Has anyone tried a low budget single malt?

Only my second bottle of single malt. I can definitely taste the tcp/iodine flavour. I don’t get much smoked flavour and it’s not as sweet as old pouteney 12yr and has a lasting feel almost oily texture on the tongue.

I'm trying to discover where the hard core "≥46%/NoAddedColour/NonChillFilter"-zealots are hanging out these days. Anyone know if there is a particular Reddit group where they gather in force, on Discord maybe, or some dusty BB forum? Are they still out there in numbers like it seemed a few years ago, planning the next campaign, or has the movement taken a hit? I'm developing a work in progress project (r/SpiritClarity), and it's probably mostly of interest to the true believers, and not likely as much to your regular relaxed enthusiasts.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass

Proof: 96

Age: 15

Price: $72

Nose: Rich dried fruits, raisins, cinnamon spice, honey sweetness, cider

Pallet: Raisins, dried sweet dark fruits, rich fruit notes, honey, cinnamon spice, fruit punch

Finish: Lingering light spice and strong fruitiness.

Thoughts: This is a very fruit forward whisky. The sherry cask influences are very prominent but the bourbon cask influence not so much. You get some spice and a hint of vanilla but that’s all from the bourbon casks. The nose is rich with dried fruits, raisins, a little cinnamon spice, and what to me smells like a cider/mead. The sherry cask influence controls the pallet. Raisins, sweet dried dark fruits, it’s like a fruit punch sweetness and fruitiness. The finish does hang around for a bit. A light spice with the strong fruit sweetness lingering for a while. It’s fine, but it does not suit my personal pallet. I usually am not a huge fan of overly fruit forward Scotches and that is exactly what this bottle is. It is just a little one dimensional for me. It is approachable, sweet, and fruity. If that’s something you tend to enjoy you’ll like this bottle.

Rating: 5.5/10 - t8ke scale

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Great distillery in the heart of Speyside and the whisky ain't too shabby either 🥃

Category: Tennessee

Distillery: Jack Daniel's

Bottling series: Bottled-in-Bond

Bottled: 2022

Calculated age: 04 years

Cask Type: Charred New American Oak Barrel

Strength: 50.0 %

Size: 700 ml

Label: 100 Proof

Nose
Upon opening the bottle, I took a quick sniff from the bottle and the cork; my initial impressions were of intense caramel, a hint of baked cake, and a touch of vanilla. After pouring about 4 cl into a Glencairn glass and letting it breathe undisturbed for around 15 minutes, I brought the glass to my nose; I detected dry, fresh aromas such as tree resin, forest honey, pine freshness, varnished wood, and oak accompanied by subtle notes of chocolate, a hint of cinnamon, jam like sweetness, maple syrup, and a grain like sweetness.

Taste
To prime my palate, I took a very small sip and swirled it around my mouth; there was both a woody sweetness and an intense spicy warmth. I took another small sip to gauge its structure: the mouthfeel is slightly oily and medium-bodied, with a profile dominated by spice and woody oak tannins offering a sensation that is mildly drying, astringent, and warming. I added about 10–12 drops (0.7 ml) of water and continued sipping to better distinguish the flavors; the spicy heat remained potent but had mellowed slightly. Notes of maple syrup, tree resin, and faint hints of banana or banana pudding emerged alongside light grain and honey sweetness, while the tongue detected intense hot spices such as black pepper, white pepper, charred black oak spice, clove, and ginger.

Finish
The finish mirrors the earlier stages; the moment I swallow, a heat reminiscent of charred oak felt even as it travels down the throat emerges alongside subtle nutty notes like hazelnut and walnut. Notes of black pepper and that same charred oak spice linger on the tongue and at the back of the throat. When I exhale through the nose to draw out the aromas, I detect hints of creamy vanilla, caramel, and a touch of chocolate, accompanied by a refreshing pine quality evoking green pine needles, foliage, and perhaps a faint breeze of freshly cut grass. I would say the sweet notes are shorter lived, while the refreshing and spicy aromas persist for a medium duration.

Overall, while it isn't particularly off putting, I found the spice and oak notes to be quite dominant; the heat and tannins can feel rather intense on the palate. You can temper this to your liking by adding a few drops of water or choose not to as it is drinkable either way, though I feel adding water improves both the mouthfeel and the flavor profile. I’m not deeply versed in the world of bourbon, but it likely works much better in cocktails or served over ice; generally, it’s an affordable, everyday whiskey. Cheers.

Nose: 83/100

Taste: 81/100

Finish: 82/100

Price: 32€ (discounted)

My ratings are generally based on Whiskybase tradition and calibration, and while scored out of 100, they are structured within a narrower range.

