Tastes

The Gold Reserve is smooth and easy sipping, very delicate honey notes and an almost floral grain in the blend--there is the barest hint of smoke. This is what some would call a feminine whisky. Tasty, but over priced.

The Black has a wonderful mouthfeel, nose and taste of gentle honey malt and a distinct, but not overwhelming, smokiness. The finish is medium-long

The 18 year old is much like the Black in flavor notes, but is smoother, more subtle, and a little less smoke. It is a wonderful Scotch blend, but is not worth the triple price of the Black.

A superb whisky. If you are a fan of sherry finishes you will love this. The nose is sherry, honey malt, and oak wood. In the mouth those all come through clearly and the sherry notes are clean and vibrant. If there is any smoke in this it must be only a slight influence, for I cannot catch it as a distinct flavor. The only real negative for me is the heat toward the end. I love to hold a really good whisky in my mouth for several moments, swishing and savoring all those wonderful flavors. This one shows heat as I hold it. It may have something to do with it's specific gravity, because it seems to be toward the thin side. Altogether, a very good whisky.

have been curious about the Lost Distillery Company vatted malt recreations of closed distilleries. I found three of them available in a large liquor store in KC. All three are non-chill filtered and there is no caramel for color; all pour a light straw color. My purchases were Benachie--43% ABV--$50, Stratheden--46% ABV--$60, and Auchnagie--46% ABV--$60. All three have good legs in the glass. The Benachie tasts of pie crust, subtle dried fruit, honey, and distinct peat. Not a peat monster, but it is very present. The Auchnagie is similar, less dried fruit, no smoke, and a little sweeter and a pleasant spiciness. I would give it a 4.2 The Strathden is similar to the Auchnagie, though perhaps a little sweeter, the spiciness seems more peppery, a hint of smoke, and there is a mild astringency or saltiness to this dram. I give this one a 4.1 rating. I wish these were more readily avaiable and at a lower price; for there are several wonderful single malts out there equal to or better than these vatted malts at an equal or lower price. That being said, I am glad I purchased these and will probably purchase them again in the future. They are unique and are in a sense works of art--the blender's art. I respect and appreciate that. And I understand all that effort to match the various malts in the just the right proportions must be very labor intensive; and, that will also show in the final retail price. I wish they disclosed what whiskies they used in the blends as Compass Box does, but, that is life. Cheers!

have been curious about the Lost Distillery Company vatted malt recreations of closed distilleries. I found three of them available in a large liquor store in KC. All three are non-chill filtered and there is no caramel for color; all pour a light straw color. My purchases were Benachie--43% ABV--$50, Stratheden--46% ABV--$60, and Auchnagie--46% ABV--$60. All three have good legs in the glass. The Benachie tasts of pie crust, subtle dried fruit, honey, and distinct peat. Not a peat monster, but it is very present. The Auchnagie is similar, less dried fruit, no smoke, and a little sweeter and a pleasant spiciness. I would give it a 4.2 The Strathden is similar to the Auchnagie, though perhaps a little sweeter, the spiciness seems more peppery, a hint of smoke, and there is a mild astringency or saltiness to this dram. I give this one a 4.1 rating. I wish these were more readily avaiable and at a lower price; for there are several wonderful single malts out there equal to or better than these vatted malts at an equal or lower price. That being said, I am glad I purchased these and will probably purchase them again in the future. They are unique and are in a sense works of art--the blender's art. I respect and appreciate that. And I understand all that effort to match the various malts in the just the right proportions must be very labor intensive; and, that will also show in the final retail price. I wish they disclosed what whiskies they used in the blends as Compass Box does, but, that is life. Cheers!

have been curious about the Lost Distillery Company vatted malt recreations of closed distilleries. I found three of them available in a large liquor store in KC. All three are non-chill filtered and there is no caramel for color; all pour a light straw color. My purchases were Benachie--43% ABV--$50, Stratheden--46% ABV--$60, and Auchnagie--46% ABV--$60. All three have good legs in the glass. The Benachie tasts of pie crust, subtle dried fruit, honey, and distinct peat. Not a peat monster, but it is very present. The Auchnagie is similar, less dried fruit, no smoke, and a little sweeter and a pleasant spiciness. I would give it a 4.2 The Strathden is similar to the Auchnagie, though perhaps a little sweeter, the spiciness seems more peppery, a hint of smoke, and there is a mild astringency or saltiness to this dram. I give this one a 4.1 rating. I wish these were more readily avaiable and at a lower price; for there are several wonderful single malts out there equal to or better than these vatted malts at an equal or lower price. That being said, I am glad I purchased these and will probably purchase them again in the future. They are unique and are in a sense works of art--the blender's art. I respect and appreciate that. And I understand all that effort to match the various malts in the just the right proportions must be very labor intensive; and, that will also show in the final retail price. I wish they disclosed what whiskies they used in the blends as Compass Box does, but, that is life. Cheers!

This is a super-smooth dram with moderate smoke finish. It has legs and a great mouth feel. The four malts used in this vatted blend are wonderful in their own right. However, in this case the sum is not greater than the parts, While smooth, I found nothing memorable about it, the finish was primarily smoke to my taste buds, and brief. There are several malts or blends that I would prefer at half the price. The fault may be in my particular bottle. Have bought more bottles of JW Green to see if my opinion would change somewhat---and it has. I still find it very smooth and flavorful, but the finish is longer and the smoke is less dominate in the finish, allowing savoring honey/malt notes more satisfactorily. This reminds me of a less fruity and more smoky Dalwhinnie 15, which I think to be a wonderful dram. I am giving a rating of 4.5. I still think JW Black is a better value for your $$$$

I had been hesitant to try this one. The barrel aging process sounded very similar to Glinlivet Founders, and I had been disappointed in that one. However Ctrexman posted a recent positive review. I am sure that Ct and I could have different preferences in our whisky, but I have NEVER found any disagreement with his tasting notes. (In fact, his palate is more attuned than mine.) Cutting to the chase, I found it on sale for $35 and plunged ahead. Nose and palate are very similar. Both show caramel, vanilla, hint of fruity light brown sugar, malt, a little spice, and a small touch of biscuit. It has a nice, soft mouthfeel and very little burn. I would describe the finish as medium; and, if you wait for it a slight astringency at the very end of the finish. I think that comes from the oak. Overall this is a very tasty Scotch that many would not recognize as a true "Scotch," much less as a single malt. A good Scotch to introduce to newbies, and particularly those who don't want the peat reek.

It pours a red-hued amber; noses of malt, vanilla and ripe orchard fruit. On the tongue there is a softness and a wonderful inter-play of the bourbon and sherry casks with a dark chocolate background. These flavors continue on the finish with a slight spiciness. It is an outstanding dram.