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Bank Note 5 Year Scotch Whisky
Distiller Score 80
Mild honey, delicate tangy citrus, hints of stone fruit, and cereal chewy grains greet you as you bring this blended whisky to your nose. The palate is more of the same; under promise and over deliver. Upon your first sip you will taste creamy vanilla nougat, milk chocolate, more grainy malts and a bitter and slightly astringent lemon zest. The finish is short and sweet of toasted bread, caramel, citrus and the most delicate wisps of peat smoke.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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Hankey Bannister Original Blend
Distiller Score 82
The nose contains a rich and malty aroma, but proceeds on the palate more delicately. The whisky is very agreeable on the palate with a touch of almonds, vanilla, and sweet creamed corn. The wood and gingery spices come through on the finish ending pleasantly bitter.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Speyburn Bradan Orach
Distiller Score 78
The nose is full of rich malt, lemon, and some vanilla. There is a bit of a dirty quality on the nose, but despite the unevenness of the whisky, it is a good value for its price. The finish is full of fruity and honey tastes followed by a slight bitterness.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Black & White Blended Scotch
Distiller Score 74
A pretty standard blend, with little to delight or disappoint. Light, with a nose of citrus, biscuits, and even something a bit sour. The taste grapples with the high percentage of young grain whisky in the blend, yielding salt and caramel, lemon, and something musty. Not much of a finish to speak of. Better suited perhaps for a highball than sipping neat.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Vat 69 Blended Scotch Whisky
Distiller Score 79
The nose shows caramel, lemon zest, and soft wood spices. The palate has a touch of menthol and cinnamon and there's an average malty quality and body to the whisky, not too rich, not too thin. The finish is dry, but soft. Though you wouldn't necessarily write home about this blended whisky, it is serviceable.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Dewar's Japanese Smooth
Distiller Score 77
Honey, heather, and hay combine forces on the nose, along with butterscotch and black pepper. The palate is somewhat thin and one dimensional, with highlights of dark chocolate and and dried fruits. The finish is short, with a bitter astringency, toffee, and hints of the Mizunara oak in the form of wispy incense smoke and wood spice.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Cutty Sark Storm
Distiller Score 84
The nose shows a bit of smoke and brine along with toasted grain. The palate follows suit adding some barrel spice, caramel, and hay with just a dab of chocolate. As you continue to drink, the richer, malty notes linger with you while the smoke and brine still play a part. The finish is not super dry or astringent, but soft and supple. Let's hope this comes stateside soon.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Finlaggan Old Reserve Islay Single Malt
Distiller Score 82
There's a quality on the nose that brings thoughts of a dark room, filled with leather-bound books, large rugs, and cigar smoke. Peat smoke comes into focus on the palate along with a nice balance of sweet apples, moss, and barrel spices. The finish is warm and stays with the smoke to the end.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Red Rye Finish
Distiller Score 80
Quite a versatile whisky that can be enjoyed both neat or as a perfect base for cocktails. Fairly easy-drinking, light and sweet with some bourbon-esque hints of vanilla, caramel & honey. Banoffee, rye bread and sweet oak spices come wrap this all up in a pleasant creamy mouthfeel.
Reviewed by Anne-Sophie Bigot
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McClelland's Single Malt Lowland
Distiller Score 68
The Lowlands are known for their lighter, considerably less rich styles (compared to Speyside, Highland or Islay), very akin to Irish whiskeys. Floral (lilac and lavender, almost soapy) and spicy, with golden fruits and toffee in the mid palate, finishing with a distinct candied ginger heat. Tastes like one of those funky old school violet candies that come in a slim tin at the deli. Honestly, this is not what I associate with Lowlands at all except for the color!
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Black Grouse (Discontinued)
Distiller Score 82
There is a sweet, smoky style to the aroma with less of a medicinal tone to the peat smoke. The fruits are more on the stone and orchard fruit side while the malt component comes in loud and clear. The sweetness and the smoke are pretty equal throughout the dram, but in the end, the smoke wins by a nose.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Dewar's Portuguese Smooth
Distiller Score 81
The aroma shows a bit of red fruit along with toasted grain and malt. Orange peel is faint, but present. The whisky is on the thin side, but the flavors are full of the malt and light on the fruit. The finish shows the brand's classic honey and malt taste. Perfectly fine to enjoy on a weekday or as a mixer.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno