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Ardbeg 10

September 14, 2023 Scotland

Name: Ardbeg 10

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Peat, coal, smoke

Taste: Smokey peat, spices

Ardbeg 10 is a Highland scotch from the Islay region in Scotland that I like to put into a category I call “Big Boy Scotch”. Ardbeg is considered by some people in the whisky world to be the peatiest of all the scotches. I can think of a few other scotches out there that can compete for that title but with heavily peated scotch is truly a matter of individual taste. The name “Ardbeg” is Scottish Gaelic for a “small promontory”. A promontory is defined as “a point of high land that juts out into a large body of water”. See map below.

As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I like to start my tasting experiences with 10 to 12-year-old scotches so I can get a feel for the baseline flavor profile. Plus, and this is an important point since I self-fund this operation, they more affordable! Some people just like to jump to the much older and aged scotches. I never found this helpful in the learning process of tasting. It is hard to graduate upwards and gain appreciation for what you are drinking if you start with the best first. Also, many people are uneducated shits that want to look cool in the company of others. When it comes to heavily peated scotches I do not see the need to go to the oldest or most expensive bottle you are learning or developing a taste for peated whisky.

Ardbeg produces other expressions that range in price and quality. These expressions are, but not limited to the following; An Oa, Blasda, Corryvreckan, Supernova, Uigeadail, Rollercoaster, Alligator, Ardbeg Day, Kelpie, and Grooves. Some of the prices of these are very high and I look forward to the Rabbie Burns Tasting in 2019 to sample some of these expressions.

Price around $55 and a very good scotch if you like peated whisky. It is also a great scotch to warm you in cold winter weather.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Hendrick’s Gin

September 7, 2023 Scotland

Name: Hendrick’s Gin

Color: Clear

Nose: Juniper, cucumber, flowers

Taste: Juniper, cucumber, rose flowers, fresh tasting finish

Hendrick’s Gin is known as the “Cucumber Gin” and is manufactured by William Grant & Sons at the Girvan Distillery in Scotland. It was released in 1999 and is bottled at 44% abv. The are 11 botanicals in the gin; chamomile, elderflower, juniper, lemon peel, orange peel, caraway, coriander, cubeb berries, angelica root, yarrow root, and orris root. After the gin is distilled it is then infused with rose and cucumber. The taste is very different than the usual suspects like Bombay or Tanqueray.

I have only enjoyed this gin in two ways. In a martini or with tonic water. Below are my thoughts base on the photo in the review.

Regular Tonic: Clean and smooth tasting. Lighter than cheaper tonics.
Cucumber Tonic: Fresh tasting with medium strong cucumber flavors. Lighter than the regular tonic water.
Hendricks & Tonic w/ lime wedge: Gross. Lime does not mix well with the gin flavors.
Hendricks & Regular Tonic w/ cucumber slice: Fresh and clean nose, very light and summery. The quinine seems to overpower the finish. Tastes good.
Hendricks & Cucumber Tonic w/ cucumber slice: Very cucumber nose and taste. Not much quinine taste, little too syrupy for me but not bad. Tastes good, but very strong cucumber taste.
Martini Up w/ cucumber slice: Light and refreshing with clean cucumber taste. Easy to drink but comes off as a one and done cocktail. Not a repeat drink like a Bombay Sapphire.

Other expressions: Obrium, Midsummer Solstice, Absinthe, Amazonia, Lunar, and Neptunia.

Priced around $50 and worth the money if you like the cucumber taste or to experiment in summer cocktails.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Glenfarclas 12

August 17, 2023 Scotland

Name: Glenfarclas 12

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, lemons, flowers, light wood

Taste: Malt, light smoke/oak, sherry, fresh citrus

Glenfarclas 12 is a Speyside Scotch from Ballindalloch, Scotland. The distillery was founded in the 1790’s and is now owned by the Grant Family. The name translates to “valley of the green grass”. There is a wide range of expressions and ages along with varying levels of reserves from the distillery. The older scotch that is released is known as “Family Casks” which is a collection of 43 single cask bottles from the 1950’s to early 2000’s. I have not seen that collection on the shelves but I bet that collection is not cheap. Next time I am in London I will see if Harrod’s sells the complete package.

