Aerstone Sea Cask 10 Year

Review #008 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 40% Comments: 10 years old, cask types not specified Tasted after: first dram Appearance (no score): Tawny color. When swirled, a thick trail clings to the glass, beading up fast, but the legs form slowly. Nose: 16/20 Very sweet, with notes of honey, vanilla, and fresh flowers. Palate: 31/40 Honey, with a bitterness similar to walnuts, and crisp, unripe pear. It's not very complex. Finish: 24/40 Short, primarily briny with dark chocolate. There might be a little caramel, but you have to look closely for it. With Water: A small amount of water significantly enhances the honey and fruit notes, and it also slightly increases the saltiness of the finish, just the right amount. Total: 71/100 Final thoughts: I took a chance on this bottle; it seemed worth the risk for the price. While it's very easy to drink and I don't regret the purchase, it's unfortunately also unremarkable. It's not a bottle I often choose myself, but I frequently serve it to friends who are new to whisky, and they have consistently given very positive feedback. Price: $30 Would recommend: perhaps Would buy: perhaps Scoring Legend: 96-100: Exceptional, divine, a bottle to be savored and preserved, 5 stars. 90-95: Nearly perfect, truly special, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost flawless, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, enjoyable but not mind-blowing, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but flawed, unlikely to repurchase, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, wouldn't go out of my way for it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or discarding, 2.5 stars or less.

Aroma: Softly malty, shortbread, light fruity scents, a slightly tingly sweetness like pineapple. Perhaps a touch of brine, but I didn't sense much of a "sea" influence at all. It's certainly not what I'd call "briny" – in fact, it's more "earthy." It's an honest, light, and well-balanced aroma. Palate: Light, sweet malt right from the first sips. Soft and honey-like (but not syrupy) with a creamy texture. The fruity notes from the aroma are detected again, and there's just a hint of brine on the palate (but you'll miss it if you blink). A touch of pepper dances around the experience. Finish: Short. Rather unremarkable, really – the palate just fades away, but there's nothing unpleasant. Oh! Right at the very end – there's the brine. Pleasant, clean, straightforward, and enjoyable. A decent everyday malt with an age statement and a fair price. This is positioned to compete with blended scotches, and it succeeds in that role. The texture is a bit thin, but there's truly nothing to fault here. Good for casual drinking, a good mixer, easy on the wallet, and recommended for the price. A friend introduced me to the Aerstone Land Cask (the peaty version of this) some time ago, saying it was superior to the Sea Cask, but having now tried both, I must disagree. They are completely equivalent in my opinion, differing only in the presence of smoke in the other expression. The official rating is a bit too high, in my opinion. Tasted at the Sydney Whisky Show, May 15, 2021 (my whisky tasting #6) "Average": 75/100 (2.5 stars)

Rating: 14/23 Nose: Oily, with a worty grain smell and a slight alcohol burn. The scent of scotch heather gradually grows and becomes the main aroma. It's not the most luxurious nose, but it has a pleasant, typical scotch scent. Palate: Worty grain provides some savoriness, but not meatiness or sulfur. There's lemon zest and white pepper. It's slightly oily, which gives it some texture. Because of the light oiliness and peppery spice, I might have guessed this was 43% ABV instead of 40%, though it does have some of the characteristic grainy bitterness of 40% ABV spirits. After several minutes, I'm detecting notes of Dutch apple pie! Finish: Lingering worty grains and heather. Perhaps a touch of oil and just a faint hint of apple pie filling. Not much else is present. Conclusion: This is a decent lower-end scotch. There's nothing particularly impressive here (well, maybe that Dutch apple pie flavor), but it's well-made and easy to drink. I've certainly had many older single malts that were less interesting and flavorful. Regarding the score, I think this is easily a 12, but no more than a 15. I'm likely settling on a 14.

It has a faded orange hue. It shows some legs, but remains every bit a classy lady. It clings to the inside of the glass. The aroma is butterscotch, butter, and coffee creamer: very creamy and soft. A hint of vanilla. Honeysuckle, lemongrass, and salt. Toffee and barley cereal grains; very malt-forward. The first taste is a dollop of liquid coffee creamer, with a squirt of lemon drop. The sweetness of honey and lemongrass. More of that grainy barley. The finish is tannic and slightly metallic. Lavender perfume and floral notes. Minerals and rock salt. It's not a complicated Scotch, but it's quite pleasant and very affordable.

This was a delightful surprise considering I paid $29.00! Some prices go as high as $169! Initially, there isn't much of an aroma, and I was disappointed after the first sip, thinking it was more like a bourbon. However, after a few sips, the complexities revealed themselves to be much finer than any bourbon! There's an earthy quality, a slight hint of moss or freshly cut grass and spring mud that is instantly replaced by caramel, mild oak, sea air, citrus, and a very faint anise! It has some warmth despite only being 80 proof. The aftertaste is mild and it improves with every sip! This is truly a hidden gem and comparable to any $100 bottle out there!

This is excellent for its price! With a 10-year age statement, single malt, and crafted by the distiller himself, it's a great choice if you're seeking something good on a budget. I was fortunate to purchase this alongside another expression and recommend doing the same if possible. Initially, it presents as salty and briny, but after letting it rest for about 10 minutes, sweet honey and vanilla notes become prominent. An easy everyday sipper. Choose this over a budget blend.