Tastes

The Macallan Edition series: Highly sought after, ridiculously-inflated on the second-hand market, and widely polarizing in terms of quality and value. These are the first things that come to mind. This No. 3 is my first experience with one of these, though I plan to go for 2 and 4 at some point. Let's what all the noise is about. Nose: Quite pungent. After reading the blurb about the involvement of a master perfumer in the creation of this whisky, I had some steep expectations for the nose in particular. The notes I get are more akin to what I'd expect of the Fine Oak series as opposed to the more traditional line. It's sweet and fruity. Heavy orange, honey, green apple, vanilla, and toffee. Some date, plum, fig, grape, and date behind that first layer. Apricot and honeydew tucked in behind that. New couch leather. There's a trace of caramel, likely a result of the heavy use of bourbon barrels in this blend. Much less than I would've expected given the high proportion of ex-bourbon aged malt. Heavy, heavy oak. A little bit of nail polish, which I could do without. But other than that it's solid. Palate: Darker than the nose. The background sherry notes from the nose of poundcake, plum, fig, date, grape, and leather are now at the forefront. Still getting the apple, apricot, and toffee. Fruity tartness and some white chocolate and vanilla ice cream. And once again, it's quite oaky. Black pepper spice as well. While that may sound great, I really have to dig for those notes. Solid palate, though it can’t hold up to the stellar nose. Finish: Oak bomb. It's surprisingly bitter. Some plum and raisin hit heavy. Milk chocolate and orange zest. Beyond that, it's really just cinnamon spice, likely a result of the 48.3 ABV. Medium-long finish. So where does this leave us? I am quite impressed with the nose. Other than the artificial aroma of nail polish, it pretty much hit the mark in every way. From there, however, I was underwhelmed. I wouldn't say it was bad, just that the palate and finish were subpar compared to the nose. I'm here to drink, not to sniff. Ultimately, that's going to hurt the score for this one. This one seems like it was a nose-driven operation from the start. The master perfumer, Roja Dove, certainly held up on his end of the bargain. But this simply was not a $100 whisky. If you want to spend $100 on Macallan, stick with the 15 year. This is really only worth purchasing if you're a die-hard collector like myself. With that being said, I've got to say I respect Macallan's effort here. They are go to great lengths to provide the consumer with insight into the aging process. Painstaking transparency. If you want the box score, check their website, because I'm not about to transcribe paragraphs of info. The point is, a lot of distilleries frivolously pump out sub-par, overpriced, NAS annual-release crap with no conscience. But with this one, I can tell that there was a genuine and concerted effort to produce a top-notch blend. It just didn't pan out. The result is a great nose, and an otherwise middling malt. Yet, I can sense the effort, and thus would not be prejudiced toward the other Mac. Edition releases in the future. Edit: Same night as this above tasting. Been working on it a bit more. Given considerable time in the glass, the palate becomes much more respectable. The notes are the same but become far more pronounced as it sits in the glass. Bumped from 3.25 to 3.75, where it'll stay.

