Reviews by: Dramiel McHinson
ardbeg 10 years old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Pale Gold
- Nose
- Tobacco smoke and the medicinal phenols of peat, some leather, faint hint of honey roasted almonds.
- Body
- Medium to full body, mouth warming.
- Palate
- Smokey-sweet taste of peat smoked malt slips under a peppery spice and charred oak taste. I get a taste of campfire towards the end.
- Finish
- Long lingering spicy notes, a light dry bitter charred oak taste mingles with the smoke.
Right in there with Talisker, Laphroaig and Lagavulin. If you like smokey-peaty you'll love this Ardbeg.
the glenlivet nadurra 16 year old (06 2006)
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Golden Straw
- Nose
- Oatmeal raisin cookie, clay, some nose tickle, a little beeswax and spice
- Body
- Medium body very warm almost hot in the mouth.
- Palate
- Powerful attack on the palate at first sip, peppery. Spicy getting more sweeter with the cask oak there in the background. Very one-dimension and simple.
- Finish
- Hot oaky spice slowly fades. The spice lingers.
Water and a nice rest period tames the 57% ABV a little, opening up the nose more. This isn't a complex or balanced whisky, It's better suited for times when a raw whisky with more kick than flavor is the order of the day.
the glenlivet 18 years old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Amber
- Nose
- Classic Glen Livet nose, lightly aromatic with subtle notes of cereal, raisin and honey suckle
- Body
- I got a light body from this one with a smooth texture and mouth feel.
- Palate
- Starts with a lightly sweet fruit syrup then gets drier with toasted cereal and settles in with the spicey vanilla character of the oak dominating.
- Finish
- medium finish. As the spicey oak fades the sweet fruit syrup comes back to the palate.
Smoother, less astringent than the younger versions. Very likeable
the glenlivet 15 yo french oak reserve
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Dark Straw
- Nose
- Light aromas of toasted cereal, a little fruit syrup and raisins, hint of oak with a floral background
- Body
- medium body, slightly buttery
- Palate
- Starts with a lightly sweet toasted cereal, quickly gets drier as the Limousin oak kicks in with a spicey aromatic crispness.
- Finish
- medium finish with a hint of vanilla and the dry spiciness of the Limousin oak.
The difference in the flavor profile from the limousin oak compared to the usual bourbon oak is very distinct.
the glenlivet 12 years old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Straw
- Nose
- Honey suckle, cereal, a little citrus
- Body
- medium body, a little crisp
- Palate
- lightly sweet cereal start, the malted barley moves in as it gets a little more dry. Some classic oak influence but not too pushy.
- Finish
- finish was medium with a mix of the cereal and oak notes
Not at all bad. The smokey-peaty crowd remains aloof to this otherwise good dram.
glenfiddich special reserve 12 years old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Golden straw
- Nose
- Smooth and sweet with fruit jam on whole wheat biscuit
- Body
- medium body
- Palate
- Starts sweet then warms up with a drier oak note and whole grain bread; a little spice with pepper.
- Finish
- Finsih is medium duration on dry oak with a warm peppery glow
An enjoyable dram; good flavor profile but not too complex.
glenfiddich ancient reserve 18 years old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Amber
- Nose
- Cooked fruit, heather, some wisps of peat and wheat cracker; a little rubbery.
- Body
- Full and creamy
- Palate
- Sweet cooked prunes and honey; gets quickly drier with lightly charred oak and spice with some pepper. Well balanced with good transitions.
- Finish
- Long finish slightly dry oak and toasted cereal with very light wisps of smoke
A good dram, very flavorful with a nice finish.
the balvenie single barrel 15 year old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Dark Straw
- Nose
- Some nose tickle here; earthy nose with contrasting fruit and aged cheeses; some toffee, marzipan and hints of coconut
- Body
- Medium body, warming and outh coating
- Palate
- Strong attack at first sip, peppery and warm, gets smoother with a swirl of flavors dominated by beeswax then warm marzipan and roasted marshmellow
- Finish
- Medium finish thats peppery with drier oak notes, a little sweetness lingers with the wax
I found the cheese notes a little incongruous with the other taste profiles. Overall an interesting dram with a very different palate. Those that like a strong peppery taste will like this one.
royal lochnagar 12
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Amber (caramel color added)
- Nose
- lightly aromatic with oak, coffee and a touch of blackstrap molasses
- Body
- medium body
- Palate
- At first sweet with hints of some molasses getting drier with oak flavors taking front stage
- Finish
- medium finish on dry oak with some peat
Not available in the US. I had to go to Germany to find this one in the local REAL store in Germersheim. Not a bad dram at all and the price was 25 Euro.
oban 14 year old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Golden Straw
- Nose
- malted cereal rides on a bed of semi-sweet fruit and citrus, hints of peat.
