(Part 2) Top products from r/Scotch

Introductory Comments: Today I'll be reviewing the heart of the GlenDronach lineup, the Original 12, Revival 15, and Allardice 18. Before I get into it, I'm going to touch briefly on GlenDronach's recent history, namely their brief closure and differences in production before and after the closure. I know that many of the veterans here already know this stuff, but there always seems to be someone who isn't familiar with it when a GlenDronach review is posted, so I figured I would rehash it. After my discussion, I'll review the 18, 15, and 12, with brief comments for each, followed by a summarizing comparison of all three.

An important thing to keep in mind when you look at a bottling of GlenDronach is that the distillery was closed from 1996 until May 2002. This means that depending on the bottling date of the bottle that you get, the whisky may have been matured for significantly longer than the age statement indicates. But for all of the GlenDronach expressions with stated ages, there will come a point where the age statement subtracted from the bottling date falls after the distillery was re-opened in 2002, which means that nominally identical bottles that were bottled before and after this point could differ in the actual age of the matured whisky by up to six years (this Words of Whisky post on the topic includes a nice chart to help you visualize this). In theory, this means that the "pre-mothball" bottlings of the Original 12 and the Revival 15 should be more mature and exhibit a richer, sherried character than the "post-mothball" bottlings.

Of course, the story is a bit more nuanced than that. First, the quality of sherry-seasoned casks is just as important as the maturation time. Even though reviewers consistently rate the pre-mothball Original 12 and Revival 15 higher than the post-mothball versions, it's possible that the older releases also spent time in more active sherry casks, in addition to simply spending more time in sherry casks. We may be seeing evidence of this with the Allardice 18, which despite still containing pre-mothball distillate, has had some less than flattering appraisals for the recent 2018 bottlings: For examples, see this review by /u/playingwithfire and comments by /u/bpnelson7.

The second difference between the pre- and post-mothball bottlings is the distillate itself. Prior to the closure, GlenDronach did their own floor maltings and directly fired their stills, but after the closure, they stopped using their own malting floor and in September 2005 they switched to indirect firing. Although a brand ambassador recently told us in a AMA that the distillery attempts to simulate the effects of direct firing (hat tip to /u/forswearThinPotation for asking this question back then):

> In layman's terms, we have made a mechanism that recreates the "hot spots" that you would have on a still that is directly heated. The whisky is pumped through this machine and then reintroduced into the stills.

The distillery used lightly peated malt prior to the closure, but according to scotchwhisky.com and Charlie MacLean's Whiskypedia, they are still using lightly peated malt. But of course, it's possible that the exact ppm has changed.

When you add all of this up, there's a lot of variables at play and it's hard to make the blanket statement that pre-mothball is guaranteed to be great and post-mothball is guaranteed to be not so great. But when you look at the reviews over the years for the Original 12 and Revival 15, that certainly seems to be the consensus opinion. It will be interesting, and potentially disappointing, to see if the Allardice 18 follows the same trend over the course of the next year.

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GlenDronach Allardice 18 (46% ABV, non-chillfiltered, natural color, aged in Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks, bottled on 2014/06/17)

• Nose: A wonderfully rich, musty, heavily sherried nose, with raisins, cherries, orange citrus, oak, earth, wet leaves, caramel, milk chocolate, brown sugar, and baking spices
  
• Palate: Strong notes of orange, milk chocolate, bitter oak, and nutmeg, with milder dark fruit, clove, earth, and tobacco notes; not the heaviest mouthfeel but the flavors are intense
  
• Finish: More oranges, spices, and bitter oak, with the dark fruit becoming a bit more prominent, giving way to lingering malty and nutty notes; impactful finish with good length
  
  Score: 94/100
  
  Comments: This is a tremendous sherried whisky that shows just how good this style can be when you have active casks and 20+ years for the spirit to spend in them. It's not the most complex whisky, but the aromas and flavors that are here are rich and intense, but at the same time it exhibits a lot of maturity and harmony among its flavors.
  
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  GlenDronach Revival 15 (46% ABV, non-chillfiltered, natural color, aged for 15 years in Oloroso and PX sherry-seasoned casks, bottled on 2018/08/15)
  
  
• Nose: Similar character as the Allardice 18, but not as rich or intense, with notes of orange citrus, raisins, plums, cherries, baking spices, oak, and a bit of green fruit
  
• Palate: Sweeter initially with vanilla and fruit syrup, then notes of dark chocolate, oranges, nutmeg, and clove, and oak; moderate mouthfeel
  
• Finish: Bitter baking spices and oak initially, followed by lingering notes of dark chocolate, nuts, and coffee
  
  Score: 86/100
  
  Comments: This is a really nice sherried whisky that is similar to the Allardice 18 in many of its core traits, but is noticeably less rich and less complex. Those dank earthy notes that the Allardice has are not to be found in the new Revival, and the Revival is a touch sweeter on the palate but more bitter on the finish.
  
