Tastes
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Teeling The Revival 15 Year Single Malt (Volume I)
Single Malt — Ireland
Reviewed January 30, 2017 (edited February 19, 2019)I have taken a liking to Irish whiskey as a (slight) alternative to Scotch. When tasting Irish whiskey, I have to remind myself that, though Irish and Scotch whiskey are inherently the same, they are not the same; they are cousins. That being said, I do try to compare apples to apples (or Irish to Irish) for comparative/experience purposes. That being said, this Teeling ranks high in my Irish experience. Pale straw in color, the nose is initially greeted with tropical notes, from the rum casks. This fades to a sweet cereal (Frosted Flakes), dried pineapple and honey. Rightly sweet. The first sip is instantly drying and spicy which causes an initial surprised reaction given the sweet nose. The sweeter side does eventually come through. Pears, honey, vanilla and a touch of brown sugar along with some herbal notes of ginger along with a pinewood-like quality. A zingy sensation remains on the palate with a medium length finish. Drying, with all the qualities previously experienced of oak, pears, vanilla/honey and ginger ale. As others have experienced, this has it’s cousins Scotch-like Dalwhinnie quality. Yet, it more closely has a sibling-like quality to Knappogue Castle 14. A very enjoyable whiskey that does not seem rushed or forced. Teeling, in my opinion, is becoming a Irish force representing craft quality in Irish whiskey. Lastly, I greatly appreciate Sir Pranay’s generosity allowing me the fortune of tasting this whiskey. Also as well as many others that I would have difficulty attaining or encountering. In addition, I find that this Distiller community has really encouraged the whisk(e)y experience for us all. It is nice to see the sharing of each of our personal stocks, without hesitation and with great pleasure. [Dry Glass: Butterscotch][90/100][Tasted: 1/28/17] -
Kilkerran 12 Year
Single Malt — Campbeltown, Scotland
Reviewed January 23, 2017 (edited May 30, 2019)I finally found some quiet moments this weekend allowing me to really sit to experience the dram. Unfortunately, finding pensive moments seems to getting tougher. But, if you are able to find a dram and a moment, grab the opportunity. (Thank you Pranay for that opportunity). A lightly golden liquid holds within it a nose that is floral light with a marine brine quality accompanied with a bit of malt, honey, green tea, orange citrus, and lightly toasted marshmallows. Thoroughly inviting, enticing you to the next level of the experience: the taste. An initial blast of heat and spice, which takes you by surprise given the gentleness of the nose. Once past the blast, a clean and light body delivers a sweet touch of vanilla and butterscotch which is countered with by fresh ginger, brine, oak and orange zest. Slowly, given the time, the butterscotch sweetness strengthens. A dynamic and lively body. This dance eventually ends and leaves and long and dry mouth tingling with white pepper, ginger and orange coated, lightly, with butterscotch. An eloquent and well crafted whisky. Enjoyable and sophisticatedly pleasant. The thin body makes it seemingly simple, however there is a great deal happening. Ideal as summer sipper on a back porch watching a slow sunset (at least what I envision). [Dry glass: Sawdust][90/100][Tasted: 1/22/17] -
I have been longing to try Corryvreckan since I fell under the Islay spell. I finally worked my way down/up the chain from the 10 to Uigeadail and now Corry. It all started on a frigid Sunday while providing unsuccessful support for the NY Giants (Go 2018 NYG!). I pondered it and habing another a few days later. Nosing, smoke/peat, surprisingly was not strongly present, but can still be detected. I let this rest for a fair amount of time, given its strength. Intense yet delicate. Sweet, malty and salty nose exposing toffee, honey, milk chocolate, floral, brine, damp seaweed. To me, painted a tranquil picture of an ocean winters day by a cozy fire. First sip is explosive; hot and spicy from the bottled strength. Successive sips encase the hotness with sweetness. Ash, smoke, cedar, black pepper, brown sugar, black tea roasted nuts, currants, oak (and the kitchen sink) swirl about. Chewy, rich and viscous. An plethora of flavors, more than I can recall from any one whisky. All detectable but not any one more dominant than the other and each coming in and out at various times. A lovely long and lingering finish. Cigar ash, oak, salty mixed nuts, charcoal, touched with some honey, remain. Along with these flavors, a slightly drying palate remains. To really examine and enjoy, water is a must to temper the dram and better expose the whirlpool of flavors. Beautifully complex encompassing a gamut of aromas and flavors: salty, sweet, bitter, ashy, dry. A sipper for contemplative moments. Best enjoyed on a cold winters evening to warm the soul. [Dry Glass: soot and cedar][94/100][$82][Opened: 1/8/17]
