Tastes

Game 5 in full swing and needing the win. Looking for a light and sweet after dinner dram and pulled this from the cabinet. Floral and honey notes along with some ripe pears come across light and sweet on the nose. The honey notes become more dominant as it opens. Very light texture on the palate. The honey and fruity sweetness quickly arrives and fades transitioning to a malty barley and into the finish. Some oaky dryness remains. Balanced well, more sweet than dry, but not overly sweet. Easy to drink and enjoyable and uncomplicated. Good starter scotch. Not a bad one to have in a collection and priced rather reasonably. A beach house scotch? Maybe. (Christmas gift). [86/100]. [Opened 1/3/15][Revisited: 11/1/15 #LGM]

Immediately you are presented with a potpourri of honeysuckle, vanilla, toffee, almonds and malt. With patience, banana notes from the bourbon maturation waft around. The sweetness is carried over to the palate over a velvety body. A tinge of spice slowly makes it's way along with oak, nuts and orange rind. A slight black pepper note lingers on the palate, though not very long with a skosh of bitterness. This dram is busy, but in an orderly manner, like The Beach Boys 'Pet Sounds' album. Simple, complex, innocent, harmonious, easy, soft, good to share. A classic and should be in every collection. [$57][86/100][Opened: 5/1/16; 6/3/16]

[Batch #:14420-B/Bottle #:302] Velvety sweet nose of corn and vanilla mixed in with a dash of spice from the rye. The scotch notes are evident, given some time. Speyside influences well blended with sweet bourbon within with the medium-bodied palate that's as soft as the nose. Finishes leaving a slightly bitter palate its some spice and tongue burn with a dash of black pepper and spearmint. A unique blend that is pleasant to drink. The smoke is not what I initially recall (truly a campfire). Post tastings were a bit disappointing as smoke was nowhere to be found. A change since last year? A nice bridge for bourbon drinkers to the peaty, smokey scotches. [$55][84/100][Tasted: 12/17/2014][Opened: 10/18/15; Revisited 2/5/16]

Tasted 12/17/2014 : Rye nose of spice and mint added with vanilla/honeysuckle sweetness with baking chocolate. Sweet and spice perfectly balanced with a creamy, full texture which finishes the same way, though not as long as I wished. This is perfect for sipping on a cold night by a fire after skiing. Need to add to my collection.

Tasted 12/17/2014 : Corn sweetness backed with the spicey rye-ness when nosing. A nice, creamy, full palate. Finishes quickly leaving black pepper spice with mild tongue burn. The creamy body, mild spice and sweetness on the nose all combine to make a very enjoyable dram. Good neat or a splash. Rather enjoyed the sugar and spice.

Tasted 12/17/2014: Sweet nose with mint and pepper. A full-bodied, spicy, fiery palate with hints of spearmint. A long finish that finishes with slight bitterness. A good, decent, easy rye.

Toffee, brown sugar sweetness with a slight amount of iodine, mixed roasted nuts and brine are on the nose. Arrives toffee sweet, oaky and nutty on the palate over a medium body. A medium-long finish, slightly bitter of orange rind, spicy black pepper and oak drying tannins. A bit of water heightens the sweetness on the nose as well as the iodine notes. Thins the body, but also increases the sweetness. A better dram with a slight splash of water. Time and patience is needed for this to really open and transform into a better dram. Overall, a good dram at a respectable price. [$49][87/100][Opened 12/7/14; 1/2/16; 6/26/16].

Banana sweetness up front on the nose with hints of floral deep in the background. Bitterness quickly turns to sweetness which quickly fades. Peppery finish. Water sweetens the palate and weakens the bitterness. Thins out. Not terribly exciting. Good as a mixer or over ice.

Cereal dominates the nose. Slightly sweet and floral with apples if you dig a bit. Honey sweetness on the palate that fades quick. Creamy texture that finishes with oak and honey and leaves a small amount of bitterness. Water/ice increases the honey notes and finishes sweet. Much better over ice.

Citrus and honey with some briny quality on the nose. Cereal and sweetness arrive as it opens. Creamy and full on the palate. Slight honey sweetness fades quick. Mild tongue burn on the tip and sides. Black pepper-spicy, bitter finish. With water/ice the sweetness is more pronounced and the spicy finish is weakened. Definitely a dram to serve over ice. Not complex. Better than I expected.