Tastes
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Lagavulin 12 Year (2021 Special Release)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed January 2, 2023 (edited February 21, 2024)I’ve had the 2016-2018 and 2020, and I can confidently say that this is one of the best annual releases in all of whisky. I expect nothing less of the 2021—I must say I’m impressed with the artwork this time around. But it’s the whisky that we’re here for, so let’s hop right into it. Nose: Heavy peat, brine, sea salt, seaweed, with some background bonfire smoke and ash. As I’ve said before, it offers the lingering smell of a campfire on the beach the morning after. Bandaid. Lemon and grapefruit. Custard. Apple, raisin, cranberry, and blueberry. Chestnut. Black bean, red pepper chili. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Palate: Seaweed, sea salt, brine. Iodine, campfire smoke, Lemon, lime, grapefruit, and orange. Spearmint. Custard, vanilla, caramel, and milk chocolate. Chestnut and toasted almond. Raisin, gala apple, and molasses. Black bean, red pepper chili. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Finish: Seaweed, salt, and brine. Bandaid, iodine, and campfire smoke. Toasted almond. Black bean, red pepper chili. Sun-dried tomato. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Long—as you’d expect of a 56.5% ABV beast. 5/5. Quite predictable if you’ve read any of my Lag 12 reviews—or the first paragraph of this one. It’s expensive, but it offers high ABV and even higher quality. $140 is a price to pay, but well worth it if you ask me. That’s actually a few bucks less than what I paid for the 2020, and about average for this line of whisky. Well done, as always.140.0 USD per Bottle -
I’ve done all the NAS whiskies in Ardbeg’s core range, and somehow have not gotten around to the cornerstone—the 10 year. With Laphroaig 10 and Lagavulin 16, this expression completes the holy trinity of Islay malts. Let’s see if this one can hold up to those two stalwarts (Spoiler: I’ve had this many times, and it will.) Nose: Heavy campfire smoke, peat, sea salt, seaweed, brine, iodine, and bandaid. A dousing of lemon citrus. Agave. Chestnut and almond. Menthol. Smoked meat. Black pepper and cinnamon. Palate: More of the campfire smoke, pear, sea salt, seaweed, brine, iodine, and bandaid. Milk chocolate, saltwater taffy, and peanut butter. Sugar cookie. Heavy grapefruit with a compliments of lemon and orange citrus. Agave. Black bean, red pepper chili. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Fiery. Finish: Campfire smoke, peat, sea salt, seaweed, and brine. Dark chocolate, vanilla, and sugar cookie. Chestnut and almond. Smoked meats. Black bean, red pepper chili. Black pepper, cinnamon, and oak. Moderate-long finish. The Corry and Oogie are high bars for any whisky to clear. But this fits in neatly behind those behemoths as a standout in the core range. It’s better than the An Oa, and perhaps the best value of the lot. It easily stands up to the Lap 10 and Lag 16. At $55, this is an amazing value. One of the best flagship whiskies one can buy and an amazing representation of the power of Islay. Not for the faint of heart, but a must have for any peat-head. 4.5/5.55.0 USD per Bottle
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Dalmore Port Wood Reserve
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed December 14, 2022 (edited February 6, 2023)This is a bit of a deviation for Dalmore. There are known primarily for their sherry-aged whiskies. This one trades that for port—obviously. It’s my first NAS Dalmore, yet is the only I’ve had to be above 40% ABV—which is greatly appreciated. Let’s see how this all plays out. Nose: Blackberry, black currant, raspberry, raisin, date, fig, and plum. Orange citrus and apple. Heavy molasses/sugar cane. Milk chocolate, caramel, fudge, cocoa, vanilla, toffee, custard, butterscotch, and cola. Chocolate syrup. Cranberry sauce. Macadamia nut. A minty/peppermint note. No Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Apple, apricot, raisin, date, fig, red grape, blackberry, black currant, and raspberry. Some cantaloupe, honeydew, orange, and pineapple. Toffee, honey, caramel, milk chocolate, vanilla, and butterscotch. Almond, peanut, and macadamia. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Apple, raspberry, blackberry. Vanilla, caramel, milk chocolate, and toffee. Orange citrus. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate length finish—above average in fact. Between this, the 12, and the 15, this earns my highest rating. Should Dalmore stick to Port? I don’t know if I’d go that far. But what’s evident is that they should ditch the 40% ABV bottlings in favor of some higher-proofed stuff. Because this works, and you can cite sherry oak or age statements, but at the end of the day, a purer rendition of a distillery’s spirit will always stand out above the mass-produced, watered-down juice. 4.25/5. $100 is steep for an NAS, but I’d say this a better value than the 15 when consider that it’s cheaper and offers a higher ABV. My favorite Dalmore to date. Well done.100.0 USD per Bottle -
Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed December 11, 2022 (edited December 12, 2022)I’ve had my share of Glenmorangie over the years, but can’t say the same about Marsala wine cask-finished Scotches. In fact, the only whiskey I’ve ever had with that attribute is the Knappogue Castle 12 Marsala finish—which was first amazing. I’m hoping that my first limited edition Glenmorangie matches that quality. Nose: Gala apple/apple cider, raisin, date, fig, cranberry, pear, apricot, and lime and orange citrus. Honeydew. Blackberry and raspberry. Floral notes. Vanilla, caramel, toffee, honey, butterscotch, and custard. Toasted almond, cashew, and macadamia nut. Black licorice. Rye spice, black pepper, and oak. Palate: Apple, pear, apricot, golden raisin, date, fig, cranberry, raspberry, orange citrus. Caramel, vanilla, toffee, and butterscotch. Milk chocolate, cocoa, and fudge. Valentine’s Day raspberry chocolate sums it up quite well. Almond and cashew. Grain and malt. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Raspberry, blackberry, black currant, cranberry, plum, raisin, date, and fig. Apple, pear, apricot. Vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, toffee. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, black pepper, and oak. Moderate length. This makes for a great representative for Marsala-aged whisky. Profile-wise, this embodies the best attributes of the old-style 12-year Quinta Ruban and Lasanta expressions. It was quite tasty, and the nose was actually the highlight. At $100, the cost was a bit steep for an NAS malt. The VFM could be better, but it still stands that this is a damn fine whisky. I’ve got this at 4/5 even. Looking forward to trying more of Marsala cask-aged malts as well as more of the GlenMo limited release bottlings.110.0 USD per Bottle -
Glen Grant 15 Year Batch Strength 1st Edition
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed December 11, 2022 (edited March 20, 2023)I recently worked through bottles of the GG 10 and 16. They were okay, nothing particularly notable. This is my first experience with their current line, so I’m hoping this is an improvement. Nose: Apple, pear, and apricot. Golden raisin. Lemon, lime, and orange citrus. Vanilla, caramel, and toffee. Heavy malt and vanilla frosting. Clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Apple, pear, and apricot. Cinnamon red hots. Toffee, vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar. Salt water taffy. Sugar cookie. Cashew and almond. Clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Apple, pear, apricot, raisin, and plum. Sugar cookie. Caramel, toffee, and vanilla. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate-length finish. This is a very good. whisky. Solid, somewhat unique profile with a nice mouthfeel. After trying the 10 and the 16 and comparing them to this, I think it’s safe to say that this profile thrives at a higher proof. At $100, this is good VFM for a 15-year old bottled at 50%. My first venture into Glen Grant’s revamped portfolio is a success and is certainly an upgrade over the older j expressions I tried. Well done, Glen Grant. 4/5.100.0 USD per Bottle -
I enjoy a 60-minute IPA from Dogfish Head every now and again. I’ve had a few of their other beers as well, and I have a generally-favorable opinion of the brewery. However, had this not been purchased for me as a gift, I don’t know that I’d ever be reviewing their straight whiskey. It’s not something that would’ve jumped off the shelf at me. Nevertheless, here I am. Nose: Gumdrops and dried apricot. Raisin, cherry, and grape. Dark chocolate and raspberry. Caramel and honey. Orange citrus and cocoa. Very, very sweet. Palate: Heavy on the dried apricot and cranberry, as well as cola. Some apple, pear, raisin, and grape. Toffee, honey, butterscotch, and caramel. Cashew and almond. Some menthol and smoked wood. Malty and grainy. Quite sweet, once again. Finish: Burst of dried cranberry and apricot. Raisin, cherry, cola, chocolate, and caramel. Toffee and nougat. Fig Newton. More of the menthol. Short to moderate finish. This is a perfectly fine whiskey. Nothing to write home about either. Outside of the bitterness of the finish, I don’t really have any complaints. The nose was actually quite intriguing. But the youth here is evident, and it’s as simple as that. This could be a solid product with a few extra years of aging and potentially experimenting as well. 2.5/5. A bottle of this runs for $31 at my local store. It was a gift to me, but after trying it, there are so many options I’d spring for first at the price point. I don’t mind this one bit, but I anticipate that my next experience with Dogfish Head will be a beer.31.0 USD per Bottle
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King Car Conductor Single Malt
Single Malt — Taiwan
Reviewed December 2, 2022 (edited December 3, 2022)Kavalan Single Malt was my first Taiwanese whisky, and I must say that I enjoyed it. It struck me as a more tropical-tasting Japanese whisky. This King Car is a step up in price and, according to its color, seems to have a greater Sherry oak presence. Let’s check it out. Nose: Honey, toffee, vanilla, and caramel. Honeydew, pineapple, apple, pear, and coconut. A touch of lime and orange. Some green apple jolly rancher. Apricot deep in the background. A pinch of black pepper rounded out by some oak. Palate: A bit hot on the palate. Blackberry, black currant, cranberry, pound cake, raisin, date, and fig. Orange citrus and lime. Pineapple, apple, and pear. Macadamia, cashew, and chestnut. Caramel, toffee, honey, and vanilla. Black pepper, cinnamon, and oak. Finish: Pineapple, apple, pear. Cranberry, raisin, pound cake. Apricot, orange, Vanilla, caramel, toffee. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate-long finish, leaning toward the former. This drinks like the Kavalan Single Malt with the Sherry element turned up. It maintains the tropical qualities as well. It’s a bit hot for a 46% whisky, but the flavor profile is very strong. I got this on sale for $90, though I know it runs a bit higher. That’s steep for an NAS whisky and certainly not helping the score. I’ll give this a 3.75, a quarter star below the Single Malt. So far, Kavalan is doing a fine job of representing Taiwanese whisky.90.0 USD per Bottle -