Diageo's Distiller's Edition series takes their Classic Malt Range offerings and puts them in sherry casks for an additional 6 months. So for this one, it's the Oban 14 +6 months in sherry. I'm a fan of the latter, and I loved what those 6 months did for the Lag 16. This should be a good one. This is the 2018 Edition. Nose: Classic Oban. Light whiff of smoke is detectable. Heavy on the honey, vanilla, and apple. Distinct soapy note that I associate with Oban. The sherry influence is minimal, though I do get a bit of strawberry jam if I search for it. Relatively light but solid nose nonetheless. Came back to this months later and I've got to say, the nose is much vibrant. Additional notes of pear, apricot, honeydew, cantalope, marshmallow, and custard. I now think it is the most interesting part of the whisky. Palate: Similar to the nose but gets it up a notch. It's still heavy on the vanilla, honey, and apple. This is followed by honeydew, cherry, roasted almond, and toffee. Here, Oban's coastal quality becomes more pronounced. The soapiness is now coupled with a noticeable saline characteristic. Just a puff of smoke. Once again, the sherry influence is in the background. It's cherry and maybe some dark grape. All good things here. I'm a big fan of the honeydew note. Can't say I've picked it up anywhere else. Finish: Respectable for 43 ABV. It's a cross between fruity sweetness coming in the form of cherry, dark grape, and red apple, and a spicy oak and cinnamon punch. The smoke is a bit more prominent here, and the sherry influence shines at this point. Overall, it's good stuff. It won't blow you away or change your perception of Single Malt Whisky. But it does bat well above average from start to finish. It's an easy-going dram that's just complex enough to command your attention. Perfect for a summer evening. Initially, I passed on this one due to price. My local liquor store had this pegged at a hefty $98. However, when this went on sale for $75, I had to pull the trigger. Well worth the money. So far these Diageo Distillers Editions have done me well. Looking forward to trying the rest of the lineup. As for the Oban DE, I'll say 4 stars flat. Well done. Came back to this months later and time has really done this well. Bumped up to 4.25.

Barrel proof bourbon for under $50? Count me in. Nose: An assortment of baking spices and the smell of fresh-cut hay jump out of the glass. Darker sweet notes of caramel, brownie, brown sugar, and cocoa. Maybe some basil and even green tea. Some sawdust in the background. Layers of complexity mask any evidence of a barrel proof whiskey. Palate: Chewy caramel and toffee. Vanilla, cocoa, brown sugar, and plenty of baking spice. Slightly nutty (almond, walnut) and dry fruit (think Trail Mix). Big ginger note. Well-balanced; not too sweet, but not too spicy either. Pepper and cinnamon spice indicates high proof, but it's far more easy-going than you'd expect at 58.4%. Finish: Here comes the wave of cinnamon and pepper. The ABV reveals itself at this point. Long spicy, fiery finish. Very oaky. Great way to finish off a great dram. This is an amazing value. This bottle cost me $43. Normally, I have to spend more than double that amount to get this level of quality. For that alone, I bumped this up half a star. A lot to love here. A complex, balanced, barrel-proofer for a bargain. Wild Turkey really outdid themselves with this one. It can go toe-to-toe with any of the great American heavyweights. This one is up to $50 where I bought this one. Seems it's gotten a small bump in price. Even so, it's still a great value. Only Old Ezra 7 offers this level of quality at this general price point. If you're a lover of high-proof bourbon, I'd highly recommend this one. And if you're not sure if you can handle a barrel proof whiskey, I'd say start here. It's incredibly subtle considering just how strong this one. Well done, WT.

I once bought this as a gift for a friend who almost exclusively drinks the Old No. 7. When he gave me some, I remember thinking it was pretty good, much to my surprise. I'm not a fan of the Old No. 7, but based on my past experience I do have some expectations for this one. Nose: Musty and oaky. Heavy leather, tobacco, butterscotch, black tea, and cocoa. Some standard bourbon notes lie caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, baking spices. Orange citrus. Sawdust. Toffee. A hint of classic JD banana floats somewhere in the background. A little cherry somewhere in there. Clove, nutmeg, black pepper, and cinnamon. Good start. I'm guessing this is a high-corn mash based on the lack of rye characteristics; interestingly though, it's not all that sweet. Palate: Chewy caramel and vanilla wafer sweetness. Instead of the past-ripe overly sweet banana I get with the old No. 7, this one presents more like a banana bread. Maple syrup. Great note. Orange citrus. Flinstones vitamins. Pipe smoke. Toasted almond. Cherry, honey, brown sugar, walnut, leather, and cocoa round off the palate. Good stuff. Finish: Long, and it comes in two waves. The first is all banana, vanilla, and a creamy sweetness. Brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, and toffee. After this subsides, there's a kick of cinnamon, black pepper, and oak to remind that at 47%, this is not your run of the mill Old No. 7. Some red hot tamale All things considered, I think a 3.75 is fair. Maybe a bit generous. I'd like to point out this is a prime example of why the glencairn is the best way to drink whiskey. Maybe it was just an off day, but I tried this two nights ago in a rocks glass. The nose was a mess, and everything else was mediocre at best. Yet, tonight, in a glencairn, everything just seemed to come together. At $48, I think this is a respectable effort. I'll give credit where its due, and JD is on the mark with this one. Considering that I associate these guys with youthful misadventures followed by horrendous morning hangovers, I'm impressed with the quality of this one. It's good to see that the big guys are capable of putting out a solid product. Let it be known that this is far superior to Old No. 7 and Gentleman Jack. Well done JD. Re-visited this just a hair under five years later. New bottle. From Barrel House 2-11. Barrel No. 22-02662. Bottled 3.7.22. I’ve combined my notes for both (which only requires small adjustments) and have boosted the score from 3.75/4. It justifies, especially considering VFM in today’s whiskey market.

