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Whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whiskey is typically aged in wooden casks, made of charred white oak.
Whiskey has a long history, with roots in the Irish and Scottish cultures. It was originally created as a way to preserve grain mash, as the alcohol content helped to prevent spoilage. Today, whiskey is enjoyed around the world, both on its own and in cocktails.
There are many different types of whiskey, each with its own distinct flavor profile. Common varieties include bourbon, rye, scotch, and Irish whiskey. Each of these has different requirements in terms of the grain used, the aging process, and the region of production.
Whiskey is often enjoyed neat, over ice, or with a mixer. Popular mixers include soda water, lemonade, or coffee. It can also be used in cocktails, such as the Manhattan or the Old Fashioned.
Whiskey is a complex and versatile spirit that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you’re a fan of straight whiskey or enjoy it in a mixed drink, there’s a whiskey out there for everyone to enjoy.
Silver Medal 2007 San Francisco Spirits Competition. Ardbeg 10 Year Old has deep peat notes, with tobacco and coffee notes. The finish is long and smokey with a sweet malted cereal character. Alcohol 46% by volume.
Walk to the garden section of your local home depot. Specifically by the garden hoses. Now place a campfire there. That is precisely what this whisky smells like. On the palate, It hits you immediately with an incredibly strong peat smoke flavor that will take a little getting used to.
But after swallowing, the intensity will quickly leave and you’ll be left with a mouth full of heavily salty and smokey barbecue. Is this whiskey good? As a fan of barbecue, campfires, and maybe even the garden section of home depot yes! I think this is fantastic! But if none of those are your thing you might want to stay away.
A favorite of bartenders, Old Forester 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky honors the legacy of founder George Garvin Brown, who proudly put his signature on every bottle. Handpicked from select barrels, Old Forester 100 proof is a rich, complex Kentucky bourbon.
It is spicy, robust and bottled at 100 proof to maintain its distinct character and full flavor profile. Old Forester 100 proof bourbon boasts a strong, sweet coffee aroma featuring flavors of sweet fruit and toasted oak with a sweet, light finish.
Try this whisky in mixed drinks, like an Old Fashioned cocktail, mix it with a splash of water, or enjoy it neat in your favorite glass. Please Sip Responsibly.
Government Warning: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
Wild Turkey 101 is a 101 proof (50. 5% alcohol) bourbon that is a marriage of primarily 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old bourbons. Jimmy Russell notes that unlike some of its competitors, “Wild Turkey 101 has an exceptionally gentle and rich aroma for a high-proof bourbon, thanks to quality at all stages of its production.
” At first taste, 101 is rich with vanilla and caramel, with notes of honey, brown sugar, and a hint of tobacco. Its high proof contributes to its bolder flavor. Wild Turkey 101 is the benchmark in bourbon, best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
It’s also excellent in more sophisticated cocktails. You can buy Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Whiskey near you at Friar Tuck.
Government Warning: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
In 2017, Ardberg introduces An Oa – our first new permanent expression in a decade. An Oa brings together the finest casks in a specially designed marrying vat, resulting in a whisky of complex contrasts: all the power and intensity of Ardberg wrapped in an alluring silkiness, at 46.
6% and non chill-filtered. It’s an entirely new Ardberg experience; Smoky. Sweet. Singularly rounded. Rounded and subtly smoky, with creamy toffee, aniseed, treacle and dates. A curious suggestions of juicy fruits – peach and banana.
A smooth, creamy texture leads into a huge syrupy sweetness, with flavors of milk chocolate, treacle toffee, aniseed, orange and smoky tea leaves. Gentle, sweet spices of nutmeg and cinnamon, and soft cigar smoke.
The Old Sherry Oak Whisky spends its 12 years of undisturbed storage in Oloroso sherry casks and is the classic of the Macallan distillery. The casks come from the air-dried wood of Spanish trees, which are then filled with the world-famous sweet wine from Jerez for 18 months before making their way to Scotland.
The distillery spares no effort in this regard and spends a proud budget for the exclusive production of the barrels – which also explains the higher price of the Sherry Oak whiskies. Ultimately, it is the casks that transform Macallan’s “New Make Spirit,” freshly flowing from the distillery over the years, into a single malt that comes up with an aromatic mix of dried fruits, oak, and spices.
