May 2011 - BACK TO BASICS

[Ganga]

JW Red. Yup, a very basic available everywhere blended Scottish whisky.

Nose: waxy, cinnamon, black pepper
Palate: pepper infused wax, cinnamon
Finish: ditto

This is a little bit older bottling. I've had other bottlings more recently and they seem to be more "alcoholic". This is a very good blend, if a bit simple.

[Ganga]

Interesting differences in these two bottles Sean. Or maybe it's just our perceptions or the fact that mine was just opened.

Yours sounds better.

I thought yours sounded pretty good. Maybe we should each retry ours while reading the others notes.

[pkt77242]

Royal Lochnagar 12

N: Big malty notes, some fresh barley, slight smoke, a little floral notes and mabye a little melon.
P: Big malty notes, with the slight floralness again. Melon with a lemon spritz and a little smoke comes rolling in after a couple of seconds.
F: Medium short with the malt still present but some smoke, toffee and citrus starting to catch up at the end.

A very underrated dram. It is not going to blow you away but it is enjoyable.

[MaltMartyr]

I find that I much prefer the Lappy 10 to the QC (to each his own). At various times it has been a big beach bonfire with brownies other times it's a bonfire with apples (very fruity).

I agree, Ganga. The QC has a distinct flavor that I enjoy, but have a taste for less often than the 10 y.o. or Cask Strength Laphroig.

[MaltMartyr]

Springbank CV, 46% ABV

Type: No Age Statement [NAS] Single Malt Whisky

Avg. Price: $39.99

Nose: Smoke, maritime-like peat, honey, campfire, some subtle citrus.
Palate/Finish: Peaty smoky honeyed aged ginger ale with lime citrusy flavors and a refined spicy finish. It’s the type of small bubbled club soda and spice like, yet satisfying mouth feel that lingers well. This is not an Islay, but a well balanced no age statement Campbeltown. It is a great introduction to Springbank without as much spice and bravado that some Springbank expressions may bring to a newcomers glass.

[Ganga]

MM, it seems like the peat/smoke is much more forward in this expression than other Springbanks. Is this true?

[pkt77242]

Springbank CV, 46% ABV

Type: No Age Statement [NAS] Single Malt Whisky

Avg. Price: $39.99

Nose: Smoke, maritime-like peat, honey, campfire, some subtle citrus.
Palate/Finish: Peaty smoky honeyed aged ginger ale with lime citrusy flavors and a refined spicy finish. It’s the type of small bubbled club soda and spice like, yet satisfying mouth feel that lingers well. This is not an Islay, but a well balanced no age statement Campbeltown. It is a great introduction to Springbank without as much spice and bravado that some Springbank expressions may bring to a newcomers glass.

Great tasting note MM, I might have to find a bottle of this to buy

[Ganga]

Benromach 10

Nose: malty, ground pepper
Palate: oily, smoky, dried heather, peach blossoms
Finish: mild, sweet

[Ganga]

4 Roses Bourbon, standard release

Nose: crushed vanilla beans, cinnamon molasses
Palate: vanilla extract, cinnamon, rough grains
Finish: long, cinnamon turning to cinnamon sticks (red candy)

[pkt77242]

Bunnahabhain 12 46.3%

N: Burnt caramel, dark chocolate, and some toffee. A little sulphur (slight used match and rubber note). Chocolate covered oranges. Some salt.
P: Similar to the nose. Burnt caramel, dark chocolate, light sulphur, chocolate covered oranges. Salted caramel?
F: Short on chocolate covered oranges, burnt caramel and a little sulphur with some salt.

Good flavors but doesn't flow very well. discombobulated but still enjoyable as long as you are not sensitive to sulphur.

[Ganga]

I still want to try the Bunnie 12 but not sure how excited I am about it. Sounds too "burnt"

[Ganga]

A couple of Grant's coming up

Grants Blend NAS.

Nose: mashed apricots, citrus, cracked barley, slight pepper note
Palate: rough graininess, waxy, lemons
Finish: short, lemon spritz on a bed of straw

Not my thing. Kind of rough and young.

