Trader Joe's Bottlings - Tasting Notes and Commentary

[Ganga]

Trader Joe's is a specialty grocery type store. Generally they cater to people looking for a better quality grocery store. Over the years, they have had some interesting bottles come through - some good, some not so good (some would say down right awful).

Bottlings I can recall off-hand are as follows

Aberlour 10, 1993-03
Aberlour 10, 1993-04
Macallan 10
Macallan 10 (several years after the first)
Macallan 11
Macallan 12
Macallan 14
Macallan 16
Macallan 18
Bowmore 13
Bowmore 18
Bowmore 18 (came out several years later)
Tomatin 11

Now most of these have made there way through the stock and are now in the recycling bin. I thought that it might be good to add some tasting notes and commentary for the Trader Joe's bottlings for those that have one nearby.

The two newest bottlings are an Aberlour 12 and Imperial 12 bottled at 40% by Alexander Murray and Co.

[Ganga]

Trader Joe's Aberlour 12
Brand : Trader Joe's Expression : Aberlour 12
Nose : malty, lacquer, sweet oranges Palate : sweet sherriness mixed with some oak astringency, summer grass Finish : moderate, emphasizing an oily sherry Comment : - Colour : Tawny bronze Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Alexander Murray & Co	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : - Ice : - Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

A couple of drops of water removes the astringent part but not the oak. Sweetness is also lower. Stewed oranges now. Better but I think a little more time with the bottle open is required.

[Ganga]

Trader Joe's Imperial 12
Brand : Trader Joe's Expression : Imperial 12
Nose : rich sweet maltiness, deft, citrus Palate : creamy chocolate, wheat husks and grist, vanilla Finish : mild, sweet graininess Comment : - Colour : Tawny gold Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Alexander Murray	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : - Ice : - Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Water creates a deeper grain note and less sweetness.

Thumbs up for this one. May need to stock a few of these for the future.

[Ganga]

Switching things up a little bit and leading off with the Imperial 12 first.

The one change on the nose is that the citrus is resolving itself towards tangerines. Palate is very similar with just a touch of orange blossoms.

[Ganga]

Aberlour 12

Nose: so much different. Nuts, dk chocolate, slightly bitter oranges, barley, light lacquer
Palate: in addition to notes from the first time, it shows a fair bit of dk chocolate, almonds.

Better than Monday.

[Single Malt Kommunist]

Thanks for that Ganga....I will pick up a few of the Imperials when visiting in the coming weeks.

BTW, you surely know that Trader Joes is a subsidiary of Aldi - the German/European discounter that is commonly found in lower income neighborhoods in the US.

I just picked up some pecans marked "Trader Joes" in a nearby Aldi in Berlin....damn if we could only get the whisky for a change.

[Ganga]

I am unfamiliar with Aldi. Trader Joe's here is not marketed at the lower income. Rather, it is marketed at the mid-level people that want organic veggies and such...at least in California.

[just-one-more]

hi Ganga,
Nice write up! We shop at TJs (Trader Joes) a lot. They have their own private label TJs scotch. I tried it once and was less than impressed. But I continue to pick up name brand bottles there at times. I think their scotch is like their wines. Some home runs, some base hits, and some "outs". Steve show displays

[Ganga]

Friday, the Imperial was given to some "newbies" as well as seasoned veterans. The Imperial 12 continues to get thumbs up. The interesting this is the reaction you get when you tell them the distillery is currently not operating.

[pkt77242]

Trader Joe's Imperial 12
Brand : Trader Joe's Expression : Imperial 12
Nose : rich sweet maltiness, deft, citrus Palate : creamy chocolate, wheat husks and grist, vanilla Finish : mild, sweet graininess Comment : - Colour : Tawny gold Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Alexander Murray	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : - Ice : - Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

You are making me jealous Ganga as the Tj's in AZ don't carry hard alcohol, just wine and beer.

Sean

[kenmont]

I'd have to agree that TJ's Imperial bottling is quite good for the price. My Central California location has a hard time keeping the Imperial version in stock. The Imperial displays some oakiness to it as well as some vanilla, heather, and chocolate undertones. All and all, it is a very pleasant, not overly assertive, and really fares well without water being added.

[Ganga]

Aberlour 10, 1993-03
Aberlour 10, 1993-04
Aberlour 12
Imperial 11
Macallan 10
Macallan 10 (several years after the first)
Macallan 11
Macallan 12
Macallan 14
Macallan 16
Macallan 18
Bowmore 13
Bowmore 18
Bowmore 18 (came out several years later)
Tomatin 11

Just kind of an update of the list of known bottlings. Mostly because someone brought me a sample of the Bowmore 13.

Nose: grapefruit blossoms, charred oak, bubblegum
Palate: charred embers

[kenmont]

Thumbs up, Ganga, on your assessment of the TJ's Imperial bottling. I find the vanilla and chocolate nuances quite delightful in what is becoming a bit of a challenge to find in my local Trader Joe's.