Thread: Scotch/whiskey of the day

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

I'm, enjoying these reviews, Chris L.

To me, the Glenmorangie 10 y.o. has a ripe fruit aftertaste.

I do get that on the finish as well.

It's a Highland night for me tonight. Sampling The Macallan 12 right now. Tasting notes in a bit...

ChrisL

The Macallan 12
43% ABV

25ml of 50ml mini. Cork top is a nice touch on a mini.

1st Nose full strength: Sherry, dried fruits, apricot, vanilla, soft nose, dried meadow floral, cocoa, coffee bean

2nd Nose dilluted to 38% ABV: Sultana/tea biscuits, malt, water at this ABV doesn’t open up this whisky.

Taste: Slightly tannin, citrus/lemon and lime, vanilla custard, earthy, nutmeg, cherries

Finish: Sweet finish, vegetal/wheatgrass, faint melon, the citrus sticks around and the finish is fairly long for whisky that does not taste peated.

This whisky is more complex than Glenmorangie 10 both on the nose and in the glass but especially in the glass and in the finish making this a more enjoyable whisky. I’m pleased that the dried fruits note I found was featured prominently on The Macallan website as a descriptor.

This is a whisky I would share with friends if the setting was more social and less focused on a whisky tasting event (e.g. card game, conversation, etc). I would feel I’d be serving a good whisky but I would not have a feeling that I was “bringing out the best” which, in a general social setting, I wouldn’t want to.

85 based on the rating below:

83 - 86 (B) = Good - not a "must", more of a nice-to-have


ChrisL

Yep, the Glenmorangie 10 is decent, nothing real special. The Macallan 12, on the other hand, is a favorite of mine!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Yep, the Glenmorangie 10 is decent, nothing real special. The Macallan 12, on the other hand, is a favorite of mine!

I agree. Macallan 12 is my go to whisky. I'm drawn to the sherry casks.

Originally Posted by SteveA

I agree. Macallan 12 is my go to whisky. I'm drawn to the sherry casks.

I tend to like the sherry casked whiskies as well.

When I was in my early twenties (when I thought I knew everything and had little idea that I knew next to nothing) other than beer, I would drink bourbon; mainly Wild Turkey, Makers Mark or Jim Beam. In my late twenties, I explored ports and sherries quite a bit after an older coworker introduced them to me.

Funny those taste memories stuck since I can usually pick out either of them in the background of scotch whiskies now.

Little did I know my bourbon and my sherry experiences of the past would help 15-20 years later with my enjoyment of scotch whisky.

ChrisL

My favorite whiskys are from the Speyside and Highland regions, but I'm a big admirer of the Islay malts for the challenging complexity they offer. When the mood is right and I have lots of time to spend, I really enjoy them. Last night I went full Ron Swanson and had an excellent NY steak with a Lagavulin 16. The nose was so strong that people around us at the bar were commenting on the smell. The first sip was jarring, but after 5 or 6 drops of water and some time to breath, it rounded into a wonderful dram that perfectly complimented the steak. Love it or hate it, Lagavulin is unlike anything else I've tasted.

Have you seen the scenes from Parks and Rec where Swanson visits Islay?

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Have you seen the scenes from Parks and Rec where Swanson visits Islay?

Yes, that's a great episode. I love how Leslie sent him to the Lagavulin distillery and he didn't even know where he was going until he arrived

Originally Posted by PigHog

Will you still be able to get it, coming into the country? Surely you'd need to be in departures?

I checked on the way out of the country because I didn't want to have to carry it about, and because I only had hand luggage and didn't want it confiscating. I was a bit worried vid my flight was delayed on the way back and I thought I'd missed my chance. Most places can't sell alcohol after 8pm here, but apparently the duty free at the airport has different rules.

Awesome. Enjoy!