Bonailie

Nose: Quite sweet. It suggests a floral honey and a sugary consistency reminiscent of old fudge that’s begun to crystallize like brown sugar. The underlying malt has a damp cereal quality that borders on an unpleasant vegetal note. Palate: A touch thin but also slightly smooth. The taste is primarily a sweet, diluted apple juice. Hints of coconut lean towards very sweet vanilla, and a generic tea biscuit represents the malt. A subtle hint of spice notes. Finish: Brief. A light apple-biscuit with candied ginger that fades to a slightly grainy mouthfeel. The nose is straightforward, not necessarily in a negative way. The direct sweetness allows a pleasant floral hint to emerge, though it doesn’t entirely compensate for the nearly off-putting vegetal undertone from the malt. The palate and finish lack complexity, but that’s acceptable for a shelf staple at its price. I’m not a big fan of overly sweet malts lacking other dimensions, but this is perfectly acceptable. It has no harshness and only minor criticism from the nose. For its cost, I’d prefer it to JW Red label, but would opt for Monkeys Shoulder, which provides a bit more savory depth. Many thanks to the generous spirit who shared this dram. [Shown with a piece of chalk from the Yorkshire coast of England. The white cliffs where this rock originates are from the Cretaceous period and signify a former shallow, tropical inland sea, formed by the gradual buildup of tiny calcite plates (coccoliths) from microorganisms called coccolithophores.]

The aroma presents sweet malt, caramel, and butterscotch. The taste begins sweet with notes of red apples, barley sugar, malt, and cereal. It's a simple flavor profile but very pleasant and incredibly easy to consume. The texture is good and has a pleasing creaminess. The conclusion is medium/short. Floral/fruity and sweet flavors trail into a tiny bit of ginger syrup and a faint hint of ash. This is a blended malt created by Bladnoch distillery. The component malts are not disclosed but I would guess there is some Bladnoch present and perhaps also something from the recently established Glasgow Distillery. There’s also something about the character that reminds me of Johnnie Walker, so it would not be surprising if there is some base malt in here sourced from a Diageo workhorse distillery like Blair Athol, Benrinnes, or Dailuaine. Hmm, maybe it's Cardhu – that would certainly align with other sweet malts. This is clearly intended to compete with Naked Grouse and Monkey Shoulder, and to be honest I believe it is the best of the three. However, some might find it excessively sweet and prefer the more neutral maltiness of Monkey Shoulder – that's understandable. Perfectly adequate as a daily drinker or in mixed beverages. It can handle ice without losing too much character and it’s mild enough to enjoy as a morning dram (though I prefer a smoky scotch with my morning black coffee). At its price point it offers good value, and is a recommended purchase in its category. I'm surprised this is the first review for it here as it has been available for a few months – perhaps it is not distributed in North America? “Above Average”: 80/100 (3 stars)