A Flowery Song

Background: Matured entirely in ex-sherry casks, this Speyside whisky is the most widely available of the many, many expressions the distillery produces.

Nose: Lightly smoky, with vanilla, dried citrus peel, and raisins.

Taste: Rich dried fruit, gingery spice, a bit of sweetness, then a middling amount of smoke in the finish. Nice long finish.

Overall: Lots of sherry influence, very smooth and sippable.

Background: The standard bottling from the Dalmore distillery in the northern Highlands of Scotland is aged for a minimum of twelve years; the split in the barrels used is 50/50 ex-bourbon/ex-sherry.

Nose: Aromatic spiciness, orange citrus, and some sherry nuttiness.

Taste: Rich and tasty. Sweet sherry, citrus, some vanilla, and a bit of oak. Some light vegetal notes, with barley coming through in the finish. The finish is long and dry, with some dried fruit and nuttiness from the sherry.

(Plip plip plop little water showers)

Nose: Caramel and a hint of smoke.

Taste: Mild peat influence is detectable. Rounder and fruitier; the citrus notes are less sharp and more laid-back.

Overall: Well-structured, but not extremely complex. A comforting sipping whisky.

Background: This honey and whisky liqueur is made from twelve-year-old blended scotch and claims to be “less sweet”.

Nose: Very interesting. Sweet honey, hints of orange and aged scotch.

Taste: Light honey taste with a heavy dose of dried orange peel and maybe a hint of cocoa. A fair bit of oak in the middle and a vague whisky taste throughout. As promised, only lightly sweet.

(Water? Huh? What is it good for?)

Nose: A lot more fruit on the nose, both the citrus noted earlier as well as some lighter apple-like scents.

Taste: The whisky itself is more forward, showing a heavily vanilla-leaning oak influence and the barest hint of vegetal-ness.

Overall: Much more drinkable by itself than the more sticky-sweet liqueurs, but still doesn't really come into its own until mixed.

Background: Speyside single malt. Many whiskies can call themselves A Glenlivet (Tomintoul, Braeval, etc.) but only this one is The Glenlivet. What does that mean? Fuck if I know.

Nose: Oak and vegetal notes, with apple and citrus.

Taste: Fruit and vanilla with mild phenols, medium malt finish.

(Dilute)

Nose: A hint of raisins.

Taste: Sweeter, some sherry notes and a bit of smoke.

Overall: Drinkable whisky. Not my favourite. Fairly approachable.

Background: Triple-distilled, pure pot still whiskey from Ireland, produced at the New Midleton Distillery. Matured for at least twelve years in bourbon and sherry casks.

Nose: Light and clean, some spice and fruit notes.

Taste: Sweet fruity background, lots of spiciness and oak with some sherry, leading into a medium vanilla finish.

(Now, now, now, dilute)

Nose: Toffee and sherry notes present.

Taste: Ginger, floral tones, and pepper.

Overall: Very nice; smooth and easy drinking, with impressive depth.

Background: Speyside malt distilled, matured and bottled in Dufftown. Popular as an introduction to the world of single malts.

Nose: Sweet and lightly spicy, with apple and straw notes present.

Taste: Follows the nose. Slightly spicy in the beginning, followed by a mildly peaty middle which quickly gives way to a short, distinctly barley finish.

(One, two, three, DILUTE!)

Nose: Lemon and walnut undertones detectable.

Taste: Nutty notes in the middle, smokier finish.

Overall: It's fashionable in certain circles to look down on Glenfiddich as a “beginner's malt”, but it's a serviceable whisky and extremely easy to find. Makes excellent whisky truffles.