Bank Note 5 Year Peated Reserve Scotch Whisky

Flaviar Advent Calendar #3 Nose: Smoke is apparent yet subtle, with hints of spice and nut. Caramel and some cooked fruit are present. The grain whisky is unmistakable. Palate: Initially, a touch of smoke meets a sharp, earthy dryness. There's a faint oak presence. As it settles, gentle vanilla and caramel emerge. The grain whisky is also detectable and slightly biting. A subtle fruitiness surfaces with time. This requires some aeration. One mentioned note was dark chocolate; I don't detect that strongly but understand the perception. Finish: Faint fruitiness, oak tannins, light and brief.

The aroma presents sweet berries and caramel. Imagine a raspberry white chocolate pudding with hints of cinnamon and cloves baked in. The taste is robust and spicy, carrying a subtle medicinal, iodine, character. The finish is smooth and brief, leaving the mouth feeling quite clean. A solid whiskey, exceeding its price category. It's a strong candidate for a regular, everyday pour. I needed to really search for any smoky elements. It's like catching the faintest whiff of a distant barbecue, barely perceptible.

A robust blended Scotch from A.D. Rattray Distillery in Scotland, this beverage marries whiskies from Islay, Speyside, Lowland Grain, and Highland Malt, matured for 5 years in American oak. It greets you with a fragrant opening of smoke, fruit, spice, more smoke, vanilla, toffee, jam, and ginger. Its powerful and intricate journey continues with hints of smoke, apple, dark chocolate, and pepper, culminating in a lengthy and zesty finish showcasing smoke, nuts, and cinnamon (Red Hots). January 2021 / August 2022

It’s more smoke-forward than the first version. It’s not overwhelming, but a cloying sweetness, reminiscent of antifreeze, follows the peat. It's a budget alternative to Black Label. However, I don't dislike it entirely.

Caramel, burnt toffee, fruit, and peppery peat. A truly remarkable and complex blended scotch for its price, significantly surpassing anything I've experienced from Johnnie Walker.

Sharp aroma with hints of peppery spice, exotic fruit, smoke, almond, and decadent caramel. Smoky flavor featuring gentle sweetness, nutty notes, and a mellow, persistent warmth. A moderate finish.