Whisky review : The Macallan 10 years Old Sherry Oak.

Whisky review : The Macallan 10 years Old Sherry Oak.

-Do not associate the name with quality pals !
-Although its Sherry matured..it's still looks like unnatural colour...caramel yet again !

Colour: Amber, dark amber, reddish-orangish...Sherry+caramel = eye candy ? = more sales ? Possibly.

Nose: Sherry, more sweet sherry, fruity notes, toffee.

Mouth: Sweet sherry, thick sherry, toffee-ed sherry, vanilla, touches of cool honey,

Finish : strange finish...expecting sweetness, ending up on acid-metallic taste. strange.

B for taste, I've had much better Sherry-ed whiskies, or wine finishes for that matter.
B+ for the price (I can't find it on listing in Canada but it should go for 60-62$)
C+ for presentation, really they should change the bottle....

Whisky review : Macallan Select Oak, 1000ml, bottled @ 40%

Whisky review : Macallan Select Oak, 1000ml, bottled @ 40%

-Brand name
-Overused brand name perhaps ?
-Bought in plane...If I were to be stuck in one, sure I consider buying a second bottle, otherwise..never ever.

Colour : dark yellow-brownish. Definitely caramel added...they do as a commercial brand have to keep all the bottles similar...

Nose : oak, fresh wood, sweet, hints of vanilla, more wood,  ethery notes

Mouth : Oak, more oak, sweet oak, spirit, touches of spices, sappy wood....

Finish: a wood leftover, otherwise falls flat. Not a whisky to remember.

B- for the taste, I've seen much better blends.
A for price 50$ if I'm correct.
B+ for presentation : big inconvenient bottle...

Whisky review: Jameson Irish Whiskey, 750ml, Bottled @ 40%

Whisky review:  Jameson Irish Whiskey, 750ml, Bottled @ 40%

-widely available
-cheap

Colour: clear bright-honey yellow

Nose: spicy, sweet, honey

Mouth: sweet, spicy, vanilla, honeyish-floral notes, tingly fruity-peppery notes.

Finish: none, not finish to be expected here....sweet touches if nothing else.

B for taste....A bit overlook or over-evaluated...
A for price (30-31$/750ml)
B for presentation

Whisky review : Islay Mist 8 years old, 750ml, Bottled @ 40%

Whisky review : Islay Mist 8 years old, 750ml, Bottled @ 40%

-built around Laphroaig
-perfect for budget

Colour: brown-amber, caramel added....

Nose: Laphroaig...smoke, sweet, fresh peat, grains, spirits notes

Mouth: smokey, peaty, sweet, some harsh corners...hence the caramel. thick in mouth.

Finish: shy peaty finish if any.

Islay mist is a good sipping whisky, can drink for a while without the money guilt !

B+ for the taste
A+ for the price (29,65$)
B for the presentation...looks a bit childish

Whisky review : Alberta premium, 375ml, bottled @ 40%

Whisky review : Alberta premium, 375ml, bottled @ 40%

Colour: light brown, cassonade

Nose: sweet, very sweet, brown sugar, not very complex

Mouth: brown sugar, honey, coconut, sweet coconut.

Finish :not really, a bit dull here.

Good Canadian whisky

B for taste
A+ for price (13$/375ml)
D for presentation, awful bottling, straight out of the 80's

Whisky review : Highland Park Orkney 12 years old, 750ml, bottled @ 43%

Whisky review : Highland Park Orkney 12 years old, 750ml, bottled @ 43%

-Like the viking theme

Colour : amber-orange

Nose : citrus, sweet, fruity, more citrus notes.

Mouth: orange, citrus notes, marmalade, sweet, touches of vanilla, spicy oranges

Finish: a tangly sweety finish...not long but pleasant.

B+ for taste
B+ for the price (used to be 58$ it's 65$ now)
A+ for the presentation, I like the bottle and the black box, it's neat and clean.

