Category: Whisky Review

DRINK REVIEW: AUCHENTOSHAN 12 YEAR OLD WHISKY

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Whisky Tasting Notes

Auchentoshan 12 Year Nose: Not much going on: charred lemons and traces of stem ginger; although, with time comes gentle, charming honeysuckle.

Auchentoshan 12 Year Taste: Yet another 12-Year-Old, 40%, caramel coloured single malt that’s very thin on the palate. Has the tannins of weak tea, and the barley of supermarket’s own brand cereal. It needs plenty of encouragement to open up, but a classy mulberry flavour can be teased out.

Auchentoshan 12 Year Finish: A long and dry finish, but unfortunately not a pleasant one. There’s maltiness, a touch of honey, but not enough to combat the burnt wholemeal toast. With only a handful of active Lowland Distilleries, I wanted to love Auchentoshan 12 Year but didn’t: Glenkinchie 12 Year is the dram for entry level, lowland lovers.

Flavour 3/10    Value 4/10

Buy Auchentoshan 12 Year Here

Auchentoshan 12 Year Old Whisky Review Lowland Scotch Tasting Notes
Awarded Silver Outstanding Scotch Single Malt – Lowland – 2014 – International Wine & Spirit Competition

DRINK REVIEW: BOWMORE 12 YEAR OLD WHISKY

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Whisky Tasting Notes

Bowmore 12 Year Nose: Steaming citrus Lemsip fighting through a blocked up nose – it’s comforting, but not overwhelmingly endearing. There are some floral notes if you search for them, but they’re more potpourri than a fresh bouquet. This idea of caramelised pineapple and tropical fruit as other’s have suggested was completely lost on me.

Bowmore 12 Year Taste: Surprisingly smooth for its age, with a prompt peppery punch. There’s a lot going on here: smoke from burning heather is carried across Gaelic skies and a prescribed honey lozenge you resent taking is prominent.

Bowmore 12 Year Finish: A bone dry finish, leaving a long ashy residue. There are clear traces of Islay’s trademark peat, but this isn’t cut from the same cloth as Caol Ila or Laphroaig – serve to your non-whisky drinking friends, who won’t know the difference.

Flavour 6/10    Value 8/10

Buy Bowmore 12 Year Whisky Here

Bowmore 12 Year Old Whisky Review Islay Tasting Notes
Awarded Silver Outstanding Scotch Single Malt – Islay – 2014 – International Wine & Spirit Competition

DRINK REVIEW: THE ARDMORE LEGACY WHISKY

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Whisky Tasting Notes

The Ardmore Legacy Whisky Nose: Prosciutto straight from the packet, generously sprinkled with rock salt. The smokiness gives way to a mild, but delightful honey aroma – this is such an impressive nose for its price point.

The Ardmore Legacy Whisky Taste: Lots of dry burning heather, the peat is there, but not with a great deal of energy. Retro pear drops make a charming appearance but fall away into something medicinal. This starts off with romance and all the quality of double its price but quickly becomes sadly boring.

The Ardmore Legacy Whisky Finish: There’s a classy, silky mouthfeel that leaves a dry tang that goes and on; my issue is it leaves a rather chemical finish that never ends. For the cost there are too many distinctive flavours to overlook it; however, I’m not in a rush to keep pouring.

Flavour 5/10    Value 9/10

Buy The Ardmore Legacy Whisky Here

The Ardmore Legacy Highland Malt Whisky Review
Released in 2014 to take the place of the ‘Ardmore Traditional’.
The Ardmore Legacy Whisky Review Highland Single Malt Tasting Notes
The Ardmore distillery sits at the highest point of the Northern railway line, 600 feet above sea level.