Whisky review : Talisker 10 years old, bottled @ 45.8%

Whisky review : Talisker 10 years old, bottled @ 45.8%

-Very nice whisky
-good price
-Should say if non chill-filtered or if no colouring added.

Nose : Peat, light peat, chilly oil, eucalyptus, depth of both peat and spices. Very intense and good nose.

Mouth: peat, chilly burn, cloves, more peat, herbal yet strong, juicy, not very oily, still full bodied and covers the mouth.

Finish: long peaty finish, the chili and the eucalyptus linger in the mouth. Long and strong finish.

A for the taste. A great whisky, every time. Deserves a try or even to have a bottle at home for long winter nights. Also, in a bar, for a few dollar more, worth comparing to the 57o.
B+ for the price. At 73,5$ (SAQ) and 80$ (LCBO), it's at an ''ok'' price point. For a perfect mark I would say 66-69$ would be a perfect price point. 80$ is a bit strong here.
A for the presentation, Nice Dark mystic blue carton and bottle. Intriguing. Like a Mariner's dram !

Whisky review: Ardbeg Corryvreckan, bottled @ 57.1%

Whisky review: Ardbeg Corryvreckan, bottled @ 57.1%

-Special edition
-Cask strength

Colour: Dark gold, thick gold.

Nose: Intense peat, tire, burned tar

Mouth: Intense peat, smoke, ashes, tar, sweet, woody, nothing new for an ardbeg that I've said before so.... water opens it to more wet tar...car tire. Not too stiff, yet, lots of ripples here. Not are settled as the 10. This malt seems a bit nervous, like it was bottled in a hurry.

Finish: lingering peat, smoke, thick peat.

B for the taste. Why ? Because there is nothing new here. The 10 is amazing. However,I was expecting more. Especially when you think that the Uigeadail is finish in Sherry Cask and is cheaper. I'm not sure I see the point in doing this ''special bottling''. I would rather say leave so it can be a 10y + bottle at Cask strength, Then we can talk.
E complete fail for the price. Forget these kind of special bottling. Overpriced...way over the top. Go for a 10 or even the Uigeadail, it is cheaper. at 162$ it is a complete rip-off. Sorry but not impressed here.
B for the packaging. Yes I do like the bottle, but ! it does not suffice to put a whirlwind on the label to make it fashionable.

Whisky review : Benromach Cask Strength, bottled @ 60%

Whisky review : Benromach Cask Strength, bottled @ 60%

-distilled in 2001, bottled in 2011

Colour: clear bright gold. Very interesting robe

Nose: Similar to PC9, white cool ashes, peat, sweet, eucalyptus, quite fire smoke. Very nice, tender and quite smoke and peat.

Mouth: sweet, spicy, light peachy, pear, peat, delicate peat, very interesting morning cold ashes and peat smoke. Very nice.

Finish: waves of smokes and acidic fruit.

A (almost +) for the taste. It's a great whisky. Very nice, reminds of PC, and very nice gentle Islay dram (while not being one)
B for the price. at 90$ (SAQ) its simply ok. I'd say 70$ would do. However, it is a must try. It will change your view on Benromach.
A for the presentation. Great bottling, soft colour and nice tubing.

Whisky review: Old Malt Cask Dufftown 28 years old L12043, bottled @ 60%

Whisky review: Old Malt Cask Dufftown 28 years old L12043, bottled @ 60%

-Cask strenght
-Distilled in 1982
-refill hogsheal
-non chilled-filtered

Colour: a bit darker than the previous CC, but still a kinda bright gold.

Nose: intense marmalade, eucalyptus, spirity, sweet, solar cream, blood oranges

Mouth: Calm arrival, spicy, sweet, thick and tingly, chili burn, pineapple. It is surprisingly soft for a cask strength. No need for water here. However if you do, it opens up to a more spicy fruit malt.

Finish: Sweet and acidic, no surprise there...but not a detailed finish here. Nothing quite good or bad.

