Tastes

Giving this a second rating since my first one felt harsh. Nose: Sweetness appears strong, with lots of honey and fruit. Like wild strawberries. Palate: Something appears this time on the palate. The sweet taste and a hint of smoke. Mild burn. Finish: This scotch does not stay long. Some smoke and bitterness remain, but otherwise the flavor stays mild. Thee was some more flavor this go around, but I still did not love this scotch. I'd describe it as decent. Possibly a sipper, but definitely not an amazing tipple.

Nose: A very simple nose. Lots of honey, and pear like sweetness. Some mild stone fruit like apricot appears. Palate: That same sweetness stays, but is much more honeyed. The fruit taste leaves and is replaced with mild caramel notes. Finish: Very thin and short. Little taste remains aside from the sweetness. Thankfully it is no cloying. Overall this is a decent pour. Its very thin, with little complexity aside from the sweetness. However, this would work well with soda or on the rocks. Okay for the price, but I wouldn't buy again.

Nose: A moderate amount of smoke appears immediately. There is a sweetness of apples, pears, other fall fruits. Some honey notes appear as well. Palate: A woody smokiness hits you immediately. There is a hint of orange sweetness and coffee not originally present on the nose. Finish: As the smokiness fades, an orange peel bitterness begins to take over. This mellows out but the taste of bitterness remains for a long time. Overall, I enjoyed this whisky, but I was not wowed. However, I am biased as I generally skew towards sweeter highland scotchs. I was honestly hoping for a sweeter and more honeyed scotch, from the Sherry casks mentioned on the label. I will enjoy sipping this whisky, but I don't know if I'd buy again.

Nose: Some caramel on the nose. Definitely some alcohol bite. A vague note that smells like seagrass. Palate: Burns very quickly, especially on the tongue. Very heavy mouthfeel, and it hangs out at the top.of your mouth. There is a slightly sweet peanuts note. Not the dustyness of Jim Beam, but still there. Finish: The bourbon loses most of its taste going down. The burn disappates quickly and then it just feels quite cold down the back of your throat. Some fruit appears on the tail end. Overall, for the price, I was disappointed. With ice, this is a decent bourbon, and it works as an "unwind at the end of the day" drink. However, for $45-$55, I can 100% find better bourbons out there.

Nose: Extremely sweet. Honey and caramel. It gives off "frolicking in a meadow on a spring day" vibes Palate: Initially, that note of honey holds. It lingers on your tongue like syrup. A spicy, woody character claims the upper part of your palate and doesn't let go. Finish: That spice hangs on, going down your throat. A whisper of smoke pops in, just at the end, to remind you that you're drinking scotch. Overall, this is an extremely good whisky, especially for the price. There is a certain complexity that doesn't appear often, especially in blends. The woodsy notes were definitely unexpected. The honey notes gave it somewhat of a mead like quality, but not enough to be off putting. I highly recommend.

Nose: Smokey and sweet. There's almost a salty, cured meat scent. Needless to say, the nose is fantastic. Palate: The smoke is surprisingly mild on first taste. The proof punches you at first taste, then fades. Very few other notes than smoke and booze. Finish: Some smoke comes back on the end, especially after the alcohol punch goes away. There's some black pepper and a strange almost melon like sweet note. Nothing that detracts from the experience. Overall, this was not at all what I expected. There's some major alcohol punch at the beginning (the beastie, perhaps?) and then not a ton of smoke. The notes on the end are very pleasant. Overall, for someone who doesn't often like Islays, this is a very pleasant whiskey. Reasonably priced as well.

Nose: alcohol burn, from the proof. also, heavy vanilla and some caramel. Some baking spices, like nutmeg. Palate: Heavy burn, with mild sweetness. Finish: As the burn subsides, the sweetness kicks up a notch, and the toasted vanilla note comes in heavily. It slides down your throat with an extra burn, but the sugary goodness holds. Overall, this is a crazy good bourbon. Incredibly sweet from the wheat mashbill, but that only improves the experience. It is expensive, so it is definitely not an everyday drink, but fun for the occasional splurge.