Tastes

A damn near perfect Islay scotch, and my first drink of 2018! The smoke, bourbon notes and sherry work together perfectly. Now if only I could afford to make it my consistent sipper... Update 3/11/18: I just paired this with a steak and there are hardly words to adequately capture the euphoria. Just amazing.

So far, my dive into Scotch has seemed to gravitate towards the more peated single malts. That being said, when I heard a few reviewers highlight that Glenmorangie 10 is the most popular scotch sold in Scotland, well, I went and picked up a bottle ($40 in DC) to give it a whirl. And it is surely a pleasant sip. The nose is a fruit basket covered in honey, which leads to a malty and citrusy mouth. The surprisingly long finish is accented with a pinch of mint and oaky spice. Solid stuff. I can see myself sipping it daily come April when the weather gets warmer. Also, this is a great intro Scotch for those friends and family looking to give it a try.

46% abv non chill-filtered Blend and mashbill (via their website): A blend of older Straight Rye whiskeys ranging in age from 4 to 7 years. Straight Rye whiskeys: 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP 80% rye, 20% malted rye from High West Distillery Nose: caramel, honey and vanilla greet you, followed by well-rounded rye spiciness along with hints of dill, dark fruit and nutmeg. Taste: deep and complex, with caramel and vanilla initially but as it develops, you get oakiness, dill, zesty rye spice, light tobacco in the background. Finish: long and spicy, with the oak char becoming more assertive with a hint of maple and brown sugar. Value: at $45-65 USD, this one is worth it. Final thoughts/Score: High West is doing some amazing blends, and this one is no exception. It's a complex, versatile and easy going sipper I recommend to anyone getting into rye, especially if you are a bourbon-first drinker, as the bourbon notes of this blend really shine, coming likely from the older rye. Great neat, can stand up to ice (if that is your thing) and would work well in a cocktail. All this said, when originally released it was blended 16 yo rye from Barton, but has been replaced by their in-house distillate. This earlier blend must have been a real treat, so if you can find an older bottle (earlier that 2017) it's a must buy! 4/5: highly recommend buying a bottle. Malt Musing: “Happiness is having a rare steak, a bottle of whisky, and a dog to eat the rare steak.” - Johnny Carson

About as entry level as it gets for decent bourbons. Sweet, unchallenging and inoffensive, it’s a solid sipper to have stored in the back of your cabinet for when bourbon-curious guests pay a visit.