McClelland's Single Malt Highland

This was my first try at a single malt, after mostly drinking bourbon and rye whiskey. I tried it because it was inexpensive. On the nose it was very floral and over ripe fruit and intense sweetness Tasting was very unpleasant. The fruit and floral notes were there but everything seemed.... off. It was like artificial fruit flavors, or maybe canned fruit. The floral notes were there too but again they seemed artificial and chemical-ish. It reminded me slightly of the scented soap my grandmother used to have on the back of the toilet. It also had a sweetness but not like a honey or sugar or caramel sweetness, but artificial. It was like sugar-free fruit candy.

For only 40 bucks, I didn't have very high expectations. At first I was thinking "is this really subtle?" In truth, I think there just isn't much there.

This is a delightfully easy sipper, though it lacks the complexities found in such Highlands as Macallan. The nose is 90% floral, with some fruity undertones and slight hints of caramel sweets. The palate is greeted with much of the same - I even think of floral tastes from gin. The burn is practically nonexistent and it goes down easy. This Scotch would make a great introductory piece for new drinkers, and I believe it would be a great entryway for those currently versed in Bourbons. The sweetness is there, but there is no onslaught of peat and brine to upset a virgin palate. The rating as an overall Scotch is lower, but for the price point, this is a solid 3.5-star.

Budget scotch. Reminiscent of what I personally associate with Speysides, so a little too floral for my tastes. That being said I appreciate the initial smokiness presented, probably because I prefer Islay scotch. Nose gives a light smoke character, with heavy presence of a sweetness like honey without the edge. Full bodied until you bring it to your lips, then it’s rather thin but consistent. Not a lot of mouth feel. Finish is extremely floral and short with little to no alcohol burn.