Tastes

Sherry is clearly evident on the nose. Hints of nuts, dried raisins and dark brown sugar/molasses in the background. Initially sweet on the palate. Cinnamon and nutmeg arrive along with trace amount cereal notes. As it finishes, the spice notes become dominant: black pepper, cinnamon fading leaving a small amount of burn on the tongue. The dark brown sugar notes are the last remnants and as the flavor slowly fades. Water tames the bite and rounds out the sherry with the sweet elements. Definintely more vibrant without water, but rounder with the addition. Prefer with a splash. Overall, this whisky has been hit or miss with me. At times, it has been decent or it has been a disappointment. An inconsistent whisky for me. I did tuck this away for some time and maybe the harshness that I initially found has been reduced and the dram has sweetened and tamed. [$46][84/100][Revisited: 7/25/15;11/8/15]

Came back to this since it's been a while and thought to give it another go. Give it time, as I am better learning, and the aromas of pears, leather, cereal and oranges make the nose. Creamy and full bodied delivers orange zest, vanilla, leather and white pepper. Finishes spicy and slightly vanilla sweet with a touch of drying oak tannins. A teaspoon of water sweetens the dram exposing toffee notes and minimizes the white pepper. A middle of the road whisky that will appeal to the masses. Safe, non-contemplative. In my opinion, falls in line with Glenlivet and the like. For the money, I would rather have Glenlivet 12. [83/100 [Tasted 7/8/2014 @ Tellers Chophouse; 1/11/16 @ Black Eyed Sally's, Hartford]

Ocean salt first arrives on the nose. Honey-lemon tea and leather shortly follows with a hint of smoke and iodine. Reminds me of a damp day at the beach house. Lightly-bodied that is sweet and smokey, but not as strong as the peaty three (Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Lagavulin). The lemon tea and honey theme carries over onto the palate, faintly. All that fades to a small amount of smoke, spice and drying oak tannins. The palate is left with a lightly ashy, like just having smoked a mild cigar with a touch of vanilla sweetnes. Less peaty/smokey, sweet Islay malt that is that is reasonably priced and a good segue to the more peaty scotches. Could possibly be improved if bottled at 43% or higher. One for the collection. [Dry Glass: Musty, cedar barn][$45][90/100] [Opened 7/13/2014]. [Revisted: 3/28/15, 10/4/15, 11/29/15].

Damp and dreary evening with Joaquin remnants swirling suits well with this warming dram. Nose is sweet with honey and vanilla tones. Hints of freshly cut ginger root and smoke can be found if your patient. Medium-bodied on the palate wrapped in a rich amber tone. Oak is dominate with ginger root countered with the sweetness of honey sweetness and vanilla. A faint amount of smoke pops in. Drying tannins in the front and lingers on the palate. Long finish with a small amount of burn on the tongue that gradually fades leaving a dry, oaky, black peppery, spicy finish. Water opens the nose bringing out more vanilla and orange? Rounded and smooth with no burn on tongue. The finish flattens out. Prefer without water. [$46][85/100][Revisited: 9/12/14, 10/3/15; 2/25/17]

Nose has an earthy base that is malty that contains notes of honey, lemon, floral, faint whispers of peat, which leaves impressions of damp leaves, with a slight amount of vanilla. A thin, diluted, soft body that contains honey and iodine and is slightly phenolic. It has a finish that is medium short that lingers in the front. The honey sweetness dissolves to black pepper and leaves the palate ashy and bitter, like smoking a cheap cigar. The addition of water opens more floral and honey tones but mutes the peat however the peat is more pronounced in the mouth. Finish is shorter and more balanced. Preferrable with a splash of water. This is a dram that doesn't know what it wants to be: a young Speysider that is wishing to be an Islay. This is not a bad dram and is priced extremely fair. [84/82/100]. [Revisited: 4/17/15]. [Revisited: 5/23/15; 11/22/17].

Nose is soft, almost no aroma. Hints of sweet rye or leather. Bitter and sweet and spicy. This spirit is better over ice or mixed.

A light nose of vanilla, honey, toffee and a hint of orange. As it breathes, a small amount of smoke and salt or brine arrive. Texture is soft and creamy. Oak tannins dry the palate gradually building a mild, evenly dispersed burn. But as fast as it comes on, it ebbs as quick. Medium to short finish leaving a pleasing, dry, oaky palate. Tops of the Johnnie Walker family. Better than some single malts I have tasted. Very well balanced and satisfying. As it has been generally asked, how does discontinuing something crafted well make sense? JWG, I barely got to know you, but glad we met [$49].

Nose has a peat and honey sweetness. Rich, slightly oily texture which slowly grows to a bite. The peaty oak taste comes out on the finish leaving the palate with smoke, tar, vanilla, honey mixed with spicy black pepper. A balanced, well-blended malt with a slight sophistication of a single malt. Johnnie Walker has always been a favorite and was the gateway scotch the started me on my quest. [85/100]. [Opened: Always]

Nose is sweet of vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon and corn. Light on the palate with black pepper spice, vanilla extract and leather. A strong bite on tongue afterwards. Medium length finish with charcoal flavors and pepper. A dryness and bitterness remain along with oak and molasses. A splash of water opens the sweetness and diminishes the bite and bitterness. This is much better over ice or with water. Decent and better than most bourbons and at a reasonable price. [85/100]. [Revisted: 2/1/15]

Practically clear in color disguises the sweet, cool, peaty-smoke which dominates, with menthol, sea salt, honey sweetness; all perfectly blended and that's just on the nose. Cigar tobacco and the honey sweetness arrive immediately on the palate that is slightly oily in texture. Oak arrives soon after with hints of white pepper. A strong bite singes the tongue but quickly dissipates with a moment of bitterness. A sweet and smokey finish, with a hint of iodine, leaves the mouth salivating for another sip. The addition of water thins the the body and subdues the burn. Preferable without water, in its natural environment. A smoke lovers dram. [$49][90/100] [Revisited: 1/24/15; 11/14/15]