Tastes
-
I purchased this bottle to do a triple comparison to 2 other bottles from the Chivas Regal line of blended scotch. This is a NAS blend that was finished for an unspecified amount of time in ex-sherry casks. It's a nice, dark copper and comes in at the usual 80 proof. If you read my reviews of the Chivas 12 & 18 year scotches, I can sum this one up easily: Take the sherry sweetness of the 18 year old and add in the harshness from the younger 12 year old and you have Chivas Extra. It's a cheap way to drink sherry cask finished scotch, but I can't say I recommend it. I'd actually rather have the regular 12 year old simply because there's a bit more of an "experience" when drinking it. This bottle comes in at $40, and that should tell you exactly what you're getting- a cheap, blended and mediocre scotch. Its gonna take me awhile to finish this bottle because almost every other bottle in my collection is better than this so I can't see myself reaching for it. Maybe I'll do some experimental blending of my own with some other 2-3 star single malts and see what I can do. Cheers, my friends.
-
Chivas Regal 18 Year Gold Signature
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed November 7, 2016 (edited January 18, 2020)Opened this alongside it's younger sibling 12 year old to do a little comparison. It's blended using several 18 year old malts, but comes in at the normal 80 proof. It's a darker copper in color and smells heavily of sweet, sherry-casked whisky. On the palate it's nicely sweet with a very nice oak and vanilla profile. There's almost no heat, which is excellent for a blended scotch IMO. The finish is medium length and extremely smooth. If this bottle came in at a more reasonable price for a blend I'd keep it stocked at the bar. Very non-offending to Highland style scotch drinkers. At close to $80 a bottle I can think of many single malts I'd rather spend that money on, but on its own merits it's actually pretty damn tasty. Closer to 3.75 stars than 3.5. Cheers. -
This tasting was done using a 50ml sample I obtained to do a side by side with the Chivas Regal 18 year. This was much lighter in color than the 18 year and the Chivas Extra and smelled heavily of apples. There was a bit of oak barrel on the nose as well. On the tongue it's overwhelmed by apples, to the point it reminded me of the sour apple schnapps mixer. It wasn't unpleasant it just didn't taste enough like whisky IMO. It was also pretty harsh for being advertised as made from 12 year old malt. I don't think I would ever purchase a full bottle, even to use as a mixer for cocktails. It doesn't taste much like a whisky. Not really a fan of this one.
-
Bunnahabhain 12 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed November 4, 2016 (edited August 22, 2020)This is the first single malt I've tried from Bunna because I have mixed feelings about non-or-low peated scotches from the Islay region of Scotland. I'm not insinuating they don't belong on that wind-swept island of heavenly scotch bliss, but yeah they don't belong there...(j/k) This Islay single malt is non-chill filtered and comes in at 92.6 proof. It's a nice, rich copper color (coloring is added IIRC) and produces long, oily legs when swirled around a bit. The nose has a spicy, nutty and toffee aroma that's pretty inviting. There's almost no smoke or sea salt that I can detect. That first sip is rather enjoyable. It's incredibly smooth for the slightly elevated ABV and the sweetness from the sherry cask immediately settles across the tongue. There is also a brief appearance of peat smoke that reminds me of a tempered down Bowmore offering. On the finish there's a hint of dried berries (maraschino cherries) and caramel/toffee that really gives it a nice, tasty finale. There's no lingering burn to be found, while the flavor hangs around awhile. That, along with being incredibly smooth, makes this one very nice. I'll have to put a few of these on my BUY list. I wanna say a full bottle of this is on the cheap side (around $45-55). That works really well for me and I recommend giving this one a go. It's a solid performer that you won't mind spending some quality time with. Cheers, friends. -
The color is a nice, autumn sunset of reddish and golden hues and I don't get much on the nose other than cinnamon, oak and a hint of (maybe) nutmeg. It doesn't smell bad or harsh, but I guess you could say that about most blended whisky. It starts off pleasant enough on the tongue, but a strange tinnish metallic bite takes over that abruptly ends anything good that should've come from this juice. There's an artificial cinnamon flavor that helps wash the tin away, but something about it does taste artificial- too sweet, perhaps. Almost like cinnamon imperial candies. The finish is quick and quite harsh for an aged, blended whisky. There's nothing really refined among the base whiskies uses for this blend, I think, and that's the biggest downfall here IMO. Better quality base products would easily bring this up a bit, maybe to Johnnie Walker Red level. I don't get much, if any, smoke either so there's nothing redeeming here. Maybe it would work better mixed with cola or ginger ale to spice it up and hide the tin metal harshness. Not a whisky for sipping neat for sure. If it's cheap then that's it's calling card- mix it up and tie on a buzz. That's it's purpose in life I suppose. Moving along...
