The nose is full and complex, with hints of honey and oranges, and a very light hint of peat.
The palate reveals a honey sweetness with a touch of spices and sherry.
The finish is long and pleasant.
Obviously, when speaking about Speyside, it is difficult not to mention the Grant family, who is famous for their business genius with Glenfiddich, and a particular competence to produce an excellent whisky like The Balvenie. Even this rather young version, 10 years old, is an essential must in matter of whisky. The Balvenie is obviously one of the best things the Speyside area ever has produced.
The second tasting revealed a good whisky, with a taste close to honey, a very long finish and the whole was preceded by a pleasant smell. Without being the best of all, this bottle remains very good.
The complex nose mixes acid citrus fruits and sweet honey notes with some spices. In the palate, a kind of bitterness dominates at first, but gradually honey and oranges emerge. A lingering finish, with some acid touches but also some slightly woody hints.
The colour is amber, and the nose detects sherry, citrus fruits, honey and vanilla.
The palate evokes the sherry sweetness, citrus fruit and spices. The finish is long and warm.
During its maturation, the whisky is transferred from a traditional oak bourbon cask in a sherry cask.
This different steps give the final result its quality. The traditional oak sweetens and give it some character, and the sherry cask brings the depth and plenty fragrance.
This great classic stays a sure value. The happiness begins by the nose... Immediately one knows there is a very great malt in the glass. The sherry finish gives the pitch and promises a great sweet whisky, aromatically very rich. The finish is also very long and extremely pleasant. An excellent Speyside, which is really affordable.
At the third tasting, the nose was rather discrete, revealing some floral hints on a vanilla background. In the palate, the vanilla was still present, with a touch of spices and a discrete hint of sherry. The sherry is present in the rather long finish as well. The finish is further marked by some citrus fruit hints.
A nice nose marked by beautiful roasted barley hints with clear vanilla notes, nice hints of fruit and a hint of Marshmallow. A well balanced whisky and probably a very smooth one.
In the palate, nice roasted cereal hints, walnut and malt. Some chocolate too. Quite an interesting and relatively complex mouth. The balance the nose announced is perfectly confirmed in the palate.
The finish is smooth and lingering. The chocolate notes and the nutty hints of both the nose and mouth are plainly present here too. A very nice bottle I really recommend.
Appearance: The colour is like concentrated apple-juice. Copper. Nose: Nice, quite citric and fresh but deep and nutty at the same time. Some rubber comes forward while new wood and curry powder lingers in the background. Lots of fruits. Diluted nose lends more fragrant notes with some feints. Body: Quite firm, full bodied but doesn't feel oily. Palate: Warm and sweet with some nuttyness. Dryer towards the finish. The nose gave a better impression than the palate.
Colour: Dark amber, (coloured or not, the label don’t say anything. But somehow it looks coloured to me, or is it from the sherry cask...?).
Finish: Long and rich , again the same characteristic, still this nice berries, enriched with some dark chocolate and very enjoyable fine spices dancing on the tongue.
Conc.: A rich and tasty dram very much to recommend to every beginning or advanced whisky lover, very nice after a rich meal and together with tobacco, it can easily be called a “ladie’s dram”.
Very nice sherried whisky with a lovely nose with lots of nuts and biscuits and honeyed floral nutty palate.
Nose: Lots of fruit jam (especially apricots). Marzipan and a little nutty. Playdoh playdough (first time I feel that in a whisky!). Red fruits and also some tea. Nose is really interesting and immediate.
Taste: Quite sweet. Alcohol mastered. Aromas of red fruit and tea are the most dominant ones.
Finish: Long and warm in continuity.
Nose: Subtle and soft, spicy and some sweetness (honey) in the background. Also some notes of wood.
Taste: Same as the nose is the taste lovely soft and warm.
sweetness, like liquorice and pure honey.
Finish: Medium long and some peppery.
Nose: Fresh and tart, green apples and citrus fruits (fresh orange), Haribo crocodiles. Somewhat complex but pleasant, spring. Some spices appear at aeration (nutmeg, a pinch of white pepper). A touch of sherry?
Palate: light, soft, and gains in power, with a nice blend of sweetness (always Haribo the crocodiles) and spicy spicy (ginger), but with a little bit of pencil.
Finish: Quite long, pencil and slightly bitter vegetable with a little white pepper.
Conclusion: A well-made Scotch, pleasant and balanced. A drink in the spring.
Nose: Smooth, grainy, grassy, malty, with a hint of bitter smoke and some fish.
Taste: Smooth, slightly grainy and grassy, creamy, aromatic, with some discreet peat smoke, orange, heather, pink grapefruit and custard. Rich and complex. Diluted, it becomes fruitier and more on fudge and caramel. The finish is medium, slightly bitter and citric, aromatic, on heather, tangerine, orange, fudge and some peat smoke.
