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    Reviews by: ChadDavis

    Tullamore Dew The Legendary Irish Whiskey

    Tullamore Dew The Legendary Irish Whiskey Jan 24th 2012

    80
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Whisky Amber
    Nose
    Citrus and caramel.
    Body
    Moderately viscous. Grainy smooth mouthfeel.
    Palate
    Fusel oils, salted nuts and a dull orange note
    Finish
    Short finish, a little warm, dominated by buttery overtone.

    This is a better than expected Irish. The price point had me expecting harshness, but it is grainy smooth. There doesn't seem to be much malt content. Pleasant to drink and easy on the wallet.

    Bushmills Black Bush

    Bushmills Black Bush Jan 24th 2012

    81
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Bronze - Amber, looks like whisky.
    Nose
    Chocolate, butter, mild phenol or fusel oil nose.
    Body
    It did feel a bit thick and oily.
    Palate
    Smooth buttery overlays a rambunctious revel of iodine, salt and chocolate.
    Finish
    A bit bitter, but the oaky smoothness hides this. Mild fruit finish, like dates or raisins.

    Very drinkable Irish blend. The grain content makes it buttery smooth, like a bourbon. I took it neat in a snifter at Durty Nellies Irish Pub with the officers of the 94th. If I am going to drink a blend, I would rather drink Teachers, but this whisky is good in its own right. It doesn't need ice or a mixer. Colin and Saul were hard on this one, but give it a try. You may take too it. I do agree that it's a little troubling to the stomach, but only for a minute.

    Bushmills Malt 10 Year Old

    Bushmills Malt 10 Year Old Jan 24th 2012

    86
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber, looks like Whisky.
    Nose
    Fruit, especially lemons. Vanilla, sugary sweetness. Ginger Absolutely no smoke or peat whatever.
    Body
    About what you would expect. It's not so old as to be syrupy.
    Palate
    Lovely on the tongue, like a kiss with a lemon drop in your mouth. It avoids the bitterness and burn of say Jameson. For being a single malt, it's surprisingly smooth. Almost as if it had son grain content. But, of course that's impossible.
    Finish
    Mild finish, easy easy drinking.

    Fantastic Whisky. Mellow and smooth. This is a light Irish that is refined and well aged. Id have to have a glass of the 21 year right beside it to see if it is any better. But why bother? This Whisky is wonderful at just 10 years.

    Knob Creek

    Knob Creek Jan 18th 2012

    80
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber + 1. A nice bourbon color
    Nose
    Pears and brown sugar
    Body
    Thick and well aged, but not leggy.
    Palate
    Butter, salt water taffy, brown sugar. Citrus peel, the white, bitter part.
    Finish
    Nice burny-burn. Decently flavored. The finish is hot, but short lived.

    Medium sweet Bourbon. Nice burn at 100 proof. This is what American Whiskey should be like. It isn't as smooth as the Woodford or as flavorful as the W L Weller Special Reserve, not to mention that it costs more.

    Teacher's HIghland Cream

    Teacher's HIghland Cream Jan 16th 2012

    86
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber -1. It doesnt look like it could be artificially colored, unless it was very pale from the cask.
    Nose
    Vanilla, Lemon peel, peat smoke, butter. 30/33
    Body
    Medium thin, Astringent mouthfeel, thin, fast running legs.
    Palate
    Butter, peat, lemon rind, mildly bitter, Honey, hard candy. 30/33
    Finish
    Short finish. Honeyed earth, mild burn, peaty aftertaste. It leaves teh mouth a bit acidic and bitter, but its not bad. 26/30

    I have a hard time believing this can be this good and be a blend, and for only $22 US for a 750ml bottle. I took it neat in a Glencairn. Its delicious, and smooth. It's far better than the Chivas Regal 18, and the Johnny Walker Gold 18. It's easily as tasty as teh Balvenie Double wood 12. And this is a Blend aged 36 months. 3 years old, and barely old enough to be called Scotch. Smooth and full flavored, this dram has a bit of complexity and lots of taste. no complaints.

