Review #13 Highland Park 12:

A pirate walks into a bar and orders a drink.  The bartender looks down and says, "You know that you have a steering wheel in your pants"  The pirate replies, "Ay, it's drivin' me nuts"

A review of an island whisky that for the price is tough to beat! 

Highland Park 12 YO 43%,  $32, 750ml,  Daveco Liquors

Color:  Amber +1, coats glass nicely, small slow legs.

Nose:  Vanilla, smoke, malt, syrup, sea mist, nutmeg, cake, honey, lavender, pears, leather.

Taste:  Toffee, syrup, almonds, vanilla smooth, marzipan, apricots, honey, floral

Mouthfeel:  Nice, rich, velvety but not too oily

Finish:  Smooth, warm, honey, linen, smoke

Water:  Nose:  Smoke,slight peat, honey.  Taste: mellows nicely, sweeter, vanilla, syrup and toffee.

Score: Taste: 70, Value: 13,  Uniqueness:  4, Buy Again: 5  Total:  92 

For a Scotch at this price this has a quite a nice balance of flavors and aromas.  Sweet, with a nice bite and a hint of smoke, but possibly a hint of color, my only real complaint.  This is a definite go to and will always stay in my cabinet.  After calculating the overall score it seemed a bit high, but IMO a 12 year old with this much to offer and at this price I haven’t found anything yet that competes with it for $32, hence the score.  This is a damn good single malt at a blend price where I buy it, a very good value.  I have tried the 18 as well, and it is better still (another review).     

Review #12, Old Pultney12:

Why did God give drummers more brains than horses?             So they wouldn't shit in the street during parades. One review I feel I am way overdue for posting.  This was my second whisky purchase after Glenlivet.  After some careful online research and finding this at a reasonable price, I decided this was to be my next scotch purchase.  Always a staple in my cabinet and a nice daily go to dram for a reasonable price.  Very recommended, especially to newer scotch fans! Old Pultney  12 year Old 43% $31.99 Total Beverage Color:  Amber +1, with a rich golden lightness.  Thick tears, coats the glencairn glass nicely. Nose:  Briny / sea air, toffee, Spices: fennel, white pepper, honey, pears, creamy caramel, nutmeg, figs Mouthfeel:  Warm and smooth, quick but not too thin. Taste:  Nice spiciness, fruity, apple and pears, metallic, ginger, salty oak. Finish:  A bit short, salty, pepper comes back, yeasty, sandy beach, syrup. With Water:  N:  Honey and carmel comes out more, malt and syrup.     T:  Sweeter, caramel, vanilla and salt ( saltwater taffy ) Score:  Taste:  67, Value:  12  Uniqueness:  3  Buy Again: 4  Total:  86 I really do like this whisky, but after having tasted some amazing stuff over the years, this is not the most complex whisky, but so very drinkable.  I have yet to try later expressions but they are on my to try list for sure!

Review # 11 Oban 14:

A guy walks into a bar and asks for ten shots of the establishments finest single malt scotch. The bartender sets him up, and the guy takes the first shot in the row and pours it on the floor. He then takes the last one in the and does the same. The bartender asks him, "Why did you do that?" And the guy replies, " Well the first shot always tastes like crap, and the last one always makes me sick!"

Oban 14:  43% $74.99, (paid $59.99 with coupon) Total Beverage 750 ml

 I am reviewing another of the Classic Malts from Diageo, Oban 14 “Oban, The Little Bay of Caves”.  Great history with this city and distillery.  This is one brand I have tried a couple times in the bars, and after finding a coupon from one of my local liquor stores felt it was time for a purchase.

Color:  Amber +1  ( I am not going to get into the e150 discussion here, I am guessing they add some e150 to many of their products. )  Clings to the Glencairn glass producing quick small tears with fairly thin legs.

Nose:  Sea Air, Moss, Black Pepper, Almond Paste, Citrus, Malty Syrup, grapes, Lavender / Heather, Linen, Vinegar.

Taste:  Sweet, Honey, Briny Sea Mist, Walnuts, Cardamon, Spice, Caramelized Sugar, Cream.

Finish:  Warm, smooth, Mint, Pear, Strawberries

With Water:  N: More Fragrant, Floral, Malt Syrup, Chocolate

      T:  Smoother, Vanilla, Fudge, Creamy.

Score:  Taste:  70,  Value: 10,  Unique:  4, Buy Again:  3  Total: 86  

This Whisky opens nicely with a little water. Overall a very well flavored single malt, a tad bit pricy for a regular go to, but a good dram none the less.  I found it interesting that I picked up a number of similar nose and taste profiles as Cragganmore, just with more sea side notes in the nose (Diageo?).  I’d never turn this one down if offered, but it’s not one of my personal very top favorites either.  For the price I can’t say for sure if I would always keep this one in my Scotch cabinet, that is unless it is on sale somewhere $8 to $20 cheaper.  Either way, for those looking to try the different distilleries this should be on your list.  

  

   

Review #10, Dalwhinnie 15:

What's the difference between a musician and a mutual fund?  Eventually the mutual fund will mature and earn money.

Hey fellow Malt Meisters, My review 17 comes from another of the the Classic Malts by Diageo.  Claimed to be the highest Distillery in Scotland and “The Gentle Spirit”  this offering shows many nice features in a highland whisky.   

Dalwhinnie 15:  43%   $49 for a 750 ml.   Boss Liquors

Color:  Amber 0 - .5. Light apple juice.  Quick wide tears.

