Tastes

Imagine if you will an impressionist painting made as a speyside-style drop. In the way portraits can be detailed and exact, impressionism gives you a different view. Or think of a speyside tribute act. Or speyside whisky painting by numbers! This is a good pour for the money. It isn't Glenfarclas (yes, I know Tullibardine isn't a speyside, it's a Highland, but in this case it might as well be), more a mostly successful attempt to produce that Christmas cake style, which loses detail but delivers on flavour. The tastes are somehow sharp and nuance is lost. You'll know the flavour profile. Brown sugar. Raisins. Slightly nutty. Basically rich sherry. Caramel. Vanilla. A good first foot into the taste and style. I enjoyed it despite limitations.

I'm judging this based on price. I paid £20 against an rrp of around £32. The 12 year old, especially on offer, is a decent everyday drop. The whisky is comforting and pleasant with that touch of smoke to keep the toper interested. I like it. Number 1 is the same but so much less. The nose is benign. There is a bit of smoke and a nibble of vanilla. The taste is (top note) peat (mid note) vanilla and generic sweet. There is little from then on. The aftertaste revisits smoke and there's a nudge of youthful alcohol burn (it is NAS). Then... Well, it just ends. A timid drink designed to be inoffensive and as such is a success. Most punters will enjoy it. Number 1 is a decent first foray into Islay. I would be disappointed had I paid the higher price.

Well what a treat. I've enjoyed a few bottles of Green Spot and took advantage of a price offer to delve into this. A classic Irish slurp but with subtlety and layers of flavour. Very drinkable but this deserves thought and attention to understand and get the most out of it. On the nose... Some alcohol to add punch to soft fruit flavours (especially apple) and the sherry influence. This is the odd bit. I got a hint of ripe corn but to me it's tinned sweet corn. Open a tin. Sniff. Yep. Tinned sweet corn. Fascinating. Taste... Vanilla definitely. Peach or a sweet soft fruit anyway. A spice nibble. These are regulation flavours but they are distinct and definite. They are not hiding. They persist. After... An acceptable burn to counterbalance the sweet fruit and cask flavours. Yellow Spot is no coward but it wants you to love it not conquer you. It is warm and friendly. Give it a home. You'll be glad you did.

Speyside from a different angle, a vatted malt combining some well-known names, created by an independent bottler. I found this a bit of a roller-coaster flavour ride but overall more good than bad. So... The nose. Sherry, sweet but not unctuous, not quite harsh but the alcohol and toasted barrel kick is moderated by cinnamon and toffee. The mouth... Toasty, touch of malt. Spices, hot and sweet at the fore. More toffee. Caramel at the back of the mouth. The char is not hiding, adding a bitter note. There are a lot of tastes here but balanced is not necessarily how I'd describe it; this is almost a creature of extremes. Aftertaste... That bitter touch and a wash of sherry have a battle but there are no casualties. Scallywag is not the least bit shy. It has the energy of the cute doggo whose image it identifies itself with. In fact, it is noisy and a touch excitable but likeable if not loveable. Despite limitations , this drinks well.

I'm embarking on the seven seas of rye. I am always keen to expand my experience and this is where I am. It's a good place. The nose. Inviting. Raisins. Oranges. A touch of spice sweet end. Typical caramel and cocoa. The taste... Chewable. Pine perhaps, just a hint. I like the oak level. Not a huge finish but pleasantly sweet..warm. Fine vfm. Comfortable and glugs like a champ.

So very cherry! Cherry lip salve to be precise. A unique (in my experience) product. Yes, the top line tastes of caramel and cocoa and apple at the sweeter end are delivered with some power. Enough tart to avoid any charge of being sickly. The overall sensation is warm and pleasing and comforting. Then. In the mouth. Cherry. Then. An aftertaste that lingers forever. Cherry. Did I say I got cherry? A real bargain and an easy drop to like.

I'm sipping a 12 year old single cask, cask strength limited edition and enjoying it. My immediate thoughts went to the Japanese products I enjoyed before they became unattainable for ordinary humans. This shares the forest, fresh air quality (grassy does it no justice). A subtle drop but the higher abv gives real punch without losing a coherent flavour profile. A drop of water releases the full taste range. On the nose, forest air. Love it. In the mouth apple, custard and a welcome citrus edge to heighten the experience. The finish is not huge but leaves the palate tingly. Different. Perhaps not for everyone. But I give it a more please rating.

This is a weird one. Most of a bottle done and I'm still grappling with it. This needs water. The alcohol is punchy. My problem is... Coconut. I get the tropical fruit and a touch of mild spice. But I get coconut and I'm not sure I like it in this context. It confuses me. I want to like it but I'm struggling. So. An adventure. Different and maybe too young but packed with flavour. Dammit! Feel my pain, people!

Good but one dimensional. Some acetone on the nose with treacle, caramel and toffee notes. A modest burn. In the mouth adds just a hint of generic spice. I'm a little reminded of the middle of a Mars bar or other cheap confectionery. If you like peat monsters, walk on by! No real length but thats OK. I like it for a drop not requiring a lot of thought or analysis. Sweet treat!

Oh so much going on here. The nose is all nuts and ginger with a touch of Christmas spice. The taste adds chocolate and caramel. There is sherry but as a supporting artist. Fruit for me is sultanas and raisens. Flavours just roll around inside your mouth and the finish is long. A lot of tastes here I will have to try a few more drams to have any chance of doing this justice. I'll also add a drop of water just because! Loving this. Set to become a favourite.