    Highland Park 12 Years Old

    Highland Park 12 Years Old Jan 15th 2012

    89
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber, probably colored with caramel.
    Nose
    Honey, peat smoke, dried grass, herbal, oranges. 29/33
    Body
    Medium thick Scotchy mouthfeel. Very Nice.
    Palate
    Much like the nose. Grassy bitterness and honey-citrus sweetness. This has a mild and integrated peat smoke. It's a bit like Johnny Walker Gold 18 year old, but even smoother. Just lovely. 30/33
    Finish
    The finish isn't too long. This is a super smooth Whisky. The longer it's in the glass, the less prominent the peat becomes. Take you time and enjoy this one. 30/33

    A very well-made Whisky. It's smooth and complex with lots of flavors. It's a mysterious malt; the flavor profile changes. It is sometimes mildly peaty and sometimes bitter-sweet. There is a lot going on with this one. The price was $60.00 US. I'm glad I bought a bottle.

    J & B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky

    J & B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky Jan 10th 2012

    70
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    amber -2
    Nose
    Ginger ale , honey very sweet, wax, lemonheads 28/33
    Body
    Medium viscosity,slow running sticky-looking legs. Thin mouthfeel.
    Palate
    Citrus, then smokey but mild peatiness. Alcohol taste is prominent. 22/33
    Finish
    Mostly a mild burn of alcohol, this stuff is young, not a hint of smoothness. Mild smokiness is in the back. 20/33 not bad for a cheap blend .

    I am surprised at this little guy. The names of lots of Brit Royalty doesnt mean much; it's a cheap whisky, but I like it. That's the surprise. I took it neat in a Glencairn. Lovely nose that belies the less refined palate and sorry finish. Drink it if your only other choice is Jack.

    Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Years Old

    Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Years Old Jan 8th 2012

    82
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber -1, "Gold"
    Nose
    Neat: Peaches, Ice Cream, Cinnamon and Peat Smoke. Watered: peaty fruit, antiseptic and mouthwash. 27/33
    Body
    Viscous. Great legs, think and slow running. Feels think in the mouth.
    Palate
    Neat: Peaches and Peat, Sweetness and Smoke. Watered: Mild pepper, too weak. The palate suffers too much with the addition of water. 27/33
    Finish
    Neat: Smokey Finish, very smooth. I think there may be some whisky's older that 18 years in this. Cotton, buttery aftertaste. Watered: Wear Smoke, water hurt this whisky. 28/33

    This whicky drowns very easily The water, even a little bit, ruins it. When this whisky is first poured, it's peaty, both in the nose and the palate. After 15 minutes, it mellow a lot and becomes a nicely balanced whisky.

    The Glenlivet 12 Years Old

    The Glenlivet 12 Years Old Jan 8th 2012

    82
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber -1. Gold/Straw.
    Nose
    Tangerines, Cotton, Ginger, Salmon
    Body
    Medium thickness. Nice leggy whisky. Smooth mouthfeel.
    Palate
    Honey, Sweet Tea, Shell fish, sherry.
    Finish
    Acrid, medium burn or a young whisky, apples and cinnamon. Not particularly complex.

    Decent 12 year. Nothing remarkable. A bit harsh in the finish, but otherwise very palatable. I'll drink this at restaurants, but I won't be buying it. At 40% ABV, it's too weak to water. I took it neat in a snifter. Added a bit of water as I got through it. For the money, get the Glenfiddich.

    The Macallan 18 Years Old

    The Macallan 18 Years Old Jan 6th 2012

    89
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber + 1
    Nose
    Neat: Maple, lemons/tangerines, cinnamon, vanilla. Watered: Smoky Vanilla, Sherry, Gerwurstraminer, Maple. 31/33
    Body
    Medium Viscosity, Sparse slow-forming legs.
    Palate
    Neat: Oranges, chocolate, smoke, a bit acrid in the mouth. Watered: Smokey Oranges, toast 30/33
    Finish
    Neat: Vanilla, Pepper, very mild burn. Easy to drink. It has a Quite pleasant fruity/sherry profile. Watered. Spicy, Smokey, almost bitter, lemon rind, earthiness. 28/30

    Drink this neat. I took it neat in a scotch glass. Water degrades this whisky, especially in the finish, some of the layers of complexity are lost. Water does bring out a smokeir presence especially in the nose, but this is not worth the loss in flavor. A Marvelous Whisky, but expensive. Expect to pay between $135 and $160 USD, in 2012.

