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Posted: 2/20/2017 5:53:10 PM EDT
So let's get a review thread started. Feel free to post any review here for your favorite brown water. Lets start with a general guide on how to review whiskey.
First: Tell us the general setting/details of what was going on when you did the review. Was it a bar with a bottle that had been open for an unknown amount of time? Was it your fourth drink of the night? How did you have it? What type of glass, how long had it been sitting, neat/ice/water? Second: Here, go ahead and start into the review details, or maybe give us your general opinion up front. Third: Color. What does it look like? Is it golden, deep red, dark brown? Help the people reading the review get into the experience. Fourth: Nose. This one is where things start to vary drastically from one person to another. Try and really pick up what your smelling. The best way to do this with spirits is to bring your nose into the glass and breath in through your mouth. This will let you pick up the subtleties without the ethanol overwhelming your nose. This is usually best done after letting it sit for a few minutes. Fifth: Taste/palate. We aren't all going to agree on these. Someone may really enjoy something that you hate. The best way to find stuff you may like though, is to try and find someone that enjoys some of the same stuff you do, and look for their other reviews. That being said, try and write out the full taste. What did you taste at first, what about after adding a little water or ice? Anything that it reminds you of? Did the palate match the things you smelled? Then make sure you include the feel of it. Was it full bodied? Did it taste a little thin? Was it oily? Sixth: Finish/aftertaste. What was it like after you swallowed it? Some whiskies can leave a lingering mint/dill flavor, other ones have a signature note that seems consistent across all of their products. The Beam peanut funk is a great example of this. The wrap up: Give us a score. Let us know what scale you are grading it on, and if price factors into your decision. Maybe sum it up, or tell us if you would buy it again, toss it, or leave it as something you would only drink at a bar or friends house. |
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If you like bourbon, this a great website. Take some time and read some reviews. Some of these guys do a wonderful job of describing the bourbon experience. Start out by reading the reviews of bourbons that you know you like, then find a reviewer or two that seem to have similar tastes to your own. If you read the reviews from those reviewers you can often find bourbons that you can try that you might not otherwise have found.
Bourbonenthusiast.com |
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It's fun to read the expert's reviews, but I always really enjoy just reading amateur reviews. The more experienced some people get, the more it seems like they are just trying to use as many big words and obscure references as they can.
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It's fun to read the expert's reviews, but I always really enjoy just reading amateur reviews. The more experienced some people get, the more it seems like they are just trying to use as many big words and obscure references as they can. View Quote Well put! I'm a newbie into the world of bourbon, but have quickly become an enthusiast and collector. I have brought my wife along for the journey, and it's really fun sharing feedback and opinions. I'll be sharing my reviews and learning experience soon as we just finished moving into our new house in Knoxville. Current open bottles: Buffalo Trace Eagle Rare 10yr Blantons Sazerac Rye Dickel no.12 Pilar (rum) Kirk and Sweeney 23yr (rum Appleton Estates 21yr (rum) All of these were purchased to establish a baseline for me. I have the intention of opening everything, but am familiarizing myself with tastes and notes as the more I drink each, the more they develope and the full character of each opens up and fully reveals itself. It's amazing how your senses develope and progress! In the meantime, here is a photo of the bourbons and rums I've collected over the past month. I have sampled many, but not all, and have purchased most by review characteristics that I've found my palate prefers. Attached File |
