Reviews by: Williamson
talisker 10 year old
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Ambergold
- Nose
- Subtle salt, with a hint of sweetness. Such balance, such grace. Some sawdust and woodchips, barley and honey.
- Body
- Slightly dry, smooth but fierce.
- Palate
- Fierce dryness, seasalt and lemon. Bittersweet and well-balanced, with some smoked fish.
- Finish
- Long and refreshing, a bit sweet. No one was lying about that peppery finish either, what a dram this is.
This is everybody's friend, such character and style. Great balance, appetizing taste, fine finish. One of a kind.
mcclellands islay
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Dark gold
- Nose
- Iodine is the first note that strikes you. Then some oak, chocolate, mildly peated and gentle. Almost like a young Bowmore for that matter.
- Body
- Big and oily. Good temperament.
- Palate
- Sea air, but not so stormy. A bit tangy, which distracts. Citrus, almost sweet chocolate-like (Or will I go for vanilla?). Peaty oak and honey.
- Finish
- Sweeter notes tend to stick around, after a short moment of uprising peat. Still a bit tangy, and that's a shame since the taste is so much better than I read here.
The Bowmore-like nose got me wondering, and I have gotten confirmed that this is indeed a young Bowmore, 5 years old. The Bowmore Legend is 8 years old, which illustrates that magic an additional 3 years can do. Still a good everyday dram, and despite the immaturity this is very illustrative for these characteristics we all like so much.
mcclellands speyside
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Goldish
- Nose
- Fairly lively delivery of tutti-frutti, honey/vanilla and slight oak. Clean and delicate.
- Body
- Smooth, dry.
- Palate
- Dry oak, eau de vie de vin, and some sweeter notes. Straight forward with a good amount of bite.
- Finish
- Above average lentgh. Mostly the dryness sticks though.
Probably the most mature and the most complete of the McClelland's series.
old pulteney 12 year old
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Gold
- Nose
- Some seashore, malt, and flowers. Freshly washed clothes. Great balance.
- Body
- Smooth feel at average weight.
- Palate
- Resembles the nose pretty much. Maltyness lurking under a flowery, fruity palate with the littlest hint of island character.
- Finish
- Mild and long, flowery. Cooling summer breeze at the shore, endlessly. Spot on.
Amazing balance, lovely nose, and such a dream-like finish.
mcclellands highland
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Gold
- Nose
- Sweet, mellow notes of banana, sustained by a subtle potpourri of other ripe fruits.
- Body
- Thick and smooth.
- Palate
- Some oak, still sweet. Slighty sharp, with fruityness and such. Apples and nuts.
- Finish
- Average length, slightly bitter taste. Fortunately, fruits to the rescue.
Good balance, quite enjoyable. And, not to forget, a real bargain.
mcclellands lowland
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Amber
- Nose
- Dry nose, with hints of grassy field, ripe fruits. Smooth, subtle and altering with each sniff. Dry and lively. Great nose.
- Body
- Dry and light.
- Palate
- Hmm, is that brandy? Some pear, some grass. A bit disappointing after a nose like that.
- Finish
- Short and dry.
A lot is in the subtlety, since it doesn't really strike you. A nice smooth dram overall, with good Lowland characteristics.
highland park 12 years old
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Creme de peche
- Nose
- Fresh oranges with a fudgy chocolate feel, and, barely noticeable, subtle smokiness, of which the peat remains absent.
- Body
- A notable mass without too much weightiness.
- Palate
- Complex indeed, I am finding myself trying to follow the story here. Citrus fruits, although a bit on the background, turn ripe and soft, then a hint of vanilla appears, as if to announce a gentle but prominent oakiness, to let the smoke take over and stick around for a while. These all go hand in hand with fine milk chocolate. Magnificent.
- Finish
- One of the longer finishes around. Soothing and still smoky, whilst previous notes gently appear one by one.
Deliciously satisfying, viciously complex. Functions well as a daily dram, as well as it makes a good favorite among other 12 year olds on an in-depth whisky tasting. This one is known for being the greatest all-rounder in the world of whisky, and it's not for nothing. Spectacular.
the dalmore 12 year old
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Copper
- Nose
- Prominent sherry notes, a buttery feel acts as a bridge to a rather complex sea of toffee, vanilla and ripe fruits, topped off with a whiff of cream.
- Body
- Thick, heavy, oily and slippery. Remindings of Auchentoshan Threewood.
- Palate
- A solid whole of sherry, fruits, and butter. Some oak is suggested, though not enough not to keep you guessing. Dry, yet buttery. Smooth, yet complex. Toffee notes and buttery almond.
- Finish
- Contradictive somehow, and somewhat hard to desbrice. Slight but demanding tingling fooling the nerves and laying down after a while. Oak outlasts other notes, in the back of the mouth, whilst the tip of the tongue is left a numb, buttery feel. Minutes afterwards, the littlest hint of nuts & sherry comes forward. Has a bit of a cognac feel to it.
Slightly better than I read here, and surely more interesting than the reviews below would suggest. Quite interesting, and even more enjoyable. A very fine experience.
tullamore dew the legendary irish whiskey
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Gold / Amber
- Nose
- Cream, quickly followed by subtle vanilla notes and hazelnuts.
- Body
- Syrupy, reminding me of certain liqueurs
- Palate
- Chocolate-pie with honey, vanilla again, ripe fruits, plums. One for the sweet-toothed among us. Creamy.
- Finish
- Sticks around for a while, and takes off swiftly. Dry feel.
Notes are so slight. This makes a good session drink though, and it's a real bargain too.
laphroaig quarter cask
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Gold
- Nose
- Oh, how vibrant. Good iodine and oak. Breathe closer and find earth and forest. Water it and find yourself getting lost in some beautiful citrus notes.
- Body
- Stormy, full bodied and weighty.
- Palate
- Big earth, with prominent peat and oak just lurking underneath, supported by the littlest hint of sweet malt. I have always thought of this one as campfire-like.
- Finish
- Ridiculously long, this campfire was built to last. Great peat and smoke with a touch of honey. The earth that comes with is just amazing.
Watered down or not, this is simply amazing. A perfect chord, with perfect balance, unique taste, and an endless finish. Can't be missed.
caol ila 12 year old
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- White port
- Nose
- Penetrating aroma of iodine, hospital, salmon and bacon.
- Body
- Thick, oily.
- Palate
- Salty bacon, medicinal flavors, a hint of flowers and oak. Warm and, in a good way, demanding. Much peat, barbecue and more iodine.
- Finish
- Long finish, passing gently.
This isn't Dostojewski, and it itsn't Stephen King either. This is everyone's friend, a worthy dram to say the least.
glenmorangie 10 years old
- Reviewer
- Williamson
- Color
- Light, shiny gold
- Nose
- A bit of oak, with a hint of ripe fruit and dry grass, fruity. Not too promising, not too overwhelming either. Water added more oak and some sultana.
- Body
- Not the least bit oily or syrupy.
- Palate
- Citrus fruit, some honey and a bit of oak, fades in subtle sweetness. Less fruity than the aromas suggest.
- Finish
- Sweet fruits, sultana. Warm and short, tingles somewhat pleasantly for half a minute. Detected some dry straw in the second finish, maybe a bit of lemon.
A good reminder of why we choose to drink single malt.