Naked Malt

Tastes cheap, but not worst.

The aroma is sweet and filled with oloroso sherry notes, raisins, red berries, almonds, malt, apple, and chocolate. When tasting, it immediately hits you with red fruit, followed by raisins and sherry. There’s nutty and fried red fruit hints as well. As it develops further, it hits you with malt and dried fruit forward sherry with some oaky undertones. It’s like a trail mix with dried grapes and cranberries, almonds, and cereal. As it finishes off, it leaves raisin, prune, sherry, peppercorn, cinnamon, and clove with a hint of chocolate and caramel. The mothfeel of the whisky is light, but with the lightest hint of oiliness. Overall, I beleive that this is superior to Monkey Shoulder, being much less musty while having most of the same positive flavors. It’s nowhere near Aberlour 12, but is the closest you can get while spending close to half as much.

Nose: I felt an unusual sourness in the smell, which at first seemed unpleasant since you don’t expect to smell it in whiskey, but then I began to like it. Taste: good full-bodied, soft, buttery and again with an acidity that is reminiscent of pickled apples or greenish plums. At first it was unusual, but then I really liked it. Aftertaste: medium-long, sweetish spicy with oak notes, everything as it should be for a good scotch. Bottom line: this whiskey will definitely be memorable and it is excellent for its price. The direct competitor that I drank is Monkey Shoulder and it is clearly forgotten much faster, although it is good in its own way. 4.5/5

Some cola and cocoa flavors