Ah, Jameson Black. I remember when I considered this to be a high end whiskey. I've since come a long way, but I do have some fond memories of this one. It's been a couple years, so let's see how this one has held up. Nose: Classic Irish. Vanilla, cereal, toffee, and caramel, shortbread cookie. It's malty and grainy, but more so the former. I suspect there's a high percentage of single pot still, and it definitely comes across as older than the standard Jameson. A faint hint of jam in the background. Some baking spice, cashew, chestnut, and oak. Palate: Once again, standard Irish. Cereal, malt, toffee, vanilla, shortbread cookie, and caramel. Into the mid palate I get raspberry and strawberry. Once again, it's apparent that there's a respectable percentage of single pot still whiskey in this blend. Finish: This is where the 'black' comes into play. Until this point, the barrel hasn't appeared. However, it's prominent right off the bat with this finish. It's accompanied by cinnamon and other spices, and rounded off with the sweet red fruit from the palate. I'll say it right now. This one is head and shoulders above the rest of Jameson's core range. Damn good stuff. Are there better Irish whiskies? Absolutely. But when you look at balance, quality, and VFM, this one will always be a solid option. Must try for any fan of Irish whiskey. If you don't like standard Jameson, don't write the brand off until you try this one because I'll bet you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Apparently it's illegal for non-Americans to use the word "Bourbon" on their packaging, regardless of context. This one says "Bourbon Mash" (which is nothing but the truth) and "This is not a Bourbon Whiskey." Nevertheless, it's illegal. The good thing about this is that in their efforts to liquidate the remaining supply of these bottlings (its since been changed to Blenders' Mash), this one has seen some heavy price reduction-- plummeting from $35 to $17. This lone factor is what ultimately drove my purchase. Nose: This one is a barn house. Green and musty. Corn, hay, sawdust, and wood. Maybe even a bit of manure in the background (I'm not kidding). Very bitter. Some cocoa and baking spices. Leather and apple. I worked on farms in high school, and while I can appreciate the aromas that come with the territory, the nose on this one fails to evoke any fond memories of my youth. It's more sawdust than anything else. Not the best. Palate: Bland. Vanilla, caramel, and baking spices. Some of the cocoa from the noses. It's off. It's bitter where it feels it ought to be sweet. Sawdust and flour. When it's not bitter, it's neutral tasting, and there's nothing inspiring about it. Not horrible, but absolutely nothing to write home about. Finish: Short. About right for an 80 proofer. It's all bitter oak off the bat. It takes a sharp turn into spicy cinnamon, but it's gone before you know it. Unsatisfying but fitting end to this one. You get what you pay for. It's not always accurate, but it's generally a rule of thumb. And hey, it's a whisky. I can still drink it. That's about all I've got for this one. The only box it checks is price, and even then it'd be a stretch to call this a good value. The moral of the story is, the word bourbon is off limits, no matter how you actually use it. And yet, their flub is the only reason I gave this one a shot. At $17, what the hell? I'll generously round this up to 2 stars. I don't regret the purchase, and that's about the best compliment I can conjure up for this one.