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Well put! I'm a newbie into the world of bourbon, but have quickly become an enthusiast and collector. I have brought my wife along for the journey, and it's really fun sharing feedback and opinions. I'll be sharing my reviews and learning experience soon as we just finished moving into our new house in Knoxville. Current open bottles: Buffalo Trace Eagle Rare 10yr Blantons Sazerac Rye Dickel no.12 Pilar (rum) Kirk and Sweeney 23yr (rum Appleton Estates 21yr (rum) All of these were purchased to establish a baseline for me. I have the intention of opening everything, but and familiarizing myself with tastes and notes, as the more I drink each, the more they develope, and the full character of each opens up and fully reveals itself. It's amazing how your senses develope and progress! In the meantime, here is a photo of the bourbons and rums I've collected over the past month. I have sampled many, but not all, and have purchased most by review characteristics that I've found my palate prefers. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/328927/IMG-9043-150760.JPG View Quote Throw that picture up in the bottle porn thread. You have me jealous with that WLW on the top shelf and the rock hill hanging out in the center! |
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Here goes nothing. My first official bourbon review. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/67156/IMG-0515-150743.jpg This is a bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel I've had in the cabinet for a few years. It was put in oak in 1997 and bottled in 2007. It is 86.6 proof. Color. The color is a light caramel with warm reddish tint. Body. The body is light for a 10 year old. If you roll it in the glass, it leaves the sides of the glass quickly. The mouth feel is very light. Nose. The nose is mostly corn with a bit of oak and leather. Also very light for a 10 year old. Taste. The taste is fairly simple and light. There is corn, a hint of fruit and a little oak. Very mild alcohol burn, which you'd expect at 86 proof. Just a bit of vanilla. Finish. Very mild finish with a little oak/old leather left on the back end. Overall. A simple bourbon with no really great features but no real faults either. The most important thing to remember is that this usually less than $30.00 a bottle. Probably a good bottle to have around if you have friends that like something smooth and simple. View Quote Awesome! Thank you for sharing with us. The newer ones keep getting younger, so enjoy that one while you can! |
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http://i.imgur.com/PPrQOsY.jpg Well, the fiancee is visiting her brother who I cannot stand. So, Lonnie-Dog and I are batching it for two more days. I have a nice evening planned as you can see. The Auchentoshan Three Wood is on a recommendation from a sommelier friend. He knows I am not a fan of sherry bomb scotches, so he recommended this as it is matured in bourbon and sherry casks. I was suckered in by the "try something other than your peat monsters." It's a NAS (No Age Statement) bottling, so I cannot tell you the age. Plus, I rarely drink Lowland malts, so this is an one-off for me. Color. The color is a light caramel with warm reddish tint. It either has a long time in the Pedro Ximenez casks, or it may have a bit of color added. Body. It is rather light despite the color. You would expect it to be smokier given the bourbon casking, but from reading up on the distillery, it is non-peated. It tastes lighter than its color would indicate. It makes me wonder if any coloring was added. Nose. The nose has a hint of dried orange rinds and floral. Honeysuckle? Green apples? Taste. It has a very light taste with a nice bite without water. A splash of water really dilutes it. I may have added a little too much water. The taste is very light and enjoyable. It has a sweet taste almost like creme brûlée. Finish. The finish has a little smokey taste but not a peaty taste. Going back to the creme brûlée analogy, it finishes with that burnt taste that you sometimes get on the top of the creme brûlée. Maybe a caramel finish. I am not very good at describing what I am tasting. Overall. Would I drink it again? Definitely. It is different from what I normally drink (Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Ardbeg), but it has a interesting taste. Almost like an after dessert malt. I think this one is best saved for a whisky to serve with something sweet and little to no water added. Tip, it works with Walkers Shortbread cookies. But again, this is my first review, and I may well have no clue. Now, with the Nightcap, a little bit of the Laphroaig Lore. A peaty malt with a nice bowl before bed are one of life's little pleasures. View Quote Sounds like a perfect way to spend a night. The three wood has always been a late night dram to me, all by itself. Although I have enjoyed it a few times with a nice Icelandic dark chocolate bar. |
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Hello everyone,
