Tastes

Chocolate orange! So yum

Last of the 3, when tasting the 12, 15, and 18 back to back. Nose is honey and a herbal quality that I can't quite nail down. Palate has a distinct lemon peel note I didn't notice in the 12 or 15 and of course vanilla. A bit of dulce de leche but on the lighter side. Finish reminds me of black tea. Overall, the quality jump between the 12 and 15 is higher than the 15 to 18 in my opinion. But still a decent sip for 80 proof blended scotch.

Continuing my review of the 12, 15, and 18 back to back. I think the lackluster 80-proof will be holding them all back, via a watery mouthfeel. Nose is vanilla but a very welcomed clove/all spice note not present in the 12 year. Mouthfeel is caramel (again), touch of apple. Finish has notes of orange rind and faint hint of oak.

Inoffensive, albeit watery. Nose is caramel and vanilla. Palate is honey. Finish is short, touch of banana. Trying the 12, 15, and 18 back to back.

While this pour is thin, and not super complex it's very pleasant. The nose is lemon peel, tangerine, and a hint of cigar ash. Upon the palate is yields green apple and shortbread notes that slightly remind me of a distant cousin in something like Jameson. Thats quickly whisped away with the faint peaty finish. Cigarette ash is a valid note on the finish, wheres something from Islay would give you stronger campfire or cigar ash notes. It's not complex, its mouthfeel is thin. But it's inoffensive and cheap enough to mix into cocktails. I'd like to do a blind tasting of this against Monkey Shoulder to see if my favorite Monkey pour is worth the $5-10 more per bottle.

Is it overrated? Nose is cherry pie filling from the can. Body is substantial. Cherry, walnut. I hate the word smooth as a description but dammit it's smooth. Most rounded whiskey I've had to date that wasn't boring. Hype is real. Pappy is next.