    The Macallan 12 Years Old

    The Macallan 12 Years Old Jan 3rd 2012

    89
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber + 1. Darker than JW black.
    Nose
    Delightful and sweet. Honey, mustard, lemon. Speyside Baby! 31
    Body
    Slightly thinner than average. Lots of quickly formed legs.
    Palate
    Mint, oranges, rice crispies, mild smokiness. 30
    Finish
    Peppery vanilla, citrus, sherry. 28.
    Jameson

    Jameson Jan 3rd 2012

    79
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber -1
    Nose
    Pie crust, mild Citrus, Vanilla 29/33
    Body
    Medium bodied. Not leggy.
    Palate
    Astringent, lemon, white pepper. Not as sweet as the nose predicted. Salt, definitely a grain whisky, allspice. Not altogether great. It needs some character. 22/30
    Finish
    Sweet, but a bit bitter and a bit harsh. Not bad for Irish at this age. I prefer this to the white labeled Bushmills. The presence of the grains give this an almost bourbon finish. This is really tasty after the initial 2 or 3 sips. 28/20

    I used to drink this in clubs, back when I was drowning it in Guinness and Bailey's (that's an Irish Car Bomb). Now tasting in is a brand new experience. It brings ouit the Irish in me. Thats for sure. I liked it, except that the palate is lame. all of teh enjoyment is in the nose and the finish. That's why its great for shots, I suppose. Don't get down on this Whisky. It very good for its age and the price. !!WHAT er youu lookin' at Pretty Boy??!

    Chivas Regal 18 Year Old

    Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Jan 3rd 2012

    72
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Blended Scotch Amber.
    Nose
    Apples, Cotton, cloves, smoke. Get out the rolling pin!! 30/33
    Body
    Medium thick. The legs appeared quickly, and I am surprised as this is supposed to contain only Whiskies aged at least 18 years.
    Palate
    Apples, the Oranges, and then .. Peat. The peat dominated the brew increasingly as I drank it. It was pleasant, understated Islay, with its edged blended off. Once it was watered, all of teh subtleties were gone and only the peaty water remained 21/30
    Finish
    The finish was fine. It is as smooth as you could want, but had the oily, peaty aftertaste of a cheap peated Scotch. 21/30
    The Macallan Cask Strength

    The Macallan Cask Strength Jan 1st 2012

    80
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber +3 dark brown
    Nose
    Neat: Rich Sherry, figs, dried apricot, chocolate? Not very complex. Watered: Vanilla, apricots, clove/cinnamon 29/33
    Body
    Medium bodied, despite the 60% abv.
    Palate
    Neat: Candied Cherry, dates, burnt caramel, mildly smokey. Fiery in the mouth when neat. Watered: Hot cinnamon, grapefruit, figgy cake, powered sugar 27/33
    Finish
    Neat: Hot hot! burning syrup, cinnamon, fruit. Medium finish. There are some young vibrant whiskys in this, but there is a depth which betrays some aged ones as well. Watered: Still hot. Cinnamon, not much else 24/33
    The Glenlivet 18 Years Old

    The Glenlivet 18 Years Old Dec 30th 2011

    88
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber + 1. Burnished Bronze
    Nose
    Caramel, butter, toffee, nuts, lemon and honey. Tasty huh?
    Body
    Perfect legs, the viscosity is absolutely right.
    Palate
    Strong Sherry profile, lemon, butter and faintly present fish.
    Finish
    Short smooth finish. This is a bit disappointing considering everything else that is great about this whiskey. Nice alcohol balance.

    So, I had a snifter of this very nice Whiskey with Sweet Megan on her Birthday. It was as flavorful as one would expect from a Speyside 18 year old. Not as exquisite as the Macallan of the same age. Nor as dynamic as the Glenlivet's own non-chill filtered, cask strength Nadurra. But this shouldn't be a surprise. This Malt was much more homogenized and the sherry predominated. I am not sure of the price, but if you see it for around $90.00 USD, it is worth the coin.

