Tastes

Bottle: 40% ABV, chill filtered, color added, 1L bottle purchased on 9/18/16 for $140, and I got a free Johnny Walker carry-on bag that broke after two uses. The only reason to buy this whisky is to give a non-whisky person a fancy gift. I am sure there are old whiskies and rare whiskies within a bottle of JW Blue, but you are paying a premium for a drink that is already drowned in the bottle. Nose: really anemic for a $100+ whisky. Subtle smoke and vegetal notes with lots of vanilla. Seaspray, as you explore, and subtle florals and fruitiness. Palate: the arrival is what JW banks on. There is a full, rich blend of flavors that is perfectly balanced. Sweet, smoke, fruit, spice, saltiness. Sadly, it drops off pretty quickly. As you hold the liquid in your mouth, some smoky and spicy notes barely captivate. I find most of the reward in playing "find the Talisker," but when I win, I only end up wanting a Talisker. The mouthfeel is that of a cheaper whisky. Many describe it as smooth and velvety, but that's because of the water added. The finish is the ultimate proof JW drowned this whisky to create more volume. Where is it? In the JW standard bottles, blue is the best if price were not a factor - there is actual complexity in the nose and palate, and there is no cheap grain filler notes that I get from the other JW's. But, if I am offered a free dram of JW Blue or a Talisker 10, I am taking the latter every time without hesitation. My current JW Blue is still 1/3 full after 9 months. It's not that I'm saving it for special occasions, I just don't want to have it. 81/100.

Bottle: 43% ABV, chill-filtered, no color, 750mL. Purchased on 5/10/17 for $47. This is the "introductory scotch." Glenlivet 12 and Glenfiddich 12 do not count; they are for people who want to "sip", not for those who want to taste. HP 12 offers surprising complexity; its flavors tell a tale with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Nose: a sherry sweet; as you explore, vanilla and heather. I do not get smoke. Palate: the arrival is sherry-dominated; there is a transition into citrus and various spices; as you hold the liquid in the mouth, a bourbon character takes over, and you get vanilla and toffee. Finish: oak and fruits on the finish that turns a little bitter. You can avoid this bitterness by getting HP 18, or tasting quicker :). Water: For me, water tends to make things sweeter, and it's the same result for HP 12; that sweet sherry flavor is more dominant with a few drops of water added. As a tangent, I do not get fancy restaurants offering wine pairings. If your food is amazing, let me enjoy it with water. And, I hope I don't offend any wine connoiseurs, but if wine is that good, why not just drink it with some water on the side? HP 12 is amazing, affordable whisky. Drink it by itself. 86/100.

So, this Solera vat thing is when they take 15 year old whisky and mix it in a vat that is always at least half full containing previous whisky that is 15+ years old. All types of casks end up being in the mix. This is sort of like the idea of "perpetual soup" that I tried for a few months in grad school when I kept leftover soup going and cooked new soup in the old soup. It was interesting at first, but then the flavors became muddled. The problem with this whisky is it is colored, chill-filtered, and 40% ABV. It is fragile, and does not do well with oxidation. When I opened my bottle, the first notes were like a fruit basket mixed with nuts and spices. Apples and pears were the most present, but you could search for a multitude of different fresh fruits in the aroma layers. Subsequent drams became increasingly stale. I am down to my last few ounces 6 months later and on the nose there is vanilla, apple, pear, and oak. Vanilla sweetness is the first note on the palate, and there is a quick transition to muddled fruits. The mouthfeel is too watery. Proponents can describe the flavor as pleasant and harmonious, but I describe it as dilute and without direction. The finish is a bland vanilla and apple cider now; whereas the fresh bottle had a wonderful spicy finish. Solera vat may have been much better at cask strength, or at least 46% ABV and non chill-filtered. I don't care about the color. As it is, the whisky does poorly with time. The individual notes deteriorated quickly in the bottle. Had I reviewed this after my first 2 or 3 drams, it would have been 4 stars and worth the 70 USD I paid. Now, I say I would not spend more than 40 USD for this. 79/100.

Fresh fruits and grass on the nose. Sweet in the background. More sweet on the palate, honey and heather with lots of maltiness. Nonspecific fruity finish. Water surprisingly adds to this 40 ABV highland. Leather and acetone smells now emerge. Taste is creamier and more mouthcoating. Finish is stewed fruits. This is definitely improved by a teaspoon of water. This is a light whisky that will be good for single malt beginners, hot summer days, and will pair well with cured pork. 80/100. Worth the 45 USD I spent on 750 mL bottle.

This is not an introduction to the peaty Islay profile because there is no peat. Nose: salt, spice, and citrus dominate with sherry and banana in the background. Palate: very spicy and salty with warm, rich mouthfeel. On the finish, I get cereal and banana. Water sweetens and balances the palate and makes it less salty/citrusy, at the cost of a shorter finish. Letting the dram breathe for 30+ minutes brings out some chocolate notes with a fishy/briny aftertaste. An unusual light Islay whisky that actually pairs well with seafood. 83/100. Worth the 55 USD spent on 750 mL bottle.