B- for the taste. Its ok. But far from great. Plus considering the price, it becomes under the so-so bar. I'm not sure I can feel the cask influence here not the real flavours of this whisky. I'd consider it a tad blend even.
E for the price. 210$...yes yes it is 28 years old. Ok. But hey, the quality is not there. even at 100$ I would not recommend this. They should review their maturing or their cask. I feel the whisky is not getting enough of the cask qualities here.
A for the presentation. CC series are fun and serious !

Whisky review: Dufftown 1999 CC, Bottled @ 43%

Whisky review: Dufftown 1999 CC, Bottled @ 43%

Colour: Clear gold and oily. Looks much thicker than the previous 2

Nose: spicy, light, minty, sweet grapes, throat candy, more spices

Mouth: cover the mouth, lights sweet, creamy, wood, discreet yet satisfying. A great mix of fruity, spices and sweet.

Finish: lingering fruits, apples, white pepper, quiet spices. A good yet smooth finish.

A+ for the price. At 57$ it is at an excellent price-point. Worth to buy.Highly recommended to buy one before they ran out (SAQ).
A- for the taste. Very subtle but yet a very well rounded whisky here. It's a great one. Fresh yet settled and fruity.
A for the presentation. CC series....

Whisky review: Royal Brackla 1995 CC, bottled @ 46%

Whisky review: Royal Brackla 1995 CC, bottled @ 46%


Colour: very pale, bright gold, yet not very oily

Nose: woody, creamy, eucalyptus, not a very distinguished nose per se

Mouth: soft, fruity, melons, barley sugar, hint of spices but dies quickly. Hence I did not put water into it.

Finish: ishh floral.....nothing very intense here.....very subtle notes of sugary fruity and spicy spirit....but yet it is not clear.

B- for the taste. Not something I would go back to. It's too light for my taste, has not ''presence''
B for the price. 74$ for this is too much. Considering the age it is reasonable but...still. I'd pay 50ish for this as it is not a great whisky nor does it benefit from the G&Mc touches.
A for the packaging, same as the Aultmore. the CC is a great series.

Whisky review: Aultmore 1997 CC bottled @ 43%

Whisky review: Aultmore 1997 CC bottled @ 43%

Colour: Golden straw, bright. looks light in the glass.

Nose: sweet, fruity, malt sugar, sweet cinnamon. Very interesting nose.

Mouth: very sweet, spicy, fruits, dried grapes, apricot, hot apples, barley sugar, grassy, watery but yet full bodied. Very nice balanced - even if sometimes the spices are all over the place -

Finish: soft sweet fruity finish, acidic, peaches, apples,

A for the taste. Very spicy yet delicate taste, I recommend this one for a sip !
B+ for price, at 73$ (SAQ) its ok. If it were 60ish I'd say perfect. Still it's not a bad price.
A for the packaging, it looks like we are buying a serious whisky here ! 

Whisky review: Forty Creek Copper Pot reserve, bottled @ 43%

Whisky review: Forty Creek Copper Pot reserve, bottled @ 43%.

-Affordable
-follows the new Canadian releases
-Interesting concept, however, not sure why the ''pot'' is so important here as it is neither a ''pure pot'' nor a ''pot still''
-Above 40%....what more can I say

Colour: clear goldish-copperish colour. Not sure if it's really the copper influence (as most of the stills are) or the ''extra'' drop of E151 aka caramel. Not very oily, looks thin, very watery.

Nose: metal, spices, port wine, sherry, but a young off sherry. Cold sugary notes as well. In this regard I would command them for trying, but it remains very close to its cousin the regular forty creek.

Mouth: sherry, chili, sweet fortified wine, brown sugar but is quick to fade. It focuses mainly on a fruity floraly sweet sherry notes. In this way I would compare this very so-so release to the Sherry cask attempt by CC. Some people recommend to ''hoard it while you can'', I would suggest otherwise. The most promising release of a Canadian whisky this year might be the ''Dark Horse'': it is flavourful and it's got an excellent price point. They have announced the ''port cask'' finish as well. However, at 69, 99$ (LCBO), I'm not buying it. I've got better option for below 30$.