I registered for an account to participate in your new forum, congratulations on getting it going. I have lurked GD for years, but I thought I would jump in here, as it is relevant to my interests. I have always had some single malt scotch in the cabinet, usually Glenlivet12, and have become interested in expanding my single malt experience. Watched a bunch of reviews and bought a few bottles over the last six months, went with what you guys would probably consider basics within their region, Glenmorangie Original, Highland Park12, Talisker10, and Caol Ila12. Also a Glen Grant12 currently unopened until I finish the Genlivet12. I like all of them, enjoying the different flavors, although my nose isn't sophisticated enough to pick up the subtle differences yet, maybe over time that will improve. I was recently offered a dram of the Auchentashan 3 wood that LSU Tiger Fan reviewed and completely agree with his description, it was very nice. Not sure what to pick up next, thinking maybe an Ardbeg10, but just watched a review of the Laddie10 that sounds good if I can find it. Happy to be here, suggestions welcome. |
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Hello everyone, I registered for an account to participate in your new forum, congratulations on getting it going. I have lurked GD for years, but I thought I would jump in here, as it is relevant to my interests. I have always had some single malt scotch in the cabinet, usually Glenlivet12, and have become interested in expanding my single malt experience. Watched a bunch of reviews and bought a few bottles over the last six months, went with what you guys would probably consider basics within their region, Glenmorangie Original, Highland Park12, Talisker10, and Caol Ila12. Also a Glen Grant12 currently unopened until I finish the Genlivet12. I like all of them, enjoying the different flavors, although my nose isn't sophisticated enough to pick up the subtle differences yet, maybe over time that will improve. I was recently offered a dram of the Auchentashan 3 wood that LSU Tiger Fan reviewed and completely agree with his description, it was very nice. Not sure what to pick up next, thinking maybe an Ardbeg10, but just watched a review of the Laddie10 that sounds good if I can find it. Happy to be here, suggestions welcome. View Quote Welcome aboard! Glad to have you, and not a bad start at all. That's a good range of single malts to have worked through. What did you like about them? Which ones were your favorite? We have a lot of experience whisky guys around here that can point you towards others you may like. I will say that the no age statement (NAS) is incredibly similar to the 10 year laddie and much more available. It is one of the few NAS out there that doesn't seem to lose something compared to the age stated versions they replaced. |
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Thanks for the heads up on the NAS Laddie, I live dangerously close to a Total Wine store, so I will look for it.
So far, I think I am enjoying the Highland Park12 the most, it seems well balanced to me, I will probably buy their 18 year old expression when I am finished with this bottle. I will admit that I was/am afraid to go toward the "smoke" but the Islays are becoming more appealing too. This "research" is going to take a while. |
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Thanks for the heads up on the NAS Laddie, I live dangerously close to a Total Wine store, so I will look for it. So far, I think I am enjoying the Highland Park12 the most, it seems well balanced to me, I will probably buy their 18 year old expression when I am finished with this bottle. I will admit that I was/am afraid to go toward the "smoke" but the Islays are becoming more appealing too. This "research" is going to take a while. View Quote Of the big peaty three - Laphroaig, Ardbeg and Lagavulin - I would say that the Lagavulin 16 is the smoothest approach to the Islay malts. I prefer the Laphroaig 10 as my go to, but you cannot go wrong with any of the three. I also love Ardbeg Uigeadail. But it's a "big boy pants" peaty scotch. If you want to cover a lot of ground quickly, go to one of the UK sites like Master of Malt and grab a lot of samples. Shipping will be a bitch, but in the long run, you can cover a lot of ground quickly. Edit: Maybe try Kilchoman Machir Bay. I liked my bottle. I just haven't bought another one, but it's because most of my booze money is going to the Laphroaig folks. |
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Thanks for the heads up on the NAS Laddie, I live dangerously close to a Total Wine store, so I will look for it. So far, I think I am enjoying the Highland Park12 the most, it seems well balanced to me, I will probably buy their 18 year old expression when I am finished with this bottle. I will admit that I was/am afraid to go toward the "smoke" but the Islays are becoming more appealing too. This "research" is going to take a while. View Quote Welcome to the forum. |