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  GlenDronach Original 12 (43% ABV, non-chillfiltered, natural color, aged in Oloroso and PX sherry-seasoned casks, bottled on 2017/11/13)
  
  
• Nose: Oak, vanilla, caramel, raisins, cherries, milk chocolate, and milder citrus, apple, and ethanol
  
• Palate: Sweet and creamy vanilla with some background oak, pepper, nutmeg, and clove; moderate mouthfeel
  
• Finish: Stronger spices and pepper with milder notes of malt, dark fruit, oak, vanilla, citrus, and dark chocolate; moderate length and more spicy than the palate
  
  Score: 81/100
  
  Comments: This is very typical of the modern entry-level sherried whisky: Sweet, creamy, and toffeed, it's very accessible and easy to drink, but the sherry influence is not especially assertive and at this point we have lost almost everything that defined the Allardice 18. I don't think I could identify this as GlenDronach if it was given to me blind.
  
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  Side-by-Side Comments: First, a comment on color. The lighting in my pictures is not the best, but this picture tells the story: The Original and the Revival are almost identical in color, with the Allardice being significantly darker than both of them.
  
  There used to be a time several years ago when the Original 12 was considered one of the best values in sherried scotch, and the Revival 15 was lauded as being as good as any sherried scotch at its price point, and it was not uncommon to see people rating the pre-mothball Revival 15 as highly as the Allardice 18. Those glory days for the 12 and the 15 are over. The 18 is now the bottle of choice from the GlenDronach lineup if you want something exceptionally sherried.
  
  The 18 is intense on both the nose and the palate and has a strong and long-lasting finish, with a profile defined in large part by tannic oak, chocolate, baking spices, oranges, dark fruits, and a musty earthiness that really adds to its overall character. It tilts more towards spicy and bitter than sweet, but not overly so, and there's harmony between all of the flavors and a wonderful level of maturity.
  
  When you step down to the 15, you are still getting most of that core profile, but the richness and intensity is dialed down, and a bit of balance is lost. The influence of the PX casks is noticeable, both on the nose and with a bit more sweetness on the palate. But then the finish is more bitter than the 18, and I'm also not getting the dank earth notes that the 18 had. Stepping down to the 12 is an even more dramatic shift, with the Oloroso influence now taking a backseat to the sweet and creamy notes. I mentioned above that I don't think I could identify this as being GlenDronach if I was given it blind. The first time I tried the 12, it was in a restaurant, and I found it so lacking in sherry influence (both taste and color) that I honestly thought they misheard me and poured me Glenmorangie or something else.
  
  Despite its ever-increasing price, the Allardice 18 remains an exemplary bottling of Oloroso-matured whisky, although whether or not it maintains this level of quality remains to be seen. The new Revival 15 is very nice, and serves as an acceptable alternative if you can't stomach shelling out $150-$200 for the 18, although it's tough to find the Revival on the shelves and even tougher to find it for less than $100. It's hard to recommend it unless you can get it for less than $100. The Original 12 is a perfectly drinkable whisky, but the sherry influence is not especially assertive, and it's usually priced above its age-stated sherry-matured competitors while not being head and shoulders above them. So for that reason, like the Revival 15, it's something I would only tentatively recommend.

I decided to pick up a bottle last week because I was intrigued by the description in Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch. Something about honeyed raisins in the nose, and waves of beeswax and vanilla creme in the palate. The way it was described sounded a lot more intriguing to me than the Quinta Ruban and the Nectar d'Or.

After drinking exclusively Islays for the past month or so, I thought this would be a good venture. So I have spent the past four nights with:

Glenmorangie Lasanta - 46% ABV

Night #1
Goodness gracious this is awful. It tastes and smells like someone just dumped a handle of brandy into a jug of bourbon. I know that it is finished in Oloroso sherry casks, but this seems much more like brandy, and cheap brandy at that, like $6 per 750ml E&J brandy. There were promising hints of oak and fig newtons underneath.

