Tastes

This is a review for the 23 year old 1991 Batch 3 version. I'm assuming it's the same as the age and abv match. Anyhow to the whisky. I bought it as I'm on a mission to try all Scotland's finest commercially available distilleries. I never heard of this one until I checked all the distilleries out there. Apparently I'm not the only one as reviews online start off...'The little known distillery...'. Founded by William Grant & Sons in 1990 it was built to take some of the production strain off its sister distilleries of Balvenie and Glenfiddich.  The majority of the whisky produced there is used in Grant's blended range and Monkey Shoulder.  Kininvie is located on the same site as its sister distilleries and shares aspects of their production. Anyway the whisky. It's a nice drop, until I researched I thought it was a grain whisky by the taste. Very light flavour profile but very nicely balanced. I had this after a dram of Macallan Rare Black and it held up well. Another review summed it up as vanilla, lemon, grass and icing sugar which encapsulates it well. ~$140 USD and a 4.25 for me. One of those drams I don't usually like as its a bit ethereal but it pulls it off nicely due to the multi faceted well balanced flavour profile.

I definitely think I've reached near the pinnacle of what Macallan has to offer. This is a very nice dram. Raisin, sherry, toffee, oily beautifulness and more. I wouldn't say however for me it's a 5 star experience. Unlike some of the 1/3rd of the price single cask Glendronachs I've had or the Bruchladdich Black Art 1990 (at half the price) which at first sip I was like OMG this is astounding. The alcohol has a slight astringency and isn't 100% in balance and at $500USD a bottle here its a 4.25 - 4.5 rounding down to a 4 for me.

This one definitely grows on you. Vanilla and tropical blend as Joe C noted. Was harsh to begin with but improved over time. I'd say 3.5 - 3.75

Back in my favourite bar sadly for the 3rd to last time for an unknown period of time. Weeks, months, years, never? No my liver hasn't failed I'm just cutting my travel down to days away rather than overnights. My projects are well under control and little need to be on the ground as much and the missus is switching contracts and ramping up work hours so I'm getting more hands on with the kids. As they say what's more important than family? Whisky is the correct answer so back to that... this is good. Best on the night due to it's uniqueness but I think I may have preferred the ledaig 12 for all round sipping enjoyment. Anyway I'll let that one fester and splinter my sanity further. Very similar to the 2017 AD so I won't repeat notes, however not as much of a sherry influence but I think the bourban finished Ledaig is imprinting itself. Def a bit harsher spirit though. 3.75 I'll give it. A step down from the 4.25 of its double aged 1 year older brother.

Amazingly this came 2nd on the night. Woah have I fallen back in love with the bitter peat profile I didn't like then did then didn't and now am warming to again....argh my head hurts. To answer my original question and confuse things further yes and no...uh? I'm not a huge fan of the flavour but it has character something the Arran 14, Springbank and Hazelburn 10 all largely lacked on the night as they vaguely blended together in a shapeless way. 3.75

Nice, light vanilla, oily lemony salt. Not a bad drop but similar to Springbank 10 its older and diverser brothers are just so much better. Def my least favourite Hazelburn. But better than the SB 10 by a half mark. 3.5

The problem here is the 15 and 18 are so good unique beasts that the 10 pales in comparison. It really didn't have much flavour. 4th out of 5 on the night behind Hazelburn 10, Ledaig 12 and Ardamurchan 2016AD

I'm getting lazy (or maybe is it just efficient..) so I'll start poaching from other reviews. The collective experience sums things up way better than I every can so why bother..little value will be added here. I'll throw in salted green toffee apples from Lee which nailed it (word order shifted slightly around :-)) and I will sum up by agreeing with PBMs sentiment. I think a few great reasonably priced successes have gone to Compass Boxes head. The pricing is getting stupid and completely out of wack with the product. $170USD for this? Still its at least a 3.75 to 4.

Aha this I like. The sample I had of Phenomenonly wasn't in balance this however definitely is. Nearly 3% abv higher but the alcohol balances nicely with the flavour without a drop of water being added. Now this isn't the type of Islay I usually go for as I like a richer more viscous spirit e.g. Talisker, Laphroaig. I thought what does this remind me of..ah yeah Ardbeg and then saw GPs note and was like yeah nailed it :-). Lovely vanilla balance with the peat. I like the Revs 'olive brisket' comment. Haven't heard that one before but it nails it. Water gave it a broader rounder flavour but also weakened some components. Now score... its much better value than Phen but at $120 USD I could get a Cory and a Uggie which I'd rate similar. 4.25 to 4.5 I'll give it.