Tastes

I'm going to assume that this is the 2018 release based on the time that I purchased this one, but it isn't indicated anyone on the packaging. Looks like these guys aren't too concerned with capitalizing on vintages. I've had my fair share of the classic Islay malts, so I thought it'd be good to give one of the up-and-comers a shot. Plus, it came with two glencairns. Not too shabby. Nose: Very young, very peaty. Honey, vanilla, black pepper, apple, pear, and butterscotch. Big time lemon and grapefruit citrus as well as salt and black pepper. I'm unable to detect any sherry influence; if I didn't know better I'd guess it's exclusively bourbon-cask aged. Palate: Smoke and oil heavy. Campfire smoke and ash. Some maritime notes of salt and seaweed, complimented by sweeter notes like white chocolate, vanilla, apple and pear. Cinnamon and black pepper toward the end. Still getting lemon, but it's less pronounced than it was on the nose. Finish: Moderate to long. More of the same from the palate; it maintains a nice balance between the spice of cinnamon and black pepper and the sweetness of white chocolate and vanilla. The 46 ABV is enough to give this one a very respectable finish. Overall, this is a solid effort. Based solely on this expression, I'd say Kilchoman can hang with the big boys from Islay. Would love to taste an age-stated bottling from these guys. For reference, I'd liken it to Lagavulin 8; this Machir Bay being a slightly toned-down version of the Lag 8. And in my opinion, that's good company to keep. At $59, this a worthy purchase for any Islay fan. Especially if you like the younger Lagavulin expressions. It doesn't stand out in any way, but is remarkably balanced and has grown on me a great deal since I first opened it. For now, it's a 3.75, but I may bump that up with a subsequent tasting because this stuff has continued to surprise me with each glass. And I did. Bumped up from 3.75 to 4.5. That's a big jump but it just gets amazing with time. Nose, palate, finish. Hits every damn note. Well done. Looking forward to the next Kilchoman expression

Alright, it's Suntory Time. If you gave a blind pour and then told me that I was drinking a Speyside malt, I'd accept it without reservation. Nose: Floral and fruity. Big-time gala apple note is present right off the bat. Next it's honey sweetness, and beneath that is some sherry sweetness. Plum, apricot, and red berry in particular, and even some pound cake. A bit of cinnamon, baking spice, and ginger. Throughout, there is a distinct pine note, which is somewhat of a deviation from the standard Speyside profile. Outside of that however, it's Speyside through and through; though I must say, this is a step of from the average Speyside. A second pour reveals the classic Irish whiskey shortbread note. Somewhat reminiscent of Green Spot. It's a nice touch. Palate: Rich and buttery upon arrival. Custard sweetness right off the bat. The red apple is still there, accompanied by more honey and the standard vanilla. As the palette progresses, there is a seamless transition to zesty orange and decadent chocolate. Malty and oaky. This palate is dessert sweet without overdoing it. Incredibly balanced and definitely the highlight for me. It's a perfect balancing act of confectionery sweetness, fruit sweetness, citrus, and oak. Well done, Suntory. Finish: Medium length. The spice that was prominent in the nose resurfaces at this point. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and other baking spices. Prominent oak. It doesn't add a great deal of depth to the whisky, but it is worthy finish to a superb pour. Surprised? Didn't think so. If you're familiar with Speyside single malts, you could have seen the direction I've taken with this review from a mile away. What is surprising is that this Japanese blend, and many others that I've tried, share more in common with Scotch than Irish whiskey does. I guess geography only goes so far. I am impressed by this one, especially by the palate. I've likened this one to a Speyside malt; yet, I have to say it is a cut above the average Speyside whisky. The ginger and pine notes help to set this one apart. It lacks the complexity of a 5-star whisky, but it makes up for this with incredible balance and consistency. Bearing in mind that we tend to pay a premium for Japanese whisky, I'd say I got every penny out of my $80. If you're a fan of Speyside/Highland malts and you're looking for something new, this will be right up your alley. It's a shame this stuff has gotten so hard to find; forget about the age statement Hibiki. But for now, this'll do. 4.5/5.

