Tastes

I purchased this one for our little tasting group. This is one that you don’t find often on shelves and must say my interest was somewhat piqued. A fruity nose: apples, pears and apricots. Notes of toasted marshmallows, honeysuckle, heather, barley sugar, toffee. Medium-weight body that arrives initially spicy of black pepper. Cream soda. Lemon zest, orange creamsicle. Small traces of milk chocolate are sprinkled in the recesses. This leaves the palate with black pepper, orange bitters, oak, ginger and a hint of char. A nice, straight forward whisky that’s easy to enjoy. A robust and inviting nose but delivers diluted flavors. The good flavors are there, but not with any emphasis. A bit more maturity would do this one well. A nice whisky and may be a good summer sipper. [$50][85/100][Tasted: 2/17/18]

A cold Friday evening finds me finally getting some time to sample this whisky provide by @Generously_Paul Threw on Portlandia from the DVR (even catching up on tv shows, let alone my samples). Subtle peat and maritime brine/seaweed are introduction to this dram. As you work the nose, a touch of iodine comes through with the fruits: apples, lightly toasted coconut, pineapples. Throw some vanilla cream to top it off. The whisky arrives on a thin, weightless and silky body but delivers a spectrum of flavors. Smoked bacon or jerky, white sugar sweetness, butterscotch and fresh ginger root. At the tail end, a flash of banana pops in and immediately out. You can feel the transition from sweet to zing very linearly: point A to point B. What remains is charcoal and earthy. Black pepper that fades to bitter dark chocolate and oak. The soul is left quite warmed. From start to finish this whisky delivers rich, bright and full aromas and flavors. If this whisky could be improved it would be to lengthen the finish. A quality whisky that is unfortunately not readily available (at least near me). [90/100][Tasted:2/9/18]

It’s been awhile since I had sampled anything. Between work and full, busy weekends, it’s been tough finding some downtime to try something new and think about it. Finished dinner and zoning in front of the tube. A pour of Batch #46 which @PBMichiganWolverine provide to the sample group. The nose is figs and spices, nutmeg, raisins. Cherry cordial notes, in due time, arrive with an air of vanilla cream. More time exposes white fruits and burnt toast. Arrives on the palate surprisingly subdued given its strength. More flavorful than spicy. Rich dark brown sugar packaged with nutmeg and cinnamon and Cherry cola. Crescendoing spicy note that stays in the background; similar to a comedy movie scene where the focus is on the foreground but the real (comedic) action is in the background. A finish of figs, sherry, cinnamon and dark chocolate that lingers for an eternity. The slow fade turns slightly bitter with oranges and peppery warming, of cayenne pepper. A good dose of water is needed to open this up and remove some sharpness. Rich toffee and chocolate notes are strengthened. A deeply rich sherried whisky that takes one time to immerse themselves in and slowly acclimate. Water is highly recommended. Patience is needed, but more so for the imbiber to sink into the depths of the richness. [87/100][Tasted: 2/1/18]

A Stressful day at work and what now appears will be consuming my weekend. Ahh, but a momentary pause from the chaos (KAOS) of work; so I grab a sample from the group the @LeeEvolved has presented. The nose is floral with damp saw dust. Throw in some apple crumb pie with some vanilla cream soda. A nutty aroma comes through, though faintly, and after a good deal of time. The nose is quite enjoyable and simply soothing. The palate receives a thin bodied spirit. A flash of vanilla sweetness that gives way to a peppery spiciness. A bit of lemon zest come through, and as it fades with a bit of ground cinnamon. Fades, warmingly. A short finish of lemon oil, wood drying oak tannins. A fine, unassuming whisky that is a good everyday-er. It’s not going to wow, but it will not disappoint, especially the price. [83/100][Tasted: 1/26/18]

Another Highland Park and an opportunity to try this elusive and exclusive whisky thanks to @LeeEvolved through our whisky tour group. A rare treat. NAS from Highland Park have generally disappointed me and, though I may not have have this again, I an anticipating a memorable experience. Taking in the aromas, cinnamon powder and sweet nuttiness greet you. An earthiness exists in the spicy-sweetness. Raisin Bran, barley sugar, honey, heather and vanilla are the body of the nose. Hints of maritime and an extemely faint peat or char are lurk but take time to come through. Take a draw. White pepper warming on arrival. Sweetened vanilla, cinnamon sugar and chocolate make a nice sweet base. A touch of concord grape is detectable and adds a nice uniqueness. The finish is drying of oak tannins. Ginger spice prickle with vanilla-honey. The tail end of the finish fades with a touch of grape juice. A gentle sweetness with a pinch of zing. A clean and sweet freshness. I quite enjoyed. However, is it worth the exhorbanant price? No. I found this to be somewhat on par with Glen Garicoh 12 and at a fraction of the cost, I would reach for the Glen Garicoh (because of the cost). [85/100][Tasted: 12/3/17]