Finish: lingering sweet cheap sherry, annoyingly long....and sticky...metallic sherry.

A+ for the price. It's 28.45$ at the LCBO....just for the sake of trying it its well placed money.
B for the taste. Considering the provenance, I would expect so much more. They have time and money so...why not make a decent product next time ? No more caramel or ''pot colouring''....come on guys.
A for the bottling. It's different and nice. However, the label prevent the ''+''. It looks cheap or like a weird port/wine label (yes they are wine makes I know).

Whisky review: Speyburn single Malt 10 years old, bottled @ 40%

Whisky review: Speyburn single Malt 10 years old, bottled @ 40%

-limited ed.
-perfect for budget single malt

Colour: bright gold, oily but not too much.

Nose: apples, juicy, sweet, creamy vanilla, honey, honey wax, floral notes, fruity malt. Very interesting nose here.

Mouth: oak, sweet fruity notes, spices, creamy apple candies, apple drink, sweet wood, very good malt indeed. Not too complex but still it's an honest malt. Highly recommended for people who want to vary.

Finish: oak, sweet wood, cold brown sugar, toffee.

A+ for the price. at 40$ (LCBO) it's a great budget malt with only a few ripples. However, it's priced at 53$ at the SAQ. If it were to be the price I paid, I'd get down to B.
A for the taste. Great taste, light highland malt, with a few lowland notes.
B+ for the presentation. I'd toned down the green and change for a carton tubing.

Whisky review : Mac Na Mara Gaelic Blended Whisky bottled @ 40%.

Whisky review : Mac Na Mara Gaelic Blended Whisky bottled @ 40%.

-2nd Gaelic blend
-decent price
-Double mature Oak + ex-rum cask.

Colour: light brown, watery. It is a rum finish but I am tempted to say ''Caramel added'' still. It shows on the nose.

Nose: Spicy, sweet, juicy, light young rum, so-so cask selection, not very settled down here.

Mouth: sweet spicy arrival quickly goes to chili, light vanilla. Hints of cocoa taste and smoke, more on the palate. Nothing intense. Not a very strong personality here compared to the better Té Behag. (Same price range as well). Some orange notes.

Finish: chili burn, touches of apples, not very distinctive.

A for the price. At 34$ at the LCBO, it's a good calm and quiet whisky to sip. Not very suited for the enthusiast however.
B- for the taste. A poor cask selection and caramel are preventing what could be a better hand crafted whisky
E for presentation. It looks cheap and not attractive at all.

Whisky review : Oban 14 years old, bottled @ 43%

Whisky review : Oban 14 years old, bottled @ 43%

-60th review
-got it for cheap thanks to Guillaume

Colour: gold with hints of red. Looks thick and oily in the glass. Not sure it is natural colour or caramel has been added. Should be stated on the bottle.

Nose: fresh fruity notes, sweet, sweet malty notes, very juicy and appealing to say the least.

Mouth: fruits, peat, spices, chili, fresh sweet peat...but still a bit rough (considering its only 43%). Hot spicy chili-burning peat turning into eucalyptus. Leaves and acidic taste in the mouth as well. Would expect more from Oban and its 14 years matured spirit here. A great reminded of a toned down (on peat) Talisker for this matter..but it does not develop the same complexity. With water the burning cools down, more open on dried fruits, wee bit of marmalade, sour apricot.

Finish: An interesting malt from which I remember much better days. Getting a felling of bitter cocoa, grass, salt water but not ''wow'' factor.

B for the taste. I've had much better Oban than this. (Hence I do agree with Jim Murray on this one).
C for the price. This whisky is usually priced around 108$ at the SAQ and 106$ at the LCBO. If it were 85$ here in Canada, I would definitely put an A on it. However, since you can get it in USA for 59,99$, I strongly suggest buying it while on vacation.
B++ for presentation: Looks ok, tall and firm, but the tube is sad and not very eye catching at all.