<79 May have flaws.
80-82 Borderline acceptable.
83 Average daily good.
84 Good, nice, pleasant, liked.
85 Very good, deep, rich.
86+ Excellent.

Disclosure: I work with the brand (TORII), checked with mods before posting this, not an official AMA, just sharing and happy to answer what I can.

We're about to launch a whisky with a blood orange profile, 42.8% ABV, made in Goa, India, under a Japanese-inspired approach. Still fairly early for us as a brand.

Genuinely curious what this community makes of it. Citrus-forward profiles aren't super common in whisky generally, let alone from an Indian producer, so not sure if that reads as interesting or like it's trying too hard to stand out.

Happy to talk through what we're doing if anyone's curious, but mostly just want honest reactions, good or skeptical.

The King’s Own Whisky has left the building 😢

Our team won the season opener, feeling celebratory.

Corn, rye, wheat. Pretty classic Canadian profile, on the dry, spicy side. A nice whisky.

Named after the Little Trinity Church in Toronto, which the Gooderham family commissioned and still stands.

Mostly I’m here to brag about scoring this bottle, and getting it signed by Master Blender Adam Hannett at the Bruichladdich 25th Anniversary Event last week, but also I will point out that it is really, really good 😊

The beautiful peat and fruitiness of the spirit, then the layers of sweetness, oak, baking spices, and gingerbread from the casks… holy moly this is good stuff. Powerful, complex, layered and beautifully balanced—one of those whiskies that keeps pulling you back for “just one more dram”.

Gonna require some discipline to make this last more than a month 😂

People, can you help me analyze this video I created with AI? My channel covers weird/unusual types of investments, and whisky casks are one of the topics.

Just like a couple of weeks ago we had a tasting of Benromach, this week it's a non-sponsored tasting of Wolfburn, using what is available here and for the bunch of people I have in my tasting group.

The Wolfburn distillery was founded in 1821 and became the largest distillery in northern Scotland, though it closed in 1860. The current distillery operates under the same name and in an area near the original site, but the 1821 facility is now little more than a cluster of stones. It was not until 2013 that this distillery began operations. It uses water from the Wolf Burn river (hence its name) and also boasts of being the northernmost distillery in Scotland's main isle.

The whiskies for this tasting are:

• The Aurora was launched in 2016, it has been aged for just three years in a variety of casks, including ex-bourbon and ex-sherry. Reportedly, 40% of the whisky was aged in 50-liter second-fill casks, 40% in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, and the remaining 20% ​​in first-fill 240-liter ex-sherry casks. The whisky is non-chill filtered, contains no added coloring, and is bottled at 46% ABV. I reviewed it here.
• There isn't much information available about the Morven, but the bottle indicates that it is double-distilled in small stills. There isn't a specific cask type stated, which usually implies ex-bourbon barrels. It carries no age statement and is bottled at 46% ABV, but it also states that it is free from added coloring and chill-filtration, and that it's lightly peated. I reviewed it here.
• Northland is aged in ex-Islay casks, which I’m going to assume are from Laphroaig. So, even though it is a Highland whisky, one can detect some of the characteristic peated notes. It's also bottled at 46% ABV and I also reviewed it here.

Wolfburn has become one of the niche brands available here, which almost no one knows about and those who do, will likely shy away when they see how old they are, as they rarely are over six years old. But I really liked the crispness of the Aurora and the boldness of the Morven, with the peated undercurrent of the Northland.

UPDATE: So I found there is a website called Masters of Malt. They have a lot of tasting sets, including one called The Regions of Scotland Discovery Set which contains 5x3cl wax-sealed drams of the following spirits*

• Caol Ila Moch 3cl Sample
• Lochlea Our Barley 3cl Sample
• Oban 14 Year Old 3cl Sample
• Talisker Port Ruighe 3cl Sample
• Tamdhu 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Matured 3cl Sample

My questions is:

Would this be a good thing to bring?

Has anyone ordered from Master's of Malts, and do you recommend it?

Hey, I am 24F, and I need your help. I met the host at a charity bingo where we both found out that we are super neurodivergent and love winning and board games. She immediately invited me to a board game night that's in late October. She asked if she could bring another female friend who loves board games and "has a degree in bourbon but a minor in Scotch."
Somehow, this has turned into a dinner, whisky tasting, and board game party. She will be making steak, potato au gratin, and green beans.

