Scotland | Page 15 | NYC Whiskey Review

The Macallan 18 (2018 release)

December 10, 2018 Scotland

Name: The Macallan 18 (2018 release)

Color: Amber brown

Nose: Vanilla, cinnamon, light citrus fruit

Taste: Spice orange, light wood and smoke

I received this bottle as a gift and it was a very good gift indeed! I have had this whisky before in the half bottle version to celebrate a coworker’s first-born child and I carefully rationed it out at the office. My coworkers all had the same look on their faces of satisfaction upon tasting, however, I had the look of “Chris, next time you are on the way home from happy hour do not stop by the liquor store on 37^th & 3^rd.” The whisky evaporated within 5 minutes, but it was worth it.

Macallan 18 is a wonderful Scotch, well balanced, and has a delicious taste and finish. It is for sipping, not slugging and at 18 years old it comes at a higher cost than other Macallan’s. I feel it is worth the price, but it is slightly out of my comfort price zone. Personally, I would prefer spend the money on 2-3 bottles ranging from $75-115 each. Committing so much money to one bottle is hard for me when I want to experience various tastes each time I open up my bar.

I recommend this one for special celebrations or treating yourself.

Price around: Half Bottle at $130.00 and Full Bottle from $225.00-260.00.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Johnnie Walker – Black Label

December 1, 2018 Scotland

Name: Johnnie Walker Black Label

Color: Amber Brown

Nose: Spice, barely, wood, smoke

Taste: Malt, wood, smoke

Review:

Got a party tonight? Are you going somewhere? You may need to show up somewhere NOT EMPTY HANDED, that is a dick move. Bringing a $10 bottle of shitty chardonnay is only slightly less dicky. Fear not, Johnnie Walker Black Label has got your back!

This is a good all around scotch to give/buy/bring to someone/somewhere at a fair price. Lee Marvin drank it in the Dirty Dozen during the holiday celebration. It is the kind of scotch that makes family holidays or office parties better.

Even though JW Black is produced at a industrial level and is on every liquor store shelf it is good. From small nips, to small bottles, 375ml, 750ml to 1 Liter and larger. Whenever you are in doubt on what to buy, and do not want to spend too much money, buy Johnnie Walker Black.

A 750ml bottle will run you $35 in the NYC.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2009

September 19, 2018 Scotland

Name: Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2009

Color: Gold

Nose: Fresh barley, white fruit, pears, vanilla

Taste: Oak, malt barley, sweetness

Review:

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2009 Scotch Whisky was distilled in 2009, bottle in 2015 and I am drinking it now in 2018. If you follow my reviews (which I hope you do) you will know I am fan of Bruichladdich. The name is hard to pronounce, the whisky is easy to drink and you look very cool ordering it at the bar.

Barley 2009 is aged for 6 years in oak casks, is non-chilled filter and naturally colored. The nose and flavor of the Barley 2009 is a strong barley with a different, almost odd, type of barely taste. This whisky expression has two types of barley used that are grown at three different farms. The barley is Publican and Oxbridge and the farms are: Claggan, Cruach, and Island & Mulindry. In short; 3 farms + 2 barleys = 1 scotch. The differences between the barleys are too much to go into in a short review but the terroir assist the barley with the flavor. When you have three types of barley in the distillation process you are going to get a much more unique flavor profile instead of one. I have no doubt someone just read that sentence and thought, “No shit Chris”.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2009 is not peated like many Bruichladdich whisky’s. It is smooth and has an interesting flavor that captures your attention without being overbearing or too much in your face with flavor. It tastes simple when you first try it but it has a lot going on at the same time. It is tough to explain but try it and let me know your thoughts.

The tin can cylinder (not pictured) is a nice add on from Bruichladdich when you buy a bottle. I like the protection of the bottle when I travel with it in my backpack around then city.

Price around $65 and well worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Laphroaig Cairdeas – Madeira Cask

January 25, 2018 Scotland

Name: Laphroaig Cairdeas

Color: Orange brown

Nose: Sweet sherry, citrus with peat and wood

Taste: Sweeten “Big Boy Laphroaig” taste with orange flavor

Review:

Since the picture was taken when the Patriots were making the comeback last Super Bowl I thought this post was worth sharing again!

