Whisky review : Ardmore Traditional Cask Highland, bottled @ 46%

Whisky review : Ardmore Traditional Cask Highland, bottled @ 46%

-Great price
-might have caramel
-non-chill filtered
-You can really see that its the main component of the Teacher's Highland Cream !
-Must buy for the price point

Colour : amber gold, a bit dark....either the Sherry influence or some caramel. If it is caramel, then it's sad...considering the non-chill and 46% APV....

Nose : Peat, spicy peat, sweet apple, medicinal oil, it's peat but not like Ardbeg...fresher warmer peat. It's not from Islay but has a clear Islay disposition to it ! Still it remains spirity on the nose, a little off-putting, it would benefit from a few more years in the cask.

Mouth: Very nice peat, not too strong neat, but still rough around the edges at 46. Some kind of medium sherry, definitely some wood, but not the oak here...Sherry. Has some highland traits, spices, influence of the Sherry cask for sure ! Bottom line its a peat arrival but overturned by Sherry. The Sherry takes control of the palate even if the peat is the front runner.....very interesting spirit ! After a few minutes in the glass it sets down to a more creamy-sherry peat smell and flavour. Sweet and tangly peated sherry, I'd even say a kind of creme brulée impression on the nose....very interesting indeed.....

Finish: nice Sherry finish, but not too strong. Peat remains but does not stick as much as an Islay. Sherry spicy and hints of peats lingering there....nice for a young spirit.

A for the taste, Islay disposition with Highland surroundings and Sherried core !
A+ for the price. At 44$ it's very good for a once a year release.
B+ for presentation. Good packaging but nothing fancy. I'd like to read : No colouring added on the boxing.

Whisky review : Rebreast Pure pot still 12 years old, 750ml, bottled @ 40$

Whisky review : Rebreast Pure pot still 12 years old, 750ml, bottled @ 40$

-Pure single pot still
-good for the money
-sad it's bottled at only 80proof.

Colour: dark-gold brownish, looks a little bit too dark to be caramel free I think.

Nose: spirit, sweet, apples, light grain, roasted rood, creamy-oily smell,

Mouth: round, toffee, sweet but not like a scotch, candy, full bodied

Finish: distant roasted wood, sweet, fruity, mostly apple remnants

B for the taste, still harsh around the edges...
A for the price (43,75$)
A for presentation, like the box and the bottle.

Whisky review : Auchentoshan Valinch 750ml , bottled @ 57.5%.

Whisky review : Auchentoshan Valinch 750ml , bottled @ 57.5%.

-1st cask version or Auchentoshan
-Natural colour
-Very nice packaging.

Colour: very pale yellow, honey golden. 100% no colouration here. (versus the heavy use of caramel on the its 12 years old and 3 wood version)

Nose: soft, honey wax, creamy woody notes,, sweet woody coconut, like roasted candied coconut hot smell, lurking spirit behind bot as intense as one would expect from a cask strength.

Mouth: they said it can be drank with no water, however there is too much going on and the spirits kills the tastes. otherwise honey, thick sweet juicy honey. Water cools it down. thick, very bold and robust but remains quiet as it is a lowland whisky. Need to be very careful here....the taste is subtle. A very interesting whisky to drink for experience and for a sip. Mainly sweet notes, spices, sweet juice, apples, distant wood, still creamy.

Finish: sticky sweetness, probably acidity or leftover burn from the spirit. It's a classic lowland malt, soft and sweet, gentle, but yet this one packs a punch.

B+ for the taste, was expecting a little bit more for a promising cask strength from Auchentoshan. However it remains a must try. Good quality-price ratio and so fragrant.
B++ for the price, at 64$ (LCBO), its the best priced Auchentoshan, when compared to the 12, the 3 wood or the 18. I would recommend this one rather than the others for sure. This is what we should expect from Auchentoshan, no caramel, higher % bottlings.
A for presentation, cool retro package.

Whisky review : The Isle of Arran Robert Burns, 700ml, bottled @ 40%

Whisky review : The Isle of Arran Robert Burns, 700ml, bottled @ 40%
-nice presentation
-looks like original colour
-sad it's only bottled at 40%

Colour: Pale yellow-honey. No caramel here.

Nose :  thick, melted candies, melted fruits candies, sweet white wine - Black tower, juicy melted candies ! very sweet and pleasant.

Mouth: waxy, oily, floral, sweet, has a fruity-candy-paste vibe to it. Very interesting malt indeed.

Finish: reflux of floral notes,waxy-honey but falls flat. Pretty good for the price !


B++ for Taste
A+ for price (39,95$)
A for presentation, I like the box and the colouring.

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