Tastes

Tasting it again, and again, and again... Nosing: whipped cream, even fruit cake. Very very sweet... some seeds(!?), maybe toasted sunflower seeds, some nutty notes. Pears, vanilla, caramel, red and green apple, melon, a bit lemon zest. I’m getting a little touch of Earl Grey tea. Always remember this is only matured for 3 years. Tasting: a bit of floral notes, some apple peels. Finishing: apple peel again, also some toasted nut notes.

I’m not that drunk this time! Nosing: old book/newspaper/bookstore. Sherry sweetness - chocolate, caramel, some raisins. Also some vanilla, orange, and a bit of honey. I’m really enjoying it so much. Tasting: a touch of old book smell, but more sweetness comparing to the nosing. Also a touch of saltiness with a drop of water. Finishing: long, warm and sweet finishing.

I am using a burgundy glass, yes that wine glass, to enjoy this dram. A way better performance than the Glencairn glass. Nosing: Berries, tobacco, plum, dark chocolate, a slight hint of toffee. Sweet fruit cake notes, maybe black forest? Some nutty notes, maybe caramel cashew? Also dark orange chocolate! Mouth: hazelnut, dark chocolate, some tobacco notes. Finishing: long, sweet notes. Hazelnut again and that Black Forest cake is coming out again. Also a coffee note is lingering.

Single cask Sherry 17-year Bowmore..... can’t wait to try it...... Nosing: sea breeze, briny, orange peel, dark chocolate, toffee, caramel, American ginseng, herbal notes, dark fruit, maple syrup, Earl grey/Darjeeling tea, or maybe Oolong? Honey, dark honey. Some nutty notes. Tasting: sweet, dark fruit/berries, tea, of course the sherry note- dark chocolate and caramel. Maybe fruit stew? Finishing: oh my gosh!That’s a new sensation to me! A long lingering ginseng note! The peat smoke is sort of gone. I don’t know if this is a good thing or not for Bowmore? But this is a good bottle without a doubt.

I am drinking an older version - the Talisker 10 was aged in sherry cask for extra 1 year, which is longer than the current version. Nosing: Smoked fruit stew? The smokiness is not that strong compare to Talisker 10. Smokiness, cinnamon, caramel, toffee, coffee grounds, berries, smoked lemon? I don’t know whether such thing is existed. Dark chocolate of course. It’s heavily sherry influenced, but somehow the distillery characteristic is losing. Tasting: sweet, quite sweet. Dark chocolate. The amazing Talisker 10 is hide underneath, smokiness, lemony. But the peppery note is missing. Finishing: smokiness, long.

Holy moly....that’s awesome.... Nose: iodine, smokiness, malt, butter cookies, cotton ball? Cheddar cheese! Holy moly! Tasting: quite oily, I can’t get it as I’m quite drunk... Finishing: oaky, malty, raisins? This whisky like a mystery, I cannot get the whole profile..... but truly amazing.

Every time I taste PC10, I love it more. Nosing: The peat smoke and sweetness strike me at the same time. Unlike the almighty Lagavulin 16, which the sweetness hide underneath the peatiness. Iodine, red apple, melon, bacon, BBQ sauce, burnt wood, sesame, medicine/pills, vanilla, banana, some raspberry, lemon tart, wow! Great balanced smokiness and complexity! Tasting: medicine, iodine, quite oaky, smokiness, melon-like sweetness. Finishing: long, great balance of smokiness and sweetness again.

I’m using a better nosing glass than the glencairn, but the alcohol burn is still quite strong. Neglecting this problem, it’s actually quite delicate. Nosing: Apple scented candles infusing a touch of vanilla. Maybe lavender? Orange, lemon, citrus fruit. Apples, a lot of apples. Honey, a light one. Grassy, mint, rosemary. A hint of nuttiness. Tasting: Very waxy. Again the scented candles, honey, citrus fruits. Pears, apples. Finishing: long with a hint of spice. Orange peels come up unexpectedly. A touch of toasted coconut flakes. The colour is very pale, quite close to a glass of white wine. But the fruitiness and waxiness is superb.

Whisky distilled in London. Kinda curious about what would it be like. Be noted that this is only a 3-year-old whisky. Nosing: honey, lemon tart and of course the crust, a hint of rosemary, sesame, floral, oaky, fruit cake, New York cheesecake, creamy, apricot. Tasting: oaky, creaminess, nutty, quite oily. Finishing: ending with a hint of smokiness.

As I left half of the bottle for a period, the grassiness is not that strong and the sweetness comes up immediately. I don’t think it is a good sign. Nosing: Vanilla, white grape, caramel, heavy cream, butter, almond, a touch of mint, red and green apple, pear, honey, citrusy, chrysanthemum. Sort of like a cup of herbal tea by adding a touch of honey. Tasting: citrus, chrysanthemum, oaky, a bit bitter. Finishing: long and floral.