This Islay whisky is finished 8 yrs in American Oak and then 2 yrs in Madeira (Portuguese Fortified Wine aka “Port”) hogshead barrels. Laphroaig blends the traditional flavor and sweet port flavor to make something different from their standard whisky. Unfortunately, the first sip is a mixed bag of flavors and immediately reminded me of a beverage from my college days. My first dram reminded me of when Sam Adams Lager started making flavored beers. They are good, but I can only drink one or two because the additional flavor(s) muffled the taste of the wonderful lager. I was in my early 20’s when I started drinking Sam Adams and I did not want cherries, cranberries, lemons, pumpkin, etc. in my beer. Years later, I still stand by that decision. I do not like things mixed together than ruin the base flavor. Have you ever had French Italian Fusion Food? It sounds like it tastes, bad.
This whisky is not bad and there are a lot of whiskies on the market using sherry barrels but most of them are not as full bodied as Laphroaig. For me, this bottle is somewhat gimmicky and might have been created to keep up with the competition that using sherry/port barrels to create after dinner Scotch. I struggle to see how this would work as an after dinner drink or daily drinker with peat and wood as the baseline. It is not bad stuff, it is just strange blend of flavors for my plate.

Priced around $65-70 and worth the money

If you like it, drink it!

Johnnie Walker 4 Pack Sampler

August 4, 2017 Scotland

Something for the weekend?

Johnnie Walker produces a four pack of 200 ml bottles of Black, Gold, Platinum and Blue Scotch for around $200. You might not find it as easy in a store but it is online at various distributors and I have seen it in Duty Free in Heathrow Airport. If you want to do a tasting with friends and make up your own minds while saving some money I would definitely recommend this box set in lieu of full bottles. I would strongly suggest you treat it like a tasting with measured pours of whisky in different glasses, note taking, trying it with a splash of water etc. After that, you can decide on the value of the higher labels and see if it is your cup of tea (or whisky!)

Note: Specific Johnnie Walker Labels may vary in 4 pack box. Confirm with supplier prior to purchasing. I have seen red and black then two other higher labels as opposed to what I have described.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

July 5, 2017 Scotland

Name: Glenmorangie Nectar D’or

Color: Gold

Nose: Citrus, vanilla, light sweetness

Taste: Citrus, honey, nuts, vanilla

Review:

Not a fan. Sorry Glenmorangie, just not digging this scotch. It is probably me, not you. I just feel the need to see other scotches this summer. Glenmoragnie is keeping up with the industry trend of sweetening their products due to market demand. Their Nectar D’Or is a sweeter wine flavored scotch that has a unique taste, but comes across as a bit of an old flavor.

Nectar D’Or is a 12-year-old scotch aged for 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels and 2 years in sauternes barrels. If you are not familiar with “sauternes” let me summarize.

Sauternes is a French sweet white wine from the Graves region of Bordeaux, France.
Bordeaux is mainly known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon wines but does produce white, blends, and Merlot.
Sauternes is made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle which are all white grapes
Sauternes is usually sold in 375ml bottles and is usually enjoyed as a dessert wine.
It is not known to be cheap stuff.

This scotch is different and I will give Glenmorangie credit for trying to something different. I have tried other whisky’s that used barrels from other fortified wines and they can provide a very nice flavor profile so do not be afraid to try something new. Nectar D’Or has done well in creating something different in their premium label scotches but taste profiles vary with consumers like me.

I found this scotch to have a rough, cheaper vanilla taste, and a burned finish. I would not buy this one for myself, but I could see it being enjoyed on the rocks in the South of France or the Hamptons while everyone else is drinking Rose wine. Nectar D’Or is not a bad whisky; it is just not my thing.

Approximately $70 per bottle.

If you like it, drink it. – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Laphroaig 30 Year Old Single Malt Cask Strength

April 12, 2017 Scotland

Name: Laphroaig 30 Year Old Single Malt Cask Strength

Color: Orange brown

Nose: Sweet mandarin citrus, peat, smoke, reduced iodine

Taste: Citrus, vanilla, peat, smoke, and wood

Review:

“Big boy strong” scotch from the Highlands of Scotland, the Laphroaig 30 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt has arrived from Islay. I am a fan of Islay whisky’s and Laphroaig is one of my go to scotches in the winter. There is nothing better to warm you up after braving the cold weather through the streets of NYC then a glass of Laphroaig as you sit in your tiny-ass 350 sf apartment and warm up.

I got the opportunity to try this scotch at Whiskey Live in NYC and enjoyed a nice sized dram by their brand ambassador. This single malt is 107 proof and has been twice matured in ex-bourbon casks. This whisky has been double matured in first and second-fill ex-bourbon barrels. Those 30 years in the barrels have created a very good scotch, but it comes at a very high price.