Other expressions that you can find in the market for regular people: 8,10,12,15,17,18 (travel retail), 21, 25, 30, 40, 60, 105 (cask).

I have seen the 105 and the 15, 30 in a couple of stores, but not the rest of the years. I have sampled the 25-year-old, but it was about four years ago in Munich, Germany at 3am. So I do not really remember if it was good, but I think was good. I have learned since then not to drink good scotch late at night or that early in the morning.

The 12-year-old is a good baseline and worth the money. I do not see many people drinking, buying, or ordering Glenfarclas. I am not sure why that is, but it is worth trying to see if you like it.

Priced around $60 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Tomatin 12 Year Old – Bourbon & Sherry Casks

August 10, 2023 Scotland

Name: Tomatin 12 Year Old

Color: Golden brown

Nose: Vanilla, green fruit, light oak

Taste: Sweet wood flavor, caramel and vanilla.

Coming out of the Highlands of Scotland this Single Malt Scotch has been aged 12 years in combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Aging the whisky in these casks is nothing new in technique or in the market place, but it gives a good finish to this scotch as it does with most whiskies. Tomatin 12 is medium-bodied and its finish has a bit of a cream wood taste. I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted it and my notes put it between “ok to good”. I consider this scotch “good to very good” when you look at the price.

If you need a scotch that tastes good, is very well priced, and you know your friends will drink it like spring water, this would be the scotch to purchase. You can kill a bottle while at the same time not murder your wallet.

I would definitely keep this one on the bar at home or show up to a party with one or two bottles in hand. Priced around $35-40 it is a very good value.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

John Barr

July 26, 2023 Scotland

Name: John Barr

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, oak wood, lemon, honey, vanilla

Taste: Malt, honey, vanilla, rough finish

John Barr Whisky is a brand I had not heard of so I bought a nip. I will not waste your time with with a lot of words. Fuck me sideways, this shit if dreadful. It taste like shit.

Priced around “who gives a fuck?” and “do not buy this piss poison shit whisky.”

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

The Glenlivet 18

June 15, 2023 Scotland

Name: The Glenlivet 18

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Cereal, butter, cinnamon, oak

Taste: Light oak, spice, flowers/heather, nuts, vanilla

Glenlivet distillery is in Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland. It was founded in 1824 and only closed during World War II. Glenlivet is listed as one of the biggest, if not the biggest seller of single malt whisky in America. The Glenlivet 18-Year-Old Single Malt is bottled at 43 abv and is aged in American and European oak casks.

18-Year-Old Single Malts are never really bad, just some are better than others. The age and the title are almost a brand name label to place on a whisky. When you get to 18 years you should be getting high quality whisky.

Glenlivet 18 is not the best tasting 18-year-old I have had but is very good. I find it a bit too light for my preference, but I would not turn down a glass. I prefer Glenfiddich18 at this price range or Talisker 18 if I want to spend more money.

Other expressions are the following:
Core Range: Founder’s Reserve,12-Year-Old, 15-Year-Old French Oak Reserve, Nàdurra 16-Year-Old, Archive 21-Year-Old and XXV 25 Year Old.

Limited Release: The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1972 Cask Strength, 1959 Cask Strength, 1964 Cask Strength, 1967, French Oak Finish 1983 and American Oak Finish 30-Year-Old.

Travel Retail: 12-Year-Old First Fill and 15-Year-old.

Priced around $125 and worth the money if you like Glenlivet.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

June 1, 2023 Scotland

Name: Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, light wood, flowers, citrus, white pepper

Taste: Malt, lemon, vanilla, honey, light oak

Chivas Regal was created by James & John Chivas in the early 1800’s in Scotland. The Strathisla Distillery in Speyside region is now the source of all production and the distillery has changed ownership over the years. Chivas is a popular and leading blended whiskey in European and Asia markets. It is somewhat popular in the US market but Johnnie Walker and Kentucky Bourbons are the front runner for blends. Chivas has a very long history so if you are interested in learning more I recommend you look it up. I can only write so much in one review.

