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The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve

April 4, 2024 Scotland

Name: The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve

Color: Copper

Nose: Barley, maple, oak

Taste: Maple, oak, dark fruit, cream finish

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve was my second dram after the Jura Seven Wood at The Pot Still when I was in Glasgow, Scotland in May 2019. Nothing puts a smile on my face than going to The Pot Still in Glasgow and sipping whisky!

The Dalmore Distillery is located in Alenss, Scotland which is approximately twenty miles north of Inverness. The Cigar Malt Reserve is first aged in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, then 30-year-old Oloroso sherry butts, and finally transferred in Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques. Then combination makes a nice rich whisky with a slight sweet cream finish that might go good with the smoke flavor from a cigar. I say “might” because you cannot smoke in The Pot Still.

If you have not picked up on the marketing yet, the Cigar Malt Reserve name implies it is to be paired with a cigar. How you drink a whisky, smoke a cigar, or pair the two is up to you. I enjoy a whisky and cigar combination, but it is sometimes a mixed bag when you put the two together.

Here are my thoughts;

A good whisky on needs a glass.
A good cigar only needs a match.
A whisky should cost a $50 minimum to drink neat/rocks.
A cigar should cost a $15 minimum.
A smoky whisky can over power or not match the smoke from the cigar.
A dark/stronger cigar flavor can be ruined by a whisky.
A cigar with a long burn time can lead to drinking more whisky. This is good or bad depending on the day and your company.

When I put the two together I usually pair medium bodied cigar with light-medium whisky or I do not mix them at all.

Price around $135+ and very good but a bit expensive for the flavor profile. You can mix and match scotch and cigars in so many ways you do not need a specific whisky.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Dalmore 12 – Sherry Cask Select

April 3, 2024 Scotland

Name: Dalmore 12 – Sherry Cask Select

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, cedar, citrus, sherry

Taste: Malt, cedar/oak wood, honey, orange, vanilla, sherry

The Dalmore Distillery is a located in Alness, Scotland which just North of Inverness and is in the Highlands. It was established in 1839 and has changed ownerships many times over the years. Dalmore whisky bottles are very distinguished in their shape and appearance. They have an oversized silver stags head placed on the outside of the bottle. High end bars and stores would like to line them up as they look better than most bottles.

The 12-year-old Sherry Cask Select is a very nice Dalmore expression. It is overall better than the 12-year-old but that mostly comes from the sherry finish. I find the 12 to be a better tasting whisky because I do not prefer a sherry finish at this level. It is just too sweet. I am noticing all distilleries are doing this now and it technically makes a baseline whisky taste better, but it is still just like adding a sugar finish.

It is dry on the front of the tongue, sweet malt, and wood on the back of the mouth and finish. It has a nice body and is easy to drink at 43% abv. The whisky is finished for three years in three casks from Jerez and seasoned with a blend of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez. The Dalmore 15 is far better than the 12 & 12 Sherry and I will be reviewing the 15 next week.

Dalmore Expressions: 12-year-old, 12-Sherry Cask, Port Wood Reserve, Cigar Malt, 14, 15, King Alexander III, 18, 21, and various “Limited Releases”.

Priced around $85 and very good but the Dalmore 15 is better at $115+ and worth the stretch of the wallet.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Benriach 12

February 29, 2024 Scotland

Name: Benriach 12

Color: Light brown

Nose: Malt, wood, honey, white fruits, flowers, citrus

Taste: Malt, sherry-honey, oak, coconut, vanilla

The Benriach Distillery is located in the Speyside region of Scotland. It was established in 1898 and has changed ownership too many times over the years to list. The Beriach 12 is bottled at 46% abv, aged in ex-sherry, ex-bourbon, and ex-port casks. The whisky has a malt flavor on front of the tongue with a sweet sherry and a little wood on finish. The nose was a little strange to me, but after some research it appears to have combination of dark and white fruits. This was throwing me off as I only could detect the white fruits so I will try it again in the future. Overall, it has nice taste and balance, but it did not knock my socks off.

I would also note that Benriach appears to me to be a stand alone whisky. It does not taste like others I have sampled so it leads me to believe they do not source or share their product. I have not proof either way, it just tasted that way to me.

Distillery Expressions: 10, 12, 16, 21, 25, 30, 40, The Smokey 10, The Smokey 12, 40 Octave Cask Matured, Smoke Season, and Malting Season.

Travel Retail Expressions: Cask Edition, Quarter Casks, Peated Quartered Cask, and Triple Distilled.

Priced around $60 and fair for the money. I will try more in the future.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Benriach – The Smoky 12

February 28, 2024 Scotland

Name: Benriach – The Smoky 12

Color: Light brown

Nose: Malt, oak, white fruits, flowers, citrus, peat

Taste: Malt, sherry, oak, coconut, vanilla, peat smoke

The Benriach Distillery is in the Speyside area of Scotland. It was established in 1898 and has changed ownership a few times over the years. Too many times to list the complete history.

