Tastes
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Thomson Manuka Smoke "Progress Report"
Single Malt — New Zealand
Reviewed November 8, 2018 (edited November 18, 2020)Managed to make it to this distillery last weekend as part of a stag do and tried a tasting flight including this one. Definitely a different experience. Wouldn't drink to much of it but an extra .25 for uniqueness. Users NZ barley smoked over native Manuka wood. Younger but not harsh, manuka smoke dominates. 3.5 -
Oban 2001 Distillers Edition (Bottled 2016)
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed October 25, 2018 (edited November 21, 2021)Like PBM I'm down to a weekly dram or two these days and in fact it may even have been a couple of weeks since a dram passed my lips so this tasted great. I had to look up what Montilla Fino was and basically its a dry sherry from the small area / town of Montilla. I wouldn't say I've been awash in Oban tasting in my lifetime, this is the third after the 14 and Little Bay but I'd say it's my favourite so far. Butterscotch, honeyed-sherry, perfect sweetness and great balance. 4 for me. -
Auchentoshan Blood Oak
Single Malt — Lowlands, Scotland
Reviewed October 12, 2018 (edited July 19, 2019)Blood orange grapefruit, citrus, grass, spice, toffee. Not a bad nice drop however it is a bit thin with the ethanol overpowering what the casks have to offer. Also the grapefruity bitterness on the aftertaste grates a bit. 3.6 is the average rating here on distillery and I agree. -
Blended Whisky No. 1 - 35 year Old Batch 3 (That Boutique-y Whisky Co.)
Blended Malt — Scotland
Reviewed October 5, 2018 (edited November 11, 2018)Very strong raisan, currant xmas fruit thing going on here. Reminds me instantly of the 13 year Hazelburn Olorosso without the excessive sulfur (although there is a tinge along with bitterness on the aftertaste). Leaving it to open up for 30 mins definitely improves things (or maybe it just gave my palate time to adjust). A lovely example of a sherry cask. 4.25 to 4.5 for me. One of 1428 bottles, now sold out. I can see why batch 1 could have won the WWA blended whisky category. -
Del Maguey Chichicapa Mezcal
Mezcal Joven — Oaxaca, Mexico
Reviewed September 27, 2018 (edited October 21, 2019)Wow. I took Cascodes recommendation and ordered a sample and my taste buds are very happy I did (my wallet maybe not given I'm now going to have to try more Mezcals). Smells like ashy dirty sweet green pepper which translates to the palate with sweetness and salt. Nice. I really like this. Still have ashy aftertaste on my tongue. Bit like Rich M not sure what to score this one. Its definitely 4.25 territory maybe even higher even without any Mescal frame of reference. It's a toss up between this and Cognac as my 2nd favorite after whiskey. Will have to put it head to head against Martell xo shortly....and then I did. Tough one I like them both for different reasons....call it a draw....and then onto a freshly opened bottle of Ardbeg Kelpie (num,num) and then back to the mezcal. After that round robin session and drinking more of the mexcal not sure I could have too many drams in a row..the capsicum flavour is starting to get overpowering. Still very nice and interesting. -
Glen Garioch 1998 Wine Cask Matured
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed September 22, 2018 (edited April 29, 2019)Definitely getting the red wine influence. Red berrys, toffee and a blast of alchohol. Not sure if the balance is all there. Won't rate as the MoM sample was cracked and had leaked so probably not a fair representation of the dram. Still not a bad drop. -
Kilchoman Machir Bay (2016 Edition)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed September 22, 2018 (edited October 21, 2024)Hmm no idea what year this MoM sample is from but I like it. Maritime oily mild peat balances nicely with vanilla and intertwined with a hint of citrus. For me this is a difficult type of dram to pull off as mild and subtle I usually find boring. It's got lovely balance, nice body and a decent amount of complexity. Everything is singing in harmony. 4 for me maybe even a 4.25. Update: I got hold of a 200ml bottle of the 2016 version retried. It's still nice but more 3.5 to 3.75 territory these days i think for me. The peat seems stronger on the salty acidic side which I'm not a fan of. -
Ardmore Port Wood Finish
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed September 21, 2018 (edited October 21, 2024)Not to bad. A bit rough, ready and hot. Blast of peat, port and other elements. 3.5 I'll give it. -
Laphroaig The 1815 Legacy Edition
Single Malt — Scotland
Reviewed September 20, 2018 (edited October 21, 2024)I was quite excited to try this one. Would it rival the Lore? Short answer no...nowhere near the same league. I had CB King St which I enjoyed and thought it would be a lead in to the piece de resistance. Wrong. I should have looked at distiller with a 3.6 average. I'm with PBM and Ric M. It's looks the goods and initially you think it will deliver but the initial taste leads to nothing like the explosion you get with the Lore; no great aftertaste, in fact it's a slightly weird one. It's muted, dumbed down made for Duty Free. I note PBM/Ric M noted quarter cask influence. I have yet to have a good quarter cask anything. Now it's not terrible but at $100USD it should be great and it isn't. 3.5. -
Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed September 20, 2018 (edited March 9, 2021)End of a working week and boy do I need a dram. This one sure packs a lot of components in. Apparently 34% Grain (Cameron Bridge) & 66% Malt (35% Benrinnes, 17% Laphroaig, 8% Clynelish, 2% Miltonduff, 4% Highland Malt (60% Clynelish, 20% Dailuaine, 20% Teaninich)). Maybe it's because it's the 1st dram in exactly (to the hour) 6 days, but I like it. Doesn't scream massive complexity or interestingness but it's well married. And cheap. Ah man Laphroaig I can taste thee. Honey, smoke and other stuff (hint plasticy as another reviewer mentioned?). Leaves a lovely afterglow. 3.5 to 3.75 rounding up to 4 as did I mention.....cheeeeap.
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