The original wine cask trio of the Knappogue Castle finishing series featured three of my favorite Irish whiskies of all time. So when I saw this packaging on a shelf again, I considered it a must-buy. This is a Cognac barrel-aged whiskey. The only one I’ve had was the Glenlivet 14, which was very underwhelming. Hoping that KC can do a better job with theirs. Let’s check it out. Nose: The green apple and pear that I associate with KC jumps right out of the glass. Plum, date, fig, and raisin. Green grape. Honey, toffee, caramel, and vanilla. A touch of shortbread cookie. Walnut, almond, and cashew. Slightly “perfumy.” Oak. Palate: Big on the shortbread cookie, along with honey, toffee, caramel, and vanilla. Green apple and pear are more in the background now. Golden raisin with some date and fig. Apricot and green grape. Some plum and a ton of orange citrus. A little baking spice tingle with some oak spice. Finish: Caramel, vanilla, and toffee. Plum, apple, pear, and apricot. Golden raisin, date, and fig. Cashew, walnut, and almond. White pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate-long finish, leaning toward the latter. Solid pour. This definitely does not stack up to the wine cask-trio. The cognac cask does not give the Knappogue base spirit the depth that the wine casks did. Judged independently of those, however, I find this really enjoyable. This ran me $70. I think it’s a fine value at that price. Definitely a worthwhile purchase and another winner from Knappogue Castle. Wherever they’re sourcing from—and the casks that they’ve been aging their juice in—it’s a winning combo. Solid stuff. 4/5 even.70.0 USD per Bottle
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Crown Royal Deluxe
Canadian — Manitoba, Canada
Reviewed November 26, 2022 (edited November 27, 2022)Crown Royal needs no introduction. This was a staple for me and college, and I’m reviewing this now simply to check a box. My expectations aren’t particularly high here—but hey, you never know. Nose: Loads of vanilla. Some toffee, caramel and butterscotch. Light rye spice, white pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Palate: Apple juice. Vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, and toffee. Citrus and tobacco smoke. Overly-sweet dried apricot. Cocoa. Some malty, grainy, slightly tinny notes. Rye spice, black pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Finish: Candy corn, overly-ripe dried apricot, and apple juice. Vanilla, caramel, toffee, butterscotch. Black pepper, rye spice, clove, nutmeg. Very brief. Well, can’t win em all. I wasn’t expecting much out of this one, and that’s a good thing, because it didn’t deliver. I’m sure this is fine as a mixer. Unfortunately, I do all of these reviews neat. I consider this to be “class” in my college days. The presentation is all there. The whisky, however, is not. 1.5/5. Box checked.29.0 USD per Bottle -
Dalmore 15 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed November 24, 2022 (edited January 2, 2023)Ah, Dalmore. The controversial brand whose reputation spans from beloved to despised. Touted for its quality, derided for its price. It’s always a mixed bag with this one. I though the 12-year was fine; let’s see what the next step up in the core range has to offer. Nose: Massive orchard fruit presence jumps out of the glass. Apple, pear, and apricot could be more pronounced. Plum, raisin, date, fig, and pound cake develop after several minutes. Toffee, vanilla, honey, white chocolate, and butterscotch add an extra layer of sweet notes. Walnut, pecan, and heavy almond. Shoe leather and molasses. A touch of orange citrus, some honeydew, and a sprinkle of white pepper. Sun-dried tomato. Prominent oak. Very, very nice nose. Palate: Cranberry, raisin, plum, date, fig, and pound cake now take the forefront, while the apple, pear, and apricot reside in the background. The pecan, walnut, and almond also transfer from the nose. Cola. Vanilla frosting, milk chocolate, caramel, toffee, and butterscotch. Blackberry. Honeydew. Orange citrus. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Cranberry, raisin, plum, date, fig, apple, pear, apricot. Dark chocolate, toffee, vanilla., and pound cake. Orange citrus. Sun-dried tomato. Cola and ginger snap. Black and white pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Medium length. This is a fine whisky. It’s delicious, and adds some punch that 12-year old was missing. Nose, palate, and finish offer an excellent combination of notes. My only hang-up with this one is the price. $130 for a 40% ABV whisky. This actually punches above its weight, but 40-even just reads as a lap in the face to any experienced whisky. Feel free to challenge me if you disagree. $130 is steep for a 15-year old. This is quite good, and drinks like a 4-star whisky in a cost-vacuum, but because I factor price and ABV into my score, I can’t go above 3.5 for this one. Regardless, this a solid whisky. If you’re a Dalmore fan or a fan of sherried-Scotch and cost isn’t an issue, you’ll enjoy this. 3.5/5.130.0 USD per Bottle
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