Tastes
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Auchentoshan 18 Year
Single Malt — Lowlands, Scotland
Reviewed February 8, 2017 (edited March 5, 2024)It's about time to return to the Lowlands, a whisky region often overlooked and underestimated by connoisseurs. Auchentoshan 18 is reminiscent of a flower garden with ripe citrus fruits, pipe tobacco and hints of green tea. Crème brûlée, milk chocolate and oak spices (cinnamon and nutmeg) unfold a complex aroma. Spicy and gingery in the arrival, the taste develops mildly bitter and grainy with notes of vanilla, brown sugar and roasted nuts. The finish is understated, cask-dominated and fades quickly. All in all, a sound but fairly overpriced single malt. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]70.0 EUR per Bottle -
Old Pulteney 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed January 30, 2017 (edited March 5, 2024)As coastal malt from the Northern Highlands, Old Pulteney 12 is unlike many other whiskies: it's not made to be 'pleasant'. What you get is a demanding flavor profile, strength of character and a real personality. On the nose, there is a complex bouquet of bitter honey, tropical fruits, fresh ginger and hints of sea salt. The taste alternates between caramel sweetness, orange zest and savory notes before the oak kicks in and leads to a moderate, herbal crisp and rather dry finish. A rewarding single malt that requires time, patience and some experience! RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]30.0 EUR per Bottle -
Here comes another peated single malt that isn't from Islay: Longrow Peated (NAS) from Springbank distillery. The aroma starts out promising with intense honey-vanilla sweetness, vegetal peatiness and unmistakably coastal/briny notes. On the palate, the mouth-warming, dry and fairly spirit-driven arrival is followed by bitter lemons, white pepper and salty peat smoke. Its youthfulness shows in the earthy, mineral but surprisingly short finish that is not very substantial. To sum up, it's a fresh and appealing malt which doesn’t have the 'oomph' of Islay. RATING: 3.4/5.0 stars ≙ 82 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [-]38.0 EUR per Bottle
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Hazelburn 12 Year
Single Malt — Campbeltown, Scotland
Reviewed January 18, 2017 (edited March 5, 2024)This triple distilled, almost Lowland-style variation of a Springbank malt claims to be unpeated. On the nose, there are orange zest, unripe apples and unexpected incense smoke. Hints of chocolate, dried fruits and marzipan indicate sherry cask influence. Arriving spicy and gingery, Hazelburn 12 tastes delicate and nutty with notes of roasted almonds, orange marmalade and coconuts. Traces of peat? Most definitely! The finish is of medium length, aromatic and oak-dominated. Altogether, an interesting but quite expensive Campbeltown single malt. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE49.0 EUR per Bottle -
Rock Oyster Blended Malt
Blended Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed January 7, 2017 (edited March 5, 2024)Imagine an old wooden fishing boat, crusted shells and wet seaweed drying on a rocky coastline, and you get a fairly good impression of this Island blended malt. The nose of 'Rock Oyster' is maritime, briny and moderately peaty with hints of citrus fruits and honey. If only the taste would be on par with the aroma! Arriving fresh, zesty and peppery sweet, there is no apparent oak influence and the dry peatiness is rather bland. The quickly fading finish is spicy and mildly bitter. Although a bit pricey and young, this malt is nicely composed and well worth a try. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 83 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE40.0 EUR per Bottle -
Glenfarclas 21 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed January 5, 2017 (edited March 5, 2024)When you are looking for an older, substantial single malt that isn't outrageously expensive, consider Glenfarclas 21. Intense fruitiness, green apples, gooseberries and hints of pineapple dominate the nose. Fresh herbs, heather honey and faint smoke of 'burned stuff' linger in the background, adding a pleasant complexity. The age of this malt shows in the taste: heavy cask influence with wood spices and tannins combines with fruits and vanilla, culminating in a lasting, nutty and slightly dry finish. A characterful and intriguing Speysider for sophisticated palates. RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 88 pts → FIRST-CLASS70.0 EUR per Bottle -
Four Roses Yellow Label Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed December 6, 2016 (edited March 5, 2024)Given its very moderate price, this Kentucky straight bourbon came as a very pleasant surprise. The nose is delicate and appealing with fruity sweetness, honey and vanilla toffee. Notes of flowers, corn syrup and fennel can be found in the background. Tastewise, Four Roses Yellow Label is gentle and creamy with caramel, orange marmalade, mild spices and some alcoholic burn. Hints of American white oak and black tea characterize the short and restrained finish. It's a very drinkable bourbon, an excellent value and a convenient mixer. Recommended! RATING: 2.9/5.0 stars ≙ 78 pts → AVERAGE [-]22.0 EUR per Bottle -
Glenmorangie The Original 10 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed December 3, 2016 (edited March 5, 2024)Light, accessible and rather undemanding - that's probably the best way to describe Glenmorangie's 10-year-old entry-level single malt. Matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks, the nose is fresh and clean with unripe, sour fruits (green apples and grapes), vanilla cream and honey. With water, some herbal/minty notes start to emerge. On the palate, it arrives spirity and aromatic with citrus fruits, pears and nutmeg, turning more dry and bitter in the development. The finish is of medium length, nutty and mildly spicy. Solid average but nothing special. RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 80 pts → AVERAGE29.0 EUR per Bottle -
Almost every bar on the planet has Johnnie Walker Black Label available for a reason: it's a solid and reliable choice. On the nose, you get distant Caol Ila peatiness, rich honey notes, apples and citrus fruits. Not a very intense aroma - but altogether pleasant. Peppery Talisker-spiciness dominates the arrival, while the taste of this blended Scotch is surprisingly substantial with fruity sweetness, cinnamon and well-measured cask influence. The finish lingers with delicate peat smoke and mild spices. An easy blend with restrained grain whisky bitterness. RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 80 pts → AVERAGE22.0 EUR per Bottle
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Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed November 10, 2016 (edited March 5, 2024)The Balvenie range has a rather good reputation compared to the mass-produced Glenfiddich. Their 12-year-old 'Double Wood' expression greets the nose with juicy oranges, creamy vanilla and hints of marzipan - very harmonic and distinctly elegant. Tastewise, the spicy arrival builds up steadily before turning honey-sweet and nutty. Altogether, it appears spirity and thin (too low ABV). The finish is swift and mildly bitter with notes of milk chocolate and cinnamon. A decent but not very exciting single malt that is begging for a higher bottling strength. RATING: 3.4/5.0 stars ≙ 82 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [-]43.0 EUR per Bottle
Results 191-200 of 236 Reviews