First three from the advent calendar

[emelbe]

Top Left: Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Doublewood, 17-year

This was the first sample in my whisky advent calendar which I’m not going through advent style, just as 24 surprise whiskies. This is very Balvenie and I am still absolutely a Balvenie girl. I happen to have the a bottle of the 12-year Doublewood so I poured a sip of that to compare as well. It is so, so the 12-year’s big brother: kinder, gentler… buffer. It’s the twelve-year after it got shoulders and holy crap is it good.

Bottom Left: Talisker Port Ruighe Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Oh, WOW.

If you’ve been around a while you know I have a strong preference for the sweeter whiskies. And that this one from Talisker and finished in port casks could really have gone either way for my palate. And I love it. I’m surprised that I love it but I love it. It’s salty and smoky surprisingly so on both counts, based on the nose. It’s weird at first but quickly tempered by the port finish. The are subtle, sweeter notes: chocolate, I think and something fruity that’s not related to the port, more tart. It’s a roller coaster ride but it’s a fun one and so very good.

Right: Nikka Whisky from the Barrel

This smells very much like a bourbon. It’s sweet and toffee and caramel and vanilla and has a nice series of spicy kicks on it going from beginning to and well past the end, each one a little different.