Scotch -

SCOTCH

The Glenlivet Enigma: 8.2/10

Well THIS Enigma I can deal with…

Got this as a Christmas gift, but unfortunately it didn’t even last until New Years

But I can tell you i did enjoy the SHIT out of this bottle…ain’t no ENIGMA about that!!!

Wait…am I using that word right?

Aww shit…I have no idea…

Ok Biyee!

Nose: vanilla, cinnamon, pears

Palate: oak, buttered toffee, light peat

Finish: long, light spice, caramel, apple pie

Bunnahabhain Moine Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured: 9.3/10

I’ve had this for several months and finally decided to crack it open cuz you know I’m #stillcrackinbottles!!!

This shit is DELICIOUS, but is a limited release…

Luckily I’m a hoarder and bought a few bottles…

I’ll stash them next to my 6 broken Macintosh computers, 8 Sony Walkmans and stacks of newspapers from 1988…you know…JUST in case I might need them again…

Nose: dark grapes, champagne, sea salt, iodine

Palate: grapes, dark berries, red wine, plums, earthy peat, burnt wood

Finish: long, molasses sweetness, boysenberry jam, ashy peat, peppery spice

Bunnahabhain Moine Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured: 9.3/10

I’ve had this for several months and finally decided to crack it open cuz you know I’m #stillcrackinbottles!!!

This shit is DELICIOUS, but is a limited release…

Luckily I’m a hoarder and bought a few bottles…

I’ll stash them next to my 6 broken Macintosh computers, 8 Sony Walkmans and stacks of newspapers from 1988…you know…JUST in case I might need them again…

Nose: dark grapes, champagne, sea salt, iodine

Palate: grapes, dark berries, red wine, plums, earthy peat, burnt wood

Finish: long, molasses sweetness, boysenberry jam, ashy peat, peppery spice

Ardbeg Drum: 7.9/10

I FINALLY got my hands on this…been kinda laggin…

But was it worth the wait???

Not sure…Of the handful of Ardbegs that I HAVE tried this one is pretty good.

Not so much of the typical Ardbegs that taste like you’re licking the ground after a campfire where fireworks exploded, so…it has THAT going for it…

Would I buy it again (~$100)? Proooobably not…but I WILL enjoy what’s left!!!

Nose: papaya, mango, banana chips, mecidinal, light peat.

Palate: pineapples, guava, light peat, soil, dirt, espresso bean.

Finish: Med, pound cake, black licorice, dirt, ash

Ardbeg Drum: 7.9/10

I FINALLY got my hands on this…been kinda laggin…

But was it worth the wait???

Not sure…Of the handful of Ardbegs that I HAVE tried this one is pretty good.

Not so much of the typical Ardbegs that taste like you’re licking the ground after a campfire where fireworks exploded, so…it has THAT going for it…

Would I buy it again (~$100)? Proooobably not…but I WILL enjoy what’s left!!!

Nose: papaya, mango, banana chips, mecidinal, light peat.

Palate: pineapples, guava, light peat, soil, dirt, espresso bean.

Finish: Med, pound cake, black licorice, dirt, ash

Compass Box: Spice Tree Extravaganza: 7.6/10

Reeeemmiixxxx!!!!

“Cuz I had one too many drinks…and ended up sippin some whiskey, with this pretty little thing from Compass Box Distillery, it’s name is Spice Tree Extravaganza!”

Ahhh…the good ole club anthem from the mid 2000s sung by Ray Charles himself, Jamie Foxx!

Nose: butterscotch, berries, milk chocolate

Palate: almond milk, vanilla, peppery spice

Finish: long, honey, spicy, lingering bitterness

Compass Box: Spice Tree Extravaganza: 7.6/10

Reeeemmiixxxx!!!!

“Cuz I had one too many drinks…and ended up sippin some whiskey, with this pretty little thing from Compass Box Distillery, it’s name is Spice Tree Extravaganza!”

Ahhh…the good ole club anthem from the mid 2000s sung by Ray Charles himself, Jamie Foxx!

Nose: butterscotch, berries, milk chocolate

Palate: almond milk, vanilla, peppery spice

Finish: long, honey, spicy, lingering bitterness

Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha: 8.7/10

Here we have Bunnahabhain’s Toiteach A Dha…which means “Smoky Two” in Gaelic…

Cuz I’m hella fluent in Gaelic…

It’s not like I had to Google the meaning of it or anything…

This shit is so good, I don’t care if it was written in heiroglyphics! I’d STILL drink it!!!

Goes for about $60-70 so it’s not too bad…

Nose: plums, peaches, raisins, light peat

Palate: dark chocolate, dried berries, plum juice, dying campfire smoke

Finish: long, dark chocolate, raisins, smokiness fading away

Longrow Red 11: Cabernet Franc Matured: 8.1/10

Been looking for this for a while and finally found it at a random liquor store for about $100. Had to let it sit open for a while to open it up before I reviewed it cuz it definitely tasted weird initially, but now it’s a lot better. Something I suggest for those of you who buy it…open it up and taste it time to time to check the flavor profile change for the better…

Nose: band aids, menthol, funk, dried berries

Palate: earthy, light peat, toffee, red grapes

Finish: long, light lingering bitterness, grape juice, dried berries

Longrow Red 11: Cabernet Franc Matured: 8.1/10

Nose: band aids, menthol, funk, dried berries

Palate: earthy, light peat, toffee, red grapes

Finish: long, light lingering bitterness, grape juice, dried berries

Deanston 2008 Bordeaux Red Wine Cask: 8.3/10

In 2008 I was:

Still in the 2nd year of grad school, waiting in movie theater lines to watch movies like: The Dark Knight, Tropic Thunder, Hancock, Benjamin Button and the FIRST Iron Man, getting shitfaced drinking Black Supermans, Long Island Iced Teas and taking shots of Hennessy, on the dance floor with my now wifey gettin “Low” to Flo Rida and basically actin a fool as a dumb young buck without a care in the world!!!

