Category: Tasting Notes

The Glenrothes: 1992 Second Edition

Posted on by The Whisky Ninja
The Glenrothes 1992 Second Edition

Continue reading “The Glenrothes: 1992 Second Edition” →

Nose:  Fruit lolllies, packham pears, desert spices, vanilla bean, slight hints of fresh coconut. A little bit all over the place, and a small amount of fresh spirit at the back of the nose - surprising given the age of the whisky. Palate:  Candied lemon, poached pears, coconut cream with vanilla essence, traces of milk arrowroot biscuits and mandarin peel, and hints of cinnamon and cloves.  Quite solid, and well balanced - much more so than the nose. Mouthfeel:  A little warm, but no burn.  Reasonably thick, and quite dry - heading towards creamy. Finish:  A long finish on this…

The Ninja's numbers - A completely subjective score.

Nose
Palate
Mouthfeel
Finish

Bruichladdich: Laddie Classic Edition_01

Posted on by The Whisky Ninja
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Edition_01

Continue reading “Bruichladdich: Laddie Classic Edition_01” →

Nose: Lots of fresh malt on the nose of this one, along with apples - both red and green, some pears, a light touch of both vanilla and honey, and the faintest waft of some floral notes. Palate:  The palate pretty much continues on from the nose - everything that is present is in the nose makes an appearance in the palate, with perhaps a bit more fresh malt, a light touch of sea-breeze saltiness (very light), a touch of nutmeg, and the slightest sense of something nutty such as slivered almonds.  There's also a bit of oak spice right…

The Ninja's numbers - A completely subjective score.

Nose
Palate
Mouthfeel
Finish

The Glenrothes: 1998

Posted on by The Whisky Ninja
The Glenrothes 1998

Continue reading “The Glenrothes: 1998” →

Nose:  To start with this whisky practically has no nose at all - almost like leaving some lemon peel and a tiny drop of vanilla essence in a glass of hot water.  Give it a bit of time to breathe though, and it really gets going: finger buns with lemon icing, candied lemon peel, some icing sugar, and hints of honey and vanilla - also the faintest trace of pineapple chunks. Palate:  Honey, malt, light cereal notes - almost like a crumble topping, vanilla custard, notes of coconut cream, and small amounts of pepper and sweet spices.  None of the…

The Ninja's numbers - A completely subjective score.

Nose
Palate
Mouthfeel
Finish

Jameson: Caskmates – Stout Edition

Posted on by The Whisky Ninja
Jameson Caskmates Stout Ediition

Continue reading “Jameson: Caskmates – Stout Edition” →

Nose:  Fresh cut grass, winter fruits, lemon peel, a few almonds, and a dusting of cocoa.  A smattering of standard pot still spices are also present Palate:  Sweet typical pot still flavours of honeyed spices, sweet sticky malt with a dash of burnt golden syrup, a small layering of winter fruits, dark chocolate Tim Tams, and the weakest pinch of hickory smoked salt. There's also some dark, but sweet, hops flavours - a rather unusual taste in a whisky. Mouthfeel:  Thick, dry, and oily in equal measures that complement each other rather than fight each other.  A slight burn down…

The Ninja's numbers - A completely subjective score.

Nose
Palate
Mouthfeel
Finish

The New Zealand Whisky Company: Dunedin DoubleWood 15 Year Old

Posted on by The Whisky Ninja

Continue reading “The New Zealand Whisky Company: Dunedin DoubleWood 15 Year Old” →

Nose:  Rich caramel, rum & raisin sponge cake, sultanas, dried red berries. Very sweet. Palate:  More caramel up front, joined by sticky toffee and golden syrup - which replace the rum & raisin.  The sultanas and dried berries are joined by a whole pack of dried mixed fruits.  There's also a slight hint of some spice; cinnamon and nutmeg.  Like a good Irish potstill, some of these flavours just won't sit still. Mouth Feel:  Thick and chewy.  Very creamy. Not even a hint of oil, and no burn at all either.  Quite firm and dry. Finish:  The finish is extremely…

The Ninja's numbers - A completely subjective score.