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Since you liked the balance of Highland Park 12, you might consider Springbank 10. Give Old Pulteney 12 a try in your research too. And if you're leaning towards Islays, Lagavulin 16 needs to be on your short list. Welcome to the forum. View Quote I have heard good things about all of these, added to the list. Thanks LSUTF, and wiseanhyzer, I think the Lagavulin16 was $75 at Costco last week, I'm pretty sure I saw the others at Total Wine, and were scored pretty highly. You guys are gonna cost me some money. |
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I have heard good things about all of these, added to the list. Thanks LSUTF, and wiseanhyzer, I think the Lagavulin16 was $75 at Costco last week, I'm pretty sure I saw the others at Total Wine, and were scored pretty highly. You guys are gonna cost me some money. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Since you liked the balance of Highland Park 12, you might consider Springbank 10. Give Old Pulteney 12 a try in your research too. And if you're leaning towards Islays, Lagavulin 16 needs to be on your short list. Welcome to the forum. I have heard good things about all of these, added to the list. Thanks LSUTF, and wiseanhyzer, I think the Lagavulin16 was $75 at Costco last week, I'm pretty sure I saw the others at Total Wine, and were scored pretty highly. You guys are gonna cost me some money. Forgot Old Pulteney 12. Great choice! Never had the Springbank. |
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Just checking in. Business dinner last night. Wound up at The Chop House in Charleston, West Virginia. Some asshole - who looks remarkably like myself - finished their Laphroaig 10.
Telling the world how much I love Laphroaig, steak and our new subforum is a great way to spend post 7,000!! |
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Just checking in. Business dinner last night. Wound up at The Chop House in Charleston, West Virginia. Some asshole - who looks remarkably like myself - finished their Laphroaig 10. Telling the world how much I love Laphroaig, steak and our new subforum is a great way to spend post 7,000!! View Quote |
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Well put! I'm a newbie into the world of bourbon, but have quickly become an enthusiast and collector. I have brought my wife along for the journey, and it's really fun sharing feedback and opinions. I'll be sharing my reviews and learning experience soon as we just finished moving into our new house in Knoxville. Current open bottles: Buffalo Trace Eagle Rare 10yr Blantons Sazerac Rye Dickel no.12 Pilar (rum) Kirk and Sweeney 23yr (rum Appleton Estates 21yr (rum) All of these were purchased to establish a baseline for me. I have the intention of opening everything, but am familiarizing myself with tastes and notes as the more I drink each, the more they develope and the full character of each opens up and fully reveals itself. It's amazing how your senses develope and progress! In the meantime, here is a photo of the bourbons and rums I've collected over the past month. I have sampled many, but not all, and have purchased most by review characteristics that I've found my palate prefers. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/328927/IMG-9043-150760.JPG View Quote Holy Hell. That's a months worth of just starting? VERY NICE ! |
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Great review! Thanks for sharing. We need to talk more people into sharing them.
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I'm enjoying my first cask strength, a Maker's Mark cask strength, a 2016-01 batch. It's the first batch bottled of 2016. It's a 112.2 proof, so a 56.1% bourbon, it's pretty strong. I found it right at $50. http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u528/johntylersmith11/453F1C4C-59E1-4F0F-B3E3-C37CCF3748AB_zpsugvnsjv1.jpg Aroma- straight from the bottle to the rocks glass, there's a very powerful alcohol presence. After letting it breathe, it starts to smell like a bakery/pie store. Sweet fruity aroma with what I think of as apple pie spices and a little bit of vanilla. Very small oak aroma. Body- color is similar to a dark amber honey color. It feels like it coats the mouth and has a good full body presence. Taste- after the alcohol burn, it starts off with a small spice kick and then goes to a sweet place. Caramel, all spice, cinnamon, fruit, brown sugar, and molasses. Deeper flavor than regular MM. The finish retains some of those sweet notes then proceeds to a long smoky finish, with hints of tobacco and a trace of spice. View Quote |
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I've got a few glencairn glasses. Are the Norlan glasses worth $25 dollars each?