I for damn sure wasn’t drinking anything THIS good…man was I missing out! But shiieettt….still wouldn’t have changed anything for the world!

What were YOU doing in 2008???

Nose: plums, chocolate, dried berries

Palate: chocolate, oak, dried blueberries and strawberries, maple syrup

Finish: long, cinnamon, raspberry jam

Ardbeg Uigeadail: 7.7/10

I had to google how to pronounce this fuckin word: Uigeadail…the correct pronounciation is: “Oog-a-dal”. My dumbass said:

“Wee-gee-dale”, “Oowee-geed-ale”, “Weej-ada-eel”, “Oo-ig-eed-ah-eel”

OBVIOUSLY I didnt know how to pronounce the damn thing…maybe because I was trying after I’ve had a few drams…was I slurring my speech? Maybe. Is it a difficult word to pronounce? Possibly. Is it a decent dram? Definitely!

Nose: campfire smoke, caramel, espresso

Palate: sweet, ash, earthy, dark chocolate, dark roast coffee

Finish: long, earthy, burnt espresso, cacao

Ardbeg Uigeadail: 7.7/10

I had to google how to pronounce this fuckin word: Uigeadail…the correct pronounciation is: “Oog-a-dal”. My dumbass said:

“Wee-gee-dale”, “Oowee-geed-ale”, “Weej-ada-eel”, “Oo-ig-eed-ah-eel”

Nose: campfire smoke, caramel, espresso

Palate: sweet, ash, earthy, dark chocolate, dark roast coffee

Finish: long, earthy, burnt espresso, cacao

Jura Sampler

I’ve never tried any offerings from Jura yet…I’ve heard mixed reviews, maybe that’s why I’ve been hesitant to pull the trigger on buying a bottle…So when I saw this little package of minis I had to get it! I mean it was only about $10 for the pack of 3 so why not??I was sooooo glad I was able to try Jura in THIS way and NOT waste a chunk of money on the actual bottles. I mean, I might get some flack on MY opinion, but again…it’s MY FUCKIN OPINION!!! So in MY opinion this shit was NOT good! I mean, all 3 were not worthy of a drain pour, but I still would NEVER go out of my way to purchase a bottle or order a dram at a bar…It just wasn’t for me…oh fuckin well…more for you Jura lovers out there!

Jura 10: JAWS Rating 5.1/10

Nose: apples, pears, poundcake

Palate: burnt buttered toast, bland

Finish: medium, bittermelon, light vanilla

Jura Superstition: JAWS Rating: 5.5/10

Nose: vanilla, caramel, citrus

Palate: light peat, vanilla cream, buttered toast

Finish: medium, bitter, sweet cream

Jura 16: JAWS Rating: 5.6/10

Nose: dark chocolate, floral

Palate: chocolate, vanilla, almonds

Finish: short, oak, milk chocolate

The Bruichladdich: The Classic Laddie: 8.1/10

I’ve seen this bottle around like everywhere! It always catches my eye cuz it’s sooooo puuurrddyyy, but never picked it up. But hot DAMN! I found this at a local Safeway for about $40 so I HAD to grab it…I’m glad the juice in side is just as nice as the color of the bottle! I may have found a new/another daily drinker, but ONLY if I can keep finding it at this price…

Nose: vanilla lavender, nectarines, lemon meringue

Palate: sweet, oily mouthfeel, orange creamsicle, butterscotch

Finish: long, butterscotch, cinnamon

The Bruichladdich: The Classic Laddie: 8.1/10

Nose: vanilla lavender, nectarines, lemon meringue

Palate: sweet, oily mouthfeel, orange creamsicle, butterscotch

Finish: long, butterscotch, cinnamon

Clynelish 14: 4.8/10

It was a nice and sunny day for the first time in a long time so I decided to crack open a new bottle to celebrate! Man, did I fuck up…This shit tasted funky ass hell, but not in a “get down and party” funky. More like a, “how come I can smell your feet all the way up here while we’re standing and yet you have your fuckin socks and shoes on” funky!

Side note: this shit costs about $60, so don’t waste your time, money or senses on this!

Nose: vanilla cream orange soda, oak, floral

Palate: light smoke, more weird citrusy notes like an orange that’s about 30 min from going bad, light mouth-feel

Finish: too long, more strange bitterness, oak, vinegary nastiness (WTF!?!)