Nose
Palate
Mouthfeel
Finish

Sullivans Cove: Double Cask

Posted on by The Whisky Ninja
Sullivans Cove Double Cask

Continue reading “Sullivans Cove: Double Cask” →

Nose:  Vanilla, honey, winter fruit - pears and apples, nutmeg, and faint notes of citrus, and cinnamon - with a very slight malt smell at the back. Palate:  Creamy malt, honey butter, pears, green grapes, sweet spices, vanilla, and light notes of lemon boiled lollies. Mouthfeel: Creamy yet also juicy, medium weight, slightly warm.  Neither oily nor dry. Finish: Crisp, slightly sweet and spicy, traces of vanilla.  Most of the flavours die down after a not particularly long time, but sweet spices and the vanilla hang around for quite a while.  My mouth keeps watering for the entire time the…

The Ninja's numbers - A completely subjective score.

Nose
Palate
Mouthfeel
Finish

Compass Box: The Peat Monster

Posted on by The Whisky Ninja
Compass Box The Peat Monster

Continue reading “Compass Box: The Peat Monster” →

Nose:  Fresh cut grass, honey, peat smoke, and mixed citrus peel. Hints of dried apricots and dry apple chips. Palate: A big peat smoke impact here, some cured meats, beach water and the mouthful of seaweed you get when dumped in the surf. Hints of fresh and sweet botanicals. Fairly medicinal, but not overpoweringly so. Mouthfeel: Reasonably thick, but not chewy or creamy. A small alcoholic tingle that sits on the tip of the tongue, but goes no further. Somehow it seems to fill the whole mouth - up to the roof of your mouth - whilst it goes down…

The Ninja's numbers - A completely subjective score.

Nose
Palate
Mouthfeel
Finish

Glenfarclas £511.19s.0d Family Reserve

Posted on by The Whisky Ninja
Glenfarclas £511.19s.0d Family Reserve

Continue reading “Glenfarclas £511.19s.0d Family Reserve” →

Nose:  Stewed berries, black plums, golden syrup, and traces of vanilla pods and burnt caramel.  Strong and rich - abundantly sherry casked. Palate: Raisins, golden syrup, marmalade on burnt toast, Christmas cake, oak spices, slivered almonds, and traces of cinnamon and nutmeg.  Quite earthy, and surprisingly little sweetness compared to the nose.  More alcohol is present than I expected from 43% ABV. Mouthfeel: Fairly thin rolling over the tongue, slight burn on the tip of the tongue - disappearing as it heads down the throat.  Very dry, and no oils at all. Finish:  Spices, roasted nuts, damp earth, dried green…

The Ninja's numbers - A completely subjective score.

Nose
Palate
Mouthfeel
Finish

Bruichladdich: The Laddie Ten

Posted on by The Whisky Ninja
Bruichladdich The Laddie Ten

Continue reading “Bruichladdich: The Laddie Ten” →

Nose: Honey, lemon, shortbread, honeydew melon; hints of vanilla, and the slightest waft of sea-spray.  Quite a few fresh yet mellow florally notes hiding in there as well. Palate: The nose really gives it away with this whisky - mostly what you smell is what you get, which is by no means a bad thing as the nose is delicious.  The palate really does just continue on from the nose, adding some candied winter fruits and a scattering of sultanas with just a hint of oak spices present as well. Mouthfeel: Gloriously thick and dry with little to no oils…

The Ninja's numbers - A completely subjective score.

Nose
Palate
Mouthfeel
Finish

Berry Bros & Rudd: Blue Hanger – 9th Release

Posted on by The Whisky Ninja
BBR Blue Hanger 9

Continue reading “Berry Bros & Rudd: Blue Hanger – 9th Release” →

Nose: A little difficult to pin down; sweet forest undergrowth, tea loaf, smoked meats, and some slight smokey notes.  Some light spice hints, and a faintly medicinal edge. Palate:  Sweet and dry, a bit stiff and wooden; lots of oak spices, hints of orange and lemon peel, a bit of medicinal peat smoke hanging around as well.  Not overly smooth, nor punch like many younger malts. Mouthfeel:  Quite dry, and not very thick.  Not really any oils to speak of.  A decent burn - more than normal from a vatted blend, but it only lingers for a short while before…

The Ninja's numbers - A completely subjective score.

Nose
Palate
Mouthfeel
Finish