Benriach – The Smoky 12 is bottled at 46% abv and is aged in ex-sherry, ex-bourbon and ex-Marsala casks. It is non chilled filtered, 100% malted barley, and is natural in its color. This expression has a strong malt forward flavor with sherry sweetness and the smokey peat on the finish. It is a nice flavor profile, but it reminds me of a sweeter smoky Johnnie Walker Black.

When tasted side by side with the Benriach 12 you can smell and taste the baseline, but the 12 is much easier to drink. They are not sister whisky’s; they are significantly different. If I had to pick one, I will select the 12 as it is easier on the plate. Whatever Benriach is doing they are not even in the ballpark with the “big boy” peaty whiskies like Laphroaig or Lagavulin. I think the distiller should work on developing Smoky 12 further. It has potential but it is not there yet.

Expressions: 10,12,16, 21, 25, 30, 40, The Smoky 10, The Smoky 12, 40 Octave Cask Matured, Smoke Season, and Malting Season.
Travel Retail: Cask Edition, Quarter Casks, Peated Quartered Cask, Triple Distilled

On my recent February 2023 trip to Scotland to see the family I accidentally picked up the 12 so it made for a good comparison. I enjoy Benriach and I look forward to tasting and reviewing more.

Priced around $65 and ok for the flavor profile. I will stick with the “big boys” if I want smoky peat.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The Balvenie – Double Wood 12 Year Old

January 11, 2024 Scotland

Name: The Balvenie Double Wood 12 Year Old

Color: Gold

Nose: Spice, vanilla, honey, nutty

Taste: Sweet, spices, orange/honey

Balvenie is one of those whiskies you should know about if you like Scotch. They produce a massive volume of whisky within a large span when it comes to age, flavor, and price per bottle.

The Balvenie Double Wood 12 Year old gets its name from the two casks the whisky is matured in over 12 years. The first cask is “whisky oak” and it is listed as “traditional whisky casks” which “impart vanilla spiciness”. Let me translate, ex-American oak Bourbon barrels or just American oak barrels. Isn’t marketing wonderful? The second cask is ex-European oak sherry cask and I am guessing they are from Spain. So basically this means one regular, one sweet with respect to the barrels. Also, Balvenie’s marketing description sounds very close to Macallen Double Cask if you ask me.

This scotch is another of the many sherry-finished whisky’s on the market. No surprise as the demand for slightly sweeter whisky grows as the popularity of whisky begins to peak. You might wonder why sweeter whisky’s are becoming more popular. I have a theory with no research to back it up. Most people who I know that do not like whisky find the taste awful. My father says it is like swallowing medicine. I am reminded of the 1960’s Mary Poppins song, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down….” Today, a wee bit of sweetness seems to be part of the marketing plan of many distilleries. In summary, the distillery sweetened the scotch so more people can drink it.

I think that the bottle and sleeve of any Balvenie Scotch has a very classy look. When you need a gift to impress, but do not know what to get I recommend Balvenie. Of course, opinions and budgets vary, but when in doubt, and for a few extra dollars buy Balvenie

Price around $65+ it is a good price if you like a sweeter taste.

If you like it, drink it!

The Balvenie America Oak

January 10, 2024 Scotland

Name: The Balvenie America Oak

Color: Light brown

Nose: Malt, honey, flowers, vanilla, citrus notes

Taste: Malt, vanilla, woof, light spices, lemon

The Balvenie Distillery was found in 1892 in Dufftown which is in the Speyside region of Scotland. It has been making whisky for 127 years and it is some of the best whisky you can find on the shelves in America for the variety of flavor profiles and a buyer’s budget.

The American Oak on my first taste was as expected, very good and well balanced, but it tasted very familiar. From my research this expression is The Balvenie 12, but it is finished in new (virgin) American Oak Barrels from Kentucky and are charred fresh. The 43% abv makes it an easy drinker and it immediately reminded me of the 12-year-old expression but the lighter version.

Overall, this is a very nice expression and easy to drink at proof level, but I find the other Balvenie expressions, including the 12-year-old are richer and more complex. The appeal of this expression would be the price.

Other expressions:

Core Expressions: 12, 17, Signature 12, Cuba Selection 14, Caribbean Cask 14, Single Barrel 12 & 15, Peat Week, Portwood 21, Single Barrel 34, 30, 40, 50, & 50-year-old Single Cask.

Triple Cask Expressions:12, 16, & 25.

Limited Edition (age varies): Golden Cask, Islay Cask, New Wood, New Oak, Sherry Oak, Rum Cask, Madeira Cask, Peated Cask, Craftsman Reserve No.1, Portwood (1989, 1991, 1993), & Tun (1401, 1858,1509).

