Glen Ness 12 Year Highland Single Malt

As a store brand, I didn't have high hopes for this, especially considering the high price for a small bottle. The only positive was that it's a single malt, which made me wonder about its potential. Nose: I detected cereal, but there were also some unpleasant notes. It had a mix of vegetal, industrial, and artificial sweetener characteristics, suggesting it's young and that too many heads and tails were included in the distillation. Palate: Indeed, it's young, likely under three years old. The vegetal notes are present, but the cereal is more prominent. The main issue is an excessive amount of heads, which shouldn't be present in such a young spirit. It has a strong industrial taste and feels like paint stripper on the tongue, similar to another spirit, but with a less oily texture. Compared to that other spirit, this one has some appealing cereal notes, and while it still contains too many heads and tails, it's less pronounced. The cereal and industrial flavors compete, with the industrial usually dominating. Hints of vegetal notes appear occasionally, bringing out subtle caramel and malt, but they are never the main flavor. Sadly, these are the only flavors present. It lacks complexity, generally tastes bad, and is physically uncomfortable to drink. Finish: The paint stripper sensation lingers, but the finish is primarily cereal-flavored, which is an improvement over the palate. If the entire drink tasted like the finish, it would still be a bad whisky. Another spirit has more off notes but also pleasant hints of cinnamon and is much smoother. Drinking that other spirit, I'd be confident my tongue would be fine the next day; with this, I'm uncertain. I can imagine improving that other spirit with some wood chips, but this one seems beyond help. However, it's better than another specific whisky by a few points. I should probably lower my rating for that other whisky. This is harsher than a particular clan's whisky, but not as harsh as that other specific whisky. Honestly, this is one of the worst scotches I've encountered by a significant margin. Even that other spirit is considerably better. I can't see giving this more than a 5, perhaps a 6 at most. It's really a 3 to 4, settling on 4 because the cereal component is acceptable, but the abundance of rubber and industrial flavors means the finish is its saving grace. For the price, you could get a bottle of [Brand Name] 12 or [Brand Name] Majesty Sauternes for less, or even two bottles of [Other Brand]. Actually, maybe avoid that last option, as that spirit is still quite unpleasant. If you only have that amount to spend, consider a bourbon, gin, or rum instead.

Aroma: sweet honey, ripe pear, toasted grains, blossoms, a whisper of sulfur, with a gentle ethanol sting. Palate: pear, grain, tart apple, dried grass, a hint of savory meat, alongside sharp floral and herbal notes. The alcohol hits moderately, leading to a quick, crisp finish of dry grass and immature grain. This drink resembles inexpensive blended scotch, though not as pleasant. It's clearly quite young, with the vibrant grain character dominating. The most off-putting aspect is the meaty, sulfuric undertone throughout. The only positive is how quickly it concludes. Thankfully, that savory note doesn't stick around.

This is close to the worst possible. Straight, it's nearly flavorless initially, followed by a blast of scorched plastic and stale caramel. Adding ice only deteriorates the spirit, transforming the near absence of taste into a harsh astringency fit only for self-flagellation. Yes, it's inexpensive, but you can find more enjoyable bottles at the same price point.

Appearance: Yellow-amber liquid with lingering legs. Aroma: No alcohol sting. Abundant vanilla and toasted oak, with a little black pepper. Not very intricate. Taste: A slightly grainy sweetness with vanilla. The burn is more noticeable in the taste than the aroma, but still mild. Very one-dimensional. Conclusion: A disappointing experience.

It's considerably better on the second tasting. Opting for the full bottle proved wiser than the mini. While grain notes still dominate (strangely evoking corn), the alcohol burn is reduced and the aroma is more agreeable this time.

The nose is quite faint, offering hints of bread, oak, mint, citrus peel, and vanilla. The flavor is minimal, leaning towards bready with touches of vanilla and honey. It's not offensive, but certainly not impressive. I'm relieved I only purchased the 50ml sample.