Impression: A rather pleasant, although slightly unusual whisky, on fudge and with some nice aromatic flavours.
C : Deep gold, copper.
N : The first nosing is fruity (red fruit in particular, berries). Typical notes from a sherry cask maturation develop (dried raisins, a hint of sulfur). It develops on citrus fruit (orange, orange peel, lemon) giving it some freshness with a hint of acidity. Light woody notes come through with time with dry fruit (hazelnuts).
B : Smooth, still fruity, on sherry notes. Some cacao and nutty notes give it some kind of bitterness. The spices are soft.
Very smooth with a drop of water, with some woody notes (polished wood, wax).
F : Back to the citrus fruits with some wood.
Nose: fresh peach and a hint of citrus (orange / tangerine). Everything is still quite sweet. Aeration opens the chestnut.
Taste: There is malt with a touch of chestnut. There is also spice and vanilla. On the palate, it lacks a bit of gluttony and amplitude relative to the nose.
Finale: A little short, falling on the notes of vanilla and spice round (eyeing bitter almond).
Comment: The round nose is pretty damn good. Then it becomes less interesting. On the palate, it lacks body, remaining around the malt but no real imbalance. The final is cons a little short.
Finally, a dram a little plane-plane but not unpleasant.
The nose starts with malt, slight burnt rubber and equally light flowers on a background of freshness due to some citrus. Traces of turpentine, salt like "warm salt water." After a short time enhances the fruity and spices appear, forming a nice balance. After a long time of aeration, spice come to the fore, and the freshness resurfaced. On the palate, the attack is on the fruits and sweet spices. It is clear and precise. Peach but also spices and licorice, nuts, toffee. The final, rather short, remains on the spicy notes.
Nose: nose first mastered, on cereal, then slowly becomes fruity, pear syrup, almond, plum, chestnut cream. Over time, gaining a little density and develops notes of pastry. Odor cap bottle of red wine.
Taste: Watery, start low, too dilute. It wins slightly later power on the same notes as the nose.
Finale: In continuation of mouth and nose, but too strong dilution; a certain length anyway.
Comments: A very pretty nose, but a mouth and a final suffer from too strong dilution.
The nose reveals notes of red fruits quite raw, and a slight acidity. It is woody. It has also a little rancio. All fairly intense, reminiscent of a sherry that lacks a good dose of sugar. After a bit, the influence of sherry is more important, with chocolate and cream cake. A little frosted lemon too.
The palate is light on the chocolate and custard. The set is however a bit astringent. After some time in the glass, it has a little red fruit attack (strawberry) and a nice discreet as well as development of sherry. But it remains relatively average.
The final, of medium length, is woody with traces of coffee. It also has some citrus (lemon). It becomes softer after aeration.
In conclusion, a medium whisky that lacks of sweetness and personality.
The nose lacks a little presence. The flavors seem diluted, but they are no less interesting. It is certainly not a cask strength and sweetness dominates. Slightly bitter notes (hazelnuts, cashews) and malt. Without being spectacular, the nose is relatively complex.
The mouth prolongs perfectly the nose. The malty sweetness and slight bitterness are well represented, but few other flavors. Here, too, a sense of dilution rather unfortunate.
This is not a defect in itself, but when you usually drink the whisky at cask strength, it can disappoint.
The finish is slightly stronger than the mouth. still in the same vein with both bitterness and sweetness. Cashew nuts and a hint of sherry.
It is of medium length.
Nose: Light, fruity (pear / white peach). Indolent.
Mouth: fat and pleasant. As light as on the nose and essentially the same notes fruity. Too small.
Final: changing the quince paste with a touch salty. White chocolate / milk retro-olfaction.
Conclusion: Pleasant, easy to access, but does not tell much. Interested people probably beginner and having a priori as what whiskeys are bitter and strong drinks / hot.
Nose: Typical young Speysider aromas. Or let’s say entering teenage years. Poached pears. Apple crisp. A little chamomile. Quite aromatic, but remains quite basic and lacks a little oomph.
Mouth: Slightly weak indeed. Apart of that, taste is nice. Simple and sweet, with light honey and diluted orange juice.
Finish: Clean but short. Unfortunately.
Comment: Simple but tasty, this one will be a good partner for the aperitif. Extra points for its nice fruity character, but given some extra %, this could have been a little cracker!
Nose: New make, pear brandy, cereals. Vanilla, crushed green almond. Somewhat artificial to my taste.
Mouth: The mouth is in the same line. Apple or pear spirit. Vanilla, almond. A slight taste of cardboard. Not my cup of tea. Some chemical diluted caramel. Woody bitterness and artificial at the same time.
Final: Medium, bitter, on chemical watery caramel.
Conclusion: Not at all my style or maybe I missed it. It seems young and diluted.
