Bastille 1789 Blended Whisky

This is a truly surprising whiskey. It starts off fruity, then quickly develops peat and smoke flavors that dominate the drink. It remains distinctly sweet. This beverage is remarkably rich and balanced for its reasonable price. It leans sweet, for sure, but its balance is incredible. I recommend this whiskey over most others because it succeeds in many aspects. Beyond the peat, smoke, and sweetness, there's richness (partly due to the other elements) and a surprising amount of variety. Some fruity notes, like banana, are present but cannot overpower the genuine, representative flavors. This proves that the conventional can be challenged. At its price, this whiskey is an exceptional value. It resembles a sweeter, fruitier Highland Park 18 with slightly less character cohesion. Perhaps an Oban? The mineral notes are quite pronounced. They are accompanied by some fruity sweetness and supported by peaty smoke. However, there isn't sufficient sweetness, and the flavors are not adequately balanced. There's a lot happening here, but the flavors are less than brilliant. There's no harsh alcohol taste causing issues, but the mineral and floral flavors combine with a celery-like vegetal note, making it taste somewhat like Scotch mixed with gin and tequila. I don't adore this whiskey, but it's not bad; it's just confusing. Floral, mineral, and fruit are prominent here. It's sweet but does possess some depth and richness. It's good if you drink gin or tequila beforehand, but compared to nearly any Scotch, it tastes young and poorly conceived despite its balance of Highland Scotch flavors. There are some significant flaws, but for $25, you could find much worse. In the right setting, there's actually a supreme level of balance here, either with sweetness when compared to a rich Scotch or with smoke when compared to a mild gin. What's peculiar about this drink is that when it tastes good, all the flavors are appealing. When it tastes bad, there's just mineral flavor throughout. There is some depth, and there are also some good flavors, but the only confirmed aspect is that in some instances, the overall flavor of this drink is quite good. When the overall flavor is good, this drink is very good.

A potent nose is present, in contrast to a very mild palate. I detect a smoky aroma with orange notes on the nose. The orange scent is quite sweet, similar to candy. It immediately brings scotch to mind. This sensation carries over to the palate. The flavors on the palate are less pronounced. What's on the nose is there, but it's accompanied by some nuttiness and a considerable amount of leather. The flavors subside until the finish, where oak and leather emerge. It has a thin body. It could be described as smooth, with a very low proof. There's nothing inherently bad about it. However, as noted, it's thin. It can be compared to scotch. Not intensely flavorful, but easy to drink. A standard pour. "Middle of the road" would be a fitting description.

I appreciate this French mix of malted barley and wheat whiskies. It resembles a lightly smoked blended Scotch, unlike American bourbon/rye or Canadian whisky. (This isn't to say they're imitating Scotch, just to give you an idea of the profile.) Maturation in various second-fill wine and spirit casks imparts notes of ripe fruits, honey, spice, a hint of smoke, and a distinct cognac character. The finish is moderately long with a slight tartness. It's definitely worth sampling if you can find it. The price is reasonable, but it doesn't seem widely available.

French spirit — who knew? Somewhat sweet, somewhat fruity, somewhat medicinal, a distinctive spirit profile. It's closer to Canadian whisky with a hint of brandy. It's a lighter relative of Sexton, the Irish brandy. It's nice served chilled and shared with companions. Not bad, not outstanding. The fruit flavor does linger. Perhaps mix with a light ginger ale. Pairs well with California rolls.

Quite a distinctive aroma, a woody sweetness that is apparently characteristic of French oak. The palate is slightly less engaging, featuring more of a fruity sweetness with the French oak playing a secondary role. The finish is really pleasant, and sweet but a bit brief. The sweetness of the finish is reminiscent of vanilla cake.

The nose is primarily fruit and sherry. It's very light and sweet, and the taste follows suit. The flavors are acceptable, but if you told me it was sherry blindfolded, I'd believe you. It doesn't taste cheap, which is a plus, but I don't enjoy it at all.