Priced around $50+ and is a nice summer scotch and the most affordable (aka the cheapest) of the expressions.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Lagavulin 8

December 20, 2023 Scotland

Name: Lagavulin 8

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Peat, salt, malt, caramel

Taste: Peat, malt, sea grass, caramel, straw

5 Days left before Christmas! Do you have all your bottles yet?!?

Lagavulin is a winter favorite of mine and I have not had it in a while so on my last visit to the Potstill in Glasgow I decided it was time for reunion. I was leaning towards trying the 25-year-old, but I opted for the 8-year-old as it is more popular on the shelves in the USA.

The distillery originally released the 8-year-old for their 200^th anniversary but has now added it the permanent list of expressions. I found the 8 to have much more flavor than the 16 on my immediate tasting, but it was not nearly as smooth or refined from what I can remember. The 8 is bottle at 48% abv and the 16 is bottle at 43% with a price difference of $65 vs. $90+. I will give the 8 it’s due and proper, it is a good whiskey and very drinkable. However, the 16 is better, but I really need to sample them both side by side.

This expression would make a good gift to someone who has interest in peated whisky but you don’t like enough to spend almost a hundred dollars on.

Lagavulin Expressions produced are 8, 12 cask, 16, 21, 25, 30, 37, Offerman, and Distiller’s Edition.

Priced around $65 and worth it if you are on a budget, but the 16 is better.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Balbair 12

December 16, 2023 Scotland

Name: Balbair 12

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, honey, lemons, flowers, light oak

Taste: Malt, honey, white fruits, cream/sweet finish

9 Days left before Christmas! Do you have all your bottles yet?!?

Balbair is a Highland whisky from Edderton, Ross-shire, Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1790 and has grown and changed ownership over the years. It is currently owned by Inver House Distillers who also owns Speyburn-Glenlivet, Knockdhu, Old Pulteney, and Balmenach.

The Balair 12 is aged in ex-bourbon and double fired American oak casks and is bottled at 46% abv. I picked this sample up in Edinburgh on my last visit as a random whisky to sample. I was not familiar with this whisky and I have not seen in previously it in the bars or stores in the NYC area. It has a light sweet nose and the taste almost matches the nose which is never a good sign from experience. I also found it too sweet and overall a bit flat tasting. It was not bad, it just was not that impressive.

Other expressions: 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 40, Equinox & Solstice, Elements, and Explorations. Various years have associated cask numbers or names depending on the year released.

Priced around $50+ and not my preferred flavor profile but I will try more expressions if I find them.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

GlenAllachie 12

December 15, 2023 Scotland

Name: GlenAllachie 12

Color: Dark Brown

Nose: Malt, caramel, oak, heather, sherry/honey

Taste: Malt, sweet caramel, oak, white fruit

10 Days left before Christmas! Do you have all your bottles yet?!?

GlenAllachie 12 is a Speyside whisky that was found in 1967 and has change ownership over the years. The distillery was closed for a few years until it was re-opened by a group of private investors.

GlenAllachie 12 is bottled at 46% abv and is non-chilled filtered. From my research it appears to be aged in Virgin Oak, PX Sherry casks, and Oloroso sherry casks.It has a nice taste and balance and reminded me of Edradour 10. It is easy to drink and not too hot for the proof level, but a little sweet on the finish for my taste.

I do not think I have every seen this whisky on the shelves in the NYC area. I get the feeling that is a sourced whisky as they may be building up their reserves. When I was in Edinburgh last Spring, I picked up several nips of whisky’s from Whisky’s of the World and this was one among them. I like to gamble on the smaller bottles when I am not sure and it worked out for most of this year’s reviews.

GlenAllachie other expressions are a surprising a long list. By category they have the following: Anniversary Series, Core Range, Single Casks, Virgin Oak Series, Wine Cask Series, Wood Finish Range, Macnair’s, and White Heather. Click here for the complete list – The GlenAllachie Distillery.

Priced around $65 and worth a try if you like the profile. I look forward to try more expressions if I can find them.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Tomatin 18

December 14, 2023 Scotland

Name: Tomatin 18

Color: Brown

Nose: Malt, vanilla, caramel, cedar wood, white fruits

Taste: Malt, vanilla, caramel wood, white fruits, sweet finish

The Christmas countdown has begun! Do you have all your bottles ready!?!

Tomatin distillery is located in the Village to Tomatin which is South of Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland. The distillery was founded in the 16^th century for local purchases of jugs for farmers and then was later fully established as Tomatin in 1897.

The Tomatin 18 has nice nose with a hint of dry cedar wood. It has smooth malt taste with sherry sweet finish and is well balanced. I did find the caramel a little thick on the tongue, but it was not a deal breaker. This expression could be enjoyed as a winter or a summer whisky. I find the Tomatin 12 to be a summer drinker.

I enjoy sampling Tomatin, but I am not yet fully convinced it is worth the money for the older expressions. I will need to try more in the future.

Priced around $125-$150 and overpriced for the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve

Dalmore 12 – Sherry Cask Select

Benriach 12

Benriach – The Smoky 12

The Balvenie – Double Wood 12 Year Old

The Balvenie America Oak

Lagavulin 8

Balbair 12

GlenAllachie 12

Tomatin 18

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