Quick note: If you like this one, it's been replaced by a 14 year old Quinta Ruban that comes in teal packaging. I believe the packaging will change for all of the (former) 12 year Glenmorangie offerings. Also, the price of this one is set to jump $10-15. If you're a fan, be aware of the change. Nose: Sweet and malty. Mostly dark fruits. Plum, blackberry, raisin, grape, cranberry. Jam. Some orange, chocolate, and vanilla. Cereal grain, toffee, and malt. As I can recall, this is the only port-finished scotch I've had. With little basis to work with, I'd say this noses similar to a sherried Scotch, only with darker fruits. A faint trace of cinnamon and black pepper spice. Rich and tart nose, solid stuff. Palate: Jam is the word. Strawberry and blackberry. Pomegranate and plum. Later in the palate there's rich dark chocolate and vanilla in the background. Apple, pear, and honeydew behind that. I also get toffee, walnut, caramel, and a bit of honey to round this one off. Some sun-dried tomato. Sweet and balanced, especially on arrival; here, it's noticeably different from a sherry finished scotch. Finish: Moderate. There's chocolate and blackberry sweetness followed by oak and cinnamon spice and black pepper. Raspberry adds a sour note. Solid finish. When I do the math, there's a lot to like about this one. Pros: Respectable ABV of 46%, interesting notes with the Port cask finish, very good nose/palate, great value at $52, age statement, non-chill filtered. Cons: It isn’t sensational in any one way. Not too hard a criticism.. I've always been fond of this one. If it's not the Lasanta, this is the best of Glenmorangie's 4 'budget' malts. Great dram for a drinker at any level, and while it receives a bit of criticism, I've always had a soft spot for this one. I can only hope the extra 2 years is worth the bump in price. I'm looking forward to trying the 14, though I'd buy this again if I come across it. 4.25 for this one.

I firmly believe that the best Island distilleries can go to toe-to-toe with Islay's finest. Talisker, Highland Park, and now this Ledaig from Tobermory. Nose: Salt and brine jump out of the glass. Beyond that it's medicinal peat smoke and iodine. A bit of sulfur. Seaweed and a big lemon citrus note. Fresh-cut grass. Honey sweetness. And that delicious bacon note featured in the tasting notes here on distiller. Cinnamon spice at the tail end. This one is pungent enough to fill the room with a mere uncorking of the bottle. And I'm glad it does because this nose is nothing short of superb. Palate: Oily, smoky, salty, briny. Salt, salt, salt. It's like taking a bite out of a soft pretzel. More zesty lemon. Honey, vanilla, butterscotch sweetness. Caramel and and fudge. Some darker fruits like plum. Maybe a bit of tobacco. Strong black pepper and maybe a bit of vinegar. Edit: After reading a review by @Richard-ModernDrinking I have to add hookah smoke to my notes. Now that I've read it, there's absolutely no mistaking it. Finish: Moderate-to-long. Some cinnamon and black pepper, the rest is all sea salt. It'll leave you feeling like you just spent a day in the ocean. If you don't like salt, don't even bother with this one. Fortunately I do, and this one is an absolute winner for me. It's certainly worthy of being in the discussion of best flagship Islay/Island expressions. Is it No. 1? Maybe not, but it's not too far off. At $60 I'd buy again. It may be a tad high but I'm not complaining. A background dram by no means, this one is enough to command the attention of an experienced peat-head. This one checks all the boxes for me. After this, I'm looking forward to trying another malt from the Isle of Mull.

