Tastes

Wow...its like pure honey mead or dessert ice wine. In fact if someone told me it was the latter I'd believe them. The 40% helps but still it's like I'm not even drinking whiskey. Bit of nutmeg, spice, vanilla, white grape/wine and more. Very interesting dram. I was thinking after drinking a raft of average drams my palate was off but now it just doesn't tolerate mediocrity that well anymore. I had rinsed out my glass prior but this tolerates zero water so I thoroughly dried and had another pour and was rewarded further. 4.25 - 4.5. Now I wouldn't say its 5 territory as its missing at least 6% abv and whilst complex it's not 5 level. Also it feels its a bit too refined to mass market duty free level. Plus I wouldn't pay $220 USD a bottle. Balvanie is moving up to my top 10 distillers.

Nose is a bit glueish almost sakeish. Very little flavour compared to the Glendelough I had again mild vanilla ethonally sake. All the Balblairs I've had have been solid 3.5 affairs. This 2.5

Green apples, citrus, vanila, honey and bitterness. 3.25

A mates bottle. Winner on the night for me. I preferred over Four Roses single barrel bourbon bottle I bought and just pipped by the Tullibardine Murray. It's me to a tee; spicy rye profile, minimal sweetness and not that rich or deep but I could drink this all day. Solid 4. My second Knob Creek both cheap and great.

Well they say 2 out of three ain't bad. Sweet, mild and simple....ok enough of the relationship jokes now onto the bourbon :-). Bit on the sweet side for me but solid for the price. 3

Another dual tip down the sink by both of us. It had a weird almost fake honey vanilla profile and the aftertaste was an off citrus. Least favorite of the range. 2.

Tastes just like I like my women. Hot and simple. Joking! (in case my wife reads this). Well after 50% bourbans this tasted higher strength. Not rough, nice simple vanilla and hint of sherry. 3.25

Cask number 596. Well on the good side it didn't taste like 56.1%. And that's where the good stops. It was a weird flavour, rubber, tainted almost sour sherry. I think the cask was stuffed. Others have rated highly but I shared this sample with a mate and we both tipped it down the sink so wasn't just my taste buds having an off day. 1.75

Hmm nice drop. Some say peated Bunnabahain, caol ila, ardbeg. I'm learning to the latter especially on the nose...intense charcoal peat, honey, whisp of citrus. A review said its like stepping into a wet forest sauna and drinking in the moist air and I agree. Bit Ardbeg Groovish, not as deep charcoal as the committee but richer than the standard and more well rounded than both. The more I drink I'm like yeah I could imagine this to be a 18 Ardbeg. Nice drop. 4.25.

When asking for a whiskey list in a bar I was directed to a closet. It was a reputable bar so I wasn't too worried about walking my way in one side and then out the other side into a specialized whiskey bar where I found this dram. I think the entry to the whiskey bar was more interesting than this dram. Light and inoffensive. 3