Glen Marnoch Rum Cask Finish (Aldi)

Nose: Smells of apple juice, cider vinegar, cereal, green hay, and a little vanilla. It's sharp and alcoholic, with no discernible rum presence. [The empty glass has no aroma whatsoever]. Palate: A spicy and sweet initial taste that quickly becomes quite hot as it develops – reminiscent of chili and white pepper rather than ginger, unlike the related whiskies in this collection. The texture is rather thin, and the palate disappears very quickly – you'll miss it if you blink. Finish: Medium to short in length. It has a touch of licorice and a hint of mint. The lingering aftertaste is primarily a slightly sweet, neutral alcohol flavor. This is the third small bottle in the 3-pack of inexpensive Glen Marnoch whiskies I acquired today (refer to the Bourbon Cask Finish and Sherry Cask Finish for details on the others). I found this to be the least impressive of the set by a significant margin. The other two are basic, acceptable young malts suitable for mixing and just good enough for sipping. This one has a rougher, harsher, and much thinner character, and I would only consume it in a long drink with cola and ice. It's not excessively expensive, but superior alternatives are available at this price point. These are very young malts, barely over 3 years old, and they all share the same simple flavor profile – mildly fruity and cereal with a hint of spice. The spirit itself is still very prominent, but with a thin coating of bourbon, sherry, or rum on top (and in the case of the rum variant, it's extremely thin). The sherry cask finish is my preferred option among them. "Inferior": 68/100 (1.75 stars)

The nose has notes of vanilla custard and stewed apple. The palate is rich and fruity with burnt sugar; it's quite intense initially but softens into a long, sweet pineapple cube finish.

Robust rum taste with no redeeming qualities.