- Body
- The body is full, mouth filling and smooth.
- Palate
- On the palate the whisky starts with cooked fruits then gets spicy with strong drier oak notes then some peat. Maybe a wisp of smoke with the peat.
- Finish
- The finish is long with a spicy oak driness, a little salty.
Definitely a good whisky. It has plenty of flavor but doesn't overpower the palate.
glenkinchie 10 years old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Straw
- Nose
- The nose is light and sweet with strong notes of malted barley and hay with a touch of fresh cut grass.
- Body
- The body is light with a fresh crispness.
- Palate
- The palate is first sweet fruits then gets more cereal with a touch of oak.
- Finish
- The finish is medium in length with a dry maltiness and some light spice.
A good dram for those spring days or early summer nights
the balvenie portwood 21 year old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Dark Straw
- Nose
- The nose is first floral like Honey Suckle with a hint of fine oiled leather and cooked fruit. Later there is a soft nutty cereal note with some oak tones.
- Body
- The body is smooth with a medium texture that coats the tongue.
- Palate
- On the palate the whisky is first sweet like cooked fruit with a hint of spice. The portwood is there in full strength taking control and giving the palate a drier oaky taste.
- Finish
- The finish is medium duration first on dry oak getting more nutty like pecan shell as it fades, the last note is a hint of the port wine that rested in the barrel prior to Balvenie taking up residence.
An enjoyable dram with good mix of light fruit and floral tones mixing with the heavier oak and cereal notes. The portwood sweetness is there to keep time with the symphony of flavors.
talisker distiller's edition
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Amber and gold
- Nose
- delicate at first with hints of sherry wine and classic peat
- Body
- medium body with a smooth full flavored taste
- Palate
- Starts on sweet fruit syrup. Mid palate a blast of peat smoked malt comes through with a strong oak foundation; light spice.
- Finish
- Long, smooth and warm. Dry, classic peat and smokey with rich oak notes
A slight departure from the classic Talisker smoke, peat, and black pepper. This expression is special and stands on its own.
talisker 10 year old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Golden in full light
- Nose
- sweet heather, earthy peat, hint of Spring peppermint with sisal rope and lnseed oil; fine leather and wisp of smoke
- Body
- medium body rich in flavor
- Palate
- sweet, warm fruit cobbler and spice, drier on mid palate with peat and oak notes.
- Finish
- Long, smooth and warm; black pepper, spice fading on smoked peat.
This whisky is the courtship; blossoming love and conjugal act followed by a satisfying smoke and sweet dreams.
bowmore 17 year old
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Smokey Amber
- Nose
- Touch of phenol and peat; in the middle sherry oak and late fall white grapes; hint of smoke.
- Body
- medium body, smooth and well balanced.
- Palate
- sweet, smoke and peat, getting drier on mid palate with buttery oak flavors, a touch of the late fall grapes from the nose.
- Finish
- Long, smooth, warm on fruit and smokey toast, slightly dry.
Well balanced for my taste with the flavors distinct and in harmony.
laphroaig 10 year old cask strength
- Reviewer
- Dramiel McHinson
- Color
- Amber gold
- Nose
- Phenols, horehound and honey, wisp of smoke
- Body
- full bodied, rich with intense flavor profile
- Palate
- Intense peat, phenolic. The "Islaydine" ever present; lightly sweet which takes some of the edge off the phenols.
- Finish
- Long, stays bold on the palate; warm and spicey; light sea air.
Surprisingly flavorful and smooth for such a high proof. Doesn't need water but if you must it brings out more of the smoke and maritime nose and flavors.