Tastes

I tried K, W and the Contact S versions, both imported and Japanese Barley. Tried both first and the 2nd editions.The W, which uses woodfire was not bad but i prefered the K. The peat in this whisky makes it interesting (1st edition, imported barley). The whisky tasted relatively young, but tasted not bad for a 3-4 year old Japanese whisky. Is it mind blowing? no. Is it worth $200 USD? I don’t think so. I have mixed feelings about this whisky. Its not a Scotch and it doesn’t have the characteristics of Japanese whisky. A lot of hype around this whisky and the distillery among the collectors as they are using “parts” of ex-karuizawa stills (not the liquid). I surely got sucked into the hype and ended up buying the K first edition imported barley. Nose: Floral, sweet, plastic funk like the other user mentioned. For me it was more of a melted plastic note which I found weirdly interesting. Palate: Spicy, little harsh, its very young. Its mouth coating and oily thanks to the high abv. The some sweetness started to develop after a splash. Finish: Good medium finish.

From the first pour, Legs/ tears: Thick, first fast legs followed by very slow second legs, viscous appearance. Nose: Starts with a delightful aromas of sweet roasted nuts and bonfire smoke. There's a lovely mix of vanilla, and a hint of burnt honey mingling with stewed fruits. Ginger and pineapple add a zesty twist, while barbecue smoke and burnt cake give it a rich depth. With a splash of water, the roasted nuts and dried fruits really come to life. The peat smoke is very obvious. Its is a mix of bonfire, barbecue and a slight medicinal peat. Palate: Right of the bat, the palate doesn't disappoint. It starts with a punch of pepper and smoke, followed by fiery ginger and baking spices that warm you up. There's a nice heat from cloves and a touch of mild orange peel that adds complexity. The texture is viscous and oily, coating your mouth with flavors of honey-glazed barbecued meat. A slight bitterness from licorice rounds it off nicely. Finish: The finish is warm and satisfying, with traces of gentle smoke and barbecue sauce. Chocolate and faint hints of tar linger, with a touch of medicinal peat. It's a medium-length finish that leaves you wanting another sip. Opinion: Overall, Benromach Peat Smoke Sherry is a standout whisky with a great balance of sweetness, smoke, and spice. It's one to savor and enjoy, especially if you're a fan of peated whiskies with a sherry influence. These initial observations are based on first pour. Definitely worth letting it sit and oxidize for a bit to see how the flavors develop. Cheers to another great dram!

First impressions: This whiskey pours with thick, fast legs and a slow, viscous trail. Nose: It kicks off with a delightful mix of vanilla, oak, and a floral touch, followed by some grain spice and oak tannins. There’s a hint of sawdust, cream soda, and maybe even a trace of marzipan. Palate: The real show begins with a spicy blast of black pepper, astringency, and a zesty lemon kick. It's got a wine vibe with some vegetal and grassy notes. There's an unexpected effervescence, red berries, and almonds. With a bit of water, a faint sweetness starts to peek through, but it's mostly all about the spice and a tad bit of bitterness. Finish: The finish keeps you on your toes with more spice, black pepper, and a hint of cinnamon. There’s a refreshing grapefruit tang, some sourness from grapes, and a touch of bitterness from the tannins. It's short to medium with a little effervescence lingering in the background. Opinion: The wine finish really stands out here. You can almost taste the wine influence, giving the liquid a fizzy, citrusy, peppery, and spicy character. This first pour is quite a ride, and I’ll definitely let it oxidate and revisit. Cheers!

Rampur Double Cask tasting notes: Nose - Fruity: Notes of tropical fruits including papaya, mango, guava, and pineapple. - Other Notes: Pears, mild acetone, with a bit of alcohol bite. - With Water: Water removes the alcohol bite and opens up more mixed fruit scents. Palate - Fruity: Continues with warmth, apples, and dried mango. Guava was starting to be more prominent with few drops of water. - Other Flavors: Salted caramel, raisins, and toffee. Decent mouth feel that is coating but not oily. Finish - Smoothness: Quite smooth with no alcohol burn. - Lingering Notes: Citrus and fruits, hint of cocoa, slight touch of salt, and dried sweet mango staying for a while. - Length: Medium finish but a good one. These notes were based on a neck pour (first pour), I left the whisky to breath for 15-20 mins and added 2ml of water. Overall it was a good start, this one has a good balance between bourbon and sherry taste. A very good NAS whisky with no youth or harshness even for the neck pour. Im sure the whisky is going to get better as i go down the bottle.

Nose: The aroma presents cherry blossoms and an abundance of ripe, tropical fruits. There's a touch of dark chocolate, plum, dark honey and brown sugar, accompanied by a bit of crème brûlée. A sharp acetone note is noticeable, reminiscent of pear and red apples. Adding a few drops of water diminishes these notes. There’s no perfumed scent from the mizunara influence that i was expecting but overall, the whisky smells pleasing. Palate: On the palate, here is where it takes a turn. It’s very sharp and spicy, with hints of honey, brown sugar, and caramel. The tropical fruit notes are present but overshadowed by the sharpness. This sharpness indicates a very young whisky, which is pretty disappointing for a very expensive NAS bottle. Even with a bit of water, the sharpness persists, making it a letdown. Finish: The finish is virtually nonexistent and doesn't live up to expectations. Nothing much to write here. It leaves a lemon citrus note but otherwise lacks depth and is very short. It's probably one of the worst finishes I've experienced. Considering the price, I would not recommend this whisky to anyone. I would happily choose Nikka From the Barrel, which I consider one of the best affordable yet wonderful Japanese whiskies, over this one. Overall: Beautiful nose, but a very thin and disappointing palate, its just too sharp. The finish is non existent. Try a sample at a bar and decide for yourself before investing on an expensive bottle.