Making Macallan whiskies taste the way they should is the work of a six-person whisky mastery team led by Stuart MacPherson and Kirsteen Campbell. Female influences are welcome at The Macallan, as whisky experts Sarah Burgess and Polly Logan are also part of the team.
Government Warning: (1) According to the surgeon general, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
Ardbeg Ten Years Old is revered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest, a most complex single malt of them all. Yet it does not flaunt the peat; rather it gives way to the natural sweetness of the malt to produce a whisky of perfect balance.
Named World Whisky of the Year in 2008. Non-chill-filtered with a strength of 46% ABV.
In the summer of 1886 our founder, William Grant, set out to fulfil a lifelong ambition of creating the best dram in the valley. With the help of his seven sons and two daughters, William built his distillery in a single year.
Their hard work was rewarded on Christmas Day 1887 when the first drop of spirit flowed from the small copper pot stills. William named his distillery Glenfiddich, Gaelic for Valley of the Deer. Over 120 years later, Glenfiddich is one of the few single malt distilleries to remain entirely family owned and our whisky has become the worlds most awarded single malt*, a true reflection of the passion, integrity and innovative spirit that have been passed down through the generations.
Ultimate Beverage Challenge 90 Points. Intense aromas of sweet vanilla sweet, flowers, banana, figs, rich toffee, new leather and oak. Initially soft, then brisk, vibrant and drying, peppery, a touch of smoke, oak, lime, ginger and spices.
Government Warning: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
8. Kilchoman 100% Islay 2020 Single Malt Whisky 750ml
Machir Bay is a vatting of Kilchoman matured in both bourbon and sherry casks. Named after Islay’s most spectacular beach, the high proportion of bourbon barrels create a distinct balance of classic Islay character and fresh floral complexity.
The Sauternes Cask Finish is a vatting of thirty 2012 bourbon barrels married in Sauternes wine casks for five months.
I had just previously made a purchase of Balvenie Caribbean Cask and was very disappointed – not much to it – very subdued and bland – in my opinion. My entry to single-malt was Laphroaig 10, so I turned again to Islay.
After much internal debate and soul searching, it came down to the two available Kilchomans – Sainaig being the other. In the end I went for Machir as a result of the combination of me being in less of a Sherry Cask mood and the $11 price difference between the two N.
A. S. expressions. I couldn’t be happier with my choice. Very nice familiar peat and brine – yet sweeter and younger, but in a good way. Comparing to Laphroaig it has the peat and brine but is sweeter and younger – more zip.
More citrus instead of the Laphroaig seaweed (I love the seaweed. ) For me, this one is on the top shelf just a wee step below Laphroiag which, to me, has more depth and grit. But I put Machir above Ardbeg.
Above PC10. I’ll definitely be giving Sainaig a try next. Or I may revisit Talisker 10. Gave it a go many years ago and wasn’t impressed. But maybe it was me and I’ve improved since then?.
Two tastes above all the nuanced flavors of this masterful whiskey are proportionate sherry and peat. The sherry does not impart a too-sweet taste, and the peat does not overpower the sherry. A very smooth Scotch that provides all the good and delightful qualities of Islay smoke at just the right amount to blend with sherry and bourbon notes.
The immediate impact is the balance between sweet and smoke. This is an enjoyable Islay Scotch that lasts on the palate. It is a dram you would be happy to serve to friends who enjoy an excellent, flavorful scotch.
I have been to Kilchoman and took a quick interest when my wife picked it up. A bit pricey but since I have sampled just about every Islay scotch I decided to take the plunge. The taste is more like the cheapest Bowmore offering that I tried several years ago.
Truly disappointing. I would have been much better off buying a 16 year old Lagavullin or two bottles of Laphroig for the same price or near enough. Either one of those offerings are miles ahead of the Kilchoman scotch.
The twelfth edition of Kilchoman’s 100% Islay whisky, made exclusively using barley grown on Islay, in this case from the 2011, 2012 and 2013 harvests. This barley is then malted, distilled and matured in-house.
This release is a marriage of whisky from 29 bourbon barrels and 6 oloroso sherry butts with a minimum age of 8 years.
