Tastes

A Costco brand, very smooth and hits the palette more like a 40 abv. The bottle says 6 months of sherry influence and the colour says “Macallan 12 first fill sherry for 12 years”. Let’s go ahead and say there is a bunch of colour added but the whisky is still good. The nose is a bit flat but there are some sherry notes. A good buy for scotch but for the price I would pick up a Pike Creek 21 Year Oloroso Cask instead - about $45 cheaper here.

Dram club 2 oz samples, the flight included Black Bottle, Tobermory 12, Deanston 12, Bunnahabhain 12 and Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha Deanston 12 I get vanilla, cotton candy and apple on the nose. Slightly sour note and a bit hot considering the age. Lots of oak influence. Seems like a good one for bourbon fans. This one is a pass for me. My ranking was 1. Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha, 2. Black Bottle, 3. Bunnahabhain 12, 4. Tobermory 12, 5. Deanston 12

Dram club 2 oz samples, the flight included Black Bottle, Tobermory 12, Deanston 12, Bunnahabhain 12 and Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha Long finish, some sherry influence, rather nice and better than Deanston or a Tobermory. Only issue is Black Bottle’s primary ingredient is Bunnahabhain but it is less expensive and better. Good but buy Black Bottle. My ranking was 1. Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha, 2. Black Bottle, 3. Bunnahabhain 12, 4. Tobermory 12, 5. Deanston 12

Dram club 2 oz samples, the flight included Black Bottle, Tobermory 12, Deanston 12, Bunnahabhain 12 and Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha Tobermory was malty and a Glenlivet like on the nose. Short finish, citrus notes. Not a buy for me. My ranking was 1. Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha, 2. Black Bottle, 3. Bunnahabhain 12, 4. Tobermory 12, 5. Deanston 12

Dram club 2 oz samples, the flight included Black Bottle, Tobermory 12, Deanston 12, Bunnahabhain 12 and Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha Toy-chi Ka daw was how the brand rep pronounced it. This one is a banger. Reminds me of Laphroaig PX (which is awesome). Rich and balanced and an all round good one. The peat gives the extra kick that Bunnahabhain needs. No bottles are available in my area but I would consider this one, the clear winner of the night. Very good, recommended. My ranking was 1. Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha, 2. Black Bottle, 3. Bunnahabhain 12, 4. Tobermory 12, 5. Deanston 12

Dram club 2 oz samples, the flight included Black Bottle, Tobermory 12, Deanston 12, Bunnahabhain 12 and Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha Black Bottle – I get smoke only after trying the Deanston and Tobermory. It’s very light and nicely integrated. On the nose I get apple, vanilla and Nestea iced tea. The finish is spicy and surprisingly long. Brand rep noted that the majority of the blend is Bunnahabhain. Great value, worth purchasing, really nice. My ranking was 1. Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha, 2. Black Bottle, 3. Bunnahabhain 12, 4. Tobermory 12, 5. Deanston 12

Today’s tasting was after Ardbeg’s (10, An Oa, Grooves) and a Laphroaig PX. Ledaig is not in the same league. The smoke is less pleasant and more aggressive. This shows how much the impact of what your are drinking at the same time has on your rating. This is a full one star drop from my last rating and this is a do not buy. Laphroaig first, then Ardbeg.

Ardbeg day testing! Ardbeg 10, An Oa and Grooves Let’s start here – All delicious and all worth buying. The An Oa has hints of new oak, and even French oak, with a nice spicy finish. The finish is longer than the 10 and spicier. The palette on the An Oa rolls a bit more and is little less brash and is more balanced. The PX sherry takes the smoke and makes a pleasant whisky. An Oa takes the win over the 10. The Grooves is sweeter, almost a bit of sticky wine finish. The finish is longer than the An Oa and a bit better. Sweet, balanced, lovely finish, a slight advantage over the An Oa. The win versus An Oa depends on your palette. If you like red wine the Grooves wins. If you like bourbon the An Oa wins (I get some virgin oak impacts on the An Oa). Rankings 1. Grooves – due to the longer finish and a bit sweeter than the An Oa, 2 An Oa – better balance than the 10 and much better finish and 3. 10 – solid dram with aggressive smoke that is so easy to like. All so good. I’d I was buying, I would pick An Oa. If if was a gift I would pick Grooves.

Ardbeg day testing! Ardbeg 10, An Oa and Grooves Let’s start here – All delicious and all worth buying. The An Oa has hints of new oak, and even French oak, with a nice spicy finish. The finish is longer than the 10 and spicier. The palette on the An Oa rolls a bit more and is little less brash and is more balanced. The PX sherry takes the smoke and makes a pleasant whisky. An Oa takes the win over the 10. The Grooves is sweeter, almost a bit of sticky wine finish. The finish is longer than the An Oa and a bit better. Sweet, balanced, lovely finish, a slight advantage over the An Oa. The win versus An Oa depends on your palette. If you like red wine the Grooves wins. If you like bourbon the An Oa wins (I get some virgin oak impacts on the An Oa). Rankings 1. Grooves – due to the longer finish and a bit sweeter than the An Oa, 2 An Oa – better balance than the 10 and much better finish and 3. 10 – solid dram with aggressive smoke that is so easy to like. All so good. I’d I was buying, I would pick An Oa. If if was a gift I would pick Grooves.

Ardbeg day testing! Ardbeg 10, An Oa and Grooves Let’s start here – All delicious and all worth buying. The An Oa has hints of new oak, and even French oak, with a nice spicy finish. The finish is longer than the 10 and spicier. The palette on the An Oa rolls a bit more and is little less brash and is more balanced. The PX sherry takes the smoke and makes a pleasant whisky. An Oa takes the win over the 10. The Grooves is sweeter, almost a bit of sticky wine finish. The finish is longer than the An Oa and a bit better. Sweet, balanced, lovely finish, a slight advantage over the An Oa. The win versus An Oa depends on your palette. If you like red wine the Grooves wins. If you like bourbon the An Oa wins (I get some virgin oak impacts on the An Oa). Rankings 1. Grooves – due to the longer finish and a bit sweeter than the An Oa, 2 An Oa – better balance than the 10 and much better finish and 3. 10 – solid dram with aggressive smoke that is so easy to like. All so good. I’d I was buying, I would pick An Oa. If if was a gift I would pick Grooves.