Compass Box: The Spaniard: 7.9/10

Finally bought my first Compass Box the other day…Is it a coincidence that I just happened to have bought it on a #compassboxsunday??? Or is it cuz I have finally succumbed to the evil genius marketing master plan to make me want to go out and buy a Compass Box scotch EVERY Sunday for the rest of my LIFE?!? Or is it cuz I was bored, on the hunt and just wanted to try it cuz I’ve heard good thing??? Who knows…but damn this juice is tasty!!

Nose: almonds, peaches, orange peels, Corn Pops cereal

Palate: peaches, dark berries, Werthers Original Toffee, vanilla

Finish: long, red apples, toffee, vanilla

Compass Box: The Spaniard: 7.9/10

Nose: almonds, peaches, orange peels, Corn Pops cereal

Palate: peaches, dark berries, Werthers Original Toffee, vanilla

Finish: long, red apples, toffee, vanilla

Balvenie Doublewood 12 year: 9.5/10

Balvenie Doublewood 17 year: 10/10

Here’s a perfect example of how price and age do NOT determine the taste and quality of a whiskey. The 12 year and 17 year both taste fuckin awesome, BUT (BIG BUTT) there’s about a $100 difference between the 2. The 12 year goes for about $45-50 and the 17 year goes for about $140-150 and the taste between the 2 is NOT that different. The 17 yr gets a slightly higher rating because it’s a little more complex and a little (but barely) easier to drink…but for $100 less you might as well go for the 12 yr because it’s pretty damn delicious on it’s own. Either way you can’t go wrong with either so enjoy!!! To get both woods delivered straight to yo house click the link: saucey.com/balveniedoublewood

Nose: apples, honey, vanilla, cinnamon

Palate: chocolate, toffee, creamy mouthfeel, honey, dried fruits, sherry

Finish: long, sweet, toffee, butterscotch, cinnamon, spicy (for 12 yr)

Glenlivet 18: 9/10

This shit is gooood! Right around $100, which is a good deal you can get at your local Costco, hopefully you’re lucky enough for them to carry it. A little on the sweeter side and not too complex, but very well done and very easy to drink. A great whiskey for a noob to enjoy if you’re willing to shell out the 100 bucks or so. If not, something to search for at a bar to try, but knowing it goes for around $100, don’t spend too much on it for just a taste…to get this greatness delivered straight to yo house click the link: saucey.com/glenlivet18

Nose: apples, vanilla, citrus, pears, raisins

Palate: pears, butterscotch, apples

Finish: long, sweet, orange peels

Glenlivet 18: 9/10

Nose: apples, vanilla, citrus, pears, raisins

Palate: pears, butterscotch, apples

Finish: long, sweet, orange peels

Macallan 12: 8/10

Their flagship that you can probably find at almost any decent bar. It’s a good starter scotch for a noob. It’s easy to drink, not too complex and not too bland at the same time. Get it delivered to ur casa right now: saucey.com/macallan12

Nose: dried fruits, vanilla, sherry, a little bit of wood smoke

Palate: sweet, raisins, little spice, oak, nutmeg

Finish: short, cinnamon, sweet, light spice

Quick Hitter

Had a little tasting with some buddies over the weekend. Here’s the full line up…and for the detailed bourbon reviews and JAWS rating hit the button below! Get the whole line up delivered straight to your house for your own tasting session by clicking the link: saucey.com/lineup

Aberlour 16 Double Cask: 7.8/10

Nose: sherry, apples, citrus, raisins

Palate: light spice, plum, honey

Finish: long, honey, sweet, a little boring, but still enjoyable

Monkey Shoulder: 6.5/10

Nose: vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, citrus

Palate: fruit, cloves, honey, apricot

Finish:medium, spice, oak, honey

Glenmoray: 7.5/10

Nose: citrus, apples, pears

Palate: butterscotch, dried fruit, toffee

Finish: short, bitter, apples, maple

Quick Hitter

Aberlour 16 Double Cask: 7.8/10

Nose: sherry, apples, citrus, raisins

Palate: light spice, plum, honey

Finish: long, honey, sweet, a little boring, but still enjoyable

Monkey Shoulder: 6.5/10

Nose: vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, citrus

Palate: fruit, cloves, honey, apricot

Finish:medium, spice, oak, honey

Glenmoray: 7.5/10

Nose: citrus, apples, pears

Palate: butterscotch, dried fruit, toffee

Finish: short, bitter, apples, maple

Speyburn 10: 7.8/10

Talk about a fuckin steal! A JAWS rating of 7.8/10 for about 20 bucks?!? Not bad! You can definitely do worse which I know I have in the past. This goes to show that you don’t have spend a lot for a good quality whiskey, while other whiskeys have shown that just because you do spend a lot, it doesn’t mean it’s gonna be good. I haven’t heard much about this one, but I decided to try something completely new and thank goodness I did, because I was not disappointed and hopefully you won’t be too…bottoms up! Get this delivered straight to yo house by clicking the link: saucey.com/speyburn10

Nose: vanilla, cherries, maple, orange peels

Palate: vanilla, sweet, citrus, apricot

Finish: Medium, apricot, toffee, cereal sweetness

Talisker 10: 6.8/10

Ok, ok…I admit that I’m not a big fan of peat, but I still decided to give this a try considering it wasnt too bad in terms of price (around $10 at Lalla Grille in San Jose, Ca.) It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be and was tolerable. I feel like it would be a good transition whiskey for those interested in more peaty whiskey, but not so overwhelming that you’d want to spit the shit out and rinse your mouth with bleach for a few hours…so no, its not THAT bad!!! Get the bottle delivered to you at saucey.com/talisker10 so you can taste it yourself!