Whisky review : Benriach Arumatius Fumosus Dark Rum Finish 12 years old, 700ml, bottled @ 46%
-original colouring
-non-filtered

Colour: light yellow, honeyish colour.

Nose: medicinal oil, cut wet herbs, brine, smoke.

Mouth: oily, full bodied, cough syrup, medicinal oil, peat, smoke, a hint of sweetness

Finish: short but in the Islay range, brine, a bit of smoke.

A for taste
A- for price (used to be 65$...70$ now)
B+ for presentation...no mauve for a label colour.

Whisky review : Mackmyra Swedish Single malt, 700ml, bottled @ 46,1% Batch 01
-A bit pricy
-Swedish oak involved

Colour: bright yellow gold

Nose: Sweet floral, spirit, some kind of candies, sweet sour candies, very sweet nose for sure.

Mouth : sweet, rockets !, sweet-floral notes, spicy, chili burn, tingly peppery notes, distant exotic wood, light but covering as well,

Finish: leaves a very thicky oily sweet finish, a wee spirit burn...nothing unpleasant.

B+ for taste
B for price (69$)
A+ for presentation

Whisky review : The Whyte and Mackay Special Blend, 1140ml, bottled @ 40%
-double marriage (Oak/Sherry)
-cheap
-Whyte and Mackay varies a lot in quality...beware.

Colour: reddish-brownish...definitely caramel here. Sad.

Nose : spirit, sherry, sweet, fruity floraly notes, spirit again. young nose. There's an over-sweetness going on to hide the ripples...shows in the mouth as well.

Mouth: spirit, strong spirit, then...sweet, spicy, caramel, vanilla, floral notes coming, then disappears on to spirit.

Finish : caramelish-sweet sticky finish, nothing impressive.

B- for taste...interesting at first, but dull on the long run.
A+ for price (24,95$/750ml)
B+ for presentation, no box, but like the WM on it...

Whisky review : Teacher's Highland Cream, 1140ml, bottled @ 40%
-Blend
-made of ardmore
-60% malt 40% grain

Colour: amber-brown...yeah caramel.

Nose: soft, hints of milk chocolate, smoke, heavy malt.

Mouth: creamy, smoky, chew-able, chocolates notes, vanilla...

Finish: quick death, however...pushes to pour more.

B+ for taste, very good sipping whisky for the price. Be aware: it may vary in quality from batch to batch...
A+ for the price (24,95$/750ml)
B+ for presentation...no box, nothing...dry.

Whisky review : Deaston Virgin Oak, 700ml, bottled @ 46%
-non-chill filtered
-no caramel
-very good budget whisky

Colour : bright yellow, honeyish

Nose: sweet, very sweet, vanilla, citrus, floral

Mouth: honeycomb, vanilla, sweet vanilla, fresh wood, sweet wood juice ?, honey wax....great whisky

Finish: waxy taste sticks around for a while but nothing great here....

B+ for the taste
A+ for the price (39$)
A- for the presentation....grey grey grey, nice bottle

Whisky review : Laphroiag Quarter Cask 700ml, bottled @ 48%
-Cheaper and better version of the 10
-easy to find
-very good price point

Colour: pale yellow-gold

Nose : juicy-sweet, smoke, more smoke, brine, hint of peat, fresh kind of candy smell

Mouth: initial contact, rockets candy ! smoky, peat, medicinal brine, more peat smoke, but still not too heavy, juicy sweet fresh, very interesting combination of smoke and candy. touches of tar here and there.

Finish: smoke, sweet, shy peat. very well balanced.

A+ for taste, excellent whisky, a true Islay hero
A+ for price, perfect on price point (68$ for this, anytime !)
A for presentation....we could except a slight innovation for the quarter cask..but none...

Whisky review : Ardbeg Uigeadail (10yo cask strength) 750ml, bottled @ 54.2%

-A one of a kind
-One of the best whiskies ever made, a true gift !
-Special moment in the 21st century.

Colour: amber-orangy, darker than the 10y...mature in Sherry.

