Our plan was to actually taste a few of the whiskies that were to be presented at the NE FL Highland Games Whisky Tasting. This was really homework for Todd, the Games Whisky Master. He succeeded in bringing together all but the Ben Riach expression that we ultimately tasted an hour before the Games Tasting. I was also taking notes since I was to be his helper.
Here is what we tasted:
*Nikka 12yr 40% ABV A blend of 2 Japanese single malts
-smells sweet caramel, apples
-tastes strong alcohol, slightly woody and trails quickly
-with water - smells a tinge sour
-tastes dry like chardonnay, very sour like paper
-trails quickly
I have tried a few of the Japanese whiskies and this one has something to taste. The others have been shooting whiskies - Kanpai!! It's not what I would call an easy drinking whisky though.
*The Famous Grouse No age statement 40% ABV Blend
-smells garden hose
-tastes rubbery with a peppery taste underneath
-with water - less rubbery
-can't distinguish this from other bland blends
-poured a second taste into a different glass with narrow bottom and wide opening - opened up the smell of flowers and trailed rubber
*Black Grouse 40% ABV Blend
-no rubber like The Famous Grouse
-smells sweet wood with a tinge of burnt wood
-tastes slight peat with a chalky/earthiness
-trails very quickly
-with water - got warm with very little taste
-slight oak but not sweet
This second tasting was a bit different than the first. I was not stuffed full of delicious dinner. Being slightly hungry helps more of the flavors come through.
*Glen Dronach 15yr Oloroso Cask 46% ABV
-smells sweet dessert like cinnamon buns
-tastes a tinge of wine at first then goes almost to a plain flour taste
-with water - smells sawdust/pine
-slightly sweeter and trails quickly
What a difference from the first time I tasted this! I didn't get the peppery/rubbery flavors.
Here is what we tasted:
*Nikka 12yr 40% ABV A blend of 2 Japanese single malts
-smells sweet caramel, apples
-tastes strong alcohol, slightly woody and trails quickly
-with water - smells a tinge sour
-tastes dry like chardonnay, very sour like paper
-trails quickly
I have tried a few of the Japanese whiskies and this one has something to taste. The others have been shooting whiskies - Kanpai!! It's not what I would call an easy drinking whisky though.
*The Famous Grouse No age statement 40% ABV Blend
-smells garden hose
-tastes rubbery with a peppery taste underneath
-with water - less rubbery
-can't distinguish this from other bland blends
-poured a second taste into a different glass with narrow bottom and wide opening - opened up the smell of flowers and trailed rubber
*Black Grouse 40% ABV Blend
-no rubber like The Famous Grouse
-smells sweet wood with a tinge of burnt wood
-tastes slight peat with a chalky/earthiness
-trails very quickly
-with water - got warm with very little taste
-slight oak but not sweet
This second tasting was a bit different than the first. I was not stuffed full of delicious dinner. Being slightly hungry helps more of the flavors come through.
*Glen Dronach 15yr Oloroso Cask 46% ABV
-smells sweet dessert like cinnamon buns
-tastes a tinge of wine at first then goes almost to a plain flour taste
-with water - smells sawdust/pine
-slightly sweeter and trails quickly
What a difference from the first time I tasted this! I didn't get the peppery/rubbery flavors.
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