Comments: nice aperitif whisky, nothing more nothing less. Nose is better than taste. Personally I really miss a punch in this whisky, May be too gentle for me. Balvenie at 40%?
Palate: strong attack, rapidly diminishing. Rather dry, aromas of dried fruits (apricots and raisins). Back olfactory pastry but fleeting. After aeration, softer attack, but really not so much character.
Nose: fairly balanced on honey, dried fruits, nuts and some spices.
Mouth too quiet (too thin?) there are some spices, a bit of grain and a little honey in the background but it lacks body.
Color: light gold-orange, crystal clear.
Nose: Young fruity nose, soft spicy-malt, thin texture.
Taste: Nothing left from the nose... hearty spice, dry, still thin, disappears quickly.
Young, low alcohol whisky, not much fun.
The very soft nose recalls precious wood (rose wood) with a touch of spices (pepper). A fragrance of ripe and fruity grape is followed by a dryer nuts one.
The palate is winy and fruity (orange, peach). The subtle finish is slightly bitter. Fruit touches, recalling honey and spices finish the remarkably creamy character , before the long finish, with a sweet hazelnut taste.
After ageing in a traditional cask, this whisky has been transferred in a port cask ("pipe"). The maturation and finishing process is regularly checked..
At the second tasting, the nose was rather rich, sweet and spicy at the time. In the palate, this whisky is pleasant, with some citrus hints, on a malty background. Sweet with some more bitter or acid touches. A relatively short, however interesting finish.
The nose is very perfumed, with floral and honeyish hints. A touch of smoke too. A kind of fruity freshness. The palate is sweet as well, with a very light touch oc acidity, but it remains rather boring and monotonous. No surprise. The mouth is "honnest", but banal. The finish is quite long, marked by the same honeyish sweetness and the same acid touch than nose and mouth were.
The superb colour is old gold. The nose, smoky and slightly medicinal recalls liquorice, citrus fruits (pickled orange), ripe fruits (peach) and smooth vanilla touches.
The palate is even more surprising, and reveals peat, malted smoked barley, roots, and confirms the intense liquorice feeling the nose first detected.
The long finish goes to oily touches of flowers (broom, mimosa). The peaty character of this great whisky is much lighter as the Islay whiskies, where the sea influence is more present.
The whisky spent the 6 last months of its maturation in cask having contained Islay malt, after 17 years in traditional bourbon casks.
Strange combination, the jewel of the Speyside area matured in casks having contained smoky and peaty whisky from Islay. The first contact is disconcerting. The nose offers a mix of unexpected fragrances, but is rather interesting. The palate is special too. A Speyside with Islay hints. Salt-sugared. Good whisky. An oily impression too. A finish of average length. A very good bottle.
During the second tasting, a slightly acid dominant characteristic and a relatively short finish made me review my first quotation. The salted hints, inherited from the stay in Islay cask are still present.
During the third tasting, this whisky seemed to be completely different from the 2 first times (own taste evolution, or action of the time on the spirit?). The nose is very fruity, revealing clearly pear fragrances and a nice complexity. In the palate, this whisky is nicely fruity and complex, mixing pear hints to clearly floral notes, on an earthy background, giving to this whisky a kind of musty impression, probably due to the influence of the Islay cask. The finish is lingering and floral, and very interesting.
The colour is pale gold. The nose is dry and reveals heather and exotic fruits touches. The palate, with fine wood hints confirms the nose. The finish is dry and spicy.
The traditional Balvenie lover can be a little thrown by this bottle, not far from a cask strength, but far from the traditional Balvenie taste. The honey sweetness is not present here. Some more acid touches, cut grass (?) or citrus fruits. The whole is rather refreshing, despite the strong alcohol degree. One would prefer a longer finish.
Just like the first time, I was rather surprised by this very good whisky which does not taste like most of the Speyside malts. There is something special in the taste (heather?) which makes it really a whisky a part. A very good bottling.
The nose, revealing some remote hints of undergrowth with slight tingling's and which express a rather acid character and a wax smell is quite surprising. In the palate, this whisky is rather complex and this acidity remains together with some exotic fruits. The finish is definitely too short. A nice whisky.
A very nice nose marked by floral notes and hints of ripe fruit. Sweet spices, cinnamon, enhance this quite remarkable nose.
In the palate, first impression is a kind of acidity which dominates, clearly less "colourful" than announced by the nose. More complexity would be appreciated.
The finish is fresh and rather long and prolongs the simplicity of the mouth with a predominance of acid notes and alcohol.
Nose: A little off but what stands out is rather engaging: very ripe fruit and some floral notes. Pity that is the impression they remain stuck in the glass. After aeration, the "green" side (more than floral plant) dominates all with some fruity notes (peach) and peppery, delicate.