Falling back to daily routine, a Friday evening finds me back to tasting this sample provided by @PBMichiganWolverine. Let’s give it a go. A sweet and fruity nose of vanilla, Creme brûlée and green apples. A slight brininess floats above. The nose takes time to open. The sticky sweetness becomes and darker fruits notes come more forward. The nose is quite delightful. A thin body brings a bourbon-esque vanilla sweetness arrives, but it quickly fades as the glimpse of sweetness turns to a strong cracked pepper spiciness. A woodiness quality comes through as it the palate draws towards the finish along with some orange zest. The finish is spicy and bitter. Drying, that finally leaves a Burnt toast flavor. An inviting, robust, promising nose gives way to a flat and uninspiring palate which fails to deliver that promise. [82/100][Tasted: 1/18/19]

The blizzard/bomb cyclone of 2018 has come and gone. Snow all shoveled. Fire burning. Cold Play on the Alexa. Now time to taste something good and warming. Hmmm. Been reading about all the good this whisky brings. @PBMichiganWolverine contribution to our little group is the chosen one. The nose is a lovely briny peat. Maritime sea spray, hickory smoked ham, vanilla, candle stick wax, blueberries and cream, lemon oil. The brined peat dampens over time and becomes sweeter. The other aromas weave their way through. And the potpourri of disparate aromas is quite interesting and lively. A deep and concentrated peat arrives with a spicy hot and oily body. Black pepper, some sweetness of vanilla and toffee. Charred BBQ meat. A flash of honey with a ginger fade. As it works towards the finish, the formulation of cigar ash begins. The finish is cigar ash, black pepper, lemon zest and toffee sweetness. Long lasting smokiness like having finished a cigar with a little zing (like a CAO Brazilia cigar). Once again, Compass Box does it again. The unique aromas, the Islay smoke, spice and sweetness and the balance of flavors is exceptional. John Glaser is the Master Blender. A wonderful whisky to top this blustery evening. [92/100][Tasted: 1/4/18]

The second to last day before the new year. @PBMichiganWolverine graciously provide to our little touring group. I know I will not be doing a sampling on the eve, so before the world comes to an end, I figure I should taste this sample. The color is golden brown, almost like a light Amaretto. A fruit bowl of a nose which contains pears, apricots, banana, black berries, ripened plumb with cherries. There is an earthy quality underlying the fruity prominence. A small amount of autumn spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves. Add some honey and vanilla sweetness. Being an relative old man, give it time to get it’s legs. All so delicately balanced. A lightweight body that brings forth light brown sugar sweetness and remains throughout the palate lifespan. Charred oak, cinnamon, leather and Cherry Coke. There is a slight nuttiness with chestnuts and walnuts that forms before the finish. A cinnamon dominant finish with orange bitters, black pepper and leaves a lasting woody charcoal fade. The is one to take in slowly. The aromas are fantastic, one of fruitiest noses I have experienced and the balance throughout out is impeccable. The lightweight body makes this easy to imbibe. From beginning to end, it’s near perfection. I am thankful to @PBMichiganWolverine generosity that I was able to taste this before the end of the world. [95/100][Tasted: 12/30/17]

Happy hour. 16 degrees outside. Fire winding down from the afternoon burn. Music playing. Grabbed a Double Single to warm up. A soft delicate earthiness funky nose. Lemon shortcake, vanilla, caramel. Somewhat like a lemon Halls cough drop. Honey, heather and a pinch of cinnamon powder. Some fruity notes of pears and apricots. Loaded with aromas. Springlike images come to mind, even on this frigid evening. A sweet arrival of white sugar. Medium body that’s not oily (lacking the appropriate word for that quality). Oak and lemon zest. Waxy, candle-like notes with honey, vanilla, white pepper. What good and well balanced flavors. A warming ginger spice finish. Slightly drying oak and lemon bitterness. The wax notes hang on from the palate. A minty note rides out the finish. There was a time when Johnnie Walker, Chivas or Dewars were the de facto, old school blended whiskies. Compass is the new school blend. John Glaser and company are pushing boundaries and creating some dynamic, fun, inspiring whiskies. The Single Double is a fine example of this; their care and quality are exceptional. I find their blends better than most Single malts that I have come across. Their only weakness, as with most, is producing whisky at an accessible price. The Single Double: A great, enjoyable whisky. Thanks @LeeEvolved for providing this great sample. [90/100][Tasted: 12/28/17]

Finishing the night with a scotch provided from @Generously_Paul as part of our Scotch Distillery Tour. Floral and fruity nose. Honeysuckle, red fruit: apples, raspberry, cherries. A cream soda note comes through after a good long breathe. “Soft and light, clean and bright” played through my head while sipping. Vanilla cream sweetness with Gala apples, nutmeg and a touch of orange zest. A short finish with cinnamon zing and oak dryness. A glimpse of maraschino cherries. A nice, simple, clean whisky. Inoffensive, straight-forward easy whisky. [85/100][Tasted: 12/26/17] ———————————- Whisky on the Hudson 9/18/2014 : Very similar to the 225 sibling, however this was sweeter on the palate. I preferred this over the Tullibardine 225.