Tastes

The first time I tried Red Breast 12 I was into peated scotch, so it really wasn't doing anything for me. I didn't understand the hype...Just seemed like another average 12 year old grain whiskey with no remarkable characteristics. However tasting it now, it's better than I remember. A very nice sweet nose. Vanilla, dark stewed fruit, dark raisins (After some time), cherry, playdough (It's my nose!), and slightly menthol. Actually if I were nosing and tasting blind I'd swear it was a very expensive bourbon...And that's really what it reminds me of with slight differences. Somehow the exclusive sherry cask maturation has created something that smells and tastes like very good wheated bourbon with a softer arrival, and more rounded flavor. The main difference is because of the sherry cask maturation, I get an earthy cantaloupe on the palate rather than cherry, but the cloves are still there just like a wheated bourbon. This is pretty damn good. May need to try the cask strength now. This tastes like cantaloupe.

3.7/5 - Another good value whiskey from Bushmills! On the nose; green apple, vanilla, more vanilla... more green apple. Palate; very distinct oloroso sherry flavor which always reminds me of red candies like cherry nibs, red lollipops etc..Also something very similar to low level peat. I get this very often in Irish whiskey, must be from the stills or the grain combination not sure. A very deep intensity in the nose for something this inexpensive and aged 10 years. Very good.

$80 in Ontario for 700 ml... Decent but nothing mind blowing. Very sweet/salty nose. Honey, cinnamon, salted butter, brown sugar, slight mild cheddar. Palate: A bit dry, bitter sweet...Medium oak intensity in the nostrils. Medium finish...I get English breakfast tea, white raisin, dried apercot, and nutmeg. Decent, maybe a little more complex than your average so 3.5/5. Very tasty but a bit light for me, would have scored higher if it were a better value which I understand it is in other areas.

This is a decent entry level blended whisky. It's grainy and light just like all the rest except it doesn't have the bad off notes and flavours so many others have. I went back and forth between J&B Rare and Bells and the difference was substantial by comparison. This is a much better blend and it's about as cheap as you can get at the LCBO. Once you get past the rough young alcoholic nip and typical cheap sourness there is actually something decent lingering in the background. Light peat, cinnamon, clove and general vanilla sweetness. It's best with a couple cubes of ice as intended.

A solid 4. Admittedly this is the oldest expression of Glengoyn I've had so far, but it's outstanding. The bourbon and sherry casking work very well together. You get the fruitiness and vanilla from the ex bourbon but the sherry finish is very present on the nose as well. The arrival is quite intense and full flavored due to the fresh American oak. Sherry is the first thing I pick up in the development...A bit of sulphur but It's actually quite nice. I get something reminiscent of orange pekoe tea as well. Fairly sweet on the tongue...Very nice mouthfeel, however the finish is a bit short. A bit of time and a drop of water opens it up even more. Overall thoroughly enjoyable.

3.7 - As far as 30 dollar range whiskey goes, this is one of the better one's I've had. In fact it may be the best with only Weller, and a few Canadian whiskies being able to compete with it. No Scotch i've had even comes close at this price, and I've had quite a few. I find it to be much better than both original Bushmills, and Red Bush. In fact I don't particularly enjoy either of those. I have yet to try the 10 year old but it's on my list...I definitely get more of a bourbon influence on the nose than sherry, but that classic Irish sweetness really shines through. Almost brandy like in character. I also get stong notes of green apple and pear. It's quite reminiscent of Glenlivet 12. On the palate the arrival is really where it's at. A good blast of intense oak, and a good amount of sweetness on the tongue with little bitterness. Development is a tad grainy and cereal sweet, but that's what this whiskey is! The finish is where Black Bush sort of falls short but who cares for 37 dollars Canadian. I'd say this is a Scotch drinkers Irish whiskey, because it has a lot of the same character, but obviously no peat which is where it mostly differs from blended Scotch.

I would like to credit Roy from Aqvavitae on YouTube for giving this whisky his endorsement, otherwise for $90 Canadian I would have passed on it. I was very surprised by the depth of Deanston's virgin oak for the value compared to the negative reviews it recieved, and feel the exact same way about this particular whisky as well. I had a suspicion that the older bottle with the darker label that most people have reviewed couldn't be the same whisky Roy and I were tasting, and earlier today Ralphy on YouTube pretty much confirmed it. Granted I could see how coming from ultra premium scotch could make Deanston 12 seam dull, to me it's head and shoulders above a lot of other 12 year olds I've had. It's much closer to a 15 year old to my nose and taste buds on the arrival, but slightly harsh on the nose. It's a very fruity/vanilla style whisky with full body. Very satisfying to me.

3.7/5 - Earthy cherry flavour with some serious kick! This is not mellow, it's intense and spicy. Lots of cinnamon on the finish. At times it reminds me of a red lollipop infused with cinnamon and pepper (Not rye pepper, but just pure enthanol). Will likely always try and have a bottle of this in the cabinet. worthy of the hype.

Almost $60 in Ontario. Not worth the money over here. Any single barrel out does this bourbon in my opinion, and considering Knob Creek Single Barrel is the same price, i'd say you're wasting your money buying this. However in the US if you can find it for a good price it's a lot better than your typical Jim Beam, Jack Daniels etc...I see the appeal of this as a value bourbon, just not in Ontario.

Very impressed with the intensity of the 10 year old malt under the peat smoke. It has that fruity character that you only get from fresh ex bourbon casks. Really enjoying this! This is not tough to get through like a Laphroag 10 (as much as I do love it when I want full peat intensity), it's more akin to an Ardbeg with the sweetness and depth on the nose and palate, but with a less intense peatiness. I get a distinct pineapple note on the palate. Perhaps it's the batch but i'm not getting anything overly medicinal. I get more of a campfire smoke personally. I could understand the bacon/ham flavour others seem to be getting, but prefer not to think of the smoke as being on meat, rather just on it's own. Very happy with this purchase, if you like peated Scotch whisky you will not be let down.