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For New Year’s Eve, a buddy brought this over to share with us. Over the course of a few days, I have been tasting this bourbon. I often see this one bar shelves almost as commonly as Glenlivet, Jack Daniels or Jameson but have never ponied to give it a try or it has never come my way, until now. A vanilla base nose meshed with leather, clove and maraschino cherry with a light tinge of toasted marshmallows can be found. A decent nose and very bourbon-esq. The dram is delivered with in a thin, lightweight body that is light-amber in color. Slightly sweet with notes of light brown sugar, rye spice and oak. It finishes with a slight youthful sensation, ironically, given it is an eight year old whiskey. White pepper and oak can be tasted. This is a simple and somewhat bland or rather subtle whiskey. It’s not terribly exciting or bold but undeniably, bourbon. A introductory whiskey. [Dry Glass: Cream soda][$38][82/100][Tasted: 1/6/17]
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Glenfiddich 12 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed January 2, 2017 (edited August 5, 2017)Over the course of the holiday week, I spent some time sipping and exploring this whisky. My first experience was not most pleasurable, granted, under non-ideal conditions. From a sample pack I received, I was afforded a second opportunity and under better conditions (at home with a Glencairn). Given time, the discernible aromas are floral and fruity of heather-honey and vanilla. Ripened orchard fruit of pears/apples with a light touch of leather and tangerine zest make a presence. Surprisingly, an arrival in a thin body that is initially bitter, given that the nose is generally sweet. Glimpses of honey sweetness and vanilla. An earthy, mineral quality arrives that gives a slightly odd and out of character sensation, given the previous sweet aroma and slightly bitter arrival. A short and bittersweet finish leaving the palate with remnants of oak and ginger. This is gentle, inoffensive and somewhat simplistic. However, there are no coherent or synergistic qualities. It has all the standard Speyside attributes, but none of them work together which makes it a straightforward, common dram. Good and safe and worth relegating to social situations or as an everyday dram. Much on par with The Glenlivet 12. [Dry Glass: Vanilla, brown sugar][84/100][Tasted: 12/30/16; 8/6/14 @ Davis Park Casino] -
Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak Cask
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed December 29, 2016 (edited September 17, 2017)I took the time with this, avoiding reading previous reviews (as others just recently have don. All over a course of several days to avoid power of suggestion and to give my "true" sense and experience a test (as several others recently done inspiring me. I will try to do this more going forward). This whisky opens to a lovely, sweet nose of mixed nuts: almonds, walnuts, pecans, with fruit: raisin, red grape. Overtones of vanilla and brown sugar encompass the nutty and fruity aromas. A velvety and sweet, thin body delivers sweetness of brown sugar and dark chocolate. Sherry, vanilla, honey, walnuts, orange zest, a touch of oak char all swirl gently on the tongue. The palate is left oaky with drying tannins. Cinnamon, brown sugar, smidgen of char remains for a fair length. As others who have previously noted, a rather enjoyable whisky that's easy sipper, relatively complex and nicely balanced. My only issue with Macallan is their pricing. The Mac12 is $15-20 overpriced (for me). That being said, it is well made and I would gladly enjoy a dram any time. [Dry Glass: Toffee][$58][86/100][Tasted: 12/29/16;11/8/14] -
Glenfiddich 18 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed December 26, 2016 (edited November 13, 2020)Winding down on a post-Christmas evening. From a sample pack I have received, wanted to give this a more in depth analysis. I generally am not on the Glenfiddich camp, but, hey, free whisky, more times than not, is better than no whisky. A gentle nose that yields butterscotch, honey, tropical fruits and sugar cookies. Give it time, as I find older whisky needs, reveals a sweet palate. Brown sugar and toffee that fades to ginger spice with a touch of oak. The oak and ginger with a touch of youth hotness remain as the sweetness all quickly dissipates and not very long . This is a very straightforward whisky that is average and simple, which is quite ironic given it's age. Hard to justify the cost given is simpleness. A Glenlivet 12 at more than half the cost can deliver similar qualities. [Dry Glass: Toffee][84/100][Tasted: 12/26/16; 10/15/14] -