-
Dalwhinnie 15 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed November 2, 2016 (edited January 18, 2020)Dalwhinnie proudly declares themself as the highest of the Highland Distilleries and proclaim their single malts use the cleanest, unfiltered spring water from high up in the Grampian Mountains. They also claim a gentle, delicate smoked malt. It comes in at 86 proof and is lightly straw-colored and contains no added colors. It's pretty light and airy in the tasting glass and doesn't produce much action on the nose. Some sweet vanilla and oak and even with a drop of water and a vigorous swirl doesn't add any other apparent dimensions. I've even let it sit 15-20 minutes while discussing the horrors of the upcoming presidential elections with my dad. It's really a one-dimensional scotch, while being pretty smooth, all I get are the common vanilla and oak notes that wash away with a slight warming, yet medium length finish. I feel like I've had this so many times before. It's not bad, it's also nothing new. While I can't recommend this one, I won't really bash it either and I'll simply say "your mileage may vary". It's definitely entry level juice at best and you can find many, many similar offerings for slightly less money. If you aren't into "ticking" off various whiskies like me you can take a pass on this one and look elsewhere. You aren't missing anything you haven't had before or can find without looking too hard. Cheers. -
Bastille 1789 Blended Whisky
Blended — Cognac, France
Reviewed November 2, 2016 (edited November 25, 2019)and now for something completely different: a blended French whisky from the Limousin region (which is mostly known for fine crafted Cognac). Bastille 1789. Like I said, it's blended and comes in at the minimum standard 80 proof. Oddly enough, I found it while visiting family in the mountains of West Virginia. I paid a very affordable $28 for a 750ml bottle. The color is a deep, shiny-new copper and giving it a swirl produces very long, silky legs in the tasting glass. On the nose there's a nice orange and apricot marmalade that will fade into a spicy, ginger burn if you inhale too quickly. On the tongue, it opens again rather softly with a fruit marmalade that turns a little too quickly into a ginger/pepper burn from the oak casks. The finish is insanely quick and short and all I really get is a blast of the advertised Limousin oak used to finish this whisky. There's no info on how long it was aged overall or finished, but it's a warm and quick blast of oak that is gone too quickly IMO. I'm not disappointed at all with the price point and a very respectable flavor profile for a blend. If it only stuck around a bit longer after swallowing it I would put this in another category of blends close to Compass Box. As it is, it's got an interesting flavor profile, but the quick finish somehow makes it rather forgettable- and that's a real shame. It could be so much more. Cheers, my friends. -
Tonight's tasting party was filled with lots of whisk(e)y I have already tasted (not complaining), but I need something new to "put me to bed, proper." A perfect time for a Compass Box offering. The Lost Blend. This blend comes in at 92 proof and a hefty $100+ price tag. According to the bottle there were only 12018 bottles filled so subtract 1 and join me by praying for a sequel. So, let's do this: this bad boy is almost transparent in the glass. Lighter than light. Talk about not showing your hand before the river card. Cue up ZZ Top's "Legs" video BEFORE you give this one a swirl. Legs. For. Days. On the nose, well, where do I start? Candle wax times 2, citrus zest and fresh, vibrant oak barrel, and muddled mint. If you take a deep breath- it burns so good. On the tongue it explodes with a wonderful sweet honey and orchard fruit blast that, while dry, melds into a heavy barrel finish. Peppery oak and vanilla on the tail end mark one of the most fulfilling and balanced finishes I've ever had in any scotch (blended or single malt). Compass Box does it again. Whenever I doubt the authenticity of blended scotches all I need to do is reach for these guys. If you see a Compass Box on the shelf near you- grab it, ignore the price tag and buy it. John Glaser knows his stuff. You will not be disappointed. Buy with confidence. Cheers, and goodnight, my friends.
-
Ardmore Tradition
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed October 22, 2016 (edited December 12, 2018)First, this is not the Traditional Cask release from Ardmore. This is a newer travel retail exclusive. It's a NAS quarter cask finished Highland scotch that's non-chill filtered, but has color added and comes in at 92 proof. I believe the bottle runs $40-45. The nose is very inviting: there's an abundance of vanilla, some oak cask and a gentle wisp of smoke. On the tongue there's an initial creaminess that washes away with an excellent level of peat smoke without much bite from the casks. The finish is medium length, warming and really smooth and creamy. What a nice little dessert dram. I wouldn't mind having a full bottle of this just for a nice after dinner drink. If it's true that this is a $45 (per 1L) single malt then this is a fantastic value. If you see this in a duty free store pick it up. You won't be disappointed one bit. Closer to 3.75 stars than 3.5. Cheers. -
Cù Bòcan 2005 Vintage
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed October 11, 2016 (edited June 14, 2018)I decided to open another new bottle tonight and since I've got more smoky scotches open right now I chose to pop another Tomatin offering: Cu Bocan. This one is named about a mystical beast that roams the Scottish villages around the Tomatin distillery. It's a robust 92 proof and costs a very affordable $55. This has become an annual release and this review is not for the 2005 vintage listed here. This was the 2015 version. It's pale yellow in the glass and produces nice legs after swirling it around a bit. The nose is flat out amazing. There's a lively lemon citrus that smacks you instantly followed by that normal sherry sweetness with a gentle wisp of smoke to round this thing out perfectly. The smell is borderline mouth watering. There's a big zesty and peppered oak bite that immediately gets your tongue tingling. The finish is just as zippy and warms as it settles into your stomach. Overall, this is a very enjoyable single malt. The bottle art and description advertises peat smoke, but I didn't get enough on the palate to tell one way or the other. It's there on the nose, but that's about all I got. With a relatively cheap price point, I gotta say this Tomatin is a big winner for me. This would be a nice everyday, after work sipping scotch. Seek this one out my friends. Cheers.
Results 461-470 of 529 Reviews