Tastes

NEAT - // BATCH 27 // This whisky is like a vapor. Everything here comes and goes and quickly as you smell and taste it. Nonetheless… NOSE - Orange/Citrus, Ripe Bannana, Honey, and Vanilla PALATE - With the exception of the ripe bannana note, everything on the nose comes through on the palate but again, it’s very brief. This is also the first whisky that I’ve had that I can describe as “airy” on the palate. It’s just very watery despite the pleasant notes. FINISH - Essentially nonexistent. BUY? - I think this whisky serves the purpose of getting people into the flavor profile of scotch, whether it be blended or single malt. For that purpsose, this whisky is great. For connoisseurs and enthusiasts, you likely won’t replace this bottle and neither will I. BUY AGAIN? - No.

NEAT NOSE - Apple, Pear, Grilled Pineapple PALATE - Everything that comes across on the nose follows through on the palate along with a body of vanilla. The mouthfeel is silky smooth but not as coating as I thought it would be judging by the legs. FINISH - Short unfortunately, but the flavors entice you to quickly take sip after sip. BUY? - Yes, especially since this is such a great value. BUY AGAIN? - Yes, absolutely. This is a great flavor profile with a great age and price point. It’s a fruity speyside and I’m just getting into scotch so I’m not sure if that’s normal or not. Nevertheless, it’s worth the price of admission and worth your time.

NEAT NOSE - Oak, Vanilla and a touch of Toasted Marshmallow that quickly dissapears PALATE - An amazing balance of oak, vanilla, and some caramel that comes through near the finish. This bourbon doesn’t do anything particulary new or unique but it does it beautifully. The mouthfeel is somewhat syrupy and it’s smooth going down. No burn whatsoever. FINISH - Medium - Long. Initially, the finish is tannic oak. I did add three drops of water as I felt the oak was a bit too much and after opening up, the finish was more of a sweet oak. This is an amazing balanced bourbon. BUY? Yes, but I’d stick close to SRP. This one can be hard to come by but it’s not worth $100+. BUY AGAIN? - Yes. Blinding this with Weller 12 would be fun.

NEAT NOSE - Pear, Apple, Honey, welcoming Aged Leather and an inticing funk that I can’t pick out. PALATE - Oily and Viscous. It feels sticky and syrupy as it rolls around on the palate. The pear, apple and honey come through on the palate along with a surprise of a very light brown sugar. FINISH - Vanilla, lightly salted butterscotch toffee and a flash of peat smoke at the very end. BUY? - Absolutely. BUY AGAIN? - Absolutely. SUMMARY - I haven’t had too many scotches but I am trying to grow my palate and appreciate new things. This is my first Campbeltown Whisky and wow! This dram is incredibly complex, inviting, and interesting. There is so much flavor here and so much character. The mouthfeel is unbelievable for the ABV/age and I’m looking forward to finding a 16 year in the wild because I can only imagine what that would taste like. If you see this, buy it! I look forward to revisiting this time and time again to see how it develops and what more notes I could pull out and discover from this beautiful whisky!

NEAT NOSE - Immediately, there is a rush of peat on the first few sniffs but it is not overwhelming. Then after a few sniffs, the presence of peat on the nose dissipates in the background as sweet notes of caramel and vanilla come through supported by some citrus notes. PALATE - Just like the nose, the smoke is the first thing noticeable on the palate, but it starts to go away after another sip or two. The whiskey then lends way to more sweet notes of caramel, citrus, and vanilla. FINISH - A subtle, sweet smoky finish medium in length. This whiskey is very pleasant and does not leave your mouth feeling like an ashtray. BUY? - Yes, especially if you are trying to get into Peated Scotch. I have an Ardbeg 10 which is on the completely opposite side of the spectrum and if that was the only peated whiskey I had, I wouldn’t drink them anymore or even try to. Thankfully, I got this one and like it quite alot. Even if you don’t like peated whiskey I encourage you to try it because it’s so approachable. BUY AGAIN? - I wouldn’t be opposed to it but I would love to try this at cask strength!

NEAT NOSE - Caramel, Oak, Vanilla, Strawberries and Cherries. This is a wonderful nose that is not overly complex but is rich, bold, and enticing. PALATE - This is easily the best mouthfeel that I’ve experienced from a regular “small batch” bottled in bond bourbon. For the price point, it’s unmatched and unbeatable. The palate is smooth and buttery and has a nice viscosity to it. All of the notes from the nose hit on the palate wih the caramel, oak, and vanilla hitting first supplemented by the fruit on the back end. There is no burn whatsoever. FINISH - Smooth and medium in length. BUY? - Absolutely, no question about it. BUY AGAIN? - As many as I can until these hopefully became a staple on the shelf again after we see the effects of Buffalo Trace’s increased production.

NEAT NOSE - Loads of caramel and vanilla. There is also hints of cherry burried underneath a rich oak note. The nose is fairly bold but also teases some sweetness. PALATE - Mouthwatering. The mouthfeel is vicsous and chewy. Much better mouthfeel compared to A124. There is a ton of oak and caramel initially on the palate and from beginning to end. The cherry pops through on the palate here and there but the oak and caramel absolutely dominate the palate. The vanilla is not missed however and is definitely noticeable. FINISH - Long, bold and rich. BUY? - Absolutely. This is a really solid batch. BUY AGAIN? - Not a bad idea to back this one up, but I myself won’t. It’s great but I’ll likely get C924 instead of backing this up.

NEAT NOSE - Prominent cherry notes supported by subtle hints of caramel and oak. Not very complex, but a pleasant nose overall. PALATE - Caramel and iak dominate the palate with the cherry coming on the back end and finish. The most dissapointing part of this batch is the mouthfeel, as it isn’t as viscous and coating as some of the others. Regardless, it’s still a somid batch at a great price. FINISH - Cherry soaked oak with a kick of spice. Medium in length. BUY? - Yes, but not a pass that you’d regret. BUY AGAIN? - While enjoyable, I wouldn’t back up this batch.

Tried at a bar. NEAT NOSE - Raspberries, Grape, Strawberries, Honey, and Caramel PALATE - The grape and raspberry are the first to hit your palate and it transitions to the strawberry and into a finish of honey and caramel. Beautifully complex, rich, smooth, and sweet. FINISH - Sweet honey and caramel. Long BUY? - Absolutely! Especially at SRP but despite how great this is, I’d struggle to pay today’s secondary rates for this.

Tried at a Bar. NEAT NOSE - Rich, Bold Notes of Caramel, Honey and Dark Brown Sugar. Soft, Sweet Oak and Dark Fruits PALATE - Everything on the nose shines through on the palate and then more! The mouthfeel is thick and viscous with a mouth coating texture. This is an extremely well balanced bourbon. FINISH - Long. BUY? - If I actually found this at retail I may have to buy it. Due to its already high price however, I refuse to pay anymore than $30 over retail.