Nose: very fresh, sweet, hardcore peat, spirit..but soft for 54%. smoke, lemony something hidden.

Mouth: Bang...! peat aggression. incredible, so much going on....peat, sweet, candied fruits-lemon, wee vanilla, plummy-punny sweet-juice, more peat, smokey-fresh peat...With water, it opens and reveal the 10y, but fresher, fruitier, very oily, tar still there, very peaty and smoky.

Finish: longer than the 10yo, peat, lingering smoke, sweetness juicy-fruity remnants...it's great.

Wow factor all over the place.

A++ for taste
B- for the price(147$....no no no ! 90-95$ would be a price point)
A for the presentation...Celtic power !

2nd Taste :  March 9th 2013

-Still no batch number...
-Steady at 54.2%

Colour: Gold, sherry copper notes, oily, medium bodied

Nose: Brine, peat, touches of fresh cold caramel, white smoke, more peat, medicinal oil, cocoa, spices. Big intense and very complex nose.

Mouth: Boooom...PEAT! tar, wet rubber that quickly turns to spices, caramel, slated water notes, very high quality spirits, it goes down very easily regardless of its massive 54.2%. Water bring more spices, wet tar, chili, peat, dark ashes...very well seated and put together. Impressive malt every time. In this regard, it's a more mature spirit than the Laphroiag 10 Cask Strength.

Finish: Long lingering peat, brine, light cocoa oil, medicinal oils, hints of slated caramel....very nice ! Make sure you finish with this one as nothing else will get through this peat wall.

A++ A very dangerous malt if taken with water.....very dangerous...very ''morish'' malt...as in ''pour more''
D for the price. Still sooooo overpriced at SAQ. So sad. Considering it was purchased at 71$ (USA), I'd give it an A+
B for presentation....changes would be good once in a while.

Whisky review : Ardbeg the big 10 years old, 750ml, bottled @ 46%
-Islay monster
-Peat power
-a bit pricey

Colour: delicate yellow-gold

Nose : PEAT!, medicinal oil, brine, sweet citrus zest, cough medicine (Lambert)

Mouth: Here you go....peat attack ! smoky peat, more peat, oily, thick smoky medicine, wet tar, new car tires...a touch of water makes the wet tar and smoky peat more prominent.

Finish : peat, peat, peat....smoke, the tar is still there... long long finish. Not sure you could drink something else after this...

Always delivers on quality ! fantastic whisky. A must try.

A+ for taste
B for the price (91$ for the 10y is excessive)
A for the presentation...love the box and the Celtic graphs on it 

Whisky review : Isle of Arran 10 years old, 700ml, bottled @ 46%
-No caramel added
-No chill filtration

Colour : nice yellow, gold

Nose: fruity, sweet, floral, more sweetness, spirity notes..

Mouth: spicy arrival, vanilla, caramel, fruits, juicy fruits, bubble gum, spicy-sweet combination, very nice.

Finish: sweet notes, spices, distant vanilla.

For the price its an excellent whisky.

A- for taste
A for price (46$)
A for presentation, like the bird on the tube

Whisky review : Canadian Club Sherry Cask, 750ml, bottled @ 41.3%

-Aged more than 8 years
-finally above 40 !
-SC-020 batch

Colour: Nice dark reddish, copperish, light red wine colour.

Nose: floral, sweet, sherry, smooth, port wine smell, strong floral notes.

Mouth: Sherry, all about Sherry. Soft, spicy notes, peppery notes, raisin, juicy port wine, very fragrant. Adding water will simply unleash more Sherry, which becomes a turn off at some point. One should wonder whether if this a strong sherry or a sherried whisky. After a few weeks of oxydizing.....I would still hesitate ! Too sherried for a whisky and too strong to be a sherry...strange. I suppose CC does not master the trick of the trades yet.

Finish: long sherry aftertaste, sweet and floral notes.

B+ for the taste ...can be too much Sherry sometimes, it needs balance.
A+ for price (35$)
B+ for presentation....no packaging ! nice looking rustic style label but...