Johnnie Walker Black Label Whiskey 1. 75 LiterOVERVIEWJohnnie Walker Black Label is a true icon, recognized as the benchmark for all other deluxe blends. Created using only whiskies aged for a minimum of 12 years from the four corners of Scotland, Johnnie Walker Black Label has an unmistakably smooth, deep character.
An impressive whisky to share on any occasion, whether you’re entertaining at home or on a night out with friends. NOSETake in the luxurious scent of rich and tropical dark fruits with hints of sweet vanilla.
PALATESavor the depth of flavor developed from maturation in oak casks, combined with creamy toffee notes that come from grain whiskies. FINISHThis iconic whisky delivers a smooth and warming smoke finish, characteristic of all Johnnie Walker whiskies.
Have you tried Johnnie Walker Double Black? Based on Johnnie Walker Black Label, it’s an intense combination of flavors best enjoyed with water to unlock its many layers. An impressive blend to share, whatever the occasion.
Government Warning: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
Alcohol by Volume
40.0 %
11. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Blended Scotch Whisky – 750 ml bottle
Knowing that only one in every ten thousand casks makes it into the Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a proof that it truly is an unrivaled masterpiece.
Each bottle of Johnnie Walker is encased in a silk-lined box, and comes with a certificate of authenticity and unique serial number.
Pick up a bottle today of THE most famous premium blend in the world!
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is our rarest blend. This isnt a whisky for beginners. It’s challenging and an acquired taste, but like the finest rewards in life, is worth it. Created from the rarest and most expensive whiskies in the world, Blue Label has the authentic character and flavor of a traditional nineteenth century blend, just like those that John Walker and his son Alexander developed for their most valued customers.
Blue Label is made from a few exceptional whiskies with powerful flavours. Each bottle is precious to us and is individually numbered. Each contains a rare taste and gives an intense experience. Aromas are clean and floral, with light brown sugar and biscuits.
Spicy and rich in the mouth with cinnamon stick, nutmeg and clove, undertones of vanilla custard. Sandy texture is consistent and a pleasant match for all the spice.
The ideal gift! Price and reviews available for Ardbeg 10 Year Uigeadail Mini Gift Box Scotch Whisky – 750ml Bottle. Ardbeg Ten Years Old is revered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest, most complex single malt of them all.
Yet it does not flaunt the peat; rather it gives way to the natural sweetness of the malt to produce a whisky of perfect balance. Named World Whisky of the Year in 2008. A 50 ml bottle of Ardbeg Uigeadail is a special bonus in the box.
Glenmoragnie Signet is made with chocolate malt mixed in with barley to create the mash. Notes of sherry, maple, marmalade, and tobacco are all present. Very complex and smooth.
The Glenmorangie Signet. ahhh. First of all, I generally like Glenmorangie. They are experts at “finishing” creatively, and most of their expressions are not only excellent, they are also priced favorably.
But Signet is on a whole other level, in every respect. After having tasted hundreds of whisk(e)ys over the years, the Signet is in the top two or three in my book. This is one that you have to savor and appreciate for an evening – it is so complex, and almost anything else pales next to it.
It has amazing flavors of orange zest, malt, dark chocolate, dried fruits and spices, all held together by the most amazing coffee-and-light-smokiness, that is unique and captivating, along with an enticing, full oily mouthfeel.
It is indulgent, incredible. If you can afford a bottle, you will not be disappointed – the danger is that you’ll have to pace yourself and resist going back for another bottle. Slainte!.
I purchased a bottle of Signet for a celebration and I must say that this is one of the most delightful whiskeys I’ve ever had. I have long been a fan of Glenmorangie whiskeys and this one tops all of them in how flavorful and complex it is.
Despite being 46% APV it doesn’t have any harshness one might expect. It is absolutely delightful all the way through the finish. It is sweeter than many Scotches but it is perfectly balanced IMHO with a rich and fruity aroma.
The only Scotch I have had that comes close is Talisker Superstition. The presentation is also top-notch. Just opening the heavy bottle and feeling the weight of the cork you know this is going to be something special and it does not disappoint.
This Scotch has won many gold awards and I believe they are well deserved.
I am not a scotch lover overall. I really don’t like anything peaty or smoky. But my husband is a scotch lover, so a few years ago, as a Valentine’s date, I signed up for us to attend a Glenmorangie tasting event at Total Wine.