Nose: peat smoke, apples, apricots, rubber

Palate: light peat, raisins, toffee, peach

Finish: Medium, dried fruit, citrus, maple

Talisker 10: 6.8/10

Ok, ok…I admit that I’m not a big fan of peat, but I still decided to give this a try considering it wasnt too bad in terms of price (around $10 at Lalla Grille in San Jose, Ca.) It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be and was tolerable. I feel like it would be a good transition whiskey for those interested in more peaty whiskey, but not so overwhelming that you’d want to spit the shit out and rinse your mouth with bleach for a few hours…so no, its not THAT bad! Get the bottle delivered to you at saucey.com/talisker10 so you can taste it yourself!

Nose: peat smoke, apples, apricots, rubber

Palate: light peat, raisins, toffee, peach

Finish: Medium, dried fruit, citrus, maple

Glenmorangie Signet: 9.2/10

I’ve been eyeing this bottle for hella long now, but I never had the balls to pay almost $200 for it, luckily I actually saw it at Willard Hicks in Campbell, Ca. A pretty difficult find I HAD to try it and this was LEGIT! I feel like I might have to invest in a bottle now because it was so damn good. FYI, this restaurant has a great selection of whiskey with decent prices, better than those boujie ass restaurants or bars who over price their shit, even a shot for a $20 bottle can go for $12 bucks….fuuuuck that shit!!! Go to Willard Hicks instead, plus their food is good too! To get this deliciousness delivered straight to your door click the link: saucey.com/glenmorangiesignet

Nose: oranges, brown sugar, honey, cherries, chocolate

Palate: vanilla, dried fruit, citrus, espresso, cinnamon

Finish: Long, vanilla, chocolate orange peels, deliciousness

Oban 14: 10/10

This is the first Scotch I ever gave a 10/10. Even as a noob I can tell this stuff was fuckin awesome! The flavors are complex, meaning you can kinda taste a little bit of everything, but it was just enough, there wasn’t an over abundance of one single flavor, but the more I drank it (within the same glass, not the whole damn bottle, yet) the more other flavors developed and and you can just keep tasting more and more deliciousness. Enjoy!!! To get this perfection delivered straight to yo house, click the link: saucey.com/oban14

Nose: oak, honey, light peat, nutmeg, orange peels

Palate: citrus, cinnamon, oak, light peat (subtle but noticeable), caramel, sherry

Finish: Medium, zesty, butterscotch, apples, vanilla

Oban 14: 10/10

Nose: oak, honey, light peat, nutmeg, orange peels

Palate: citrus, cinnamon, oak, light peat (subtle but noticeable), caramel, sherry

Finish: Medium, zesty, butterscotch, apples, vanilla

Glenlivet 12: 7.4/10

An easy drinker commonly found at every bar, even at restaurant chains, this was decent initially. I would go back and forth between this and Jameson due to its accessibility; however, as I drank it more and more the less I liked it. Still, a good transitional whiskey when you want something not too complex or harsh on the palate, especially if you’re coming from a cognac back ground (primarily Hennessy for all MY people). To get try this right now, get it delivered to your door by clicking the link: saucey.com/glenlivet12

Nose: vanilla, apples, citrus, honey

Palate: orange peel, citrus, honey

Finish: Long, dried fruit, toffee

Johnnie Walker Double Black: 4.5/10

Ahh Johnnie Walker…so popular, so commonly known to a noob as a “good” scotch, something an uncle might bring to a family party to show off or to make it look like he spent a lot of money. That’s what I used to think too…I was so naive…if you still really wanna try this shit feel fuckin free on your own risk and get it delivered to your house by clicking the link: saucey.com/jwblack

Nose: diesel, smoke, tamarind, vanilla

Palate: peat, smoke, vanilla, smoke

Finish: long, more smoke, cinnamon, pepper

Johnnie Walker Double Black: 4.5/10

Nose: diesel, smoke, tamarind, vanilla

Palate: peat, smoke, vanilla, smoke

Finish: long, more smoke, cinnamon, pepper

Glenfiddich 12: 7.9/10

A very common bottle you can find anywhere, even at grocery stores, this is a great bottle for a great price (at about $30). It’s a great Scotch whisky for a noob because it has great flavor notes, but not much of the alcohol burn. It’s good from nose to finish and again and for the price you might as well get a bottle versus trying it at a bar which will definitely over charge you for an ounce. Don’t let them do you like that!!! Get this delivered straight to yo house by clicking the link: saucey.com/glenfiddich12

Nose: floral, citrus, honey

Palate: orange peel, citrus, honey, toffee, light spice

Finish: short, hints of butterscotch, zest, easy to drink

Glenfarclas 12: 8.6/10

I heard a lot about this one, but it was a little harder to find at bars. So finally I decided to just bite the bullet and buy a bottle and boy was I happy I did. It did NOT disappoint and now I look forward to buying the other variations (the 17, 21 and maybe even the 25 which is a little bit more expensive, but I think will be worth it) This is a little hard to find, but you can get it delivered straight to your door by clicking the link: saucey.com/glenfarclas12

