The OCUK Whisky (and Whiskey) review thread
- Thread starter Uriel
- Start date
Ok, time to look at Bowmore Legend. No age specified (boo) but it'll be interesting to compare to the Ardbeg 10 yo.
Nose (n):
Sweet, mellowed almost like you'd expect marshmellows. Undercut with a light peat and brief hint of smoke. It does have a citrus lemon-orange smell that you get when you peel the fruit.
Taste (t):
Exceptionally smooth - much smoother than the Ardbeg. Mild smooth peat under pinned with a hint of smoke. Sweeter with a slight aniseed. Gentle warming regardless of the size of sip.
Finish (f):
A good length after taste - not as long as the Ardbeg but retains a smooth mellow peaty taste.
Balance (b): The Ardbeg is a delight from a intense balance, this is a lighter milder affair with sweetness and less smokey taste.
Nose (n):
Sweet, mellowed almost like you'd expect marshmellows. Undercut with a light peat and brief hint of smoke. It does have a citrus lemon-orange smell that you get when you peel the fruit.
Taste (t):
Exceptionally smooth - much smoother than the Ardbeg. Mild smooth peat under pinned with a hint of smoke. Sweeter with a slight aniseed. Gentle warming regardless of the size of sip.
Finish (f):
A good length after taste - not as long as the Ardbeg but retains a smooth mellow peaty taste.
Balance (b): The Ardbeg is a delight from a intense balance, this is a lighter milder affair with sweetness and less smokey taste.
Soldato
Not going to give a comprehensive review like you guys, as I don't really know what how to put it
, but here's my expiriences so far.I got a bottle of the Glennfiddich Special Reserve for my birthday in March as really enjoyed it, since then I've had a bottle of their normal 12 year old malt which was nice, but not as nice as the Speical reserve.
I tried some of the Jura 10 year old this weekend and it was pleasant enough but but I found it had a pretty harsh aftertaste and after a while burnt your tongue, (maybe I had too much at once
)Bought a bottle of Glennfiddich 18 year old sinlge malt aswell this weekend (tesco £34) and out of the 4 I've tried it was by far the nicest, very smooth and didn't have the medicinal taste that you can get. Even the g/f liked it and she normaly hates whiskey.
Soldato
Okay - my first contribution in this thread and it's with Royal Lochnagar Select Reserve:
My usual whisky is their more popular 12 year old malt which I'll review at a later date and post in this thread
Onward with the review:
Nose: Slightly smoky, malty vanilla. Sherry, fruity.
Taste: Smooth, malty a little salty acidic bitterness.
Finish: Pleasant malty and relatively long finish.
Balance: A very enjoyable smooth malt that's a little too overpowering for my taste buds. Considering the price it's a rare but enjoyable treat
My usual whisky is their more popular 12 year old malt which I'll review at a later date and post in this thread
Onward with the review:
Nose: Slightly smoky, malty vanilla. Sherry, fruity.
Taste: Smooth, malty a little salty acidic bitterness.
Finish: Pleasant malty and relatively long finish.
Balance: A very enjoyable smooth malt that's a little too overpowering for my taste buds. Considering the price it's a rare but enjoyable treat
Soldato
Sounds great will be round for a tasting soon
Soldato
Sounds great will be round for a tasting soon
Considering the price - the above only come's out on special occasions Dave
Got a lovely 12 year old you're welcome to try next time you visit tho
Just been to Wee Dram Fest. I'll just post a quick roundup before my taste buds wore out. Bear in mind - 80 whiskies (no I didn't try all of them) to sample in less than 5 hours. Treat these as abbreviated...
Wee Dram Lowland 17 yo NB - this is an independent Rosebank bottling.
n. toffee apple 20
t smokey but not peaty 23
f dry fire embers 22
b pretty good. Surprisingly smoky without being peaty 23
Overall 88
Auchentoshan 12 yo
n Floral 19
t Malty and floral with a hint of pepper. 20
f Peppery and surprisingly long. 20
b (no note) 19
Overall 78
Scapa 17 yo
n Heathery 20
T Smoky Heather 21
F Warm. Slight Peatiness 20
B Pretty good 21
Overall 82.
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
n peat and smoke. Wood bonfire 24
t hot peat smoke 24
f warm and peppery 23
B kind of like lagavulin 16yo without the sherry 23
Overall 94 (note - scores added later. I was so busy enjoying it I forgot to score at the time)
Springbank 100° proof
n delicate and fruity 21
t. vanilla, toffee, salty, pepper with alcoholic kick 23
F. warm and peppery Wood resin 21
B (no notes) 22
Overall 87
After this most things started to tast of apple. My taste buds and nose were clearly broken. I re-read my notes and don't really trust anything after this point.
