Lohin McKinnon Single Malt

Nose: Aroma of sweet green apple sauce, apple juice, floral nectar sweetness, light manuka honey, sweet barley sugars and light grain, some fresh fennel and anise, red apple skins, white pepper with some wintergreen mint/menthol, some light toffee and caramel coated oak, red apple/green apple + strawberry and cherry hard candies, light candied lemon and orange peels, a hint of freshly baked Italian and French bread, a touch of buttery green apples, a small touch of sweet tea/sweet old oak casks, hint of white wine (Chardonnay, Cabernet blanc, and Pinot Grigio), some spearmint, a touch of tinned peaches and cream, light underripe Bartlett pear. Palate: Sweet red apples and barley sugars, light mead, honeyed cinnamon infused hot apple cider, apple juice infused with mint, soft white pepper, light oak tannins, a hint of caramel with remnants of fudge sugars. Finish: Tastes of apple yogurt. Light oak tannins, a hint of white pepper, a reminder of honey, tangy peach, a hint of toffee.

Lohin Mckinnon Single Malt, 43% ABV, bottled in Canada by Central City Brewers & Distillers. It's aged in oak/ex-bourbon barrels for 3 years, with natural color. The aroma has light sweetness, fruitiness, and very subtle oak. The taste is grainy/malty with light sweetness, some fruitiness, and a mild finish. It's overpriced; I had higher expectations after a great experience with their chocolate malt variety. Overall, it's a decent whisky and worth trying. Cost: $44.95 plus tax for 750 ml (purchased in California). Grade: C+/B-

Sampled on Dec 9, 2018, at Grain Tasting Bar in Vancouver. Part of a four-whisky flight, 0.75 ounces each. Light in color with good legs. The aroma is very appealing for a three-year-old whisky, showing vanilla, oak, a touch of cocoa, and perhaps a whisper of smoke. It's smooth on the palate, though not quite as captivating as the Collingwood tasted alongside it. A pleasing whisky with natural or nearly natural color, it's a single malt, but potentially overpriced at $60. Tasted again on July 13th, 2019, at Central City pub. Delicious!

Nose: Malt, cereal, wood, and honey. Palate: Light and creamy, with citrus orange oil, wood, and a slight bitterness. Finish: Short, sharp, and spicy, it bursts into the mouth with a buttery richness. Not much more to say; my initial and largely final impression was that this tastes like a slightly more complex Monkey Shoulder. It's enjoyable, and I could probably finish a bottle easily in good company.

Vibrant, young yet substantial drink. The nose is bright fruit, lemon, and cooked butter. The palate coats well but is sharp and has a considerable amount of alcohol. It does have some spice, honeyed lemon, graham cracker, and more fried butter. The finish is brief, drying, with a bit of oak. I'm finding it difficult to score this. The flavors are fantastic, but its youth holds it back.

Plenty of apple juice and delicate florals on the nose. The palate is rich and earthy with malt sweetness, finishing with just a trace of barrel spice and more grassy earthiness. It's clearly young, but truly rather delicious!