Tastes

I opened up my sample I bought of this Cambeltown beauty. It maybe in Cambeltown, but it's quite distinct from its Springbank neighbor. Springbank is more ashy, sooty, complex Dram, while this comes across as lighter, every day type. Grapefruit and sweet tea. Some smoke, just a tad. As if you're having a citrus fruit three houses away from a guy doing a barbecue. Quite good, definately worth a try and a full bottle.

Thanks to Richard, I got to sample this one last night. This is very un-Rye like. Bold and oaky. Baking spices laying on freshly cut oak. Everything about it is intense. I felt as if I really needed water to loosen it up a bit. After water, it sweetens to a more rye character with the nutmeg, licorice and mint. Great fall weather Dram. Thanks Richard!

Thanks to my friend Lee, I got to sample this one. I actually took the sample with me this week on a business trip to Spokane, Washington. I was praying to the TSA gods that they wouldn't confiscate it. It worked. I got through. Having this is INTENSE. It's amped up on the hallmark Ardbeg smoke, but smoothes it out with marzipan and vanilla. Some brine and a funky seaweed / pink salt mixture. I did like the regular Kelpie, but this is by far better. Amazing what a few ticks more in ABV can do. Thanks Lee!

I opened up a sample I bought , 3cl version of this. I wish I bought the entire bottle. I had normally been underwhelmed by this Lowlander, but I stand corrected with its 21 yr old version. Nose is gentle vanilla. But the taste is where I think it really shines. I got lemon custard pudding and sweet cream. I had half of it with just a drop off water, the other half with a small ice. Don't have it with ice---the lemon custard turns into bitter lemon rinds. Not sure what a full bottle is, but well worth it if it's a reasonable price.

This is surprisingly good. I never heard of Cardhu, despite it being a key Johnnie Walker component. Graciously supplied by Paul as part of our trading team, this is a sheer delight to have. More suited for a warm humid summer night than the dropping fall temperatures. But, heck, I'll take it. Light and fruity, with a touch of green tea. Inoffensive, like a more humble Balvenie. Worthwhile to pick up. Thanks Paul

This was my second drink I had at a friend's last night---and oh my, was it memorable. I actually didn't know the background of this when I had it, except it was a 16 yr old Springbank. This morning, after a bit of googling, I found out that it's made from "prisma" barley, which apparently was discountined being used in the late 60s because it was so difficult to grow and distill. These bottles are now apparently all sold out, or available at outrageous prices in the secondary market. Nose: light peat, charcoals, sweet. Palette is where it kicks in: grilled lemon, cream, pears, and more charcoal. Lingering sweet finish. It's apparently not a profile available in the modern Springbank. If I had known the background of this before pouring myself a dram, I'd have skipped the Balvenie 12 that I had before this, and opted for more of this one.

Just got back from a friend's place where he invited a bunch of folks over for dinner. This was on the bar, along with a bunch of other usual suspects (Talisker 10, Macallan 12, and a range of Johnnie Walkers). I can't believe I've never had this basic staple and gateway scotch. I had to try it. Honey and heather, with a definite milk chocolate backbone. It's a bit unidimensional and boring...but I'm sure a few years back I'd have loved this. It's basic, good enough, and rudimentary. Great entry point into whisky.

Continuing round 3 of our Scottish distillery trading round---this sample provided by Paul. What the hell is Highland Park doing? There has to be a change in their head of marketing ---the sheer amount of new SKUs coming out is mind blowing confusing. Whatever happened to the good old 12, 15, 18 style? Instead they've come out with fancy bottles, Viking names, and subpar juice. This one was probably on the lower end of my HP experience. Nose is decent...tropical fruits. But palette falls apart, with barely a thread of smoke, some tart fruits, and light oak. Where's the good old HP gone?