Later highlights include Talisker 18 yo and Highland park 18 yo & 23 YO. I bought a bottle of the first whisky I tasted. It was nice, but admittedly this was because it's from a dead distillery and Rosebank whisky might not be around much longer before it gets stupidly expensive.
Edit: I was disciplined until the last hour. I was spitting between samples and carefully waiting for each whisky to finish. Last hour - forget it All you can drink for a £15 with a £5 glass to take home? I wasn't driving. Made the most of it. Head's still a bit fuzzy a few hours later.
Wee Dram Lowland 17 yo NB - this is an independent Rosebank bottling.
n. toffee apple 20
t smokey but not peaty 23
f dry fire embers 22
b pretty good. Surprisingly smoky without being peaty 23
Overall 88
Auchentoshan 12 yo
n Floral 19
t Malty and floral with a hint of pepper. 20
f Peppery and surprisingly long. 20
b (no note) 19
Overall 78
Scapa 17 yo
n Heathery 20
T Smoky Heather 21
F Warm. Slight Peatiness 20
B Pretty good 21
Overall 82.
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
n peat and smoke. Wood bonfire 24
t hot peat smoke 24
f warm and peppery 23
B kind of like lagavulin 16yo without the sherry 23
Overall 94 (note - scores added later. I was so busy enjoying it I forgot to score at the time)
Springbank 100° proof
n delicate and fruity 21
t. vanilla, toffee, salty, pepper with alcoholic kick 23
F. warm and peppery Wood resin 21
B (no notes) 22
Overall 87
After this most things started to tast of apple. My taste buds and nose were clearly broken. I re-read my notes and don't really trust anything after this point.
Later highlights include Talisker 18 yo and Highland park 18 yo & 23 YO. I bought a bottle of the first whisky I tasted. It was nice, but admittedly this was because it's from a dead distillery and Rosebank whisky might not be around much longer before it gets stupidly expensive.
Edit: I was disciplined until the last hour. I was spitting between samples and carefully waiting for each whisky to finish. Last hour - forget it All you can drink for a £15 with a £5 glass to take home? I wasn't driving. Made the most of it. Head's still a bit fuzzy a few hours later.
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I had some of that this afternoon. Nice, but in a part of the day I didn't trust myself to review things (as above).
Soldato
My 57.7% The Glenlivet Nàdurra has all gone 
. I'm close to tears.
. I'm close to tears.
Had some of this later on: http://www.whiskyandwines.com/bruichladdich-x4-3-single-malt-whisky-p-2512.html
Just looked it up. 63.5%. No wonder my head's fuzzy.
Just looked it up. 63.5%. No wonder my head's fuzzy.
Soldato
I'd like to buy myself a nice bottle of whisky at some point. Are there shops that allow you to try before you buy, or is that not the done thing?
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Soldato
Depends on the shop. I've done it before, but generally not on really expensive bottles. Best experience I had was at the airport. Was early morning and I was drunk before I got on the plane.
You can - but it's generally specialist shops rather than your usual off licence.
The Wee Dram that organised the festival I went to always has a few bottles on the counter for tasting. Unfortunately it's a long way from Cambridge (it's in the peak district).
The Wee Dram that organised the festival I went to always has a few bottles on the counter for tasting. Unfortunately it's a long way from Cambridge (it's in the peak district).
That was the good thing about the festival. I got to try several bottles that I'd never normally afford. There were a few open bottles that must have cost in excess of £50 or even £100 and they weren't stingy with the measures either.
Soldato
I suppose I could just go on the recommendation of OcUK's resident experts, but £30-£40 is still quite a bit of money.
I tried a few at an event last year and found I quite liked the more "smokey" flavours. Unfortunately I can't remember any of the names (it was a pretty good party...).
Any reccomendations on some to look at?
I tried a few at an event last year and found I quite liked the more "smokey" flavours. Unfortunately I can't remember any of the names (it was a pretty good party...).
Any reccomendations on some to look at?
Soldato
Yes. Tesco have 12yr The Glenlivet for £20 (!!!) at the moment. Drink this and it will tell you quickly what type of whisky you like. In my opinion it is THE best budget single malt. Glenmorangie Original is also a very good novice drink.
I didn't take detailed notes when I last tried Dalwhinnie 15yo. From memory I'd have it in the low to mid 90s (given scoring system on the first page).