Palate: The palate is much more expressive than the nose. It is creamy, fruity to perfection, slightly acidic (English candy) and slightly vegetal. A little ginger too. In short, it is fresh and relatively complex and expressive. Okay.
Final: Fairly short. Or rather a bit flat. Pus on fruits (always with the head fishing) in syrup.
Conclusion: Really well done. It is precise, complex. I just wish that the nose is a little more expressive. A good 88 for Littlemill? Good potential for the opening of the bottle.
Nose: very fresh and fruity, a blend of lemon and orange. It is on a floral side that pulls the orange blossom; sweet.
Palate: always light and fresh. Then everything becomes rounded with vanilla and light oak side. It is also mineral: on iodine; ferrous slightly.
Finale: medium long. Fairly sweet, subtle spice stand (especially pepper).
It's really no wrong. It's soft and smooth and everything is melted. I'm pretty excited about all that it lacks complexity and changing tastes ets slightly marked.
Dominant profile: light, orange, vanilla, ferrous.
Nose: Smooth, sweet, very floral, slightly peaty, juicy and on pastries.
Taste: Sweet, juicy, oaky, aromatic, slightly floral, fragrant and aromatic, on vanilla and spices. The finish is medium, on almond, rich, spicy, oaky, vanilla, some aromatic flavours and light fragrant notes.
Impression: A nice rich, oaky and aromatic whisky with a nice complexity. Very enjoyable.
Nose: From the beginning, though strikingly fruity notes (tropical fruit). Later some more scents of barley, floral character and wild honey come up. After some time more vanilla. After tasting some more spiciness as well.
Taste: Immediately sweet, spicy and a strong taste. But some light bitterness (wood and nutty) too.
Finish: Fairly long, but especially spicy!
Finish: straight not too complex, pepper, oak...finish with some water extends a bit as the pepper comes out later.
Nose: Powerful opening notes with solvent and alcohol mixed with vanilla like bourbon cask strength.
Gets fruity with ventilation (orange, ripe banana) and almost exotic (pineapple, coconut) all sprinkled with a good layer of spice with the Creole way.
Rather woody with the spices identified on the nose and a good dose of peppery mango!
Could be a twenty years old Macduff matured in bourbon casks?
A quite elegant nose and a nice overall balance for this whisky which lacks just a little craziness.
From the start we are dealing with a very interesting nose. A subtle blend of ripe fruit and malt. Alcohol which seems perfectly integrated. However, it seems to lack a bit of complexity but has no aromatic imbalance. We can feel a hint of liquorice after a while.
The first impression in the mouth breaks a little the balance that had sensed at the nose. Alcohol is also much less well integrated and contrasts between dominant acid notes and hints of malt are too strong for this whisky to be excellent. It is nevertheless pleasant to drink.
The finish is medium in length and does not leave a lasting impression.
Nose: quite classic profile that starts quickly on freshly cut green fruit, then evolves on plum and grape. In the background, we feel dawn some nice sweet notes of barley sugar and green notes.
Palate: The clip is less sweet and fruity than the nose. We start very quickly on woody notes (licorice stick), which then come to echo the nose ... so too discreet. malt is present, with the wood, but it lacks a little chewy and integration of alcohol can be improved in my opinion.
Finish: The finish, it collapses. The nose does not keep its promises. It remains on alcohol, wood and lack of dimension.
A promising nose, a nice dram but fishing a mouth that does not convince.
Nose: Quite spirity start; it fades gradually. Fairly mineral, with citrus peaks slightly pastry (shortbread). Some background spices (vanilla, cinnamon). There is also a fruity heart, with white peach, blackcurrant bud, and candied fruits. After aeration, that's fruity dominates.
Palate: Oily, the controlled alcoholic strength. Spices, fruit, syrupy, and a bit of wood. Some tips "salted" too. I imagine that this whisky is relatively young (roughly ten years) and reduced.
Finale: Medium. The aromas are collapsing too quickly. It's a shame.
Comments: A whisky without complexity, it must be admitted, but has no defects. Pleasant to drink. I guess it can be a proper daily dram. I mentioned some coastal malts from the northern Highlands. Also made me think of some Irish malts.
The finish is a bit short - so it is a round malt with the chance to play with water.
Nose: Smells “modern”, which means lots of vanilla, ripe banana, custard, and perhaps a little lemon curd too. Sponge cake. Sounds quite appetizing, but there’s a kind of grassy austerity that slightly puzzles me.
Mouth: Not as tantalizing as the nose. The alcohol talks louder now. Pretty well integrated, but quite hot (58% ?). Pretty naked spirit. Nicely unfolds given two drops of water.
Finish: Short and slightly burning.
Comment: Water is mandatory here. Tastes like a young slightly shy Miltonduff.
Mouth: very creamy, again herbs, bitter and some wood, a nice dram for every day.