Tastes
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Allt a Bhainne 1993 22 Year (The Exclusive Malts)
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed May 19, 2018 (edited May 22, 2018)Pulling one of the, now, backlogged sample from round five on a semi-virtual scotch whisky tour. This pour provided through the one and only @LeeEvolved. Honey poured over cereal (think Grape Nuts) mixed with almonds, cinnamon, vanilla and apples. There is a musty dampness that hovers amongst the breakfast cereal as initially described; like a hay-filled barn on a rainy day. Some slightly detectable notes of sherry as you let this open. A pleasant nose. The nuttiness forms the basis of the palate. The honey sweetness is drizzled lightly providing a mild counter to the nutty dryness. Grilled apricots and Gala apples add a fruity quality. There is a balanced cinnamon and black pepper spice that zings the palate. All this contained in a thick, rich and oily body. The finish is oaky and dry, but not overtly so. Cereal grains and cinnamon that slowly fades from the palate and goes deep and warm, everlasting. The latter part of the tour has brought some obscure, uncommon scotch. A good percentage disappointing. This, however, is quite enjoyable. Balanced, and consistent from nose through finish. Well done. [90/100][Tasted: 5/18/18] -
Macallan Rare Cask Black
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed May 13, 2018 (edited December 7, 2022)A Mother’s Day enjoying a relaxing day with the wife. Sushi and a movie and now sitting back with a a lovely wife (and whisky). The color is unique: cognac or brandy looking. A deep, dark amber. Sherry rich of dark fruits and mixed nuts. Currants, dates, figs, black cherries. Molasses sweetness or dark brown sugar. There’s a touch of tanned leather or suede. In the deepest depths of the nose there a hint of dampened tobacco. The nose is one to inhale all day. Sweet and deeply rich. The draw on the palate is initially fruity and sweet of fruit juice with spice and oak all wrapped in a medium-leight body. Cinnamon, vanilla, toffee, raisins; all rich and deep. The sweetness is not overt. A subtle non-saccharine dessert. This dram only enriches and improves with time. A long finish that meanders between orange bitters and charcoal. Some woodiness keeps the palate slightly dry. There is a minty quality or sensation when you wait between draws. The challenge for a whisky, in my opinion, is providing balance. Being not too sweet without being overly dry. Being peaty/smokey without dominating. This Macallan has walked the balance rather well. This is sweet but not syrupy. Fruity but not juicy...a true delight. Simply wonderful. @GenerouslyPaul, many thanks for providing the sample. This is one often not accessible to many. Thanks for the opportunity. [95/100][Tasted: 5/12/18] -
Glenallachie 7 Year Battlehill (Duncan Taylor)
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed May 13, 2018 (edited June 24, 2021)Another pour provided by @GenerouslyPaul to the tasting group. Glenallchie 7 year by independent bottler Duncan Taylor. What beholds this brew? Nutty, fruity and tropical are the base aromas. Pecans, walnuts, apples, pears, fresh diced pineapples, coconut, apricots. Some spice of cinnamon with a touch of vanilla and caramel. Sherry influence becomes more apparent over time. There is an overtone of acetone that detracts from the base aromas. On first sip, a strong, there is wave of pepper spice and oak. Once the palate gets acclimated, a course and oily bitterness takes control and renders any other flavors almost undetectable. Peeping through the vortex of bitterness is a trace of toffee sweetness and roasted nuts that lasts for the briefest of moments. Another wave of sharp spice comes forward towards the finish. Bitter, dry and short is how the palate remains: Orange rinds and oak. Diffused and unfocused. The nose is promising but no real foundation. The palate is contains no real flavor other than bitterness. There is potential but it requires time and maybe fresher casks? [82/100][Tasted: 5/11/18] -
Loch Lomond 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands , Scotland