Whisky review : Forty Creek Barrel Select, 375ml, bottled @ 40%

Colour: dark amber with reddish reflections

Nose: hints of red wine, sweet wood, dried candied coconut (alberta premium), spirit notes

Mouth: gentle arrival, brown sugar, macerated grapes, fruity, floral, touch of spices....unpleasant burn.

Finish: distant fruit, cherries, grapes, wines touches.

Good whisky

B for taste, could be much better...
A+ for price (13,75$/375ml)
B for presentation, one of a kind bottle

Whisky review : Nikka Yoichi 10 years old, bottled @ 45%
-1st japanese whisky to be reviewed
-pricey but can be found in 180ml

Colour : nice amber colour

Nose: gentle peat, caramel-peaty thickness,

Mouth: Caramel first, peaty, sweet peat, oily, round. still smooth and covers your mouth.

Finish: hints of peat, sweet-swamp-muddy air flavor, not quite staying though...

Great whisky by design !
very neat packaging

A for taste
B+ for price (27$ for 180ml)
A+ for presentation

Whisky review : Century reserve 12-25, 750ml, bottled @ 40%
-good looking bottle
-blend of Canadian whiskies from 15 to 25 y old

Colour : nice yellow color, light.

Nose:  spirit, ether....distant wood.

Mouth: harsh, ethery, no taste....very sad whisky. With water, it downs.

Finish, corn.....other side of the street wood ?

-awefull
-not even drinkable
-they should better cask or ....spill the leftover of this batch down a drain.

E for taste
A for price (29,60$)
A for presentation, nice looking decanter style bottle.

Whisky review : Amrut Fusion Batch 03, 750ml, bottled @ 50%

-Indian whisky
-Must try
-they say peated barley,
-Non-chill filtered (clouds up)

Colour: Amber-brown, light coating.

Nose: Strong spirits notes, soft candy, floral juicy notes, exotic fruits, candied white grapes.

Mouth: Strong arrival, sweet, spicy, peppery notes, citrusy notes, exotics fruits, hints of bourbon notes. Peat on the palate, a spicy peat, light one. I took several glass and time to actually smell and taste the peat. Not an easy malt to figure. However, it worth the wait. Some ripples remain, which show that it is a young spirit and that perhaps it would benefit from a few more years in a Cask.

Finish: leaves a sweet, cherry - in cola- cough medicine after taste, like a soft vicks !

B+ for the tast. If you take time to taste it, it will ope up ! Dont let the first impression fool you here.
A- for the price (68,90$ LCBO) and 65$ (SAQ). It's not bad. Considering the import fees, I'd say it's fairly priced.
B+ for presentation nice metal tube

**I have recently tasted the Batch 18 (SAQ). Fairly decent, however,  however, I would say the quality has gone down. The peat, which was already light, is gone now. It remains fruity and really calms down with water. Interesting malt, but I would have to put the note at B for this batch.

Whisky review : Glenfiddich 15 years old Solera reseve, 750ml, bottled @ 40%
-Was 10$ off when i bought it
-Not usually impressed with Glen

Colour: Dark amber, reddish. Could be the sherry or the caramel...probably both. Oily. Looks thick, must be the influence of the older components of this whisky.

Nose: dry riesling, oily white wine, Clean and sharp spirit. No harsh notes. Can smell the bourbon cask influence, sweet, floral, spicy notes, dry fruits (Sherry), clean fresh food, reminds me of a Deaston virgin oak.

Mouth: Cover the mouth - full bodied- soft, melons, synthetic watermelon, wood, vanilla, brown sugar, more floral notes, spices, hints of chocolates, chili, chewy sweetness

Finish: reflex of vanilla, wood notes, but not a very lasting taste.