This is the newer Longmorn 16 that comes in the purple packaging. From what I've read, there is a significant enough difference between this and the older, gray Longmorn 16 (featured in the picture^) that it's worth noting. Nose: Classic Speyside sweetness. Big butterscotch and lemon citrus notes. Granny Smith apple and pear, as well as honey, toffee, and raisin. I also get cinnamon roll and shortbread cookie. Finally, there is a burst spicy cinnamon, no doubt of a result of the higher ABV (48%). Great nose. Palate: Roasted nuts, caramel, vanilla, honey, and toffee. A bit of white chocolate. The lemon note is still present, but it's somewhat reminiscent of a Riccola cough drop here. I also get more of the cinnamon roll immediately after pouring; however, this dissipates the longer it sits in the glass. The other notes become more prominent with time. Before the finish, another cinnamon kick. Solid palate. Finish: Moderate to long, leaning toward the latter. It's all cinnamon spice, and coupled with some residual citrus, though it's more like lemonade now. Nothing new here, but a satisfactory end to a great pour. Yet another whisky that only gets better with time. I was not impressed when I first cracked this one. However, it's gotten significantly better with oxidation. Initially, this one seemed disjointed. It was all Speyside sweetness up and then an abrupt gear shift heavy spice. Like hitting a brick wall. With time however, this dichotomy has disappeared, and the transition has become smooth and subtle. This is precisely why I wait til I'm at least halfway through a bottle before reviewing it. This one bats above average in both nose and palate. My only complaint would be the price. $110 is a heavy price tag. However, it boasts a respectable age statement and ABV, and it delivers in the glass. I wasn't sold at first, but I've grown quite fond of this one. Looking forward to trying the gray box-Longmorn next.

Earlier this year, I worked my way through a bottle of the standard Quarter Cask. Looking back, that was a superb bottle in its own right. Enter the 2017 Cairdeas edition. I'm a sucker for cask strength whisky, so when @PBMichiganWolverine told me about this one, I was immediately intrigued at the opportunity to try what I am expecting to be the QC on steroids. Let's get into it. Nose: It's undoubtedly recognizable as a part of the QC line. Heavy campfire smoke, iodine, salt, seaweed, ash, sulfur, and damp wood. A true maritime behemoth. It's a direct reflection of what I put in my QC review. True to form, I get vanilla, malt, lemon, orange, pepper, coconut, and almond. Big chestnut note. Following all that, an intense burst of cinnamon heat overtakes my senses. This one noses like a true cask strength Islay. In essence, it's the standard QC kicked up a notch or two, as you'd expect. Awesome. Palate: This one starts off as a medicinal, maritime peat bomb. More smoke and iodine, coupled with seaweed and salt. It's simultaneously leafy and herbal, with spearmint and fresh spinach present. Smoked meats with some black pepper and chili. As the palate progresses, it suddenly becomes much sweeter. Honey, vanilla, toffee, apple, and white chocolate. Lemon and grapefruit. Peppermint. On the tail end, it's darker sweet notes of dark chocolate and cocoa. If I don't cut this off now, this will never end. There's a hell of a lot going on here, and it's all hitting the right notes. Finish: Through and through, this one's a beast. This one goes on for days. Shortly after pouring, the finish is all campfire smoke, sulfur, seaweed, and sea salt. Then it's back to spice. Chili, red pepper, black pepper, and cinnamon. Massive ABV in the best way possible. Beyond 30 minutes the peat and smoke are replaced by sweeter notes. Some of the chocolate, vanilla, honey sweetness carry over from the palate. The spicy notes still take over from here on out. The way this one evolves over time is astounding. Great stuff. I compared this one to the standard QC several times for obvious reasons. This is one of those times when a great whisky is able to reach new heights when bottled at cask strength. In fact, I'd say this one is the epitome of such a phenomenon. Gritty Islay? Check. Cask strength? Check. Remarkable complexity? Check. Reasonably priced? Check, again. I nabbed the last bottle on the shelf, and I'm lucky to have done so. It's since been replaced with the 2018 Fino Cask, which I can't wait to try. I came in a subscriber to Laphroaig, and now walk away a subscriber to the vaunted Cairdeas line. Thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine for making me aware of this one. Absolute must buy if you can still find it. Simply amazing.