Laphroaig 30 Year Old is a very well balanced whisky with great flavor, but at $800 it is not very well balance for my bank account. The thing I find with Laphroaig is this; I can always taste their baseline flavor of smoke and peat and that gets into my head and takes away from what they have created. This is not a bad thing, but I have a hard time separating the flavor from the attempt to create something new versus what I just paid for a bottle. For example, Laphroaig Cairdeas is much sweeter and cheaper, but again has the underlying flavor. Naturally, the 30 year old is far superior to Cairdeas, but that is expected after thirty years of maturing.

Laphroaig 30 Year Old is very good but at $800 per bottle you have to be able to afford it.

If you like it, drink it!

The Macallan Rare Cask

March 2, 2017 Scotland

Name: The Macallan Rare Cask

Color: Amber Brown

Nose: Dried fruit, wood, dark chocolate

Taste: Burnt wood, iodine, dark dried fruit, and a medicine flavor

Review:

I will be as straight forward as I can be; this scotch is far too expensive for the taste.

Macallan Rare Cask is a non-aged statement single malt finish in Sherry casks (sort of) and the flavor is not impressive. Sherry casks are very popular in Scotch and I can think of several that half the price and better in flavor.

I sampled the Macallan Rare in January at the Astor Centers Robbie Burns Tasting and last night at Whisky Live NYC at Chelsea Pier 60.

What comes to mind with this whisky is “What are you paying for when you buy a bottle?” For me, I am paying for flavor. Everything else after flavor is an addition or subtraction to the whisky. When it comes to Rare, I feel I am paying for a fancy box and the marketing/PR work to promote the scotch. (I stole it from the trash bin for the pic)

My motto is “If you like it, drink it”, but price always needs to be considered along with taste and price is the heart of all my reviews. If price is not an issue for you and you need to give a high-end scotch in a fancy box this would be a good choice for the wow factor but not for the flavor factor.

Approximately $300.00 per bottle or $75 per glass in NYC area. Your call…

If you like it, drink it!

Laphroaig 10 Year Old

January 24, 2017 Scotland

Name: Laphroaig 10 Year Old

Color: Dark Gold

Nose: Peat and wood

Taste: Peat, wood and light seaweed

Review: I jokingly refer to this whisky as “big boy” Scotch as it comes from the Islay region of the Highlands of Scotland and Highlanders are not known to make light flavored whisky’s. This whisky is not for everyone. You need to enjoy a very strong peaty wood flavor to swallow this Scotch. Some people have told me, “it is like drinking smoked wood” and do not enjoy it. Personally, I really enjoy it because I prefer big flavors in my scotch.

I can tell you and little life tip I have learned. For me, I find it very difficult not to have a whisky while enjoying a cigar but I have noticed that the more smoky and peaty the scotch the less I taste the smoke of the cigar. The two flavors fight each other. Big boy whisky sometimes takes away from taste of the cigar but if you like it that way you enjoy it that way!

I recommend if you have not tried Laphroaig to order a small 1oz dram to try this type of big and bold flavor from Islay. Priced around $50 and it’s a great value if you like strong peat and wood flavor.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Johnnie Walker – Blue Label

January 18, 2017 Scotland

Name: Johnnie Walker – Blue Label

Color: Medium Brown

Nose: Peat, smoke and perfume esq flavors

Taste: Medium bodied feeling with well balance smoke, peat and spices

I used to live in South Florida and when I was driving to Miami for work I would pass a billboard on I-95 for Blue Label that read, “Not everyone makes it to Blue”. To me, that it sounded a lot like “Fuck you. You can’t afford this.” Blue Label is a well-marketed brand by Diageo that is very recognizable to people and equates its self to the good life. I believe if you like it, drink it, but for me, I struggle to like this whisky based on the price and taste. Please do not get me wrong, it is very good whisky but not good enough for me with respect to the price and I can afford to buy it. In my opinion there are easily a dozen whisky’s that I would prefer to Blue Label that cost less and are better suited to my palate. Blue is a blend, with no age statement, and which particular whisky it is blended with and their ages is very debatable. I could rant for a while on this one but instead I will close with this last comment. If you are a Wall Street type person (translation: you got a lot of money), you should know this whisky, order it at a bar, have it in your office, home, apartment, penthouse, Hampton Estate and give it as a gift to clients and co-workers.

Price ranges from $190 to $225.

Note: See Johnnie Walker 4 Pack Review for a smaller taste of Blue.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

The Macallan 18 (2018 release)

Johnnie Walker – Black Label

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2009

Laphroaig Cairdeas – Madeira Cask

Johnnie Walker 4 Pack Sampler

Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

Laphroaig 30 Year Old Single Malt Cask Strength

The Macallan Rare Cask

Laphroaig 10 Year Old

Johnnie Walker – Blue Label

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