    Glenfiddich Special Reserve 12 Years Old

    Glenfiddich Special Reserve 12 Years Old Dec 30th 2011

    86
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber, polished copper
    Nose
    Honey, Citrus, Lemon, Tea
    Body
    Thin but clean legs
    Palate
    Warm fruit compote, and cider. Mildly bitter, like unsweetened cocoa.
    Finish
    Feisty medium finish! Smokey Sherry profile, citrus and Maple.

    Take this neat in a snifter or a chardonnay glass. water destroys the richness and diversity in the palate. This is a very drinkable malt, definitely worth my time. This was my first Single malt, all those years ago and it must have made an impression. Its too bad people bad mouth this fine Scotch, it was excellent. I am rating it 6 points above the average rating it currently holds on this site, and deservedly so. Slainte' Va

    Glenmorangie 10 Years Old

    Glenmorangie 10 Years Old Dec 30th 2011

    82
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Amber -2. Sickly straw.
    Nose
    Light Peat, Pine, citrus, after watering a touch it has a thronged fruit nose with the mild peat remaining. Very nice.
    Body
    A little thin, not very leggy.
    Palate
    Cough Syrup, PineSol, pepper. With water, smokey pepper
    Finish
    Short, fruity finish. Very easy with water.
    Bushmills Malt 21 Year Old

    Bushmills Malt 21 Year Old Dec 29th 2011

    87
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    goldish
    Nose
    Honey, plums, sherry
    Body
    Not exceptionally viscous but not thin either. It had legs, but nothing to brag about
    Palate
    Mild fruitiness, smoke and sherry nuances balanced well so as to be a little mysterious
    Finish
    Medium finish with a pleasant burn, a hint of pepper

    I had a glass of this with Sweet Megan and the delightful Vicki at McGuire's Irish Pub in Pensacola, Fl. This is an easy drinking dram that is rich with flavor and depth of character. It is by far the best Irish whisky I have had. It compares nicely with an aged Macallan. There was something of a Sherry profile, but it wasn't dominant. Slightly smokey, and yet lightand drinkable. If you can find it and have the funds, you wont regret buying a bottle

    Oban 14 Year Old

    Oban 14 Year Old Dec 28th 2011

    78
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Gold
    Nose
    Grassy fruit, mostly citrus.
    Body
    Medium Bodied, like a typical diluted Scotch
    Palate
    Spicy and warm, fruity notes, and pleasantly bitter.
    Finish
    Medium finish. Nothing to brag about, but good enough to be happy I had it.

    I had a nice snifter full at the Cheesecake Factory with Sweet Megan. I was surprised by the pleasantness of this Scotch. It was Spicy and only slightly smokey. Its a highland, so there wasn't a hint of peat. This scotch is not as sweet as teh Highly sherried Speysides, but there was a sherry presence nonetheless. I'm not sure what the proofage is, but let's guess 86. It was quite drinkable, but I don't "need" a bottle of my own.

    Laphroaig 10 Year Old

    Laphroaig 10 Year Old Aug 27th 2011

    55
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Yellowish amber
    Nose
    Powerful Peat, more Peat and oil.
    Body
    Think, and leggy.
    Palate
    Peat, Motor Oil, Iodine
    Finish
    Way too long. I wanted the taste out of my mouth.

    This is an OBJECTIONABLE scotch. Whew! It has a Powerful nose, but it isn't at all pleasant. I'm told its an acquired taste. I rather doubt I will ever like this. The Palate is exactly what the overpowering nose promises. It is a foul flavor that stays in teh mouth and sinuses for minutes. I needed food to get the funk out of my senses. Not a fan.

    The Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old

    The Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old Nov 4th 2010

    85
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Light Copper, Honey Color
    Nose
    Mysterious, Cedar, cotton, Orange Rind.
    Body
    Thin to medium Bodied, astringent, decent legs.
    Palate
    Orange Rind, Honey and mild pepper. Very easy to drink and a bit sweet
    Finish
    Short Finish, mild burn, very pleasant, sweet and peppery.