Nose: spice, sherry sweetness, cardamom

Palate: well-bodied, spicy, oak, citrus, tiny bit of smoke

Finish: long, cloves, slight-sweetness, spicy (which doesn’t linger as long as I thought it would)

Glenfarclas 12: 8.6/10

Nose: spice, sherry sweetness, cardamom

Palate: well-bodied, spicy, oak, citrus, tiny bit of smoke

Finish: long, cloves, slight-sweetness, spicy (which doesn’t linger as long as I thought it would)

Glenmorangie Nectar D'or: 8.5/10

Another goodie from Glenmorangie and it comes in such a fancy schmancy box that lured me in to buy it. Damn you marketing department you win again! At least it was well worth it though. Very light sweet and easy to drink it drinks like a dessert wine, but a whiskey…so, a dessert whiskey…is that a thing? A “deswhiskey”??? Sure…get this sweetness delivered straight to yo house by clicking the link: saucey.com/glenmorangienectardor

Nose: raisins, apricot, peach, very light on the alcohol smell

Palate: vanilla, apricot, snickerdoodle, sweet

Finish: medium, citrus, peach, zest

Glendronach 12: 8.3/10

Being known as a sherry bomb, I was pretty stoked when I found this at a liquor store and grabbed it right away. I’m all about those sherry bombs and this did not disappoint. Good daily drinker, goes down easy, not too spicy and the sweetness carries the whole way through from the nose to the finish. Not too complex, but would still highly recommend. Get this sherry bomb delivered straight to yo house by clicking the link: saucey.com/glendronach12

Nose: citrus, sweet, orange, cinnamon

Palate: buttery, orange peels, maple

Finish: long, sweet, oily, light spice, brown sugar

Glendronach 12: 8.3/10

Nose: citrus, sweet, orange, cinnamon

Palate: buttery, orange peels, maple

Finish: long, sweet, oily, light spice, brown sugar

Cardhu 12: 7.5/10

Saw this at a bar and have never tried it before, so I decided to give it a go! Nothing exceptional about it, but at the same time at least it doesn’t make you want to spit back at the bartender because it was so disgusting…So I guess it has that going for it…

Nose: citrus, sherry, toffee, oak

Palate: cinnamon, raisins, light peat

Finish: long, spicy, light peat

Buchanan's Deluxe 12: 6/10

A scotch blend that waaaaay better than the JW double black, but that’s not saying too much considering that JW tasted kinda shitty, but the Buchanan’s isn’t thaaat much better. It is a little more tolerable; however, still not something I would prefer to drink or pay for at a bar, unless there’s no other choice and if that’s the case you should find a better bar…

Nose: light peat, orange, butterscotch

Palate: light peat continues, vanilla, oily mouthfeel, citrus

Finish: long, bitter, peat all the way through

Buchanan's Deluxe 12: 6/10

Nose: light peat, orange, butterscotch

Palate: light peat continues, vanilla, oily mouthfeel, citrus

Finish: long, bitter, peat all the way through

Macallan 12 Double Cask: 7.6/10

Got this as a gift and was pretty excited to try it, thinking it was gonna be another great variation from Macallan. Unfortunately, I was wrong. A lot less complex than I thought it would be. Very boring, but still not as bad as others that I have had before so still drinkable. If I saw this at a bar, I’d definitely look for something better.

Nose: raisins, cinnamon, butterscotch

Palate: creamy, cinnamon, toffee

Finish: short, vanilla, little bitter, little spice, little boring

Glenlivet: Founder's Reserve: 3.5/10

Probably the nastiest Glenlivet I’ve tried. Man, what a disappointment! I didn’t know much about this one and seeing as Glenlivet is pretty legit I decided to give it a try, but holy fuckin disgustingness Batman!!! Not even close to being worth the cheaper price of about $30 for a bottle…unless you’re seriously going to use this to start a fire then maybe, but if not…PASS!!!

Nose: honey, cinnamon, orange

Palate: fruity, black licorice, bitter

Finish: medium, bitter, metallic, fuckin’ gross

Glenlivet: Founder's Reserve: 3.5/10

Nose: honey, cinnamon, orange

Palate: fruity, black licorice, bitter

Finish: medium, bitter, metallic, fuckin’ gross

Macallan: Whiskies of the World Addition

So I was pretty stoked to try the newer and fancier Macallans at Whiskies of the World especially since we had that VIP pass (you know how we do!). This was actually the first booth we went to before it got too crowded and crazy. I was surprisingly underwhelmed by the rare cask…I mean for a bottle that costs around $250 and up and comes ina facny ass box I was expecting more. I mean it wasnt bad, but it wasnt great. Ive been finding that Macallan does what they do really well, but so far nothing exceptional, like the top of the line Toyota Camry. Its a fine car, but Im looking for a fuckin Lambo or Ferrari!!!

Edition 3: JAWS rating: 8.1/10

Rare Cask: JAWS rating: 8.9/10

Highland Park

I’ve never had any Highland Parks before and of course I went straight to the VIP pours at Whiskies of the World and holy damn! This shit was goooood! I may have fucked up now though cuz these better bottles are a little more on the pricier side and harder to find, so if I try the 12 year or so, will I be disappointed? Well, there’s only one way to find out! This is what I do, for all my noobs…!

