J&B Reserve 15 Year

Another generously shared dram from @cascode N: Very fragrant floral almost perfume like nose. Theres some nice sweetness with good acidity that reminds me of elderflower cordial (perhaps) and almost crosses over into white wine territory. There are hints of maltiness and a little grain-ethanol if I really dig in. Overall a very interesting and crisp nose that feels refreshing. P: Sweet with a good wallop of prickly ginger. Sweetness comes from what emerges as crisp apple and citrus. Not much else for me really. Texture is good, its full with softness but also some oiliness that lingers nicely. Perhaps as the ginger subsides between sips there is something a little soft and creamy but the ginger prickle has kept building for me into a heat that mutes much of the under notes. Leaving longer between sips there is an oak presence which is drying and tannic but it’s nothing much. The heat isn’t bad, but this palate for me is one dimensional and a bit generic. Finish: Medium-long. The oiliness I find stretches this out for me. There are sharp apple and fresh herbal flavours that end up feeling juicy. Hmm, I like that. I wasn’t expecting much from this pour. I have avoided J&B rare like the plague since I first picked up a whisky back in 2016. Everything is perfectly approachable, doesn’t really take any work to appreciate and ultimately, despite being a little generic and unremarkable, is pretty tasty. For me the entry on the nose and finish out the other end are stand outs. As the end of the dram comes up I am wondering if some distant peat smoke comes through. Surprise for me I guess. I’m not going to go out and buy a bottle, but it’s nice to know that in a bind, I have another acceptable uncomplicated drink to reach for when out and about. (Pictured here with a chunk of Britains oldest and most studied rock; the Lewisian Gneiss. This rock is 3-2.7 billion years old and is found across much of northwest Scotland and the islands of the Inner and Outer Hebridies). Distiller whisky taste #93

Nose: Apple, pear, soft orange notes. There’s a delicate, sweet floral presence like honeysuckle and a background aroma of malted cereal. The balance between the malt and grain whiskies is very well done. Palate: Sweet mild arrival with orchard fruits, a touch of orange oil and a hint of ginger. The development is slight and does not present a great deal more, apart from some vanilla and oak from the barrels. There is a trace of ashy smoke on the palate that you don’t notice on the nose, but it is very reserved at first, and towards the finish a mild tannic bitterness shows up. The texture is a little creamy with a silky quality – that’s the grain whisky speaking. Finish: Medium. Tart green apple, kiwifruit, mint and marzipan. This is a “big” whisky for a blended scotch, and it’s significantly superior to standard J&B scotch. There is an unmistakable family resemblance so the recipe is similar, but the components used here are much more refined and show 15 years of maturation in reasonable barrels. The nose is fresh, crisp and has good body and a pleasant character with no intrusive ethanol. The palate is eminently quaffable and with subsequent sips you notice the smoky background notes more and more. The finish is moderate, but surprisingly longer than expected, and several tart flavours come forward in the aftertaste. These are not unpleasant, however, and provide agreeable balance. It’s not a particularly complex whisky and may be a disappointment to those who favour big, bold single-malt drams. However it more than holds its own against other premium price blends such as Dewars 18, Old Parr 18 and so on. I found myself reaching for this more than I expected and with a splash of soda water it’s a satisfying and relaxing late-night dram. “Above Average” : 82/100 (3.25)