JoelyO
Reviewed
October 12, 2021 (edited November 9, 2021)
Backstory: I participated in a Distiller W.O.W. (whiskies of the world) Zoom call having received 10 drams of different whiskies, actually 9 as they snuck one rum in with the mix.
See my review on Diplomatico Reserva. I am so glad to have been introduced to a rum that put my love of bourbon to the test!
This tasting event was a gift for my finance for his 50th so I got each of us a sample box and we joined in the Zoom call together one evening. It was a blast and I am glad we had two boxes as by the time we got to the last few drams my tasting notes got a little suspect as I had a pretty good buzz going! Plus, even with clearing my palette, and sniffing on coffee beans I am sure that my tasting was not as great as it was on those first few drams. We were smart to just share in the first box and save the second back for tasting over a period of a week just to be sure our notes were correct.
So our third sample was this one. I know I am supposed to like this one. I know the brand is considered high bar, and I do not mean to sound unappreciative or uneducated but if either is true it is by far the later.
In fact, I sit here with a small pour from what is left over right now and I can not honestly say my experience is much better, although not quite as harsh as my initial experience.
Appearance: Straw colored, leggy and oily.
Nose: Green apple, golden raisins, smoke, bandaid, burnt rubber.
Flavor: Rubber band, rancid fruit, day old doughnuts, strong smoke.
Finish: Possibility of death.
I am sorry, so very sorry I just can't get my palette around this one. Maybe it is me, perhaps my tastebuds are under evolved. Its just not enjoyable to me.
I feel badly about this and promise to revisit it after more experience with other scotch as I admit my experience is limited with scotch.