Isle of Skye 12 Year

Aroma: Oak, mild but noticeable peat, chocolate digestive biscuit. Palate: A little thin, peat, developing into sweet berry fruit. Finish: Light pepper, chocolate, Darjeeling tea. Last 16, Match 4: Isle of Skye 12yo versus Ben Bracken Highland Isle of Skye is a blend from Ian Macleods. One might assume from the name that it is solely Talisker malt mixed with grain whisky. However, their website states it includes a high proportion of carefully selected Island and Speyside malts, so Talisker might be included – or not. I didn't detect the characteristic Talisker peppery kick until the finish. Nevertheless, it’s a well-made, consistent blend. In comparison to the supermarket's discount "finest," it wasn't a close contest; Isle of Skye won decisively. Qtr Final, Match 2: Isle of Skye 12yo versus Old Pulteney 12yo In addition to my earlier notes, I detect caramel and tobacco on the nose and a sinus-clearing menthol sensation on the palate. It’s not bad overall, but no match for Old Pulteney 12yo, so it doesn't advance further. Goodbye. My extreme torment as a whisky enthusiast. Faced with numerous samples and miniatures, I can experience analysis paralysis – choosing a dram often takes twice as long as drinking it. I’ve selected sixteen Scotch whiskies aged 12 years or younger, or non-age statement, to compete in a Scotch Deathmatch. This is my motivation to clear out my backlog. Follow along if you're interested (and really, why wouldn't you be?). Oh, the excitement!

The color resembles a warm, autumnal sunset with shades of red and gold. The nose offers limited scents, primarily cinnamon, oak, and a trace of nutmeg. While not unpleasant or harsh, this could be said for most blended whiskies. The initial taste is agreeable, but a peculiar tinny, metallic sharpness emerges, abruptly cutting short any positive flavor development. An artificial cinnamon taste helps mask the metallic notes, but there's an artificial quality, perhaps excessive sweetness, reminiscent of cinnamon imperial candies. The finish is brief and rather harsh for an aged blended whisky. The underlying whiskies in this blend lack refinement, which is the main drawback in my opinion. Better base components would significantly improve it, possibly elevating it to the level of Johnnie Walker Red. There's minimal to no smoke, which offers no redeeming qualities. It might be better suited for mixing with cola or ginger ale to add spice and conceal the metallic harshness. Definitely not ideal for sipping neat. If it's inexpensive, that's its primary appeal – mix it and get a buzz. That seems to be its sole purpose. Moving on...

Sipping this straight was a challenge for me, as it featured a mix of intense rubbing alcohol sting alongside bing cherries, port wine, and a sugary taste. I added more water than usual because of the 43% nail polish remover intensity. The vanilla creaminess appears, and the burn lessens but isn't eliminated. The peat makes an appearance with enough dilution, remaining subtle and enjoyable. ADVISED, with a large ice cube: the smoke finally comes through from behind the heat. The smooth vanilla, lemon drop, toffee, and cherry truly flourish. Some charcoal, tobacco ash, and leather also emerge this way. It certainly has a smoother texture once you tame those harsh notes. A touch of oak. I'll attempt drinking this neat again later, but it won't be simple.

It's quite decent. I managed to acquire it for $32 after some negotiation and a bit of salesmanship from the vendor, which was below market price, leaving me satisfied. The scent presents notes of brown sugar and raisins, alongside vanilla, marshmallows, and hints of wood. The initial taste is sweet, mirroring the aroma. It has a medium body, which is agreeable for a blended spirit, and its oily texture allows the flavor to persist. The finish offers a touch of spice and peat, but there's a minor discordant note that I suspect comes from it being a blend, the $32 price point, or possibly both. However, it doesn't detract from the enjoyment. It might even mellow out as the bottle airs. Ultimately, it won't astound anyone, but it certainly won't displease them. A solid value for the expenditure!

Review transfer from Barreled from March 2016 Unfortunately, this one didn't do it for me. I picked it up spontaneously at the shop. It presents a strong oak aroma, likely European oak given the absence of vanilla or caramel notes common in American oak. However, there's an off-putting metallic scent, and a harsh alcohol presence, possibly from the grain whisky component. A splash of water lessened the intensity. The taste is a definite improvement over the smell. It offers more oak spices and some smoke, but the oak is predominant. The ending is adequate, featuring a pleasant smoky spice with a hint of cinnamon. This blended scotch would be best enjoyed with ice or in a cocktail, not by itself.

The color is amber. The nose begins with gentle peat smoke. Beneath the peat, layers of fruit and vanilla emerge. Finally, malt notes appear. The first sip is creamy, with mild peat smoke and spice, and vanilla and subtle dried fruit in the background. With further sips, milk chocolate notes become noticeable. The finish is brief, with the peat and a little fruit just barely remaining. Overall, it's nothing remarkable, and it certainly could benefit from a longer finish, but for the price, this is a solid value.