17 dark: JAWS rating: 9/10

Full Volume: JAWS rating: 9.4/10

Highland Park

17 dark: JAWS rating: 9/10

Full Volume: JAWS rating: 9.4/10

Balblair

Balblair…another distillery I wasnt too familiar with, but I was glad I tried it cuz I think I found myself a new favorite cuz, even though I’ve tried only a few, they were all pretty damn good! There’s nothing fancy about the packaging or how the bottle looks, but when you take that first sip…kaboom!!

’03: JAWS rating: 9.4/10

’90: JAWS rating: 9.6/10

’83: JAWS rating: 9.5/10

Ancnoc

This seems to be a popular bottle which I’ve never tried until WOW. Not bad, I guess…It’s worth a try if you can find it for a decent price, but I wouldn’t go hunting for it…just sayin…and that’s all I’ve got to say about that…

24 year: JAWS rating: 7.5/10

Ancnoc

24 year: JAWS rating: 7.5/10

SIA

An interesting bottle and they do a helluva good job with marketing cuz I’ve actually heard of this and seen the little ad pop ups online whenever Im searching for a specific whisky so of course I made my way to the booth. I was pleasantly surprised with this one and for the price point its a decent buy…

Blended Scotch Whisky: JAWS rating: 7.7/10

Balblair 05: 9.1/10

I fuckin swear Balblair can do no wrong! Everything I’ve tried from them has ranked 9 or higher…that shit is crazy! I say, when in doubt ask for a Balblair, dont matter what year, and just enjoy. Again, nothing fancy here, just good ole Scotch!

Nose: sweet, citrus, orange zest, floral

Palate: buttery mouth-feel, orange, fruity, citrus

Finish: Long, spicy, lemon zest, sponge cake

Balblair 05: 9.1/10

Nose: sweet, citrus, orange zest, floral

Palate: buttery mouth-feel, orange, fruity, citrus

Finish: Long, spicy, lemon zest, sponge cake

Caol Ila 15 yr Unpeated: 8.7/10

An unpeated Islay Scotch? Whaaaat??? I didnt know they made these and damn I was pleasantly surprised. It had a great flavor and just a hint of peat smoke which was just enough. I tried this at my new favorite spot with the greatest selection in San Jose, Ca. 55 South (the55south.com) The bartender suggested this to me and I was glad he did. I’ve seen this before, but never pulled the trigger to buy a whole bottle, but now shiieet, I just might!

Nose: ethanol, citrus, lemons, toffee

Palate: light peat smoke, sweet, burnt toast

Finish: Long, peat lingers but not overwhelming, dark chocolate, toffee

Dalmore 18: 7.8/10

So, I asked the bartender what he would recommend for me given that I liked the sherry bombs and not a huge fan of the peaty stuff. He busts this bottle out and says that of all the Dalmores he’s tried this is the best one…So I gave it a half shot (get it?!?) and while it was good, it wasnt GREAT…I mean, ok, I can see where a lot of people would like this, it’s a daily drinker at best, but what sucks is that this is the BEST Dalmore hes tried? I mean that kinda sucks…Makes me want to avoid Dalmore at this point if THIS was the best. Kinda like saying you’re picking your get away car, but the fastest this car can go is 70 mph…wanna drive it??? meehhhh….just arrest me…

Nose: banana loaf, vanilla caramel

Palate: vanilla, fruit cake, cinnamon, maple, bananas

Finish: Long, raisins, sweet, maple, a little boring

Dalmore 18: 7.8/10

Nose: banana loaf, vanilla caramel

Palate: vanilla, fruit cake, cinnamon, maple, bananas

Finish: Long, raisins, sweet, maple, a little boring

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban: 8.5/10

Here we go with another great offering from Glenmorangie called The Quinta Ruban. It’s finished in a port cask which is a wine barrel. Now, I’m not a big fan of wine, but holy ass! If all wines tasted this good, then smash my grapes and color me purple Ima fuckin fan!!!

Nose: dark berries, oak, orange zest, wine (duh)

Palate: berries, dates, brown sugar, cherries

Finish: Long, raisins, dark chocolate, light spice

Tomatin 12: 7.6/10

Have a sweet tooth?? Well this might be the whiskey for you! Even wifey was able to smell the snickerdoodliness (is that a word?), but I still couldn’t get her to try it…Oh well, more for me!! This shit is so sweet it MIGHT just give you cavities and for only $30 , wooooorth it! So grab a bottle and fuck yo teeth up!!

