Tastes

Much like the 10 year, only smoother and more intense wood notes. Overall a better dram than the 10, but tends to be over priced in my area.

I like this. Pours a dark amber, has decent legs. Nose and taste bring forth notes of malt-honey, butter biscuits, a hint of citrus and a slight hint of pepper. The mouthfeel is soft. The finish is fairly long---the malt-honey taste lingers for minutes. There is a slight astringency on the finish. I do think it is slightly over-priced, but I still buy it because it is sometimes what I am in the mood for.

What a wonderful Speysider! Nose and mouth delight in notes of honey, apple and pear fruit, baked pie crust or biscuit, and caramel and vanilla. There is no smoke or sherry here. In reminds me a lot of Glenmorangie 10, but not as floral. A couple years ago I preferred the 10 year expression, but this has come into it's own.

I have read and seen several decent reviews of this blend. Finally was able to purchase it on sale so it wasn't a huge gamble. No, this is not a top notch Macallan or Glenmorangie single malt; but, it delivers what it promises. It is a blend of youthful malts and grain whisky. There must be a high proportion of malt for it has a great mouthfeel. the most noticed flavor is of malt and butter-toffee, usually true for young whiskies. There are touches of ripe fruit, sherry, smoke, and peppery oak. At 100 proof it can be a little hot; a small dash of water to lower the proof to 90 takes away the heat, but does not diminish the flavor. More water and the flavor completely falls apart. Overall, a very pleasant and not too complicated dram. If you can get it at a good price it is a bargain. However, many retailers are charging prices on par with good single malts. Don't do that. I got mine on sale under $15.

A poor man's Blackbush.. Flavor notes of chocolate, honey, butter cookies, and a touch of sherry is similar to Black Bush, but not as smooth and a much shorter finish. Being a single malt you would expect it to be the other way around----but not so. Several reviews I have seen online extol the cool shape of the bottle--how great it looks in their bar. I get that; but, wait until you try to poor from it and see how many drops you waste. Kaiser sure hit that on the head. Where I live I can get this for about $12 less than Black Bush so I am sometimes tempted to get this---the poor man's dram.

Much like the excellent 12 on the tasting, but smoother and richer. Could be compared favorably with the Dalwhinnie 15.

So glad I tried this twice. I bought my first bottle several months ago. Nose and mid-palate were typical of a Speyside--malt, honey, nuts, some slight floral notes, a creamy mouthfeel----then a distinctly medicinal note (not iodine) on the aftertaste. When I came across it again on sale, I thought I would try it again. After all, my second bottle of Dewar's 12 yo was much better than my first. So glad I did. This is really quite good. No medicinal overtones but all the good notes through-out, nose to finish. Not as complex as some others I really enjoy; but, it is half the price--or less. A wonderful daily dram. Update: I discovered a partial bottle of this that I had opened months ago. Wow!!! With a little air in the bottle and time to breath this has become wonderfully smooth and flavorful with no bitter notes whatsoever. It reminds me very much of the fantastic Darwhipple 15. When I open my next bottle I will be sure to allow it to rest for several minutes before I try it.

A really great blend of a certain style. It is wonderfully light, orchard fruit, malt honey and elegant floral notes. The finish is medium-long. It reminds me of anCnoc single malt and a little of Glenmorangie 10. I know not everyone is a fan of this fruity/floral style; but, if you are, you owe it to yourself to give this a try.

After reading the glowing reviews left by several others whose opinions I have come to respect very much, I decided I had to try this. My local mom/pop store carries it for the SRP of $40, not the $80-100 many of the gougers are asking. You folks have steered me well. Poured neat, good legs, lovely nose of brown sugar and spice. Taste is true to these, swish it around it your mouth and there is a lovely interplay of the sugars and wood spice; and throughout there is the backdrop of toasted oak. The finish is much the same and lingers--inviting another sip. Really nice!!!

Gee, finally tried this today. Been hesitant because so many reviews said it was over-priced, lacked depth and complexity, etc. How do I say this?---You were right! It's not that it isn't tasty bourbon, it's just not that special to justify the price. From the same stable Knob Creek is cheaper and MUCH BETTER!!! To be frank , this tastes like an extra-aged, smoother Jim Beam white label. It has that same little sour "tang" on the finish as white label, which I have always attributed to their own unique sour mash yeast. This is very easy to drink, so could be an introduction bourbon for newbies. If it was priced at $20 I would buy it Truthfully, I prefer Knob Creek, Distiller's Cut, and Repeal Batch from the Jim Beam line. Don't get me started on their competitors that I would prefer.