Chivas 18 is a blended scotch whiskey, bottled at 40% abv. It has a medium body and has a nice balance. It is an easy drinker and smooth tasting. It is good for a summer scotch and can be enjoyed on the rocks or neat.

I have had Chivas a few times over the years in peoples home mainly in Europe but when visiting the “A Hero to you and me Both” Sam Dean and he had this bottle to knock back around his fire pit in the back yard.

Other expressions: 12, Extra, Extra 13, 18, Royal Salute 21, 25, Brothers’ Blend, Ultis, Mizunara, The Icon, and XV.

Priced around $65 and a good summer drinker.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Opinions Vary: Scotch in Scotland

May 31, 2023 Scotland

Opinions Vary: Scotch in Scotland

If you have been following my reviews for a while you might have picked up that I am half Scottish. My Mother was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland and I have family in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Sterling. I’ve learned a few things since traveling over to Scotland in the last twenty years. First thing I learned is that my cousins are annoyed that I spell “whiskey” with a “e”. The second thing I learned is do not get your hopes up for a proper pour of whisky.

The word “Scotch” is used to separate Scottish Whisky from Bourbon, American Whiskey, or Irish Whiskey. The spelling of “whisky” is reserved for Scotland only, but in recent years some producers are breaking that rule. Calling whisky “Scotch” is mainly used in America from my experience.

Proper pours are a not going to happen in Scotland when you are at the pub drinking Scotch. Free pouring in pubs is illegal. The UK have regulated pours of 35ml (1.2oz) or 50ml (1.69oz). What the actual fuck? I mean seriously, who came up with that bullshit rule? Is so un-American. At least in America you have a chance for heavy pour with a good tip and a friendly bartender.

So, to summarize, Scotch (aka whisky) is not to be call in Scotch in Scotland and the pours are small. I recommend Scotland vote for a different type of Freedom!!!!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Speyburn 10

April 13, 2023 Scotland

Name: Speyburn 10

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, honey, flowers, light wood

Taste: Sherry, malt, honey, cedar wood

Speyburn 10 Year Old is produced by Granty Glen Valley which is located in the Speyside region of Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1897 and is currently owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, which is owned by Thaibev from Thailand. The Inver House Distillers also have Old Pultney, Knockdhu, Balnair, and Balmenach under their control.

This medium bodied whisky is aged 10 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks and bottled at 40% abv. On my first taste it was very sweet on the palate. On the second taste the sweetness is still there, but a smoother quality malt flavor comes out on the finish.

This whisky is very nice to enjoy neat or on the rocks in warmer weather. I was not familiar with this whisky, so I took a chance on the bottle price vs. age, and it was worth it. It reminds me of Tomatin 12 for price and taste, but higher quality.

Priced around $40 and nice summer scotch for the price. I look forward to trying more expressions.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

“Ardbeg Olive” Vodka Martini

April 5, 2023 Scotland

Name: “Ardbeg Olive” Vodka Martini

Color: Clear and green

Nose: Vodka, olives, smokey peat

Taste: Vodka, olives, smokey peat

As we all know the statement above is correct, but this vodka martini receipt caught my eye and was worth a try at home.

You take quality olives (regular or stuffed blue cheese) and marinate them in a mason jar with Ardbeg Whisky for a few days in the refrigerator. I was told it creates a nice flavor profile and I was pleasantly surprised at the with the results. I am not a vodka guy, but the touch of smokiness and whisky flavor in the olives translates nicely to the vodka.

It is worth a try if you like vodka martinis or want to mix it up a little for home cocktails. I do not think a lot of bars are going to have them at the ready for your drink. In a pinch, you could ask the bartender to place a couple of drops of Ardbeg in you finished martini.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Ardbeg 10

Hendrick’s Gin

Glenfarclas 12

Tomatin 12 Year Old – Bourbon & Sherry Casks

John Barr

The Glenlivet 18

Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

Opinions Vary: Scotch in Scotland

Speyburn 10

“Ardbeg Olive” Vodka Martini

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