Jose-Massu-Espinel
Buchanan's Red Seal
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed
February 24, 2020 (edited October 12, 2023)
BEST WHISKY OF THE YEAR and best whisky so far. Look, im not exagerating, i have found a perfect 10. even better than Chivas Royal Salute 21 and Johnnie Walker Xr, this is my top blended scotch whisky of 2016.
i have never had it before and today a friend gave me 3 glasses.
It is a perfect 10, Perfectly Balanced, long Finish, full bodied, very complex.
Let me tell you something. If i have to pick over Chivas, Old Parr, Johnnie Walker or Buchanan's (top 4 brands sold in Ecuador where i live) i will always pick Buchanan's in any of its variants.
On the nose has a beatiful peaty note, no other Buchanan's has it. Perfumed as most 21 year old Whiskies (it could be older or younger since it doesn't have an age statement), you can also find Hazelnut and coffee notes. But peat takes it all in.
YES A BUCHANANS WITH PEAT !
On the palate is where the real magic happens. Full bodied, as it enters your mouth you will instantly feel very very very old oak, caramel, almonds, a lot of toffee and it will chance into a spicy red chilli, with a easy bearing hotness. The finish is beautiful, long lasting: it touches your stomach and comes back as a hot/spicy wooden note that makes you go "ahhhhh" (like the Coca Cola Propaganda).
I truly believe this is the best whisky i have had so far and i will grant it the title of 2016 whisky of the year for me. LOVELY DRAM. it goes for 150 dollars on a duty free, you are now compelled to get your hands on it. WONDERFUL
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@ContemplativeFox I have no idea but I know they rebranded and whiskey rebrands often come with different juice. I had been eyeing this bottle and suspected the high accolades were for the original bottling (long neck, green box). Thanks @Jose-Massu-Espinel for confirming! Will likely pull the trigger if I find it at a reasonable price. I’ve noticed the original bottling prices have gone up $20 - $40 in my local market.
@Anthology Is the juice different between the two bottlings?
@Anthology hello¡ it was the longer neck. this review is from 2016 when i wrote it
@Jose-Massu-Espinel was this the older (long neck bottle shape, green box packaging) or the newer (squat bottle shape, red box packaging) bottling?