamon candies belies a refreshing sweetness while being slightly sugary. Light oak keeps the mouthfeel from coming off as too oily. It’s also not as hot as I expected from a 60% ABV. The finish is medium in length and surprisingly fruity. The sweetness holds up very well against the lingering heat from the high proof. It actually leaves behind a mouthwatering feel that encourages you to go in for more- and that’s a dangerous proposition considering this is a very high ABV cask strength offering. Overall, I loved it. I’ve had lots of Glenlivet’s core stuff and I gotta say that I could probably skip them all and just stick with the Nadurra line. The whisky really shines here. The Oloroso Nadurra and Peated Cask Nadurra were also great drams. This is no different. I believe you can also find these bottles for $75-85 and that’s a decent deal for what you’re getting, even without an age statement. Buy with confidence. 4.5 stars. Cheers, my friends.

This was an affordable bottle I added to a recent international order. This is from Highland distillery, Glenturret. This is a new, NAS release that was finished in refilled sherry casks. This is from Batch #3 and is bottled at 43% and cost me a cool $50usd. It’s deep gold/Amber in color, oily with wide, watery legs and huge droplets in the Glencairn. There’s no indication of chill filtration or color added, so I assume both are present here. The nose is sherry grapes and butterscotch with faint vanilla notes in the background. There’s absolutely no cask presence or signs of alcoholic bite. The palate is sweet grapes, butter and sherry. It’s slightly harsh with some weak vanilla and dry oak astringency. The finish is on the short side with vanilla and light oak. It’s very weak though. The finish really hurt the overall experience. Speaking of overall, it’s a serviceable dram that would work well in cocktails and even over a cube of ice. It doesn’t need water. I’m not sure it’s worth the price. There are more easily accessible drams available at a similar, or lower, price. 2.5-2.75 stars. Cheers.