[Ganga]

Another Grants

Grants Blend 12

Nose: tropical fruits-papaya pineapple, fresh oak
Palate: minty cinnamon, juicy fruit, sharp oak notes
Finish: moderately long, astringent oak

This came off as much lighter on the nose and much more aggressive on the palate compared to the NAS. What gives?

[Ganga]

An Cnoc 12.

2 years ago, this wasn't available here in the States.

Nose: waxy pears (Bartletts?), malty notes
Palate: ripe tangerines, bananas smoothie, barley grist
Finish: light but long, transition from the big fruit to more of sweet grains.

[pkt77242]

Caol Ila 12

N: Coal smoke, smoked fish, kippers, beef jerkey, big time salt and a touch of citrus.
P: Smoked fish, coal smoke, loads of salt and some citrus (Mostly lemon but with some lime, grapefruit and oranges). Some peat and greenness (kind of reminds me of young vegetation?).
F: Medium lenght on smoked fish, coal smoke and a huge salt note. Lemony with a touch of white pepper.

A very malt.

[Ganga]

Caol Ila 12

N: Coal smoke, smoked fish, kippers, beef jerkey, big time salt and a touch of citrus.
P: Smoked fish, coal smoke, loads of salt and some citrus (Mostly lemon but with some lime, grapefruit and oranges). Some peat and greenness (kind of reminds me of young vegetation?).
F: Medium lenght on smoked fish, coal smoke and a huge salt note. Lemony with a touch of white pepper.

A very malt.

It's been a long time since I've had and OB 12 yo. I just wish it was near 55 here.

[pkt77242]

An Cnoc 12.

2 years ago, this wasn't available here in the States.

Nose: waxy pears (Bartletts?), malty notes
Palate: ripe tangerines, bananas smoothie, barley grist
Finish: light but long, transition from the big fruit to more of sweet grains.

I like An Cnoc12. is yours a US bottling or a UK bottling?

[Ganga]

Glenlivet 12

N: Pear and apples. some floral notes (carnations?), and a touch of butterscotch.
P: Starts on the pears and apples, then a big floral notes followed by some spice. Nutmeg, vanilla, and white pepper.
F: Shortish fiinish flowers, apples, apple peel and some white pepper. A touch of caramel.

Nice more floral than I remember.

So I'm retrying my Glenlivet 12 but reading Sean's notes.

Hm, nose yeah, I can see the pears but I really get more tropical fruits like pineapple. No real floral notes. Malty but not butterscotch.

Palate says I can really see pears and apples on the palate. Yes there are other fruits too. There is spice...cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla. Not sure about the pepper right now.

Finish is rather short. Red apple peels, touch of cinnamon and caramel.

Yes there seems to be some differences but there is also some perception differences. Reading notes of the others can kind of show how much more similar the whiskies are.

[pkt77242]

Longrow CV

N: Farmyardy notes, peat, smoked ham, citrus, mushrooms, and some barley.
P: Sweet peat, with some wet hay, smoked ham, bitter oranges, and campfire smoke. Slight farmyard note still.
F: Medium on wet hay, sweet peat and smoked ham. Slight oatmeal aftertaste.

[MaltMartyr]

MM, it seems like the peat/smoke is much more forward in this expression than other Springbanks. Is this true?

Yes, definitely!

[johan brugge]

I'm back again. Here are my notes of a Longrow CV I had late last year.

Nose: very soft, peaty and slightly smoky but above all: nice!! With water: WOOW!!

Palate: Lots of pepper, a bit of citrus, a tad of peat and smoke followed by these typical Campbelltown characteristics (minerals, fress hay, ...). When I added some water I nearly had to chew this whisky.

Finish: Again lots of pepper, slightly peated and some citrus.

Would I buy one of these? No, don't think so. Too much pepper to my liking.

[johan brugge]

Nikka from the barrel this time.

Nose: Quite alcoholic at first, but after that it's just wonderfull. Spices, flowers, some honey, vanilla.

Palate:Sugar candy that tastes like oranges is the first thing I'm thinking. Spices too. With water: doesn't change much to the palate, but the spices are still a bit dominant.

Finish: Spicy, some citrus, rather short but it doesn't bother me at all.

This is a very good 'basic Japanese whisky'. Really.