B++ for the taste. It's a good whisky, no doubts here. Major step up from the 12 years Old and much better value than the 18. Complex nose and very soft and sweet taste.
A- for the price (53$). It is currently listed at 65$ (LCBO) and at 67,75$ (SAQ), I'd say B++. It's safe buy. I also think the taste variation, as the Solera keeps going, will demonstrate great taste over time.
A for presentation, nice looking bottle, thick cork, I like.Much cleaner and prepy presentation.

Whisky review : Talisker 57o North, 750ml, Bottled @ 57% Cask strength

Whisky review : Talisker 57o North, 750ml, Bottled @ 57% Cask strength
-Cask version of the 10 years old
-Pricey

Colour: a bit darker than the 10y, ambery-yellow colour.

Nose : Huge whisky. Spirit notes, spices, touches of hidden peat, strong spirit !

Mouth : forestfire arrival, sweet, spices - chili burn, peppers -, figs, raisins, caramel, spicy-fading peat....so many things. Even when adding water, it's hard to get them all.

Finish: slow spicy-sweet waves.

A- for taste
B- for the price (probably around 120$ here...if we could have some)
A for presentation, very elegant box. 

Whisky review : Springbank 15 years old, 700ml, bottled @ 46%

Whisky review : Springbank 15 years old, 700ml, bottled @ 46%

-way too expensive on Canadian market
-thanks to thy Phil for the tasting

Colour: pale yellow, obviously no additive.

Nose : not punchy. sweetness coming through, floral, fresh nose, sweety-fruity.

Mouth : Dry fruits, sweety-floral, very juicy, wood notes.

Finish: sweetness, sticky candied pear-apricot, touches of wood...

Handcrafted product +
 
B for taste....not very intriguing, but is worth a try to taste handcrafted product !
D for price (137$)
A- for presentation, good looking packaging

retaste* 20 nov 2012

Colour: light gold, medium bodied

Nose: copper metal, iodine, salted ground, wet cold earth, medicine oil, sherry, spices

Mouth: sweet iodine, sugar, red fruits, touches of metal caramel

Finish: light caramel, fruits, caramel, wood chips

Price: 124$

restaste* October 2014

Nose: sugar, medicinal oil lurking, ashes, anise ointment, vanilla

Mouth: medicinal oils, pepper notes, sugar notes, ashes, candy tubes

Finish: white cold ashes, anise touches, salt, iodine

price went up to 147$....what a shame.

Whisky review : Lagavulin 16 years old, 750ml, bottled @ 43%

Whisky review : Lagavulin 16 years old, 750ml, bottled @ 43%
-Old aristocrat from Islay
-Overpriced

Colour: Amber, light red-brownish. (could there be caramel in there..?)

Nose: Peat, salt waters, Brine, medicinal oil, it's got character !

Mouth: Peat, honey, spices, touches of milk chocolate, fresh for its age. smoky notes, alternates between peaty notes and sweet something else.

Finish: long peaty finish, sticky peat (Nothing like Ardbeg), smoke remnants....

Very good spirit !

A+ for taste
B- for the price (109$)
B+ for presentation always the same...

Awesome whisky, but overpriced....and perhaps overrated vs. others very good Islay whiskies like Bruicladdich for instance...

Whisky review : Isle of Arran Bourbon cask finish, 700ml bottled

Whisky review : Isle of Arran Bourbon cask finish, 700ml bottled @ 55.1% Cask strength
 -Never seems to ran our of ideas
-Always impressed by Arran product

Colour : light yellow gold, long legs here, very oily.

Nose : Gentle, floral, quiet, apples, mashed semi-cooked apples, apples in dry white wine, fresh and vibrant. Can definitely feel the bourbon sweetness here.

Mouth : strong arrival, sweet, apples, more apples. apples-in a dry white wine+bourbon cold glass. So much going on there...Floral notes, freshness coming, clean spirit

Finish : long lasting bourbony-wine apples ! lots of floral notes

A+ for taste
A- for the price (65$)
A+ for presentation

Whisky review : Isle of Arran Amarone Finish 700ml, bottled at 50%

Whisky review : Isle of Arran Amarone Finish 700ml, bottled at 50%

-nice presentation
-another cask finish from Arran !