With this 12 year, I've now owned all 4 of the standard Lag bottlings (though I suppose it's technically a special release). This 2017 had some of the best marks in this line, so I figured it would be worth the high cost. Lagavulin has yet to let me down, so naturally, my expectations are high. Nose: Quite a bit going on here. The first thing that jumps out at me are the big citrus notes. Heavy lemon and maybe even a slight grapefruit. Candied orange; more sweet than citrusy. Behind that are some sweeter notes: honey, vanilla, coconut, and honeydew. Apricot and toffee as well. Agave. It's very peaty though the smoke is more of a background note. The Islay characteristics come instead in the form of sea salt and iodine. Almond and heavily salted cashew. Some light cinnamon, no doubt a product of the high ABV, but far less than you'd expect of a 56.5% whisky. Other than that, there is not a trace of alcohol detectable under the layers of complex aromas. Superb. Palate: Creamy but also oily. Here, the classic Lagavulin campfire smoke makes itself available. The big citrus notes are still present, though it's mostly lemon now. There is also quite a bit of black pepper spice. Iodine, ash, and sea salt are still present, as well as vanilla, custard, toffee, and honey. Red apple and raisin. Rich dark chocolate is prominent, one of my favorite features of Lagavulin. Behind that is a bit of mint chocolate. Salted caramel comes on strong at the back end of the palate. It drinks as though it's a far lower proof yet maintains the cask strength character throughout. Phenomenal. Finish: Long. Initially, I'm hit with smoked salmon, one of the most unique and satisfying notes I've ever gotten. After that, it's back to dark and mint chocolate and salted caramel with a couple slices of Granny Smith apple. Dinner and dessert. Cinnamon and black pepper take over once the sweetness fade, carrying the finish off into sunset. It just doesn't get any better. No plot twists here. This is an easy 5 stars. Having already had the 16 and 8, I must say that this one fits perfectly in between the two. The 12 captures the brash youth of the 8 and adds some of the refined characteristics one can only achieve with age. Heavy citrus, smoke, and spice meet dessert rich confectionery sweetness and dark fruit. Throw in the fact that its cask strength and a nice of piece of smoked salmon, and this is quite easily one of the best whiskies I have ever had. Even at $130, I'd do it again, and I think you should, too.

This one speaks for itself. It's a household name and one of the most popular mixing whiskies at the moment. Let's see how it works as a stand-alone sipper. Nose: Lots of rye spice, as expected with 95% rye in the mash bill. Clove spice and cinnamon as well. Some nail polish and grassy hay. Not a great deal going on and not a particularly great start. Palate: Things quickly improve with the palate. Once again, rye is the word. It's like taking a huge bite into a piece of untoasted rye bread. There is also vanilla, clove, and black pepper. Not particularly interesting, but enjoyable nonetheless and a huge step up from the nose. Finish: Medium. Cinnamon and black pepper from start to finish. About halfway through the finish, a nice black licorice note moves to the forefront. More than halfway through the bottle, I can certainly see the appeal. While I never go out of my way to have a cocktail, I can see how this would work as a great base. And as a sipper, it's worth keeping around for when it's time to put away the good stuff but you can still need another drink. I get to rough start with the nose every time I pour this one, but the palate onward yields a surprisingly rewarding experience. Great VFM bumps this one up from a ~2.75-3 to a solid 3 stars.

I had the good fortune of sampling this one very early in my whisky drinking days. At that time, this stood out as a sort of gold standard for Scotch. Fast forward a couple years and exposure to a host of comparable options, and I’ve got a bottle at my disposal to put this highly-touted malt to the test. Nose: Very sweet. Heavy honey and floral notes. A tad oily. There is also orange and citrus. White grape that is reminiscent of white wine. I’m no expert here, but it reminds me a bit of a Sauvignon Blanc. Caramelized apple, pear, apricot. Golden raisin. Toffee. Sherry is detectable but for less than in any other Macallan I’ve had. Some oak spice in the background, as well as white pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Damn good nose. Palate: Initially it is very creamy and buttery; however, it quickly becomes dry. The orange and citrus are still present, now accompanied by plum, raisin, and vanilla. True to its name, oak is prominent throughout. White grape, apple, pear, and apricot. Chestnut and toffee. Upon pouring a second glass, I detect some chocolate in the background. Cinnamon, oak, and white pepper. Solid plate. Finish: This is the highlight of the Macallan 15. Here, the whisky best delivers on the promise displayed on the packaging. The finish begins with orange zest and rich milk chocolate before a sharp but welcome transition into oak spice and cinnamon in what amounts to a moderate-to-long finish. There is chestnut and plum skin mixed in as well. With hindsight, I can understand why I thought so highly of this one. I still do. It is above average at every turn and boasts a superb finish that makes a lasting impression. It certainly is well-balanced. It is rich and complex and so I have no complaints with this one. I will say that it is a bit overpriced at $100. Furthermore, it does not truly excel until the finish. I'm back to add to this 2 and a half years later. Ironically, this bottle is one of the older-style 15s, while the one from my first review donned the same packaging the 15 has today. Whether it's that I have a more refined palate now or the fact that Macallan was better before the adoption of the modern packaging (and the advent of the Double Cask Series,) I'm getting a much better balance between nose, palate, and finish. I also detect more sherry than I did back then. Chalk it up to 2 and a half years of extra whisky-drinking experience, or the fact that the product of the past may simply have been superior; either way, I feel strongly about boosting this from my original score of 4 flat to an improved 4.25.