I learned so much and loved the original 10 year and the Nectar D’or. So then the obsession began. Next purchase was a bottle of 18 year Glenmorangie, which is even better. This Signet is quite different in taste profile from the 18 year, but amazingly smooth and almost sweet like caramel.
Best blended scotch I’ve ever tried. Wish it was less expensive, but can’t have everything.
100% Islay is the purest example of the expression from grain to glass available on the market. All the barley is grown on-site by a local farmer, then malted in small quantities and made into whisky.
Matured first in ex-bourbon casks from a family-run Kentucky cooperage, this Highland single malt from Deanston distillery is finished in new oak barrels adding subtle spice aromas to the zesty character.
The nose has a heady virgin oak note with citrus, barley sugar, apple and nutmeg. The palate has a delightful sweetness, candied fruits and vanilla toffee balanced with heather honey. The finish has a light spice with bursts of honeyed malt and oak.
Really glad I decided to try a bottle of this Highland single malt. It’s quite tasty, a nice level of sweetness and spice. Hints fo vanilla and caramel as you might expect from ex-bourbon barrels, and I detect scents of fruit, cola, and honey.
Some oak on the finish but not too much, just right for my palette. Nice ABV% and a nose to go with it, smooth overall with a nice warmth. Just seems nicely balanced. Non-chill filtered, natural color.
I think the Deanston 12 would be a great choice for anybody looking to get into single malts, or for those that don’t care for smoky, peaty whisky. I’ll be sure to always have a bottle of this on hand.
At this price, I think even an experienced whisky enthusiast would appreciate it as a regular sipper.
Excellent if you like bourbon matured. I’d give it 5 but the finish is a slightly too sweet for my liking. Similar to a Glenmorangie 10 or Ancnoc 12 profile but heavier than either of those and craft presented.
For $10 less and a slightly drier profile I’ll take the Ancnoc over this but do not regret the purchase. It’s a quality whisky with a very interesting palate of stereotypical bourbon driven notes. I think this would likely improve however with mixing in 10-20% sherry cask to round out the heavyness of the sweet malty bourbony finish.
Ok. This is young scotch no doubt about it. But the ABV and the finishing barrels provide an excellent mouth feel with some lingering finish without being too oaky. I really can enjoy the spirit more.
I really like the Deanston 12 but I tend to get more prolonged barrel taste than I would prefer for a 12 year old. The Virgin Oak is the secret sauce. I prefer it to their 12 and for about half the price you can’t go wrong.
Also an excellent choice to introduce your bourbon friends to the wonders of a well-crafted single malt scotch. A steal under $40.
A classic Island dram from the Isle of Skye. Aged for a minimum of 10 years in American oak casks, this welcome member of Diageo’s Classic Malts series has been recognised numerous times for its excellence.
Immensely satisfying stuff, with whiffs of warm peat blending with coastal air, balanced by orchard fruit and juicy barley. A spectacular after dinner dram. It was an Editor’s Choice at Whisky Magazine, a gold medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 and was awarded ‘Best Islands Single Malt’ at the 2017 World Whiskies Awards.
Government Warning: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery and may cause health problems.
Alcohol by Volume
45.8 %
17. Deanston Single Malt Virgin Oak – 750 ml bottle
Heady virgin oak bursting with lemon zest and sweet barley sugar with delicious notes of apple and nutmeg.
A delightful sweetness evoking memories of candied fruits and vanilla toffee balanced with heather honey.
A satisfying light spice with a rewarding burst of honeyed malt and sweet oakiness.
This beautiful malt is first matured in ex-bourbon casks, from a family run cooperage in Kentucky, giving the liquid a wonderful zesty character. It is then finished in new oak barrels, which add subtle spiced aromas to the whisky.
Nose: Heady virgin oak bursting with lemon zest and sweet barley sugar with delicious notes of apple and nutmeg. Palate: A delightful sweetness evoking memories of candied fruits and vanilla toffee balanced with heather honey.
Finish: A satisfying light spice with a rewarding burst of honeyed malt and sweet oakiness.
To be clear, it’s not Total Wine that makes it over priced. But in this kind of bracket I expect something more drinkable than average bourbons, but this scotch fails to deliver any kind of taste that I want to come back to.
Admittedly I’d just finished off an Aberlour 18, and that was superb. Perhaps it’s the comparison, but even the basic Glenkinchie kicks its butt.
