Cardhu Gold Reserve

This is definitely one of the better NAS whiskies I’ve had, it’s very nice. Very sweet and smooth, honey-like, with pleasant burn and aftertaste as it goes down, just right for a sore throat 🙂

It’s very nice and drinkable, could quite happily sip it all evening, neat, or with a dash of water or an ice cube to make it last a little longer!

The honey may make it a bit too sweet and overpowering for some, but I would happily buy this again. However as often is the case with my whisky purchases, I paid £25 in the supermarket, not the £42 RRP, it’s the £25 I’d happily again, I don’t think I’d pay much more than that.

One day I’ll treat myself, probably in a pub, rather than to a whole bottle, just in case, to a more expensive whisky to see if I can taste the difference.

Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey Vs. Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7

Different review to “normal” for me. JD and coke is a classic, it’s a nice drink, it’s never been my favourite but over Christmas bottles of JD were reduced in supermarkets so I bought a bottle.

Neat, it’s not great, it’s harsh, and no particularly distinct flavours, but with coke it’s good, the sweetness helps, I like a ratio of 1 part JD, 2 parts coke.

A while ago a friend said he moved off JD to other US Whiskies and bourbons, so when Bulleit was on offer in the supermarket, I thought I’d give it a go. Glad I did, it’s much better than JD. It can be drunk neat, it’s much smoother, and has a pleasant whiskey, spicy taste, hints of vanilla. Again, with coke the sweetness brings out the flavour even more.

I’ve got the rye whiskey to try next, as that’s been on offer again as well 🙂

Whisky in the Freezer

Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold has the serving suggestion of from the freezer, so as an experimented I decanted some Jura Origin 10 year old, Glenfiddich 12 year old, and some Talisker Skye into small bottles and put them in the freezer for a week or so, I was curious to see if they would taste any different. In short, they lost most of their flavour. The Jura is relatively bland anyway, so this was a complete waste of time from the freezer, the Glenfiddich was ok, but a waste of a good whisky.

The Talisker Skye however I found more drinkable, but that’s because the peatiness was dumbed down, but no other flavours were exaggerated.

So, in short, if it says put it in the freezer, it’s not a bad idea, if it doesn’t, don’t, unless you’re not too keen on it 😉

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

I think this was the first single malt I ever bought a bottle of, I think it was to celebrate coming to the end my final year of my degree. I’ve not bought it since, not for an particular reason, however £10 off a bottle in the supermarket (down to £25 from £35) over Christmas tempted me to revisit.

It’s very nice, but another “cup of tea” whisky. I can see why it’s so popular and well known around the world, it’s smooth, but has that slight burn at the end. Hints of vanilla, fruit(pear), spice, but nothing too overpowering, no peat or smoke. It ticks all the right boxes, but is safe, nothing too special or outstanding about it, which I guess is why it’s a classic, there’s nothing wrong with it, I can see why it’s so popular, and has won awards, it’s a safe bet.

Better in my opinion than the Glenmorangie or the Jura, but I still prefer the Aberfeldy, or the Penderyn if I fancy something a bit more out there.

Another case of a whisky I’d be delighted to receive as a gift, but probably wouldn’t buy again for myself, but I’d be tempted to try the older ones if the price was right.

Jura Origin Aged 10 Years

Jura Origin was reduced to £25 from £30, an old colleague used to drink this and recommended it, I’ve had it in a pub once before and liked it, and so even though I wasn’t impressed by Jura Elixir or Prophecy, I thought I’d give it a go.

I’m glad I did, it definitely the best of the Jura bunch I’ve tried. It’s another “cup of tea” whisky, it doesn’t do anything too exciting, or ground breaking, but it’s a good solid whisky. There’s a pleasant classic whisky taste, nothing too prominent or overpowering, hints of vanilla, it’s smooth, but has a slight burn (a good thing), and goes down a treat.

Another one I’d probably put it in the category of “would appreciate as a gift, but wouldn’t buy again myself”, worth trying, probably another “beginner’s” whisky, I’m don’t mean to sound patronising or give the impression I’m starting to know what I’m talking about 😉

Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold – Room Temp Vs. From the Freezer

A while ago I decanted a small amount into a small glass bottle to keep in the freeze. This evening, I thought I’d try a bit of each to see which I prefer.

I started off with the from the freezer. It’s nice, drinkable, very smooth, no burn, as I said before, crisp, fruity, very pleasant, but nothing special.

Room temperature, I’m surprised I said it was my new favourite before, it’s OK, it’s nice enough, but nothing special. It’s smooth, slight burn, but can’t see myself buying it again.

Like many of these NAS whiskies, I think when they’re reduced, from the artificially inflated RRP, they offer a nice drink for the money, but saying that, this was £25, round this time of year (December 2016) there’s a lot of bargains in the supermarket, so you can get a good 10yo single malt for similar money, or less than that.

So in retrospect, if I had £40 to spend on whisky, I definitely wouldn’t buy this, if I had £25, I’d consider it, but for example Tesco, do a couple of “Tesco Finest” 12yo single malts, which could represent better value for money. If you don’t want to risk supermarket’s own, Jura Origin 10yo is very good value for money at £25 (RRP £30).

Interestingly, what I’ve learned more than anything else, is maybe I’ll try some other whiskies from the freezer to see what difference it makes, or maybe invest in some whisky stones.

Talisker Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Another of my purchases due to it having £10 off, so was £25 rather than £35. I was interested in this one, as so far I’ve come to the conclusion I don’t like peaty whiskies, and had read this was a good introduction to peaty whiskies. It kind of is, but isn’t. I can drink it, it tastes OK, but this is the problem with it, it’s slightly peaty to give that peaty taste, but it doesn’t have much more of anything else, so I can taste the peat enough to think, yes it’s peated, but I wouldn’t want it any more peaty, but for some-one who liked their whisky peated, then they would find it disappointing.

And there’s the problem, it tastes a bit of peat, but, I can’t taste any fruit, or any notes, or subtleties of anything else.

So I guess if you’ve never had peated whisky before it’s sort of a good introduction, but not worth buying a bottle for anyone who likes their peat, as they will be disappointed

I think this is another example of these NAS (no age statement) whiskies, where they lack body, so they often disappoint.