They look really nice but other than that do they add much to the experience that a glencairn doesn't already? |
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I've got a few glencairn glasses. Are the Norlan glasses worth $25 dollars each? They look really nice but other than that do they add much to the experience that a glencairn doesn't already? View Quote |
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https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/349595/20170507-160550-203632.jpghttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/349595/IMG-20170507-162738-962-203628.jpg https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/349595/IMG-20170507-162738-963-203630.jpghttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/349595/IMG-20170507-162738-961-203629.jpg The dram: Nathan Stone's Private Stock bottled by Julian VanWinkle III in 1990 for the Japanese Market The setting: Home alone, all the windows open, sipping neat out of a glencairn after a 15 minute rest, bottle just opened today. Color: Mahogany/deep umber long long long legs Nose: A touch of Oak then toasted marshmallows and cherry Taste/palate: Vanilla heavy pancakes topped in rich maple syrup with some caramel drizzled on top. It's dessert like, with a nice oily mouthfeel to it. A small amount of Oak pops up as you let it rest on the tongue. Finish: Long finish that breaks down into a tobacco smoke on the back end. The oil stays through and a small tingle from the proof reminds you that it's time for another drink. Score: 90+/100 Not a lot of things I would give a 90+. I've read some weird reviews of this over the years, and now can't understand why at all. I had been saving this for a special occasion, but it's a beautiful day and I regret nothing. It's rich and oily and sweet and everything I could ever want out of a bourbon. It's sad to know that if I ever want another I'm going to have to pay crazy prices. View Quote |
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https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/349595/20170514-193503-208598.jpghttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/349595/20170514-193528-208596.jpg The dram: Old Forester Statesman (LE for the new Kingsman movie) The setting: 82 degrees and beautiful, sipping neat out of a modified rocks glass after a 15 minute rest, bottle just opened today. Color: Light Caramel almost gold Nose: Young alcohol, small bit of green wood, very mild vanilla Taste/palate: Right off the bat, this taste young. Younger than most old forester, and much less balanced. The alcohol is at the forefront and remains a constant through the whole experience. Leaving it on the tongue a little helps to show some of the vanilla, and some sort of fruit.. maybe almost a green apple note. This trails off into what reminds me of walking through a perfume section at a department store. That odd taste on the tongue of a lot of light floral perfumes in the air. It is sweet, and clearly has notes of caramel like most old forester, but not as strong as usual. Finish: This burns.... It leaves a young alcohol hit in the middle of the throat. Outside of that, it coats the mouth well and leaves some sweet fruit on the tongue. It stays with you for a while. Score: 74/100 Not the worst LE I've ever had, and part of me even wonders if I should rate it higher. Not because I really loved it or anything, but because Old Forester marketed this as "hot" to reflect how the Kingsman and Stateman really come into their own when things "get hot". So this does do what they wanted it to. Whether or not that is for me is another question. View Quote |
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Conclusion: I'm not going to score this, I think I need to develop more of a personal gauge for scoring before I do that. I would sum this up as a quality "lazy sipping bourbon." Very middle of the road, if a little on the sweet side. You can sit back, zone out and just sip away. Would not go on my top or bottom shelf - somewhere in the middle. View Quote |
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I wanted to give this a bump because we're heading into fall and it seems more people are finding the wine cellar lately. Share some reviews gentlemen.