One of my all time favorite bourbons. Great for mixing and sipping. Makes excellent Old Fashioned. Nose: Opens with rich oaky and vanilla notes, mixed with hints of pencil shavings from the virgin oak. There's orange citrus and a little nectarines, with a touch of ginger and clove spice. Leather notes appear before water is added. A few drops of water bring out a refreshing menthol candy and mint. Palate: It offers a good mouth coating and isn’t overly sweet. You’ll taste salted caramel and vanilla, with subtle hints of honey and mint. The flavor rounds off with a refreshing subtle orange in the background. Finish: Surprisingly medium to long. It leaves you with notes of lime (not the fruit), oak, spice, and a minty freshness, the freshness stsys for a long time. A little touch of tobacco. The lingering spice and dried orange citrus add a nice final touch.

Nose: The whisky opens with delightful notes of strawberry marmalade, slight smoke, pear, acetone, oak, and vanilla. Palate: It tastes sweet and jam-like, with dried fruits like figs and apricots, along with a hint of lemon peel. Thanks to the barrel strength, the mouthfeel is silky and viscous. Finish: The finish is medium long, featuring spice from grains, grapefruit citrus, and a sweetness that slowly transitions to dark chocolate bitterness. Such a lovely blend. It’s affordable and tastes wonderful. A must in your cabin if you love whisky.

Nose: Starting off, it’s got a gentle peat presence, with mild smoke and an inviting mix of burnt butter and burnt sugar. There are delicious hints of chocolate malt biscuits and roasted nuts—think peanuts and walnuts. Give it another sniff, and you'll get more peat and that unmistakable hospital antiseptic and cigar scent. Adding water brings out slight floral notes, reminiscent of heather. Palate: This whisky’s got a slightly ashy character with dried fruits like figs and apricots mingling with rich chocolate from the oloroso sherry cask. It’s beautifully balanced, with a touch of sweetness and saltiness, a bit of brininess, and a nice hint of salted caramel. There’s a little vanilla and slight oak spiciness that feels just right. The sea salt and brine really bring everything together. Finish: Medium to long, with cigar smoke, leather, and salted caramel lingering on the sides of the tongue. There's a slight spice from the oak, and while I don’t smoke, it feels like having a bite of chocolate after a puff of a cigar. Overall: This Islay single malt is a real gem. It’s not overly peaty, which makes for a lovely, smoky experience. It paints a picture of enjoying chocolate and roasted nuts in an old library or near a cozy fire pit. Would’ve been fantastic if it was 46% ABV and unchill filtered, but it’s a great casual whisky nonetheless.

This is the first pour. Never judge a whisky by first pour. Nose: First pour brings fruity notes from the red wine casks—raisins, berries, and a hint of sea spray. It is a very shy whisky. After a 20-minute rest, the nose was still subtle, so I added water. It opened up to berry-flavored gummies. Gave it another 20 mins. Now it's giving off berry soda vibes. Palate: I like the palate more than the nose. Rich and mouth-coating. Lots of berries—raspberries, cherries—with a bit of chocolate, like a dessert. There's some spiciness that might be from its youth, and it feels like dark chocolate-covered fruits and gummies. Adding water makes it even better (dashes, 4ml in total). Finish: The finish isn’t as long as they claim on the box. I’d say it’s medium. It’s got a nice subtle bitterness, dryness maybe from tannins, with dried berries and dark chocolate, and a sweet licorice finish. You can feel the dryness here. Overall Impression: First pour shows promise with a complex nose and rich palate. The berries and chocolate make for a unique experience. The finish isn’t super long, but this whisky feels like it’ll reveal more with each pour. Definitely worth exploring further. Surprisingly i got no peat or smoke at all not even a hint of it. I will revisit this soon.

Nose: Right off the bat, you're hit with a strong oak presence—it's an oak bomb for sure. There's a lovely mix of vanilla and caramel in there too. As you keep sniffing, some fresh fruits start to peek through. Initially, it has a bit of a perfumey vibe, but give it a moment, and you'll notice some floral notes coming out. Adding a splash of water (about 2ml) really brings out these floral characters, some blue flowers i can’t name. Palate: The first sip is a burst of apples and papaya, with a slight burnt wood note, no it is not smoky. It's very malty, giving it a rich, full-bodied feel. The whisky has quite a spicyness and anise bitterness that balances the sweetness nicely. The mouthfeel is wonderful—slightly oily with cinnamon baking spices adding warmth and a bit of astringency to keep things interesting. Finish: The finish carries on with the oak and anise notes, leaving a pleasant warmth that lingers. It's medium to long, so you get to enjoy those flavors for a good while.