Tastes

#WhiksyBattle #1: #MaCallan Edition #2 vs. #3. Both are non-chill filtered, contain natural coloring, and contain high ABV (48.2% and 48.3% respectively). Date of review: 6/12/2018 ....…......….…........................................................................... 1) Nose: 90/100 to #2 and 91/100 to #3 Edition 2 has abundant dark fruit, chocolate, and ginger notes. Edition 3 has a completely different nose — more vanilla, sweet cream, and oak...and gentler fruit aroma. ....…......….…........................................................................... 2) Palate: 90 to #2 and 91 to #3 Edition 2 is a sherry bomb with ginger and spices...very rich and flavorful. Edition 3 has a more creamy texture and taste...less sherry and more creme brûlée...and a very light and gentle smoke in the back. ....…......….…........................................................................... 3) Finish: 90 to #2 and 89 to #3 Edition 2 lingers in your mouth longer with a spicy and sweet finish. Edition 3 has a slightly shorter finish, but has a pleasant and smooth ending. ....…......….…........................................................................... 4) Overall Experience: Edition 3 gets a slight edge (91) over Edition 2 (90). Most people prefer Edition 2, but I guess that makes the world go around. ....…......….…........................................................................... 5) VFM: Both editions are expensive for non-age statement expressions ($100 USD each), but they are delicious, full of flavor, contain high ABV, and produced in limited quantities that make them worthwhile purchases. ....…......….…........................................................................... @the_macallan #macallancreates #themacallan #scotch #whiskyreview

#WhiskyBattle between highly complex, full-bodied, light to medium-peated 18 year-old scotch whiskies - both at 43% ABV. #Bowmore18 vs. #HighlandPark18. Reviewed on 7/1/2018. ....…......….…........................................................................... 1) NOSE: a) Bowmore 18: campfire wood, apple pie, stewed citrus. Great nose. 91/100 b) Highland Park 18: salted caramel, pineapple, dark chocolate, fresh apples, and sea smoke. Very complex. 94/100 ....…......….…........................................................................... 2) PALATE: a) Bowmore 18: dark chocolate, sweet BBQ, and creamy caramel. It turns soft and mellow as it runs in your mouth. 92/100 b) Highland Park 18: sweet and tart citrus, toffee, espresso, dark chocolate, and gentle sweet smoke. Like Bowmore 18, a sip of Highland Park 18 becomes mellow as it dances in your mouth, but it’s even more mouthwatering and pleasant than its rival. 96/100 ....…......….…........................................................................... 3) FINISH: Both drams offer a long and complex finish, but Highland Park 18 offers so much more...sweet sherry and light smoke dance around your tongue long after it’s over. Bowmore 18 gets a 90 and HP 18 gets a 96. ....…......….…........................................................................... 4) OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Bowmore 18 is a nice blend of sherry and peat...it gets a 91. Highland Park 18 is so much more and unlike anything in its price range; it’s a near-perfect whisky and gets a 95/100. ....…......….…........................................................................... 5) VFM: Both #Bowmore 18 and #HighlandPark 18 are solid values at $120, but I recommend #HighlandPark18 more because it’s the best whisky you can taste at that price. #HP18 has #naturalcolor, but both are chill-filtered. If HP18 had a higher ABV (46% or higher) and non-chill filtered, I think it can earn a score of 97 or higher. ....…......….…........................................................................... @bowmoredistillery @highlandparkofficial #scotch #whisky #whiskyreview

#WhiskyBattle between highly complex, full-bodied, light to medium-peated 18 year-old scotch whiskies - both at 43% ABV. #Bowmore18 vs. #HighlandPark18. Reviewed on 7/1/2018. ....…......….…........................................................................... 1) NOSE: a) Bowmore 18: campfire wood, apple pie, stewed citrus. Great nose. 91/100 b) Highland Park 18: salted caramel, pineapple, dark chocolate, fresh apples, and sea smoke. Very complex. 94/100 ....…......….…........................................................................... 2) PALATE: a) Bowmore 18: dark chocolate, sweet BBQ, and creamy caramel. It turns soft and mellow as it runs in your mouth. 92/100 b) Highland Park 18: sweet and tart citrus, toffee, espresso, dark chocolate, and gentle sweet smoke. Like Bowmore 18, a sip of Highland Park 18 becomes mellow as it dances in your mouth, but it’s even more mouthwatering and pleasant than its rival. 96/100 ....…......….…........................................................................... 3) FINISH: Both drams offer a long and complex finish, but Highland Park 18 offers so much more...sweet sherry and light smoke dance around your tongue long after it’s over. Bowmore 18 gets a 90 and HP 18 gets a 96. ....…......….…........................................................................... 4) OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Bowmore 18 is a nice blend of sherry and peat...it gets a 91. Highland Park 18 is so much more and unlike anything in its price range; it’s a near-perfect whisky and gets a 95/100. ....…......….…........................................................................... 5) VFM: Both #Bowmore 18 and #HighlandPark 18 are solid values at $120, but I recommend #HighlandPark18 more because it’s the best whisky you can taste at that price. #HP18 has #naturalcolor, but both are chill-filtered. If HP18 had a higher ABV (46% or higher) and non-chill filtered, I think it can earn a score of 97 or higher. ....…......….…........................................................................... @bowmoredistillery @highlandparkofficial #scotch #whisky #whiskyreview

