Tastes

I do enjoy the Antiquary 12 as a better than average blend. So, you would think a 21 yo would be superior. Finding it for sale for $40 should be a heads up that something is amiss, but I am always hopeful. The nose is nearly pure ethanol, with a touch of butter-toffee. In the mouth it fairly smooth but rather a one trick pony of butter-toffee and a slightly astringent peppery finish. I know a decade ago this won awards and sold for $100, and some reviews called it a blended malt. I don't know if that was once true or not. What I do know, is that in it's present form it is mostly grain whisky; a rather smooth and tasty dram, but not dynamic or complex. Oh, wait a moment, on the second dram I am picking up the barest hint of peat. Didn't catch that at first.

I find this to be more interesting than the standard Chivas 12. Nose is much like first opening a box of chocolates--chocolate, sweetness, a little vanilla, a touch of nougat, caramel, and the slightest hint of mint. On the tongue it is thin, yet velvety. Flavors of milk chocolate, honey, vanilla, a little ripe red fruit all mingle with a touch of sweetness. Toward the end oak spice becomes clear and blessed with that hint of licorice and mint so common with rye whiskey--faint, not overpowering here. This is a very pleasing dram.

Bought a 1.75 L bottle of this today for $30. My last purchase of it was 3-4 years ago. White Horse has been around for decades and has had the reputation of a hefty dose of malt (50%) in the blend and a fairly strong backbone of peat smoke--say on par with Teachers Highland Cream. I would say that it is a very solid blend with malt, honey, and biscuit notes. However, if you are seeking heavy peat you may be disappointed. There is much less peat in this bottle than my last purchase a few years ago. To me that's not absolutely a bad thing. It is still a very well balanced and VERY affordable blend suitable as a "jug" Scotch for easy sipping or mixing. I am simply saying the blend seems to have evolved over the years. Perhaps this was for economy; or, perhaps it was for evolving modern tastes.

Saw this for the first time in my area today (I am 70 yo) and it was on sale for $28, compared to regular $37. Had to try it. The bottle states lightly peated, but my very first impression was at least moderately (average) peat. After the bottle has been opened for a day the peat level seems to decrease. I am quite enjoying this. While it is not terribly complex, it is a great balance of malt, subtle honey sweetness, and a nice accent of autumn smoke. To me, right or wrong, this is a great example of a Highland peated Scotch. I should have bought more. Odd that the Distiller review of this does not even mention the peat smoke.

Wonderful nose of ripe fruit and salty sea breeze. The initial palate is a little sweetness and the ripe fruit, but is quickly followed by seaside saltiness and astringency--actually more than I personally prefer. Overall a solid Scotch, but I would say not to be the first for a newbie. It's not as complex as a Springbank, but does take some patience to appreciate the various facets of this dram.

Lovely nose of ripe fruit (banana, apple, pear), vanilla, and a bit of spice. On the tongue there is an initial sweetness and the taste of ripe fruit, malt, again the vanilla and oak spice. As you hold and savor the flavors of the dram an astringency develops---not in a bad way---just enough to invite another sip. I prefer this to the standard Chivas 12, but do think it tends to be over priced, at least so in my area.

I have whined for a couple years that Balcones products were not available in my state. That has changed in the new year. A limited number of Balcones products have appeared on the shelves of a couple stores in my area. I can only hope for more in the future. The nose of this pot still bourbon is unlike any other I have experienced. The nose is ripe fruit, candy, corn, and cereal. In the mouth the first thing I noticed was how viscous it is, almost oily. Next the flavors of corn, dark honey, nuts, and vanilla. The finish lingers and the corn sweetness is there to the end. This will not become my favorite bourbon--but I will repurchase and continue to enjoy. The overall experience of its nose, mouthfeel, and flavors is unique to me in the bourbon world. Unique and enjoyable.

Another very tasty release from the Royal Oaks Distillery in southeastern Ireland. If I am reading the info correctly on their website the single pot mash bill is malted and unmalted barley, but no other cheaper grain that most others use. The distillate is aged in both former bourbon and sherry barrels. Pouring amber in the nosing glass it offers up a delightful bouquet of aromas, more so than the single malt. There are floral notes, vanilla, chocolate, honey, and gentle spice. These flavors wash across the tongue, all the time showing an underlying sweetness and hint of ripe fruit. It is very soft in the mouth, though not as silky as the single malt. The finish is medium and at the very end a bit of oak spice. If I could only choose one of this single pot still or the single malt to have on my desert isle, I would choose this delightful single pot still--but would wish I could have both.

Very good Irish single malt. Not complex, but lovely balance of flavor. Pours a golden amber in the nosing glass. Aged in both used bourbon and sherry barrels, the nose offers baked biscuit, honey, vanilla, and a hint of ripe fruit. On the tongue it is silky soft and the flavors foretold by the nose play well together. The finish is medium length and seems sweet and tart at the same time. Very easy drinking. Not as good as a 10-15 yo, but is very good and MUCH more affordable. With tax this was $30 USD. It is quite new in my area, only one store within a 50 mile radius of my home carries it as of yet. This is a product of the Royal Oaks Distillery in County Carlow in southeastern Ireland. (Formerly the Walsh Whiskey Distiiery--Writers Tears and The Irishman--was renamed when Illva Saronno who did have a 50% interest in the distillery took complete control a little more than a year ago. At least that is what I have read.)