Tastes

Nose: Definitely the best part: fresh “clean” aromas of honey, citrus and barley along with nice floral notes. Slightly peaty too – delicate and in great balance. Taste: Toast with honey and oranges mix well together. Little bit of herbal notes and hints of sweet peat as well. Finish: Lingers nicely with great length. Spicy with oak influence. Wee hints of subtle smoke make a nice edge on the finish. Balance: Good, full body with nicely sweet and earthy notes mixed well together. Great whisky especially when considering the “low” alcohol per volume.

Nose: Sharp but sweet. Corn dominates. Dark sugar and even a brief breeze of smoke or was I dreaming? The corn has that honey feel but mostly it’s just corn. I think that the rye makes the heavy sharpness. Taste: Sweet caramel and dark sugar with nice maple syrup. Very full. Sweet vanilla starts to dominate. Spices fight with the sweet spots nicely in harmony. Finish: On the bitter side with dry peppery notes. I think it’s the rye influence. Hints of mint with oak. Surprisingly fast for a cask strength, still, good length. Balance: In good balance, nice characteristic bourbon. Very smooth cask strength.

Nose: Like delicate fragrant. Too delicate for me though. Currants start the show with notes of sweet sherry (or even wine) and peat like hues. Floral notes follow in the background. Taste: For a 18 year old Speyside whisky, this feels surprisingly strong in a sharp way. Dry oak and ripe fruits make it that way. Floral notes with a nice sherry feel. Even though too pointy for my taste, still the best part. The most characteristic part. Finish: Lasts pretty long, but doesn't offer anything special. Mix of sweet and bitter notes. Hints of oak and berries are the key factors. Nice length but bit one-sided. Balance: Probably not in the best balance. Taste is pointy sharp. Nose being too flat. After all, The Glenlivet 18YO is an okay dram – I must point out, that even though I sound harsh, this is worth a tasting experience. My expectations were just higher.

Nose: Like scenting some nice notes of sweet summer fragrances. Fruits and sweet, creamy vanilla. With toffee and hints of oak. Taste: Tropical fruits and a touch of nice vanilla. As smooth as a fruity whisky can get. Delicious pineapple notes rise to the cream of the crop. Finish: Smoothness isn't as big as in the taste. In the finish, this dram starts to kick nicely on the back of the throat. Lingering oak and nutty notes with plenty of fruits. Balance: Creamy thickness and warming finish, which lasts long. Nicely in balance and even though smooth, still manages to be strong and characteristic. Very good job by The Glenlivet distillery, especially with this alcohol per volume level.

Nose: Freshly spicy rye with herb notes. Mild tobacco note is there. Nose is much more delicate than the taste and aftertaste. Taste: Sweet smoothness combined with rough and powerful rye. Tropical citrus feel is present: crispy lemon and peppery notes. Strong and spicy, yet manages to be smooth. Finish: Warming with spices and minty fresh notes. Cinnamon is present. Balance: Good rye whiskey, managing to combine sweet and breezing fresh notes with strong rye.

Nose: Very peaty, just the way I like it. Strong with sweet, spicy peat. Sophisticated smoke, like a bonfire which has been put out in a wet soil. Spicy meat and sweet fruits mixed together nicely. Water brings out the fruits even more, oranges dominating. Taste: Mix of fruits and earthly peat smoke. Full and juicy sweet, yet robust with rough, salty peat and warming with spices. Nicely oily. Addition of water makes it more fruitier. Finish: Long lasting roasted dryness. Coal, peat and spices. Water makes the finish much smoother but then again, it loses some character. Balance: Excellent dram and I do like the finish, even though I usually don't stand too much dryness. This whisky has a nice roasted dry note, which makes it perfect.

Nose: Starts with burning bonfire smoke, fading away, bringing little medicinal notes with fermented fruits. Giving mixed emotions as well with something very pointy and repulsive – like drying paint. Taste: Smooth, thick and fruity. Oak, malt, wine and fruits are all present. Definitely the best part of Oban 14 yrs. Finish: Starts very sour and dry, like painted wood. After those strong notes, some nice faints of smoke rise from the back. Along with hints of fruit. Finish is long but again, mixing my emotions too much. Balance: Smoke is nicely sophisticated, otherwise a combo of good (mostly fruity) flavors mixed with not so good, pointy and fermented notes. Not the most consistent drams out there.

Nose: Corn and honey in a mellow way with sweet and fruity notes. Taste: Dry leather and hints of fruity notes. Finish: Corn mash hits you hard with oak and dry fruity notes. Balance: Robust and sour but decent dram. People have given it a much higher score than I did so for the price you'll be getting it, it's a good dram.

Nose: Sugary corn dominates. Watery vanilla with caramel notes. Some watery oranges as well. Taste: Feel of rye is present. Lightly spicy with vanilla and oak. Finish: Oak with spices and sour notes, fast finish. Balance: Not as harsh as I remembered it to be. Bit watery at the start and gentle and fast, so the score stays low. Otherwise it would have gotten a bit higher score, because it tastes decent.

Nose: Very light, yet crispy with floral notes. Hints of sweet toffee. Taste: Barley along with spices and some caramel. Finish: This is where it gets a bit rougher: caramel and spices in a watery, grainy sharp and quick finish. Balance: Palate is decent but not later until the usual sloppy grain blend finish reveals the level of this whisky.