Another Sunday evening on particularly cold December evening before Christmas. House is surprisingly quiet; just the wife and me (and youngest playing XBox). Getting in the Christmas mood, with the calmness, SiriusXM Holiday Pops playing (I like this channel at Christmas time), uncorked the Ledaig 10. (Talked with the liquor store owner where I purchased this: to recall the pronunciation, in keeping the story short, he calls it “Late-Chick”; thought that was mildly amusing and would pass it on). The straw colored pour releases the aromas of honey glazed ham, ocean sea salt, malt, ripened white orchard fruit (freshly picked Gala apples). It sweetens as it settles with an increasing touch of mineral/earthiness. A lovely nose that can be inhaled all day long. A sip reveals a slick texture that carries with it cigar smoke/ash, vanilla, honey, in that progression that all crescendos to a balanced potpourri of flavor. The flavors slowly depart giving way to white pepper and oak. A long lasting, warming and drying white pepper spiciness lingers with oak and charcoal with a hint of fennel and ocean salt. A lovely character from nose to finish conjures images of oceanside bonfires. A freshness that is subtle and suites well with the aromas and flavors. Flat out enjoyable. Especially if you are an Islay seeker. Not often talked about in peat-seeker circles, but belongs in that conversation. All this at a highly respectable price. [Dry Glass: Vanilla pipe tobacco][$55][90/100][Tasted: 12/11/16]55.0 USD per Bottle
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Glenfiddich 15 Year Solera Reserve
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed December 6, 2016 (edited September 24, 2018)I have not opened anything new as I have a bit of a backlog of open whisk(e)y's that I am want to work through. But tonight I was in the mood for something new. I have been given a sample three pack of the 12, 15, and 18 Glenfiddich and, bouncing between the (woeful) Jets/Colts game and 007/Spectre, I had a go with the 15 year old. My previous, brief and experience with the 12 year left me unimpressed and has dampened my view of Glenfiddich. However, this 15 year was quite a surprise and not what I expected. Some time in the glass, pears/apples, coconut, dark nuts, honey, vanilla/brown sugar waft around when nosing. Quite a bit of aromas. A sip is soft and light that reveals the sherry notes: walnuts, figs, cloves, cinnamon along with the sweeter bourbon flavors of vanilla and honey. The finish is short and drying of oak with ginger and chocolate with remnants of the sherry and bourbon influences. This is quite an enjoyable, easy, uncomplicated, straight-forward whisky. Sweetens with time. Straight up, a whisky that is clearly influenced by the sherry and bourbon barrels. Each profile is discernable, and yet, well balanced. Better than I expected given my previous experience with the 12 year. [Dry Glass: Maple Syrup and confectionery sugar][86/100][Tasted: 12/5/16] -
The Oamaruvian Cask Strength DoubleWood 16 Year
Single Grain — South Island, New Zealand
Reviewed December 5, 2016 (edited February 1, 2017)As the Sunday comes to a close, finally found the time to sit and watch the NY Giants play the Steelers (as they are rarely as the late afternoon Sunday) and recalled that I have a sample generously provided by Pranay awaiting a taste. This Oamaruvian is quite unique and found to be more wine than whiskey. The color is a rich and deep amber that on nosing reveals a pleasant sweet molasses or darkened brown sugar with mixed nuts with a touch a leather. A sip immediately numbs the tongue with a bit of burn and heat. Red wine dominates the palate, A touch or brown sugar, nutmeg and dark fruits all swirl about in the background. As it fades, red wine, drying oak tannins are found. The palate is left with a slightly bitter with a medicinal aftertaste; somewhat like cherry-flavored Nyquil (if you ever had the displeasure). Water is a must with this dram to bring down to a rounder and palatable/enjoyable level, due to the high proof. Overall, this whiskey had undertones of Sweet Vermouth and is most unique. This would be paired well with a Giants win (which, sadly did not happen tonight) and a nice steak or red meat in lieu of a red wine. [Dry Glass: Vanilla with Sweet Vermouth][87/100]][Tasted: 12/4/16]
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