Product Description Aberlour 12YO has a big sweet butter hit, with maple syrup, brown sugar, plump raisins, nutmeg, milk chocolate and more of the char from the nose. Brand Description The Aberlour Distillery, estd 1879, lies in the village of aberlour in the heart of Speyside, the country’s premier whisky-making region which is renowned for producing whiskies of subtle depth and elegance.
Aberlour is an historical place and its story stretches back over a thousand years. In the ancient past, a druid community lived in the valley. The druids valued oak trees and water and believed you could hear the water spirits talking to each other.
Aberlour is a Gaelic word meaning ‘mouth of the chattering burn’ (stream). Water and an oak tree still feature today on the Aberlour label. The distillery was built in 1879 by James Fleming, a grain merchant turned distiller, entrepreneur and later-a great philanthropist.
Our expertly crafted new spirit is usually double cask matured for a minimum of 12 years in the finest hand-picked Oloroso Sherry butts, and in American oak barrels. When judged ready for bottling, the whiskies are carefully married to create a truly rich and rewardingly complex range of single malts.
Government Warning: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
Alcohol by Volume
43.0 %
19. Bruichladdich Islay Barley Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 750 ml bottle
The Bruichladdich Islay Barley series celebrates the subtlety of terroir and the distillery’s commitment to our Islay DNA.
Yellow gold, later summer barley.
Enjoy the invitation of an island’s warmth and the sincerity of its people, its history and its future.
Made from barley harvested at Rockside Farm, Islay. The specially selected grain, the slow distillation and carefully considered casks were vital in creating this iconic unpeated single malt.
Very clean tasting scotch. Definite notes of honey, dried apricots and a little vanilla and caramel as you hold it in your mouth. Finish is smooth and clean. Very easy to sip over a long period.
This is now my favorite sip. My cupboard has Bunnahabain, Glenmorangie 18 year old, Glenfiddich, Lafroag. and Macallan. I feel that they will be staying in the cupboard for a while. The smoothness of the islay Barley is something to behold, and if you do not give it a try, you are seriously depriving yourself.
Highland Park 25 Year Old was the first spirit ever to receive a perfect 100 point score at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. Crafted in small batches from a selection of extraordinary casks each hand chosen by Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion, this is a whisky that revels in complexity.
Luscious aromas of dried fruit and acacia honey balance with Highland Parks distinctive heathery peat smoke. Flavors of dark and exotic fruits, warm vanilla, buttery fudge and earthy spice dance across the palate with a tantalizing length and body.
A transcendent whisky befitting its legendary reputation.
The Highland Park 18 is very smooth and was a decent scotch before the price increases of 25%. It has a slight smoke at the mid and back palate with Also medium fruit tones with a slight spice undertone that dance all throughout.
To sum it up. a slight smoke with a brine/hint of salted fruity mouthfeel experience. Worth a try and for the experience. If you like a heavy peat smoke stay away from this one because it is on the entry smoke side.
I do think that when it comes to aged scotch, Highland Park is one of the best to do it. So complex and yet smooth with a combination of fruits and light peat just makes for a wonderful experience. It doesn’t get any better than this but if you don’t want to splurge, the 12 and 18 year are also excellent options.
I have not read the low reviews, nor can compare to previous years. But i have found all of the Highland Park whiskies to be excellent. This is definitely better than the 12, but truthfully they are really close.
I can tell the 18 from the 12 , but the flavor profiles are remarkably similar. The 5-star rating does not include value, which would drop this to a 4. Generally, because of this, I recommend the 12 over the 18 just from a value perspective.
But if you want to and can afford 3x for the 18yr, by all means get it.
Whiskey is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whiskey is typically aged in wooden casks, made of charred white oak.
It has a strong, distinct flavor and is often enjoyed on the rocks (with ice) or neat (without ice).
Whiskey has a long and storied history, dating back hundreds of years. It was first created in Scotland, but soon became popular in Ireland and the United States as well. Today, whiskey is enjoyed all over the world and there are many different types to choose from.
Whether you’re a fan of Scotch, Irish, American, or Japanese whiskey, there’s sure to be a variety that you enjoy. So next time you’re looking for a nice, smooth drink, reach for a glass of whiskey and relax.