Reviewed May 5, 2018 (edited September 3, 2020)Friday again. Time for a sample. A Highland graciously provide to our tasting group by @GenerouslyPaul. Much needed and wanted after a bad head cold and one of those crazy work weeks. Nosing reveals unripened honeydew, apple jolly rancher and vanilla extract. Apples, apricots, soap, rubbing alcohol prove to add a bit of an oddity/out of sorts. Some malt and oak. There’s an odd funk of mineral/earthiness and fruity sweetness that adds to this swirl of aromas. Cognac-like on arrival. Wine-y white grape, apricots, toffee, vanilla with a mineral-earthiness. All this contained in a medium body. Vanilla sugar sweetness ultimately comes in the mid-palate as it opens. Fresh ginger as is fades towards the finish which it give liveliness to the palate. As time progresses, the unbalanced profile begins to fall into balance. A short finish of oak, ginger spice with a dash of sweet vanilla. The nose was a oddity, confusing the senses. The palate was somewhat drab but is pulled together/centered around the sweetness but unfortunately that sweetness does not last long; diffusing what was centered around sweetness to a ginger spiciness. All that said, there are hints of sophistication where this is a slow sipper. One to take some time with to slow the day down. At least for 1/24th of it. [85/100][Tasted: 5/4/18] -
Note: This is a review for 1940 Haig Gold Label Late George V What a treat! A chance to sample a scotch that is circa World War II. Only in a group of whisky enthusiasts could this be possible. Nose is candy sweet consisting of butterscotch, candycorn, vanilla and honey. There’s are floral and fruity notes in the sweetness. Heather, apples and raisins. Malt and milk chocolate (Whoppers) and cereal grains eventually become detectable when time is granted. It’s a lightweight, enjoyable nose. First draw is slightly peppery and sweet. As the palate gets acclimated, the whisky is notably sweet. The body is thin and lightweight. Butterscotch, vanilla, honey. The sweetness is pleasant but short giving way to a white pepper and fresh ginger spicy zing the is delivered to the finish. A short finish which is slightly oaky dry with a some charcoal with a touch of vanilla and honey sweetness. I wasn’t sure what to expect. That is were scotch palates different 60+ years ago?. It’s like a chance to jump back into time. What was the style of a whisky two generations ago as it compare today. From my perspective, it easy, sweet, inoffensive and made to enjoy without the distractions of sophistication; a social sipper. (You can transport yourself picturing Churchill or King George VI himself sipping on this during wartime). Thank you @PBMichiganWolverine for this rare treat and a glimpse of a whisky world long ago. [87/100][Tasted: 4/21/18]
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Girvan 1988 27 Year (The Exclusive Malts)
Single Grain — Lowlands , Scotland
Reviewed April 21, 2018 (edited July 26, 2020)Note: This is for Exclusive Grain 10 yr old rum finished Girvan. I read the scathing reviews. It can’t be this bad, can it? Pouring the sample from @PBMichiganWolverine. Maybe there’s a beacon of hope. There is a strong presence of industrial cleaning chemicals. Rubber, chewing gum (like the gum you would get with baseball cards), rubber cement, rubbing alcohol. For the natural-like aromas: apples, bananas and vanilla. An odd nose indeed. Hmmm. Strange and different. Rum-soaked Raisin Bran cereal, vanilla sweetness, crazy glue (if I could imagine what crazy glue tastes like) with sprinkles of cinnamon spice. The finish is ginger and toothpicks and nail polish. It would almost be safe to say that this is not a scotch or whisky. More of a cheap mixer rum with industrial qualities. I don’t think there is much more to say. Save your time and your money. [62/100][Tasted: 4/20/18] -
Mortlach 15 Year Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail)
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed April 20, 2018 (edited April 28, 2018)A much needed pour to start my late Friday. Need a soother [and catching up on the backlog of samples] finds me pouring this particular scotch courtesy of @Telex. Note: This is for the 11 year old Mortlach from Classic Cask, not the 15 year G&M. A few inhales pulls in melon, pears and apples with a touch of butterscotch sweetness. Opening more, fresh baked bread and lemon zest, though light, is detectable. Rubbing alcohol encases all the fruity sweetness. All the aromas are light and diffused. The arrival is spicy white pepper hot. A glimpse of pineapple tropical with some lemon zest, vanilla. Loaded with flavors, this one is not. The finish is bitter of lemon and ginger. Oaky and spicy that is woody dry. This is a unremarkable with no real memorable qualities. It’s boring and bland. Though not terrible, it’s completely sippable and, if nothing else was around, a second pour would be denied. [82:100][Tasted: 4/20/18] -
