Tastes

So I have both the pre 2017 bottle and the recent 2019 Viking bottle. I drank both back to back and now I understand all the hate on the new vintage. They are very different expressions. I am not sure if it is because they had more old stock in the older version, got popular and went with younger spirits or if it is just the normal variation of a small distillery that got very popular. Pre-2017 bottle has much more character. Very spicy and peppery on the palate. Not so much sherry, little smoke on the finish. It was more complex than the current dram. The Viking bottle was more sherry forward and had some sulphur tones. It was less adventurous and more floral. A very different dram but still very drinkable. They are both good whiskys but I get how people who loved the old HP 12 would not like the new. It tastes that different. The old is probably a 3.5 and the new is probably 3 so I am going with a 3. If you can find the old HP 12, grab it. Much more flavorful and fairly well balanced but still brash and young. The newer is much more subdued and more sherry forward.

Big sherry influence. Mine was bottled in 2019 and likely has a minimum of 22-23 year old stock due to the 1996-2002 closure of GlenD and it must have some even older stock, possibly much older. Age isn't everything though and some whisky does not improve past a certain point. Cask quality is super important. However this is whisky made by The Glendronach in the old way with floor maltings and slight peat kilning. They had lots of casks in storage and the legendary Billy Walker went out and bought some back and got more. They are mixing plenty of good aged spirit into this IMHO. You really need to let it sit and rest for a little bit after pouring or you will get cheated. I recommend pouring and sip, wait 15 minutes and sip again, wait 10-15 minutes and consume. You can bide your time with badminton or preparing a flan but I recommend what I do: Drink Talisker 10 and Distiller's editon to pass the time. You could also consume any of the Macallan 12s and lament the slow decay of the Macallan stock if that is your thing. This whisky is extremely dark and thick and viscous. Great mouth feel and nice finish. Hold it on the tongue as long as you can and you will not be disappointed. It deserves to be consumed slowly and deliberately like a very delicate and expensive wine while you contemplate your fragile existence.

I had this at the Talisker Distillery and it was great for an inexpensive NAS whisky. I see it for $36 locally and it is well worth that.

Fairly harsh on the palate. I hate to pile on but it is true what is being said about Macallan. Except for a few expensive bottles, they are really mediocre. It is drinkable and if you like the Macallan flavor profile you will enjoy but I have other bottles in the price range I would much rather drink. Talisker 10 absolutely destroys this and I can procure it for less $.

You can absolutely taste the oak but it doesn't overpower like some of the oakey speysides do. It is a different note from Talisker, refined and mature but still Talisker. I like it but will probably only keep the Distiller's edition or 10-year on hand after it is gone due to price/value. It may be too subtle for my palate to fully appreciate but through many more drinkings, I will endeavor to understand deeper.

This is a travel exclusive and I had to hunt this down. It is really interesting. I am not a huge peat fan but the cognac cask really offsets the peat. There are a lot of good things going on when you take a sip. It's like there is a party on my palate and EVERYONE is invited. I am still trying to figure out exactly how I feel about this but I enjoy drinking it and I will continue to do so...

I've had this twice now and it is agreeable if a little reserved. I can taste the Balvenie and Glenfiddich influence but I wish it had more character. It's also a little youthful and rough. I can see people drinking a lot of it for the flavor references and the value. It is probably really enjoyed on the rocks but I have had it neat so far.

sherry bomb. Still fruity and pleasant with strong sherry finish. I don't love sherry so i score it a little low. If you like sherry, probably more like a 4-4.5 range.

Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich on palate.