Whisky review : Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 years old Vatted Malt bottled @ 43%

Whisky review : Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 years old Vatted Malt bottled @ 43%

-Second bottling of JW
-Medium price range, still a bit pricey
-Bottled at 43%

Colour : bright gold, looks thick but the legs are still watery.

Nose: clean, juicy, fresh nose, not too spirity, sweet caramel. Smells like a soft well sat blend. Some fruity notes, more like citrus, like an acidic fruit, but not over the top.

Mouth: soft arrival, sweet, opens to candies, caramel notes, with a light after-burn, followed by more sweetness. However, it disappears quickly upon arrival, it fades faster than the 12 years old Black Label. Not sure I see the real value of buying this 'vatted' malt when I can get a cheaper and more interesting Black Label. When water is added, it opens to some spicy notes and deliver more vibrant malty notes and more caramel..as one one would expect in a blended malt.

Finish: Short finish, sweet not sticky, but still falls short when compared to the cheaper black label.

B for the price, for 61,50 (SAQ) I would expect more from a vatted malt. I can get a much more decent single malt or a cheaper blend with better flavour
B for the taste. It's a calm blend, but not very complex nor very interesting. Would expect more from a 15 years old malt bottled at 43%.
B+ I like the green label style.

whisky review : Suntory Yamazaki 山崎 single malt 12 years old bottled @ 43%

whisky review : Suntory Yamazaki　山崎 single malt 12 years old bottled @ 43%

-Fourth Japanese
-Always twist-cap

Colour: dark golden coppery. Medium legs here, looks a tad oily.

Nose: Woods, sweet, hidden smoky notes, eucalyptus. It's a fresh nose with sweet malty notes.

Mouth: Very interesting malt here, tingly arrival,candied-coffee notes, a warm spicy note to it. More eucalyptus here but with a touch of sweetness, vanilla. A dash of water cools the spirit, makes it sweeter, and opens it up to a black licorice taste, but very light. A dash more will reveal more vanilla and licorice. There is also something sweet-sour to it, like sour floral notes...if that makes any sense. But not fresh flowers, more a sent, like from a soap (yes I did rinse my glass). Remains balanced, not too rough. A very interesting malt. Tingly on the tip of the tongue, high quality spirit.

Finish: leaves some sweet notes but still not long. A classic Japanese malt. High quality malt in composure, but very short finish, some sherried apples notes....and even some nectar soda notes.

B+ for the taste. Very good malt, interesting licorice/nectar tasting.
A- for the price. It's priced at around 63$ but I paid 53$ on-line. I'd be ok paying 55-58$ for it.
B+ for the presentation. The bottle is very nice and clean but they ought to think the box again....it's sad one.

Whisky review : The Nikka ''All Malt'', Vatted Whisky, bottled @ 40%

Whisky review : The Nikka ''All Malt'', Vatted Whisky, bottled @ 40%

-3rd Japanese
-Very good price
-Cool bottling.
-Not widely available.
-another twistcap

Colour: dark gold, dark yellow gold. Does not look very oily

Nose: very fresh, honey, but a mellow honey, oak, creamy sweet nose.

Mouth: Initial arrival, very thick, covers the mouth, soft in composure then changes to spicy notes. Malty, sugary, soft hints of honey. With water, the All malt opens to a more gentle arrival, more spices, soft tea notes, candy powder, hints of a sweet water (eau d'érable style), and clean smoke. Kind of a dry coal wood smoke.

Finish: sweet, mellow vanilla notes, but not very long. Still very nice vatted malt.

A+ for price. Below 30$. A very good price for a well balanced vatted malt.
B+ for the taste, quite interesting.
A- for the presentation, I love the bottling and the twistcap but....no packaging...sad...

Whisky review : The Dalmore 12 years old bottled @ 40%

Whisky review : The Dalmore 12 years old bottled @ 40%

-1st Dalmore, but 2nd Whyte and Mackay !
-Decent price
-Beware as there are lot of variation in Dalmore's quality (the casks)

Colour: copper, very dark malt. I'm not sure the colour is only caramel here, might be sherry influence as well. It draws long legs in the glass, looks thick.

Nose: Raw sugar, hot brown sugar sugary note, definitely a highland nose, close to some of the Glend's single malt or even some older blends. Dried Sultana, distant, but still present vanilla milk-chocolate (on 2nd try).

Mouth: first arrival, very thick and oily, sherry, then quickly changes to malt, the bourbon cask can also be felt, especially on the tip of the tongue. Very sweet tingly notes mixed with spices from the Sherry. With Water, it opens to a more soft and gentle malt, sweet grapes, the kind of grapes you would find on a vanilla-grape sablé.As time goes by, it sits down...and reveals more of the bourbon influence. Becomes more vanilla-sweet and adds some sherry elements to it. This whisky deserves time and water...patience....

Finish: The first time I was left with some kind of old dried sultana mashed on the tarmac kinda flavour...Sticky acidic sweetness lingering....But on 2nd try, I'm more a sweet eucalyptus, waxy grapes, sugary notes. Not unpleasant at all.


B++ for the taste. But with water. it finds it rhythm only after a dash of water. I'd say it's a nice sipping whisky.
B for the price. I would say that 45-50$ would be a price point.
A for presentation, The Deer looks very serious....

Whisky review : Clan Campbell The Noble Scotch Whisky bottled at 43%

Whisky review : Clan Campbell The Noble Scotch Whisky bottled at 43% (Vintage Miniature bottle
from the mid-80's).





-Very popular brand in France

Colour: light gold colour, very light, or to say dark straw.

Nose: Very soft nose, very fresh, sweet, apples, fresh apples, sweet, not too oily. It looks pretty clean. The quiet but fresh nose indicates that its been settling down for quite a while in its bottle. It's reminding me of a Glenfiddich 12.

Mouth: sweet, wood notes, raw sugar, followed by a medium heat burning chilli sensation. Odd flavour as it becomes a burn with no apparent character. It still is a harsh young spirit, not a very well balanced ''blend''. Although not written on the bottle, I'd have to assume it's a blend (It's not write ''single malt''neither).

Finish: leaves a bitter-sweet, woody feeling, with some kind of bitter melon sensation. It's the kind of whisky that I would gently pass on. I would rather welcome a Chivas or a Glen Grant.

E for the price. As a collectible, the market price for it is around 25$.
C- for presentation. Very sloppy label.
C- for taste. Harsh...bitter. Not something I would suggest