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Night #2
I was saddened by the thought of having to finish an entire bottle of this. But I was pleasantly surprised! Upon the second pour, the sherry/brandy essence had retreated drastically! The oakiness and fig newton essence was more prominent, so I added a drop of water to try to bring it out. But it mainly just drowned the whisky, and everything was very mild and tame overall.

One discovery did bring me a moderate amount of joy: the glass smelled like a chocolate truffle once it was empty!

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Night #3
I was delighted to find that the Lasanta was opening up quite well in the bottle. This time, the sherry was just a dull murmur. I was picking up hints of a very rich bread pudding with raisins and toasted nuts...a chocolate chip scone...

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Night #4
I have a glass sitting out with a cap on it, and I am excited to nose it! Strange to say for a whisky I was dreading so much just a couple days ago. But here we go:

Nose: very strong caramelized pears, blonde brownie with salted carmel and raisins...

Palate: a caramelly gloss on the tip of the tongue, a gentle, sherry wash, mushy oranges, then a spicy pepper bite.

Finish: lingering desserts...bananas foster. something dry and bitter, rather like biting into an aspirin tablet.
again, the empty glass smells distinctly of a chocolate truffle, although that note is nowhere else to be found in the experience.

Overall: 79/100

It was intriguing to track how this whisky developed throughout the week. I would be interested to know how the last dram of the bottle stacks up to the first.

But overall I just don't feel like this expression is executed very well. It is not sweet enough to be a competitive after-dinner whisky. The sherry has no real companion in the mix, it just kind of sits awkwardly on top.

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Episode 1: A Noob Hopes

In a galaxy far, far away

A long time lurker decides to sack up

and provide some horrible reviews

for some good scotch.

On to the review....

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What's being reviewed: Compass Box Peat Monster

In what: Glencairn on steroids. This one actually.Let's forego the rest of the details since you all know it by now.

Pre-drink thoughts: I like Compass Box (tried the Muse at a bar, loved it, bought a bottle 2 weeks later. That's a review for another day). But I'm not sure if I like peat. But the wife does and this is a hobby I'd like to share with her, especially since I plan on spending our money on it - so why not try something she might enjoy as well.

Nose: Smoke. Nasal burn. Light band-aid-y scents.Taste: Faint smoke, kind of like how I would imagine what my shirt would taste like the morning after a bonfire. There's a sweetness to this as well. A hint of something salty I think.

Finish: Might be me, but the finish seems long. It's smokey, It stays with me after the exhale, it lingers...like a memory. (Also that medicinal note is there too)

Rating: * * * *Would I buy again: Yes absolutely

Final Note: This review is being written without notes to reference, as I want to only convey the parts that really stick with me. Plus, I can't discern things like "malty peat", "hammy fruit jam", "wafting fields of baby octopus tentacles", hence the very short descriptors.

================Rating System (stars)

• 1 = nope. never again
  
• 2 = will drink if offered for free
  
• 3 = would not buy a bottle, but would buy at a bar
  
• 4 = must have on hand at home at all times
  
• 5 = cream of my crop. willing to pay premium for a bottle.

If your going this weekend it's of no help but from the research I've done most people seem to agree that stainless steel isn't bad just as long as you pour it into a glass before hand. Drinking from the flask leaves a metallic taste and smell because of your mouth actually touching the flask.

If you are drinking from the flask try a polycarbonate plastic flask like this one the whole bottle is plastic with some steel reenforcement at the top and bottom. Also titanium flasks are a good option except for the price.

So in one of those it should be fine for around a year or so.

I agree, a lot of the time I want something heavier in the hand for relaxing with a dram. These are my go to now :

Taylor'd Milestones Reserve Whiskey Glass - Set of 2 10.5 oz Scotch Glasses. Premium Bourbon Rocks Glass Shaped for Improving Tasting and Aroma of Spirits. Crystal Clear Glassware https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATV2Q5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IzoQBbAYXQ2AB

Some other nice, maybe less known, books that would make good recommendations IMO would be the older Whisky Classified - while I don't necessarily agree with the classification, it's an interesting work/approach although with some flaws and not entirely comprehensive or up to date. I believe Malt Maniac wrote the following abougt it The value of this book lies in figuring out what's wrong.

Another interesting book is The Science and Commerce of Whisky, providing a good and somewhat more in-depth than the popular science approach explanation of aging and distilling.

Great write up. And I agree at least for the ones on your list that I’ve tried. I got a set of these last Christmas and love them. Curious what your opinion would be.