Colour: coppery-red (from the cask, no caramel)

Nose: wow...sirupy-winy-grappy. figs, fruity, thick. Not a whisky nose !

Mouth : phenomenal arrival, dry red wine, mashed grapes, hint of wood and fruits, intense influence from the cask here, spicy notes as well.

Finish : the Amarone is right there, juicy-sweet and spicy.

Interestingly, you can not really feel the spirit here, it does not really need water. However it can take some, but I feel like it drowns pretty quick, beware.

A+ for taste
A- for the price (60$)
A for presentation (superb box with handwriting on the label ^-^)

Whisky review : Desert Queen (from India) Batch 14 bottled @ 42.8%

Whisky review : Desert Queen (from India) Batch 14  bottled @ 42.8%

-Weird bottle
-dusty when purchased
-1st Indian Whisky.
-made from single malts and superior grain whiskies (so they say)

Colour : Light amber, looks natural, but still..it's hard to tell if there is caramel or not here. (does not look as dark as shown here --〉〉〉

Nose: dry oak, sandy old barrel, nutty like old walnuts, distant floral notes. Interesting nose for a first Indian Whisky. Not widely available as well. It was dusty when I purchased it.

Mouth: initial taste is cork wood mixed with a taste in between walnuts and pumpkin seed, juicy. Very present nutty flavours here, like a lingering walnuts paste juice. However it's quick to remind us that the wood seems not very fresh. We get a granny wood and a nutty flavour.Sweet, some notes of bread, sweet bread, lead and something bitter.

Finish : wood, and a slightly unpleasant bitter taste in the back of the throat....weird.

B for the taste. A good yet not very representative flavor of Indian Malts (See Amrut)
A+ for the price. It was 23,40$ (LCBO). As a matter of fact it's been removed from inventories(only 12 bottles left in Ontario now (11-11-12)
C for presentation....weird bottle, and there's a weird thing inside the bottle tips to prevent other liquids from being poured in, however it also prevents from pouring without dropping....(bar apparatus)

Whisky review : Wiser's Small Batch 750ml bottled @ 43.4%

Whisky review : Wiser's Small Batch 750ml bottled @ 43.4%
-Interesting to see a canadian above 80 proof !
-Suggest Wiser to lay off the heavy handed caramel addition...

Colour: Dard amber, almost turning to red.

Nose: Sweet corn, pouding chomeur thick, a hint a solar screen smell ! Sweet and brown sugar (hot)

Mouth : smooth, vanilla, floral notes, clean and juicy, cooked in a pan and sticky brown sugar, quite interesting.

Finish: soft, a tiny spirit burn, sign of a young whisky. sweet lingering motion.

B+ for the taste
A+ for the price (26,95$)
C+ for the presentation (no packaging whatsoever....a dull bottle)

Whisky review : Bruicladdich Waves 700ml Bottled @ 46%

Whisky review : Bruicladdich Waves 700ml Bottled @ 46%

-No caramel added
-Bottled at higher strenght
-Got to command Bruichladdich here for making affordable products widely available.

Colour: Pale yellow, bright gold. Natural colour here.

Nose: spices, creamy honey, peat, fresh peat. Typical Islay nose, but in a more spicy fresh way, it's not only about peat here.

Mouth: spicy arrival short-sided by peat....and salty water. zesty notes as well, tingly, like orange peel or marmalade. When water is added to it, it opens up to a more spicy whisky with peat still around with touches of vanilla.Very interesting product offered by Bruichladdich. Still rough around the edges, as it is a young spirit, but it remains a very good whisky for sipping.

Finish: lingering light smokey peat, sweet touches of vanilla.

A- for the taste, an excellent whisky for any cold or rainy day.
A for the price (59$, went up to 61$ recently....and went back down 54,75 SAQ....)
A for presentation, I really do enjoy the colour and the metal tubing.