Nose: cherries, butterscotch, snickerdoodle, apples, cereal sweetness

Palate: vanilla, lemon zest, pound cake, sweet

Finish: Long, (sweet, have I said that yet?), toffee, brown sugar, a little bitter

Tomatin 12: 7.6/10

Nose: cherries, butterscotch, snickerdoodle, apples, cereal sweetness

Palate: vanilla, lemon zest, pound cake, sweet

Finish: Long, (sweet, have I said that yet?), toffee, brown sugar, a little bitter

2 for 1

Did a little tasting with a couple of my noobs over a weekend and these 2 were featured. It was hot as shit outside, but I still had to drink my whiskey neat! I saved the ice for my balls as I watched my dubs beat the shit outta the cavs! All in all, it was a good day…

-Aberfeldy 12: 8.4/10

Nose: raisins, vanilla, orange zest

Palate: chocolate covered raisins, dates, caramel

Finish: Long, dark chocolate, plums

-Glenmorangie Astar: 8.8/10

Nose: pineapple, tropical fruit, tangerine

Palate: Lucky Charms marshmellows, butterscotch, honeydew

Finish: Long, sweet and spicy (like a mango habanero salsa), Rice Krispy Treat

Bunnahabhain 12: 7.8/10

I’ve decided to buy my first bottle of Islay Single Malt Scotch…This Bunnahabhain 12 was pretty good and had a light hint of peat, but I was expecting more especially since it’s an Islay scotch…
It’s a good bottle to try for those transitioning to more of the peaty scotches, but not overwhelming to the point where it kicks u in the throat…All in all…good, not great…but not bad for the price (~$45+) and a good Islay scotch to start off with if u dont want the strong campfire taste…

Nose: cherries, vanilla, graham cracker

Palate: nutty, like an almond vanilla latte with cinnamon, little to no peat

Finish: Long, dark berries, clove spice

Bunnahabhain 12: 7.8/10

Nose: cherries, vanilla, graham cracker

Palate: nutty, like an almond vanilla latte with cinnamon, little to no peat

Finish: Long, dark berries, clove spice

Glendronach Line Up

Sherry bombs away!!! If you like those sherry bombs then Glendronach is the scotch for you! Deep, rich, sweet flavors are the basis for these scotches and damn, do they do it well. Can’t really go wrong with any of these, though I do have my favorites. I tried my first 3-4, but then after a while they kinda started tasting similar and I wasn’t able to discern each flavor, more like I was too drunk to taste the difference, which is when I started to drink shittier whiskey after, so I wouldn’t waste more money (it’s all about strategy!) So I’ll just review the ones that I remember trying…

–Glendronach 18 Allardice: JAWS rating 10/10

Nose: sherry, raisins, berries, toffee

Palate: dark berries, shery sweetness, raisin bread, honey

Finish: medium, cinnamon, citrus, light peat

–Glendronach 15 Revival: JAWS rating 9.1/10

Nose: vanilla, raisins, plum

Palate: spice, vanilla, dates, plums

Finish: long, caramel, light spice

–Glendronach 15 Tawny Port Finish: JAWS rating 7.7/10

Nose: nuts, coconut, oak, dark berries,

Palate: apples, toffee, dark chocolate, berries

Finish: long, toffee, espresso, dark berries

–Glendronach 21 Parliament: JAWS rating 8.5/10

Nose: orange, spice, apples, lemon zest

Palate: peach raisins, vanilla, citrus

Finish: long, honey, cherries, toffee

Laphroig Triple Wood: 6.1/10

I’ve got 3 times the wood drinking my first bottle of Laphoaig…Tha sho’ is a lot of wood! I decided to dive wood first in my next Isaly whisky that I bought ($85+). I bought this one because I knew I was going to get a lot more peat in it versus the Bunnahabhain I got earlier and also because it said there was a “subtle sherry sweetness” mentioned on the bottle. LIES!!!! I tasted no sherry and only little sweetness, but only at the very very very very end. For the most part, I couldn’t get passed the peatiness that reminded me of when you are lighting fireworks on the 4th of July (‘Murica!) and you end up inhaling all the smoke that burned off…yeah…this shit tasted like that the whole way through…So if you’re still a noob like I am and don’t want anything too peaty, stay away from this at first cuz there are less peaty/smoky ones out there and when I find them I’ll let ya know!!

Nose: peat, soil, like a campfire that just went out, oak, orange zest

Palate: black licorice, dirt, oak, fireworks

Finish: Long, ash, burnt toasted almonds, vanilla and another whiff of that fireworks smoke

Laphroaig Triple Wood: 6.1/10

Nose: peat, soil, like a campfire that just went out, oak, orange zest

Palate: black licorice, dirt, oak, fireworks

Finish: Long, ash, burnt toasted almonds, vanilla and another whiff of that fireworks smoke

Macallan 18: 8.3/10

Ahhhh good ole’ Macallan..Known for making some of the best and expensive scotches in the world…and yes, some of the offerings are great! and yes, some of these offerings are ridiculously overrated, overpriced and overhyped! This maybe one of those bottles…Ok, it IS good, but worth the $275+ price point for the JAWS rating given??? Nahhhh….you can definitely find something for waaaaayyyy less….Macallan is like getting the top of the line Mercedes or Beamer…really good at what they do for what it is, BUT, Im looking for a fuckin LAMBO or FERRARI!!! (especially if Im willing to pay the pretty price for it…)

Nose: sherry, oak, toffee, citrus, honey

Palate: berries, pears, toffee

Finish: Long, raisins, pear, citrus

Glenfiddich: Fire and Cane: 7.3/10

Hot DAMN!!! This shit was released in August and I FINALLY got my hands on it…
And after that long wait, lemme tell ya! This shit is straight: meehhhh…I mean, it’s aight…It’s finished in rum casks and has a hint of peat in so it’s definitely interesting, little sweet, little smokey…Nothing to write home about…but for about $45-50 @bevmo why the fuq not?!?!