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year Single Malt
Single Malt — Ireland
Reviewed April 12, 2018 (edited August 15, 2018)Still in Hartford. Ventured into Vaughan’s once more. Tullamore Dew stocked on the shelf. Asked for a neat pour of the Single Malt 14 for a nightcap. The nose is all fruit and sugar. Apricots and bananas in a brown sugar reduction. The typical Irish note of straw. Throw is some tropical coconut and honey. Thin bodied mouthfeel with a gentle sweetness. The palate is all demerara sugar, honey with a some fruitiness/tartness of Granny Smith apples towards the back end. Not much complexity or depth, but works well within itself. A small amount of white pepper spice on the finish with cinnamon apple crumb pie sweetness that rapidly switches gears and returns to the an oaky spiciness, though ever so gentle. Inoffensive, straightforward and undynamic yet enjoyable for its sweet simplicity. [84/100][Tasted: 4/12/18]Vaughan's Public House -
Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Finish
Blended — Ireland
Reviewed April 11, 2018 (edited September 5, 2023)In Hartford in business which means I must go to Vaughan’s and get myself a Guinness and Cod & Chips only to top it off with a small but respectable set of whiskies. Straw, pineapples, toffee, bananas and orange zest with a metallic overtone hovers as you take in the aromas. I noticed the same metallic note as with Teeling’s Small Batch. This may caused by the way the rum cask mixes with the unmalted barley (just an uneducated guess). The body is unexpectedly heavy for an Irish whiskey which are typically lightweight. This arrives with a sugary palate. Brown sugar, creme brûlée, butterscotch are the first flavors to arrive. A bit of tropical pineapple and coconut slide in after the sweetness. From there, the spicy side kicks into gear. Spicy cinnamon and white pepper prickle the tongue. The tropical rum notes are detectable on the finish. Oak tannins dry the palate with a pinch of lemon zest and ginger. The flavors fade quick but the oak dryness lasts. This is a simple, sweet, fun whisky. Much akin to Teeling’s Small Batch but with more weight (and slightly cheaper). There is a definite youngness to the spirit which is kept somewhat in line with the sweet, rum finish. The extra few points in alcohol give it a good sense of gravity, uncommon in most Irish Whiskey’s that are typically bottles at 40%. Find a pour and go have some fun with this Dew. [86/100][Tasted: 4/11/18]Vaughan's Public House -
Note: This review is for the independently bottled Bladnoch 26 year old from That Boutique-y Whisky Co The nose opens with orchard fruits, honey, vanilla and sweet bourbon. Let it sit a bit longer and confectionary sugar and malt works it’s way in to the mix. It really begins to bloom and becomes fuller given time. Vanilla cream, dried grass/hay, honeydew. A lightweight nose. These aromas (for me) evokes images of warm spring day in a grassy field. Arrives with a tingle on the tongue in a medium-light body. A fruity and sweet palate that delivers caramel apples, pineapples, coconut, melons, marshmallows. Like the nose, this benefits immensely with time and becomes sweeter and softer. There is a bit of lemon zest and fresh ginger which provides a gentle spicy zing at the finish. Caramel faintly brings as it draws to a close. Drying oak brings this to the end eliminating or dominating the closing flavors. A bright, fruity dram with complimentary sweetness. Very akin to it’s nearby Irish mates in terms of sweetness, fruitiness and mouthfeel. Perfect almost as a cordial, closing out a rich meal or a spicy medium-bodied cigar. The cost though and the lack of exposure (at least near me) is prohibitive. All said, thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample and providing me the opportunity to sample. [88/100][Tasted: 4/8/18]
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