Tastes

Courtesy of a local wine store, I got a free pour of this. I always felt as if the Macallan is severely overpriced for what it offers. It’s takes a luxury item like scotch and takes it to a whole new level of pricing for what it offers. It’s like a Mercedes...you’re paying a premium for the name brand, and it doesn’t disappoint, but you can get 90% of the way there with a premium Japanese car like Acura. Anyway...this one here is different. For just about $100, it’s quite affordable in the scotch world. And it’s actually on par for the price! Nose is amazing. Like a cross between dessert and perfume. I’m not sure this was made for drinking but rather to smell! Taste...so/so. Not bad, but the aroma is the best part. Well worth the price.

Here in Denver for business (unfortunately not skiing), and I noticed this sitting at the hotel bar. Unopened, a bit dusty, and nestled between a JB and Redbreast. Triple distilled Irish matured in sherry cask? That’s not common, is it? Either way, a worthwhile pour. Light, sweet, but not too sweet. With a nice hefty backbone of raisins and dark fruits. Would I buy a full bottle? Probably not, but interesting to try if you ever see it at a bar.

Absolutely deliciously sinful. Thanks to @Telex for a bonus sample in our trading team. This is layers of bacon, brine, dark fruits. The red wine really adds a nice dimension here. I think Kilchoman is probably one of the few distilleries that I’ve consistently given a 4 or 5 ( along with Springbank, Macallan, and Ardbeg). I had only a sample, but I’m definitely going to look into getting a full bottle.

Thanks to @Telex as part of our trading team, I got to try this relatively unknown distillery. I don’t think I ever have seen a Tormore or even knew of its existence till now. It surprises me how there’s so many distilleries I’ve come across in this trading team that I’ve never even knew existed. Makes me wonder—do they get used in blends? And if so, why even bothering putting out a single malt offering, unless they think people will buy it over tried and tested others? Anyway, one here is 21 years old, but I couldn’t tell it was that mature. Quite muted in aroma and taste. Honey and cereals. That’s all I got. Inoffensive, unchallenging, and boring. I don’t mind those qualities, but I don’t expect it in a 21 yr old.

I went to one of those inter-city high schools. You know, like the type that have metal detectors on all the entry doors, and glass on the football fields. The type where the gym teacher got arrested for selling drugs to his students. The type where kids smoke marijuana in the bathrooms. I can recognize marijuana smell like a bloodhound after those 4 years of training. This here smells just like that. With a touch of honey. Marijuana with honey. Wondering if it’s just my batch ( a sample purchased from The Whisky Exchange) that came here to NJ from the U.K. via some farmacy in Colorado? Either way, it’s pretty good. Taste? Not bad...less marijuana , more honey and fruits. Brings back memories of high school and Amsterdam’s coffee houses.

I can’t believe I’m giving Jack four stars, but damn this is pretty good. In a world where freakin good bourbon & whiskey costs well over hundreds of dollars, this comes in just at $60 and the same level of quality. Tasted blind, I would’ve assumed it was something out of Buffalo Trace or Elijah Craig, cask strength private labels. Never Jack. I only got myself a 350ml one for $30, but I’m thinking of keeping this as a regular in the lineup .

Another one as part of our distillery trading team, provided by my good friend @Telex. I first feel as if I need to add a disclaimer: I may have written two reviews back to back at 2pm EST but it doesn’t mean I was chugging whiskey during work hours in the office. That would be insane, I did it 8am, before starting work, and simply getting to the reviews now. Anyway: my first Ben Nevis. I’ve been saying “my first “ in these whiskey reviews often , like some pimply faced high school virgin...but yeah...I’ve had quite a few firsts in distilleries as part of our trading team. One of the benefits of being in a trading team. The other of course a regular supply of milk thistle. Anyway, the review: I love the legs on this. Long and lustrous. Silky smooth. I can stare at those all evening. For those of you who skip sentences while reading: we’re still talking about whiskey. Aroma—-not much, but what it lacks in the aroma, it makes up in palette. Honey, orchard fruits, citrus. Yeah it’s good. Need to put this baby on my purchase list. Thanks Jason!

As part of our trading team, this was a sample provided by my internet celebrity friend @Telex . My first Glen Keith, at a ripe mature age of 21. From 1995...wow those are some years I’d personally would love to forget...was just a hazy cloud of chemical engineering, biochemistry and calculus classes. Anyway... I love the nose on this;: tropical fruits like kiwi , mango, and coconuts. I can smell this all day. I can picture tropical beaches, palm trees, crystal clear waters, tanned glistening beach bodies. I’m not so sure I’ve had this pronounced of a coconut aroma in a whiskey anything outside an Irish single malt. But the palette...WTF? Fell apart. What the hell? I was hoping the tropical fruits would carry through the palette. But no. So so SOOOOO wrong to tease like that. The beach with the tanned bodies suddenly became a NJ Turnpike with a Soprano looking mobster in a sweatsuit. Quick finish. As if I just got whacked by Tony and Paulie themselves.

I got to try a sample of this beast thanks to @LeeEvolved. He apparently purchased a 1.75L version, probably to feed a small country. I’ve not had the standard Peat Monster, but if this is any indication, it’s gotta be a must have for any peat fan. Not knowing the makeup of this blend ( I know CB is pretty transparent, but I’m just too tired and lazy this evening to bother a search ), I’d almost say the majority has to be Laphroaig and Caol Ila. You can get the medicinal notes of the Laphroaig as well as the crisp ocean brine from the Caol Ila. I’d have given it 5 stars if it wasn’t for the fact that I couldn’t help but remember the No Name, which I liked a bit more. This is excellent in its own right though, but if you had only a set budget of $150 or so, I’d get the No Nsme over this. This is a better VFM, given the Costco style family size, but No Name had a stronger punch. The regular Peat Monster is probably the best VFM ( No Name by the way I thought was expensive. Excellent, but expensive). Thanks Lee for this!

One of the biggest benefits of being part of this madhouse of a Scottish distillery tour that my friend @LeeEvolved conjured up is that you get to try a distillery that you wouldn’t even know existed. This one here, part of an official,offering from @LeeEvolved, is one that I never even heard of. I say ‘official’ offering because in the team, we provide ‘unofficial’ or ‘bonus’ offerings as well. Honestly, it’s the bonus offerings that steal the show, and this round will be no different where I think the top scores will go to a Macallan Black, Springbank 24 single sherry cask, and a Four Roses LESB 2016. Anyway...I digress...so, this here...I don’t know...not fond of the nose. A bit rancid and plastic-y. Maybe because I just had a pretty good Alt-a-Bhainne (also provided by @LeeEvolved ). It’s like driving an Accord after you’ve just drove an Acura. Palette is lemongrass, confectioners sugar. Quick drying finish. It’s decent. But for about $80, you’re better off elsewhere. Again, a first for me in trying a new distillery—-thanks @LeeEvolved !