Peugeot Impitoyable Whisky Glass https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014W4YZTQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YS73BbYCJ4TPW

I have the Whiskey Opus. Got it as a gift last year, but it's a really good book with lots of information and beautiful pictures. No reviews or scoring or anything like that though, but it does have some tasting notes, and lots of background info on distilleries all over the world and on whisky itself.

You'll have to start somewhere. I assume there are bars in your town? Are you looking to mix the scotch whiskey?

I would start with Johnnie Walker Black 12yr. It should be affordable, and you can either enjoy it on the rocks or with a splash of ginger ale or Sprite. Other single malt scotch whiskies I would recommend include Glenmorangie, Balvenie, and Aberlour, depending on what your local bars have available. Some people also like Glenfiddich.

It would likely be cheaper to try a few in a bar rather than buying a whole bottle.

Once you try one or two and report back, we can give you additional recommendations. Also realize that scotch whisky is an expensive luxury.

> Just wondering where would be a great website/wiki/book to read and learn about these drinks.

"Tasting Whiskey" by Lew Bryson.

http://www.amazon.com/Tasting-Whiskey-Insiders-Pleasures-Spirits/dp/1612123015/

It was the Johnnie Walker Spice Road. On 30th May I crossed off the Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 y.o. at Barbecoa; before that a fellow redditor hooked me up with a bottle of the Wine Society's Special Blend; on 16th May it was Hakushu 18 and Hibiki 30 at Boisdale of Canary Wharf; 7th May included Talisker 18 at Milroy's of Soho, Chivas Regal 25 at Salt and Jameson 18 Limited Reserve at the Sun Tavern...

I freely confess: my patience ran out a bit and I decided to throw some money (and shoe-leather) at the problem, when I got down within the last ten.

Before the Buxton books, I spent twenty years working my way through the first edition of "The Malt Whisky File" by John Lamond and Robin Tucek - still two to do: my boss is supposed to be bringing me back some Black Ribbon from a trip to attend a wedding in Sweden in August, but I don't think I'll ever get Clydesdale from Wishaw, as they last distilled in 1919!

Oh, and the reason I've been asking for samples of cheap bourbons is Tom Morton's "A Whisky in Monsterville". I liked the idea of 'an interactive whisky thriller', but it hasn't turned out as easy as I'd hoped...

I use my trusty OXO jigger... love those things.

http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Steel-Angled-Measuring-Jigger/dp/B00B6LUAPW/

My wife bought me this one a while back. It seems to have gone up quite a bit in value, she bought it for $12. Front. Back. Maybe someone else has it for a better price.

If you're just getting started on your whiskey adventure, I highly recommend Tasting Whiskey by Lew Bryson.

Im currently reading "Let Me Tell You About Whisky". Loving it.

Hi, this is true. My source is the dude who runs Glenmorangie.

I’m sure as well that it’s mentioned in this book I read at Ardbeg House on Islay : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wort-Worms-Washbacks-Memoirs-Stillhouse/dp/1897784651

Get the 6 set so you can drink with friends!
https://www.amazon.com/Glencairn-Crystal-Whiskey-Glass-Set/dp/B00HZTA9SW/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1474752141&sr=1-1&keywords=Glencairn+6

I got these off Amazon. I don't know how they compare to others price-wise but I haven't broken any in nearly a year, including taking a couple to the cabin

I have just ordered a bottle through Amazon in Germany at 125 €.

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07GSNJ2QR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OM72BbZHRP0JG

Amazon sells an acrylic flask that should work. I don't know anything about the quality of it though.

>Amaretto glass: Downright amazing, they hold an oz to the waist and balance the aroma of something with not giving you a nose full of alcohol, I'd recommend getting some, but I have no idea where to find them.

Libbey 3702.

Use a jigger like this for samples

Link here

This is the only one I own. It's a bit out of date since the author passed away, but I refer to it frequently.

http://www.amazon.com/Whisky-Scotland-Collins-Pictorial-Maps/dp/0007289499
Perhaps this is what you're looking for? I have a map of the distilleries with information about them at home but I can't remember what it's called. I'll take a gander when I'm done at work.

http://www.amazon.com/Collins-Whisky-Scotland-Pictorial-Maps/dp/0007289499/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370870848&sr=8-1&keywords=map+distilleries - just have it framed.

https://www.amazon.fr/Peugeot-266097-Dégustation-Whisky-Rafraichisseur/dp/B014W4YZTQ

Got two of those, but I’m mostly drinking in my Glencairn.

I’m not sure why link isn’t appearing, they are called : Peugeot Impitoyable - Whisky Tasting Set