    This is an easy Scotch to drink, great for introducing people to single malts. It has a sherry/Speyside profile that you should expect. It is a delicious whiskey. I took it neat in a snifter. Fruit and flowers, easy to drink. It had little to no burn, it is very smooth like a high end bourbon. Water ruins this scotch. Drink it neat.

    Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15 Years Old

    Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15 Years Old Oct 3rd 2010

    72
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Caramel
    Nose
    Fruit, burnt sugar
    Body
    Great body, thick and balanced. Sexy
    Palate
    Complex fruit and sulphur. Delicate a pleasant to the taste. A little bitter in the mouth.
    Finish
    Hot and peppery. It's too much. Even though this is a 40% ABV scotch, it burns in a harsh and unwelcome way. I love some whiskys that are far stronger but this finish wasn't gentle. Once it is watered a lot more flavors can be enjoyed and the finish smooths out

    My initial impression, especially of the finish, was harsh peppery burn. I took it neat, in a snifter. It was a pleasant nose and great body. I drank half of the glass and was not pleased. It was just not as smooth as I had hoped, especially for a 15 year old. Then, I added about 1/2 a bottle capful of water. This softened the aggressive finish and allowed some nice floral aromas and a pleasing fruit sweetness to emerge. It's a pity the glass was nearly gone before I appreciated the whisky. I was in a restaurant and I didn't like it enough to order a second glass, nor will I buy a bottle. I suspect however, this whisky could be quite good if I add water earlier and stop scowling disdainfully at the glass. So, if you want to convince me that its good, invite me over for a few drams. Until then, I will not be buying Glenfiddich 15. That in itself is a shame, since my first Single Malt (Thanks Dad) was Glenfiddich 12 year. But then, that was so long ago, I can't remember what it tasted like.

    The Macallan Fine Oak 15 Years Old

    The Macallan Fine Oak 15 Years Old Sep 23rd 2010

    82
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Gold, Light Bourbon
    Nose
    Fruitcake, Candy, Astringent, After adding Water = Pancake Syrup.
    Body
    Syrupy, Sharp and Thick. Leggy.
    Palate
    Acidic , Orange Peel, Sugar, Apricot. After adding a small amount of water, sweetness came out. I should have left it neat.
    Finish
    Warm, not particularly interesting

    I finally finished this fine Whiskey off after about a year and a half. It is tremendous malt, which grew on me as I drank it this year. It is not too terribly complex, but it is interesting enough. Sweet and wonderful, this is what Single Malts should taste like.

    The Glenlivet 15 yo French Oak Reserve

    The Glenlivet 15 Yo French Oak Reserve Sep 22nd 2010

    78
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Honey, Gold
    Nose
    Light aroma, orange peel. Even with my hand cupped over the glass, it does not show a strong nose.
    Body
    Warm and smooth. Burns only the very tip of my tongue. Very refined with no harshness to speak of. This is head and shoulders above the bar variety Glenlivet 12.
    Palate
    Nuts, butter, not sweet at all. No hint of fruits or Sherry. Mild smokiness, but I drank it neat. It may need a piece of ice or a splash of cold water.
    Finish
    Not a very long finish. Very easy to drink. Very simple profile, nothing mysterious here.

    I am surprised how tasty this 15 year offering is. I went to the store on a quest for $50.00 single malts to buy for my groomsmen. I was skeptical that it could be done. The salesman called the distributor and then cracked the bottle for me. I was elated that $52.00 actually bought a very smooth and drinkable Scotch. I am happy with the purchase, as are my friends. In fact, I am down to 1/4th of a bottle already. Good for gift giving and everyday comsumption. It is not "the best" Scotch, but it is better than most people will ever drink. Take it from a Scotsman.

    The Glenlivet 16 Year Old Nadurra

    The Glenlivet 16 Year Old Nadurra Sep 22nd 2010

    92
    Reviewer
    ChadDavis
    Color
    Light Copper, Honey Color
    Nose
    Mysterious, Cedar, cotton, Orange Rind.
    Body
    Thin to medium Bodied, astringent, decent legs.
    Palate
    Orange Rind, Honey and mild pepper. Very easy to drink and a bit sweet
    Finish
    Short Finish, mild burn, very pleasant, sweet and peppery.