Nose:  Fruit, Apples, White Pepper, Malt, Vegetative Floral, Orange Zest, Toffee, Caramel, Honey, Figs, Nutmeg, Butter, Smoke, Peaches.

Mouth feel and Taste:  Warm medium consistency.  Oak, Ginger, White Pepper, Apple, Earthy, Caramel, Fennel, Spice.

Finish:  Warm on the tongue, Straw / Hay, Sour grapes that gives way to Malty Syrup.

With Water:  N: More Honey, Floral and Ginger.  T:  Red Apple and Nutmeg more prevalent.  

Score:  Taste:  67, Value:  11,  Uniqueness:  4,  Buy Again:  3   Total: 85

This is a nice whisky overall, a bit sweet that comes across a bit forced at moments but stands up well on it’s own.  Water opens up the aroma a bit more and allows the fruit to become more noticeable while taming the piquance.  I would like to see a bit more ABV in this offering to intensify the flavors. I’m guessing the lower ABV helps to ease the intensity and contributes to the gentleness of this spirit.  I am a bit unsure if I will continue to re-purchase it to keep it my collection, maybe for the right price.  So far not really a personal favorite, but yet still another very good dram.  

  

Review # 9, Ardmore Peated:

E-flat walks into a bar, The bartender says, sorry, we don't serve minors......

Ardmore Peated:, 46%, NCF, $39 Total Beverage

**Color:**  Amber 0 -1 plus slight orange hue, small tears, thin legs.

**Nose:**  Peat, malt, pears, oak, coffee, Shoe polish, wax, tea

**Taste:**  Slight Burn, peat, brine, tree fruit, apples, pears, honey, ginger, smoke, burnt rubber, burnt toast

**Finish:**  Bitter, ginger, soapy, woody

**With Water:**  N:  Smoke, Peat, Brine, less fruit.  T:  Tamed burn, pear, peaty.

**Score:**  Taste:  65,  Value:  10,  Uniqueness:  3,  By Again: 2  Total:  80

My first impression when I opened the bottle was not bad.  This whisky is less peated than a number of Islays, but enough to take note of.  The nose and initial taste are not too bad either, but sadly it resolves to a weak, slightly bitter finish that comes across a bit industrial and processed.  Depending on the day I might re-score it plus or minus a couple points.  Still prefer this to most blends I’ve had.   

Review #8 Aberlour A'bunadh Batch #39:

What did the bass player get on his I.Q. test?.... Drool.

Aberlour A’bunadh: Batch 39, 59.8% ABV, Father’s Day Gift.

Color: Amber +2 with a hint of golden orange glow.  Slow thick tears.

Nose:  Pepper, port wine, raisins, carmel, sweet floral, cocoa, citrus zest.

Mouth Feel/Taste:  Rich and oily.  Hot, black pepper, sherry, bitter dark chocolate, green leafy vegetative, strawberry jam, raisins.

Finish:  Warm, dry with more sherry, mincemeat

With Water:  N:  More pepper, raisins, stronger red wine note.   

    T:  The heat is tamed, slight cinnamon candy.

Score:  Taste: 71, Value: 10, Uniqueness:  5,  Buy Again: 3  Total:  89

This is a very intense dram.  A lot of flavor and overall a very good scotch.  A bit spicy due to it’s high ABV but it mellows out nicely with water.  The more time you give it the more it opens.   My chief negative marks are:  no statement on coloring, It’s a little pricy and sometimes hard to find.  Compared to CS Macallan, a bit more rough around the edges and also no age statement, but very much worth purchase for a special event, especially for us sherry scotch fans.  Depending on the day, I could add or subtract an overall point or two.

   

Review #7 Aberlour 12 Non Chill Filtered:

So, a guy is at the doctors office for his obligatory prostate check when in walks a nurse with a 12 pack of beer.  The doctor turns around to scold her shouting " no I said a butt light!"

So, rumor has it this expression is being discontinued.  Such a shame as this is one of my top favorites so far!

Aberlour Non Chill Filtered:  12 yo, 48% ABV, $65 Superior Liquors

**Color:**  Amber +2 again with Golden Orange hue.  Thick Tiers, sticks to the glass.

**Nose:**  Very balanced, barley malt, Fruit ( red apples) sherry oak cask, red wine, blackberries, cinnamon, coconut.

**Mouth Feel/Taste:**  Smooth and balanced, not to heavy or oily.  Warm, smooth, honey, syrup, malt, strawberries, fresh fruit, cinnamon, fennel seed.  

**Finish:**  Again well balanced warmth, Sherry comes out more, strawberries and cocoa.

**Water:**  N:  Sweet, more fruit and floral

      T:   Honey almonds and berries

**Score:**  Taste: 73, Value: 12, Unique: 5, Buy Again:4 Total:  94  

In my opinion and from what I have had to this point, this is one of the best of the sherried Scotch distilleries out there I have tried.  I think they all rank very close (if not better in some cases) to most of the Macallan offerings but often at a better price.  I personally feel this distilleries’ expressions is one of the best values available.  Again my only real complaints lie in the question if they use coloring, and as tasty as the NCF is compared to the 12 YO Double Cask, I feel they could save time and perhaps money by skipping the filtration on their standard 12.  But hey that’s my 2 cents.  In the meantime I recommend picking up a bottle from this distillery if you have not as of yet.