NOSE: 90/100. Tomatin 18 has pleasant notes of rum raisin, candied walnuts, thick manuka honey, and bitter citrus (grapefruit). PALATE: 92. Now this is where Tomatin’s thicker and natural color/non-chilled filtration provide richer flavors of dark chocolate, orange, toffee, and maple syrup. FINISH: 90. I have to admit that the first sip of Tomatin was too spicy for me — think ginger and peppermint. It has a spicy and dry finish that opens up more flavors with a drop of water. OVERALL: 92. Tomatin gets an extra point for the extra ABV, non-chill filtration and no color added. VALUE FOR MONEY: Tomatin 18 is a great buy at $80 to $90 USD.

NOSE: 92/100. You get all the wonderful aroma of the classic Macallan sherry notes with no hint of sulphur and more complexity. Dark/rich manuka honey, sweet rum raisin, vanilla, hazelnut, and figs. PALATE: 93/100. Complex flavors layered in a leathery texture. Gingerbread cookie, Godiva chocolate, butterscotch, caramel, and a dash of ginger spice that’s milder than Edition 2. This dram is so easy to drink, yet complex in flavors. It does not taste like it’s 48.4% ABV. FINISH: 93/100. Long sweet finish with a touch of sweet cinnamon with hints of lemongrass, and creamy vanilla. OVERALL: 93/100. I did not conduct a side-by-side taste test with #Edition2 and #Edition3, but based on my memory, I prefer Edition 4 among the 3. I have not tried Edition 1. VFM: This is the highest score I’ve given for a #NAS #singlemalt so the retail price of $100 USD is worth it. Check out WhiskyReview.com for more single malt and blended whisky reviews!

1) Nose: 90/100 to #2 and 91/100 to #3 Edition 2 has abundant dark fruit, chocolate, and ginger notes. Edition 3 has a completely different nose — more vanilla, sweet cream, and oak...and gentler fruit aroma. 2) Palate: 90 to #2 and 91 to #3 Edition 2 is a sherry bomb with ginger and spices...very rich and flavorful. Edition 3 has a more creamy texture and taste...less sherry and more creme brûlée...and a very light and gentle smoke in the back. 3) Finish: 90 to #2 and 89 to #3 Edition 2 lingers in your mouth longer with a spicy and sweet finish. Edition 3 has a slightly shorter finish, but has a pleasant and smooth ending. 4) Overall Experience: Edition 3 gets a slight edge (91) over Edition 2 (90). Most people prefer Edition 2, but I guess that makes the world go around. Check out WhiskyReview.com for more single malt and blended whisky reviews!

1) Nose: 90/100 to #2 and 91/100 to #3 Edition 2 has abundant dark fruit, chocolate, and ginger notes. Edition 3 has a completely different nose — more vanilla, sweet cream, and oak...and gentler fruit aroma. 2) Palate: 90 to #2 and 91 to #3 Edition 2 is a sherry bomb with ginger and spices...very rich and flavorful. Edition 3 has a more creamy texture and taste...less sherry and more creme brûlée...and a very light and gentle smoke in the back. 3) Finish: 90 to #2 and 89 to #3 Edition 2 lingers in your mouth longer with a spicy and sweet finish. Edition 3 has a slightly shorter finish, but has a pleasant and smooth ending. 4) Overall Experience: Edition 3 gets a slight edge (91) over Edition 2 (90). Most people prefer Edition 2, but I guess that makes the world go around. Check out WhiskyReview.com for more single malt and blended whisky reviews!