I was compelled to buy this one after a friend sent me an article that discussed the 2018 bourbon of the year. This one beat out Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, which, though I'd yet to try it, had enough of a reputation to get me interested in this Old Ezra. After seeing it at a very reasonable $45, I pulled the trigger. Nose: Traditional bourbon notes turned up a notch. Very rich. Big-time caramel, brown sugar, and oak. I'm not sure what the mash bill is here, but the corn notes really come through. Beneath that, I get new couch leather and tobacco. A trace of vanilla. Great nose. Palate: Heavy caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, peanut, and sweet cola. Shockingly easy-going upon arrival. This changes, however, when the spice kicks in on the mid-palate. Lots of cinnamon, as well as nutmeg and other baking spices. Oak is prominent throughout. Finish: Medium-to-long. Maybe a tad shorter than I was expecting considering the ABV, but it's still very respectable. Spicy cinnamon hits hard. The charcoal-mellowing also shows up here. While I can identify the same characteristic that I get in Jack Daniel's products, it's done infinitely better in this one. Bourbon of the year? Maybe. I'd probably take the Elijah Craig (though to be fair the one I picked up was 2017). However, this is half the price of that one, and really not all that far behind. This one punches well above its weight class in terms of quality, but has is as drinkable as far weaker bourbons. At $45 it's a no-brainer, and quite possibly the best value of 2018. If you're into bourbon, pick this one up. It will not disappoint. Edit: I've finally finished this one 3 months after cracking. After some oxidation, I must say that it has only gotten better with time. I've decided to bump it from 4.75 to 5 stars because it's amazingly balanced and comes at a ridiculously low price when you consider what's inside.

Woodford was one of my first true sipping whiskies. At that point in my whiskey journey, it stood toward the top of the pack. Years later, I'm curious to see how this one holds up. Nose: It's a notably dusty nose. Very standard for a bourbon. Caramel, vanilla, maple, cola, cocoa. Oak is prominent. It's a bit grassy as well. Faintly reminiscent of the smell of fresh-cut hay. Occasionally, I pick up the scent of a burnt/burning match. Solid nose. Palate: A tad water and thin. Doesn't destroy the experience, but it is a slight detractor. Once again, standard bourbon notes. Caramel, honey, vanilla, toffee, and cocoa. Cinnamon and black pepper are especially prominent with the high rye mash bill. Oak is still prominent. Finish: Moderate, maybe slightly above average in length. Spicy notes coming in the form of cinnamon and black pepper. There's also a bitterness similar to what you'd get with an IPA. Overall, this bourbon is exactly what one should expect it to be. In terms of price and quality, this one floats between what I'd classify as the first and second tiers. It's slightly above the standard entry level, but cannot compete with McKenna 10, Eagle Rare, Maker's 46, Four Roses SB, Russell's 10, etc. At $34, this is a fine value. Another example of a reliable bourbon that you can find in a pinch. And in my opinion, it's one of the top 5 introductory bourbons for beginners. Not too sweet, not intense, and a great representative of the genre. My only complaint is that it's a bit thin and just doesn't feel like it's really 45.2%. More like 43 or even less. That aside, this one is good enough to warrant its reputation.