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Oban 18
Attached File Setting-broke up with my girlfriend and figured a return to my real mistress would be a pleasant way to unwind, especially an 18 year old one it was also the first chilly/snowy day in my neck of Colorado. Opened the bottle and have let the dram sit for about fifteen minutes now. I am sober as an Ox and sipping from a Glencairm glass. Neat, but I will add a whisky rock about half way. My usual go-to is either laphroaig 10, or Ardberg 10. (Still been eying a bottle of Lagvulin and Caol Isla. Don't ever travel to the Isle of Islay!) Color-to my eye, it is a pretty dark honey look to it, with a twinge of red. Looks similar to Laphroaig select cask strength, but a bit richer. Nose- this is defiantly not as in your face as my usual islay whisky. It smells delicate, and after a few whiffs I get a floral smell, and perhaps a hint of sea salt, (nothing like talisker, but lying under the surface.) there is something sweet about the smell, combined with how the whisky sticks to the side of the glass, just brings me back to that honey thought from earlier Taste- I actually said, "oh wow" to myself after the first sip. I got a strong sense of not quite lilac, but not, not lilac. Subtle bits of dark, rich chocolate followed. My second sip revealed some cooler citrus notes, and a slightly sharper finish. I'm really stuck on how rich this single malt is, it gives me the feeling of sticking to my mouth and throat...not necessarily the flavor, just the liquid. The feeling is devine. The further I get into the dram, the more it becomes less chocolate, and more caramel flavors. Which is my favorite part of sipping whisky, how complex and different a well crafted bottle can be. Finish- much longer than little bay, my only other foray into Oban. Caramel notes as you swallow, followed by a sweet, floral finish that lasts a solid 30 seconds. Little to no effect on my tongue from alcohol, incredibly pleasant to drink. Overall score- 8/10. While I don't think this strikes me as a winter, warm the soul kind of dram, I enjoyed every ounce of it. So much that I forgot to put rocks in it! I paid $70 for this bottle, compared to the NAS Little Bay at $50 or so, I think this is a steal. I think I'm going to save this bottle for more of a summer sipper. It's rich and sweet in many of the ways I thought Glenmorangies La Quinta was, albeit with a deeper flavor profile. 10/10 would buy this bottle again, and would honestly pay more for it. My humble collection Attached File |
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Oban 18 https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/247398/IMG_3848-397286.JPG Setting-broke up with my girlfriend and figured a return to my real mistress would be a pleasant way to unwind, especially an 18 year old one it was also the first chilly/snowy day in my neck of Colorado. Opened the bottle and have let the dram sit for about fifteen minutes now. I am sober as an Ox and sipping from a Glencairm glass. Neat, but I will add a whisky rock about half way. My usual go-to is either laphroaig 10, or Ardberg 10. (Still been eying a bottle of Lagvulin and Caol Isla. Don't ever travel to the Isle of Islay!) Color-to my eye, it is a pretty dark honey look to it, with a twinge of red. Looks similar to Laphroaig select cask strength, but a bit richer. Nose- this is defiantly not as in your face as my usual islay whisky. It smells delicate, and after a few whiffs I get a floral smell, and perhaps a hint of sea salt, (nothing like talisker, but lying under the surface.) there is something sweet about the smell, combined with how the whisky sticks to the side of the glass, just brings me back to that honey thought from earlier Taste- I actually said, "oh wow" to myself after the first sip. I got a strong sense of not quite lilac, but not, not lilac. Subtle bits of dark, rich chocolate followed. My second sip revealed some cooler citrus notes, and a slightly sharper finish. I'm really stuck on how rich this single malt is, it gives me the feeling of sticking to my mouth and throat...not necessarily the flavor, just the liquid. The feeling is devine. The further I get into the dram, the more it becomes less chocolate, and more caramel flavors. Which is my favorite part of sipping whisky, how complex and different a well crafted bottle can be. Finish- much longer than little bay, my only other foray into Oban. Caramel notes as you swallow, followed by a sweet, floral finish that lasts a solid 30 seconds. Little to no effect on my tongue from alcohol, incredibly pleasant to drink. Overall score- 8/10. While I don't think this strikes me as a winter, warm the soul kind of dram, I enjoyed every ounce of it. So much that I forgot to put rocks in it! I paid $70 for this bottle, compared to the NAS Little Bay at $50 or so, I think this is a steal. I think I'm going to save this bottle for more of a summer sipper. It's rich and sweet in many of the ways I thought Glenmorangies La Quinta was, albeit with a deeper flavor profile. 10/10 would buy this bottle again, and would honestly pay more for it. My humble collection https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/247398/IMG_3849-397287.JPG View Quote |
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