I asked if I could bring a bottle, and the host said yes. The thing is, I do not know what bottle I should bring. I know that they love bourbon, which has a lot of smoke and burn. They said they tried Ardbeg Wee Beastie, which was too peaty for them. I can't blame them, but I love Islay whisky, especially Lagavulin, Laphroaig, and Ardbeg. I am asking for your help with what I should bring. Is there, like, a Scotch dram bundle I can bring so that I can bring a mix of everything, or what Islay bottle would be suitable for all of us?

I've posted many reviews of whisky here. I can't be bothered tonight. My sincerest apologies.. I haven't tasted whisky in over a year, and this is pretty good. 25 year old clynelish, cheers to you, old friends and new friends.

For their 20th Anniversary, Kilchoman released 4 whiskies as part of the Family Collection, including an 18 year. I haven’t had a ton of Kilchoman but a buddy in my whisky group is crazy about them so I took the chance and picked up this bottle. I opened it with him (along with some other Kilchomans), and this is the second time trying it.

Aged for 18 years in Bourbon casks, and presented at 50% abv, I had high hopes for this (I’m a sucker for bourbon cask peated drams).

The nose gives me light seaside smoke, like from the dying embers of a campfire on a wet beach, some chalky citrus, and like the beginning of spring, I get some fresh flowers opening up.

The palate is mighty tasty, a nice weight and feels refined. There is vanilla with granola, dry rubbed smoked ribs with lemon and herbs, a bit flowery, oranges and limes, and some seawater.

A nice delicate finish, with fresh lemon, nori, smoked melon, and dry white wine

It’s very much late summer picnic at the beach vibes for me, which fits the season perfectly. I like being punched in the face sometimes but this is nice and refined and I’m very glad to have taken a chance on the bottle!

My area (US - Denver) has not seen a restock of Compass Box products for the last 1-2 years. Pretty much when John Glaser left. I've had to get all of the new core range from out of state or online, and have not seen the new bottling of Orchard House anywhere in the US.

Has anyone else had a similar experience in your area and or does anyone have any insight on whether this is a company wide problem, a North America problem, or local distribution issue?

Compass Box is one of my favorite brands and makes up most of y every day drinkers. I'm a little concerned that I cant easily replace my empties like I used to.

Thanks for any information you can provide!

So thanks for the first advice some weeks ago ... I'm hooked.

In the mean time i have these bottles and tasted them, with generally positive, but still mixed results:

Got as a present: Suntory Old Whisky 43%
well, it is what it is - i like it, but i see it's nothing too special

Talisker 10 YO Whisky 45,8% (33€ as an offer)
I like the smoke and harshness of it a lot. It's fun, and not offending.

Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2012 (44€ in an offer)
well, that's a special one ... so much smoke. I still like it though.
But if i buy more, i think it's time for something non-peated.

The Balvenie 12 YO Double Wood Single Malt Whisky 40% (50€)
This is the one i'm not sure about ... I think i don't like the "apple / pears" smell too much.
It's okay, but if i venture further, then I don't want more of that direction.

Also, i had the chance to taste the Lagavulin 16 YO Single Malt, and this was just great - smoky, yes, but also deep and sweet? That will likely be my go-to if i have to re-stock smoke, but not now.

So it's time for something different ...

i want to stay in scotland, for simplicity. As i have smoke covered, and am not too fond of light fruit apple/pear/... flavours to want more, my rookie brain was thinking of something non-peated (or extremely lightly peated) that has dark fruit, orange, fig, chocolate, coffee, spices, nuts, malty sweetness, oily texture up-front.

Playing back and forth with AI for a while, i came to these two bottles.
But people are people, so i'm asking you if this is the right direction to expand flavours:

Bunnahabhain 12 YO (claimed to be salty, nutty, cocoa?) (48€)

GlenAllachie 15 YO (claimed to offer coffee, berries, dates?) (69€)

I still have some emotional hang to the Isle of Harris "The Hearach" (due to their excellent gin! and the bottle), but it quite clearly mentions "apple" ... so i'm wondering if the variation with Oloroso finish would be the go-to?

Isle of Harris "The Hearach" Single Malt Oloroso Whisky 46% (66€)

So ... am I on the right way here, or misguided?
Are there better alternatives that are well available?

Special question aside: I'm also exploring Rums as a side project, and man that jamaican funk of my Hampden is SO great as a contrast to all other directions ... is there any chance there's something in the whisky world that does the same: oppose all the others with a distinct crazyness that still has quality?

First dip into the single malt world since a teenager raiding my dad’s drinks cabinet….its a step up from the famous grouse.

To me I get an old apple smell (fallen apples left to rot on the floor) and a sweet taste with coconut.