Angel’s Envy is one if the champion drinks for the casual whiskey drinkers. I’m not complaining about that, as it means I get to have a lot more of it when I’m over a friend or family member’s house. I generally try to mix it up almost every time I drink, so I feel like I’ve Nose: At first, this appears to have a very standard bourbon nose. Caramel, vanilla, almond, peanut brittle, brown sugar, and black pepper. Maple pecan. As I dug further, I was able to detect what can only be likened to a berry parfait (blueberry, strawberry, yogurt). I suspect that this is the port influence at work. Heavy cocoa. Sawdust. Clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: This is the highlight of the whiskey. Initially, it's more standard bourbon notes. Cinnamon, black pepper, brown sugar, leather, peanut brittle, vanilla, and caramel. There's a surprising, and welcome, bite right off the bat. Then, as with the nose, the port barrel influence makes itself at the tail end of the palate. This time, I experience what can only be equated to a banana walnut muffin. Maple pecan ad well. Very good. Finish: Moderate in length. Once again, surprisingly hot for the ABV. Big-time cinnamon and black pepper notes. Cocoa, almond, pipe tobacco, black tea, and oak notes. Overall, this one is solid. Bumping up the ABV to even the bourbon standard of 45% would likely do wonders for this. I'm sure the cask strength is phenomenal. I wouldn't go so far with this one though. As it is, this is very good. I came back to this one after 5 years. It’s .5 star better. Maybe this batch (Batch 87Y, Bottle 1621) is better than what I had back then, or more likely than that, the product has improved. It’s also possible I’ve developed a proclivity for this after years of having it out. It also demonstrates thegreat potential in finishing bourbon in various types of casks. Would recommend to a Speyside/Highland drinker looking to break into the bourbon scene, or to a bourbon drinker looking for a change of pace. Decent value at $50. Overall, pleasant experience. Hopefully we'll see this at 45% one day. Regardless, this was a fine experiment and will hopefully continue to remain a fixture in public and private bars alike. Cheers.

Batch C917. 65.5%. I'd heard the hype for quite some time, so I decided to finally take the plunge and shell out for this one. This will be the first of a short string of bourbon reviews, and I've got to say this one is my favorite by a decent amount (also by far the most expensive). I often read comments where reviewers suggest that a particular whiskey is almost there, and that a cask strength release would put it over the top. Heaven Hill ensures that one will never say such a thing about Elijah Craig, with this Barrel Proof taking what is a pretty decent entry level bourbon and bringing it to its full potential. Nose: The nose makes itself known immediately. Caramel, vanilla, crisp red apple, cinnamon, black pepper, and a heavy oak presence. Clove and nutmeg. Black cherry. Almond and walnut. Also a big leather note, like a baseball glove. Enough complexity to mask most of the ethanol. Very nice start. Palate: The oak is presence is even more prominent than it was on the nose. Nice barrel char. Caramel, vanilla, and cola are the most prominent. Nutmeg, brown sugar, and cocoa are also there. It's mostly sweet, but there is some black pepper and cinnamon spice. Done to perfection, and astoundingly drinkable without water at 131 proof. Finish: Long finish that comes in waves. Not all that hot. I'll call it a warming finish. Definitely cinnamon and black pepper, but there are sweeter chocolate and cola. Amazing from start to finish. This is my first batch of ECBP, and now I'm going to be hunting down as many as I can possibly find. It's an absolutely phenomenal experience. At $90, it's an expensive buy, but worth every penny. I think that the standard EC is a respectable entry level bourbon. But at Barrel Proof, this stuff really shines. Well done on top shelf pour, Heaven Hill.

I hadn't had the chance to try the original 15 Revival so I can't compare this to its predecessor. That was aged exclusively in Olrosso sherry casks while this one also spent time in PX casks. Nose: Absolute sherry bomb, as one would expect from Glendronach. Loads of dark fruits: dark cherries, plums, blackberries, and grapes. I also get the new car leather I often associate with sherried scotch. Cola, dark chocolate, vanilla, banana, and, toffee round what is a very sweet nose. Palate: Heavy sherry once again. Cola and Christmas pound cake. Plum, fig, and cocoa. It's got a velvety texture. All very standard notes for a sherried Highland, though I find this to be the most rich and cohesive of the bunch that I've tried so far. Finish: Sharp transition from sweet to heat, which I'm enjoying. There's a nice kick that reminds me that this one is a bit stronger than the average Scotch at 46%. Cinnamon and pepper spice, moderate to long finish. Overall, a solid sherried Highland. Upon cracking the bottle, I had this pegged as a shoo-in for 5-star rating. I was prepared to write it up as a game-changing, bar-setting Highland malt. After a month and a few subsequent tastings, I've determined that while it's far above average, it doesn't quite reach the summit. It's damn good, and if you see for it under $100, I'd highly recommend a purchase. At $90, I think it's a fine value. Bottled at 46% with dual sherried cask aging, this is a respectable dram. This and it's 12 year old younger brother are fantastic values, and I look forward to trying the 18 next. So far, Glendronach stands out as the pound-for-pound king of sherried Highland Scotch, and that's due in no small to the fine effort produced with this 15 year old.