[Ganga]

Would I buy one of these? No, don't think so. Too much pepper to my liking.

I really appreciate this kind of note. From this I get the impression that the whisky was not what you wanted rather than a poor whisky.

[johan brugge]

From this I get the impression that the whisky was not what you wanted rather than a poor whisky.

Exactly. I'm glad I tried it and I like it, but it's not really my style. Mind you, it's a good whisky ... if you don't mind the pepper. I feel the same about the Talisker 10yo. If you like this one, you'll like the Longrow CV as well. I've also tried the Springbank CV and that's got even more white pepper than the Longrow. At least IMHO.

[MaltMartyr]

From this I get the impression that the whisky was not what you wanted rather than a poor whisky.

Exactly. I'm glad I tried it and I like it, but it's not really my style. Mind you, it's a good whisky ... if you don't mind the pepper. I feel the same about the Talisker 10yo. If you like this one, you'll like the Longrow CV as well. I've also tried the Springbank CV and that's got even more white pepper than the Longrow. At least IMHO.

One more point, the more recent U.S. Release of Springbank CV has a slightly spiced club soda-like finish to me. It doesn't end with pepper, but it seems more subtle and arguably white, not black pepper. However, earlier on, when I was not as sensitive to the food that I ate before dramming I also found more pepper was revealed in the Talisker 10 y.o. than I liked, as well.

Over time, I occasionally purchased a dram and tended to drink Talisker 10 before dinner, after milder food, or with a sufficient break after a meal. I eventually found Talisker 10 more enjoyable and acquired a taste for it. The 10 y.o. is unique and some newcomers like it. In addition, the Talisker 10 seems like a more common expression in bars over the last five years.

In hindsight, I'd have likely 'favored' the Springbank CV and Longrow CV over the Talisker 10 y.o. when I started sampling and a few years thereafter. Now, I appreciate each, so there is a bottle of each in my cabinets. I think that Springbank CV is more mild than Talisker 10 y.o. at a minimum; perhaps milder than Longrow CV, as well. However, Springbank CV has a unique finish all to its own. The peat is a Campbeltown peat, but not as pronounced as most recent Glen Scotia Official expressions.

[Ganga]

The Ten High blended bourbon

Nose: sugar coating to bubble gum, barley and rye
Palate: Bubblicous, raw barley grain, vanilla
Finish: oscillating bubble gum and rye

[pkt77242]

The Ten High blended bourbon

Nose: sugar coating to bubble gum, barley and rye
Palate: Bubblicous, raw barley grain, vanilla
Finish: oscillating bubble gum and rye

I might have to track this down. What does blended bourbon mean?

[Ganga]

I'm not sure what blended bourbon is. It is inexpensive so not much of a gamble.

[Ganga]

Late night reflections of Ardbeg 10

Nose: huge oiliness, lemon citrus, watermelon, brownie mix, salted fish
Palate: diesel and salt water (think a fishing harbor), lemons, honeydew
Finish: long, bonfire (seaweed-salt, iodine)

[johan brugge]

I usually have found some fresh oakiness to the Chivas. Is there any of this that is apparent.?

No, not in my bottle.

You might by right there after all, Ganga!

[lockejn]

Third time around I think.

Old Pulteney 12

Nose: Licorice, malt, stewed fruit, salt taffy
Palate; Cereal, honey, some fresh raisin
Finish: Medium, salty, cereal, caramel

Really excellent whisky and a super value.

[Ganga]

So last night I did Ardbeg as a late night reflection. I'm going to have a little Ten High to get started and then put some reflections from early in the evening.

[Ganga]

Ardbeg Ten

Nose: Atlantic salmon with a spritz of lemon, diesel oil, honey dew, bananas
Palate: Brownies roasting on a coastal bonfire-seaweed, driftwood, melons mixed with sliced green bananas
Finish: long, bonfire slowly burning out

Never experienced bananas before. Very interesting.

[Ganga]

I usually have found some fresh oakiness to the Chivas. Is there any of this that is apparent.?

No, not in my bottle.

You might by right there after all, Ganga!

I really believe that something comes from discussion of the whiskies.

[pkt77242]

I really believe that something comes from discussion of the whiskies.

Like me buying more whisky?