Sometimes I’m afforded the great opportunity to taste a small sample of some whiskey or other, not enough to really get a complete feeling for it, but enough to get a general idea. Here’s a few notes from such occasions.
Ancnoc 16 yr. OB (pronounced a-nock: pale pale pale color. Notes of smoke, red currents, vanilla, and hay, with the currents changing to more of a cherry note over time. A lovely, light summer-time whiskey.
Balvenie 17 yr. Madeira Finish OB: malted barley, golden raisins, dry oak, tobacco, honey, leather, lemon custard, heather, coriander, valencia orange. A curious dram with the overwhelming flavor being that of the lemon custard, with the dry oak, honey, and heather holding it up. The madeira finish was balanced perfectly, a quality dram, though not one I’m necessarily rushing out to purchase.
Compass Box Hedonism (Grain Whiskyey): Butterscotch, toffee, coffee, vanilla, smoke, leather polish. I rather liked this one, simple, straightforward, but a flavor profile I’m generally quite partial to.
Bowmore 12 yr. OB: peat, smoke, brine, mint, something that smells uncannily like thick ship rope, which is a tasting note I’ve seen before but never really come across until now, and pine. Not nearly as delicious as some older bottlings.
Black Adder Peat Reek: smoke, peat, beef jerky, honey, rosemary. Quite good, an excellent example of flavorful peat that’s not overpowered by smoke. Really quite a lovely dram.
Things I Taste 