Anyone else try this?? Thoughts??

Nose: marshmallows, cinnamon, citrus zest

Palate: toffee, light/peat/smokiness, apples

Finish: long, spicy, match smoke, toffee

Glenfiddich: Fire and Cane: 7.3/10

And after that long wait, lemme tell ya! This shit is straight: meehhhh…I mean, it’s aight…It’s finished in rum casks and has a hint of peat in so it’s definitely interesting, little sweet, little smokey…Nothing to write home about…but for about $45-50 @bevmo why the fuq not?!?!

Anyone else try this?? Thoughts??

Nose: marshmallows, cinnamon, citrus zest

Palate: toffee, light/peat/smokiness, apples

Finish: long, spicy, match smoke, toffee

Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature: 7.5/10

So far..I haven’t been a fan of blends…and nooo, I’m not whiskey prejudice! So I decided to pick up this Chivas Regal 18 based on a recommendation. Ok, ok…I don’t HATE it, but it was about $85 at Bevmo so I don’t really think it was worth it…So for the buddy who recommended it to me…Sorry, its not you it me!

I swear, I’m just in a different place right now…I’m still just searching for the right ONE!

Nose: vanilla, oak, orange, butter

Palate: orange zest, butterscotch, wood

Finish: Long, pepper, vanilla, graham cracker, oak

Highland Park 17 year: The Light : 9.2/10

When your soul is as dark as mine sometimes you need a little light…but still, it’s not like I’m going to be a better person or anything. I’m still going to be an asshole, but an asshole drinking really good whiskey!!

Nose: cucumber, pineapple, Kern’s tropical juice

Palate: light peat, cucumber water from a spa, citrus, pineapples

Finish: long, pineapples, mango, light peat, sweet

Highland Park 17 year: The Light : 9.2/10

Nose: cucumber, pineapple, Kern’s tropical juice

Palate: light peat, cucumber water from a spa, citrus, pineapples

Finish: long, pineapples, mango, light peat, sweet

Oban 18 Limited Edition: 8.6/10

A little Oban 18 to end the night courtesy of a good buddy of mine who brought this back from his trip to New York. Glad we got to tag team this 18 year old together! wait…I didnt mean it like THAT! No, no, no…get your minds out of the gutter you bunch of sicko perverts you!

Nose: lemon zest, citrus, strawberries

Palate: graham crackers, lemon bar, citrus, light peat

Finish: Long, caramel, pepper, sweet

The Glenlivet: The Master Distiller's Reserve: 7.3/10

I was chillin in sunny Mexico over the winter break and picked up this travel retail Glenlivet when I landed. Nothing to write home about , but it was waaaay better then anything that was offered at the resort. I also learned a little more Spanish while I was there too…you MIGHT even wanna call me El Whiskey Noob…oh yeah!! Hablo hella Espanol now!! Yee!!

Nose: oak, corn vanilla, marshmallows

Palate: spice, pepper, caramel, toffee, wood

Finish: long, sweet, toffee, pepper

The Glenlivet: The Master Distiller's Reserve: 7.3/10

Nose: oak, corn vanilla, marshmallows

Palate: spice, pepper, caramel, toffee, wood

Finish: long, sweet, toffee, pepper

Highland Park: Einar: 7.9/10

Finally got to try Highland Parks Einar which is only available for travel retail. Had to detox a little after my trip and waited FOUR WHOLE DAYS to have a drink…man it was tough! This, however, was pretty easy to drink…not the best HP out there, but glad I was able to try it…Ima go ahead and book myself another international flight just to see what else they have at the duty free…biyeee!!!

Nose: vanilla, orange, tropical fruit, lemongrass

Palate: hint of peat (like ash), pineapple, apple, orange peel

Finish: medium, light peat, butterscotch, bitter back end that lingers too long

The Dalmore: Valour: 8.4/10

Bout to dial up some more of this Dalmore: Valour and have about four more pours for sure…tastes good to the core, but not available in store only at the stupid dufry in airports…I need one more bottle Ill have to explore if not Ill feel like Eeyore in a downpour…Ill probably freak out, drop down to the floor and possibly cause an uproar…beat on my chest like Im hella hardcore and try to act tough like Marvel’s Thor…Naw Im just kidding, its not like that Im sure, really not really its just a metaphor…This rhyme is exhausting, cant take it no more, someone please take over while I drink my Dalmore!

Nose: dark chocolate, raisins, orange zest, spice

Palate: raisins, nutmeg, pound cake, orange

Finish: long, cinnamon, vanilla, butter

The Dalmore: Valour: 8.4/10

Nose: dark chocolate, raisins, orange zest, spice

Palate: raisins, nutmeg, pound cake, orange

Finish: long, cinnamon, vanilla, butter

Laphroaig Quarter Cask: 6.3/10

Soooo…I still can’t go all IN on the peaty stuff yet…But I still tried and gave this quarter cask a shot. The peat overwhelmed everything from the nose to the finish and left a bitter taste in my mouth…Kinda like a back handed compliment…”those pants fit you well considering you gained so much weight!” Thanks a lot mom!

Nose: burnt matches, orange zest, oak, french vanilla

Palate: watery mouth-feel, orange zest, caramel, sea salt saltiness, dirt

Finish: long, campfire, smoke, bitter back end