Tastes

Vanilla, oak, lemon, allspice, with a hint of liquorice. Has a prolonged, searing white pepper finish. Better with a little water. It has a slight industrial petrol note reminiscent of some aged Cuban rums. I wouldn't drink it neat, and it didn't seem to fare well with simple mixers. However, a crafty bartender could doubtless make it shine in any number of concoctions.

A sublime, complex blend that could go toe-to-toe with many single malts, and still come out on top. It's lovely to sip, and mixes brilliantly. The benchmark for 12 year old blends.

Classic bourbon flavors - honey, cherry, vanilla, and charcoal. There's also a touch of orange zest, and a mellow rye spiciness. Inexpensive and pleasant to drink. An excellent value.

If you're expecting to brood over a glass of this for hours, smoking a fine cigar and scribbling down tasting notes, brace for disappointment. If you're expecting to have a couple of scotch and sodas while watching the big game, you'll do just fine. This ain't Talisker, folks. It's an inexpensive, peated blend that fares well with simple mixers. One of the better offerings at the price point.

The Black Bottle largely abandoned its 'Heart of Islay' a few years back, when they altered the blend for greater mainstream appeal. The ongoing bitterness of many peat-heads might blind one to the fact that this is still a decent, inexpensive blend. Toffee, floral honey, tropical fruits, with the barest whiff of old cigar at the end. Kinda like Highland Park Lite. It may not be the smouldering Islay treat it once was, but it's still a pretty good value.

The nose is redolent of sawn lumber, honeycomb, spicy rye, and cherry. Surprisingly little astringency. Prominent flavors of charcoal and vanilla, with a hint of cherry lozenge and toffee. Oaky finish, with a firm rye presence. Robust, but lacking complexity. A decent bourbon for the price, but the Jim Beam Black is cheaper and more nuanced.