McIVOR Blended Scotch Whiskey 17 Years

Rating: 16/23 To mark a work anniversary, I decided to open this 17-year-old scotch. The occasion sounds promising, much like this dram initially, but I suspect it might be disappointing. Nose: It's surprisingly full-bodied with a strong barrel influence. Hints of apricot and coconut are present, along with a definite dry grain whisky sharpness. Barrel spices like cinnamon and ginger, perhaps a touch of clove, are noticeable. The apricot provides a nectar-like sweetness. There's a peculiar, slightly bitter, funky note that evokes a smoky, vegetal scotch character, mingled with dry grain. While the nose doesn't offer anything novel, it's quite enjoyable. I'm pleasantly surprised. Palate: Sweet and subtle. It drinks stronger than its stated proof. There might be a slight harshness, but it's primarily driven by spices: cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and a hint of clove. The grain whisky likely accounts for its bite, which is an odd but effective element. The apricot comes through pleasantly, complementing the oily coconut and a squeeze of citrus like lemon and tangerine. The bitter funkiness emerges, well-integrated with the oiliness. It carries that mildly smoky, vegetal, grainy profile from the nose, possibly with a whisper of waxiness from the stills. Towards the end, a pleasant layer of rich, mellow vanilla emerges, more substantial than floral. I'm genuinely impressed by the palate's quality. It offers nice flavors without any flaws, distinct characteristics, and good presence despite its 40% ABV. Finish: The finish is clean, featuring sweet vanilla and apricot alongside dry grain, with a subtle funk lingering. The initial finish is quite rich and oily, mirroring the palate. It leans slightly sweet rather than bitter. - Conclusion - This reminds me most of Compass Box Hedonism (12/23) and Cadenhead's 1994 vintage Deanston 19 (15/23). The Hedonism presents as more youthful and floral with greater nuance but a flatter profile, boasting more vanilla, sandalwood, and coconut. It's a cleaner profile, but the elements blend together more. Its quality is comparable to this bottling. The Deanston offers more funk and boldness, with a significant waxy character. This expression is more reserved and nuanced, akin to a blend of the two. I'm fairly certain this surpasses the Hedonism, which I found to be overly reliant on new oak flavors without sufficient balance. Comparing it to the Deanston is tougher. The Deanston has a certain funkiness that bothers me at the moment, and it burns, though I appreciate its bold flavor. This, conversely, has an impressive fullness and a well-balanced profile with no off-notes, making it very easy to drink. Given my current reaction to the Deanston's funk, I would rank this expression higher. I feel the need to include Glen Grant 18 (17/23) in this comparison. The most striking aspect of the Glen Grant is its decadent maltiness, almost overwhelmingly so after the balanced blend of this dram. While the Glen Grant is excellent, this comparison suggests this bottling might not be as rich as I perceived. However, the Glen Grant lacks nuance. This offers a bit more complexity, though not significantly so. It's cleaner and has more bite, but the desirability of those qualities is debatable. This is the first dram that might be better than the McIvor. Gouden Carolus (15/23) is less elegant than this, but certainly enjoyable and flavorful. It has a skunky finish that I find intriguing yet not entirely pleasing. Honestly, I'm leaning towards this bottling right now. Conversely, I find myself favoring the Glen Grant. This places this dram solidly in the 15 to 17 range, with strong indications pointing towards a 16. As a final check, Monkey Shoulder (14/23) exhibits a much more pronounced alcohol flavor. This bottling is clearly superior. This is not the exceptional discovery I had secretly hoped for, but it is substantially better than I anticipated. I would have been content with a 13 and surprised by a 14, estimating an 11 as the most likely score. Those seeking bold flavors may not appreciate this, but for anyone desiring a surprisingly full and nuanced blend, it's a solid option.

A good start, but the rest of the experience is quite different. Ultimately unimpressive.