30 January 2008

scotch part 1

so, since i've been trying different whiskys lately i'm going to start a column that i will update every now and then on whisk(e)y. of course most of my early experiences with whisky came in bourbons, but anyway here is my review of the ones i've tried so far:

Blends

Jim Beam White Label - tastes like a hangover

Dewars White Label - not all that bad for a cheap drink... a bit on the strong side and you could taste the grains

Jack Daniel's Old No.7 - Dark crimson in color. mmm corn and strength and earth and doesn't hurt the pocket that much. very sweet. smooth, after all.

Jack Daniel's Gentleman's Blend - tastes similar to its younger sister, yet with a bit more sophistication and woods. very good

Johnnie Walker Red Label - Copper in color. tastes like EARTH, must've used a lot of islay in this blend. it was the first scotch i drank without a flavored mixer ( i had it on the rocks).

Johnnie Walker Black Label - Light brown in color. very fruity at first, then a smoke, then a little bit of earth. pretty good, complex blend. nice character. best bang for the buck.

Johnnie Walker Green Label (Technically vatted, not blended) - old gold in color. tastes like peat. very smooth and a good flavor of maybe a bit of flowers? good value.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - rich smoky peaty, yet with some light notes on the exhale. very good.

The Dimple Pinch 15 Years - tastes like cake. then get that cake and drop it on the soil. don't follow the 5 second rule. actually kick it while it's down there. make sure it's a fruit cake.

Chivas Regal 12 Years - dark amber in color. don't remember much about this one other than it was very smooth

Single Malts (location)

Talisker 10 Years (Island) - inhale a cigar. then add abit more of smoke with some malty syrup. then a bit more smoke. then at the end, some recently ground peper that leaves your mouth with some spicy stuff on it.

Laphroaig 10 Years (Islay) - get some tires and then burn them right next to you. then INHALE. once you feel like you're about to pass out, INHALE. but make sure you have some salt on your nose before you inhale. if you forgot, put some on now.

The Glenlivet 12 Years (Speyside) - very, very smooth whisky. butter with some spices and some flowers. maybe a tiny bit of earth, but you really have to look for it.

The Glenlivet 15 Years French Oak Reserve (Speyside) - take a bouquet of cinnamon and then drench it with vanilla. add some more seasonal flowers and some cake. while you're there add some cognac. very complex and pretty good. not so bad on the pocket either.

Glenmorangie 10 Years Original (Highland) - very light gold in color. take some pears and some peaches and other light fruits squeeze them over some vanilla orchids . take the very cool and delicate flavor and sprinkle in some sea salt. over it. oooh still the best i've had.

Glenmorangie 12 Years Port Wood Finish (Highland) - darkened red gold in color. mm take some glenmorangie 10 and then mix in a bit of wine, add smoke and throw in even more vanilla. add some dark chocolate.

Oban 14 Years (West Highland) - you're at the beach and then you eat some dark fruits and yellow cake. then you smoke a cigar that has been dipped in peat, but you only take a wiff.

The Macallan 15 Years Fine Oak Finish (Speyside) - color is the reddish tint of gold the sun gets at the threshold between the late afternoon and the early evening. take a whiff: dried fruits. a little bit of pudding. maybe a hint of orange. then swish it in your mouth a bit. some of the initial sweet tones fade quickly to make room for chocolate, a tiny bit of spice and some smoke. the finish is almost completely spicy dark chocolate.

Highland Park 12 Years (Island) - later