Royal Lochnagar 12 Year

Rating: 13/23 I had no prior knowledge of Royal Lochnagar. It could be interesting, or perhaps just dull and forgettable. N: The aroma is unexpectedly floral and spicy, with hints of rose, subtle anise, and dry wood. There's a touch of Asian pear and a faint hint of bird's eye chili. Other elements are present, but the aroma is quite light (though not weak), making it somewhat challenging to discern. A mild earthy savory note is present, not coming across as raw spirit. P: Quite delicate on the palate, with a strong prickliness that transitions into a warmth, and then a touch of harshness. It's sweet and floral (vanilla and light rose), reminiscent of a divine elixir, but lacks significant complexity. The Asian pear might also contribute to the water. Dried grain notes emerge, along with a hint of bird's eye chili savoriness. Aside from that slight harshness, the palate is smooth and balanced. The harshness, combined with the mild bird's chili heat, prevents it from seeming too diluted, though it's close. Perhaps a whisper of white pepper. It lacks the richness, fullness, and complexity found in Dalmore 12, which isn't exactly a highly complex or full-bodied Scotch itself. When compared side-by-side, the subtle weakness and dilution of this dram become evident. It doesn't exhibit a rough immaturity, but the grain character is still quite apparent and its flavor is rather mild. F: The more bitter, rich, and malty aspects of the grain come through with clean water, losing most of its floral notes. Wisps of lime are present alongside the smoldering remnants of bird's chilies. This is a moderately interesting dram that isn't exceptional but certainly not bad. I appreciate the unique experience it offers, though I likely wouldn't purchase a bottle as it feels more like a novelty. This exhibits a cleaner profile than Highland Park 12 (rated 12). Between the two, I might actually prefer this one. Dalmore 12 (rated 15) is clearly superior, and Pure Scot Virgin Oak (rated 14) is also a better choice. I'm settling on a 13. This is an unusual one, possessing its own distinct character that holds up well despite its low proof and will appeal to some. Fans of blanco and reposado tequila might find it particularly interesting.

Here’s another sample from our collaborative effort: (Royal) Lochnagar 12 Year. This is a highland distillery that received a royal warrant from the U.K. royal family, making them the official distillery for the royals for a five-year period. I'm not entirely sure who makes this decision, how frequently it occurs, what benefits it brings to the distillery/royal family/regular British citizens, or what the significance is. It's a British custom; we 'Muricans just don't grasp it. This one is bottled at the minimum standard of 40% ABV, has a light copper color, appears quite oily but doesn't produce many legs in the glass. The nose is very fruity, almost artificially so, with oranges and some blackberry jam. There's an underlying note of tea leaves, which doesn't sit well with me. I was compelled to drink so much tea as a child (no sodas) that I genuinely can't stand even the smell of tea as an adult. The palate was again very fruity – orange slices, pears with plenty of honey sweetness. A pleasant vanilla creme candy flavor emerged mid-sip. The absence of barrel notes made this a seriously fruity and overly sweet dram, though. It needs some oak or heat for balance. Sadly, it's just not present. The finish is medium in length, becoming somewhat dry and leaving those bothersome tea leaf notes on the tongue. Or perhaps, that was just stuck in my head – I don't know, lol. It was this final characteristic that turned this pour negative for me. It's all because of my dislike of tea, though. Overall, I believe this would be a decent introductory dram for those looking to ease into scotch. The lack of heat and oak will likely make an experienced drinker think less of this one. Me? Well, I can't handle the tea leaf aspect. I have to rate this one quite low because of that fact. Thanks to a friend for providing this one, but it's just not for me. I don't want to give it a terrible score, so I'll just rate it average and move on.

The seventieth stop on the SDT is Royal Lochnagar. Lochnagar was the first distillery to receive a Royal warrant, signifying its role as the first supplier of scotch to the Royal Palace, earning it the designation 'Royal' Lochnagar. This 12-year-old Highland single malt is bottled at 40% ABV, is chill-filtered, and contains added coloring, resulting in an amber hue. The nose presents fresh stone fruits like apricots and red plums, along with oranges, tangerines, and marmalade. Melons, strawberries, blackberries, and a hint of vanilla are also present. A delicate yet elegant oak note is detected, typical of the Highland profile. Floral honey, light mint, and herbs are noticeable, along with a touch of nutmeg and ginger. These are strong notes for a 40% ABV spirit. After some time, a sherry sweetness emerges, accompanied by maple syrup and cherries. The faintest trace of wood smoke and an unusual aromatic note that is difficult to pinpoint are also present. It's not bad at all. The palate mirrors the nose with apricots and tangerines. Honey, herbal tea, and light oak are present, as well as licorice, ginger, and light vanilla. The palate isn't highly complex, but that's not always a drawback. A medium-light bodied mouthfeel, it coats the mouth, feeling slightly creamy and dry. The finish is medium in length, very dry, with notes of apricot, oak, and herbal tea. Given the low ABV, it offers a robust flavor profile, reminiscent of the Cragganmore 12-year-old. While that one is from Speyside, it also has 40% ABV and pronounced flavors. The nose is very pleasant and fruity, but the palate and finish are somewhat lacking. At approximately $50, it represents good value, though superior options exist. It would have scored a 3.75 if not for the very dry finish and palate shortcomings, hence a 3.5. Many thanks to a friend for the sample. Cheers.

Nose: Initially effervescent and very reminiscent of apple cider with abundant orchard fruit notes (pears and red apple skins). As it sits in the glass, grassy and cereal tones emerge with vanilla, a hint of oak, and soft honey. Overall, it evokes the aroma of freshly baked apple pies with grain being harvested in the background. [The dry-glass aroma is cereal/fruity with a very slight smokiness] Palate: Arrives sweet and creamy with a subtle dusty malt character. Abundant sweet apples on the palate (again, quite like apple cider) and a whisper of very soft ginger spice. Further orchard fruit and nutty flavors develop, and the texture is slightly creamy with the faintest hint of smoke. Finish: Medium to short. Fruity and sweet, fading into an aftertaste of weak black tea and golden syrup. A simple, unpretentious malt that compensates for its lack of complexity with its disarming approachability. When it was available, the Royal Lochnagar Distiller's Edition was my go-to scotch single malt for introducing newcomers or as the initial malt in a tasting flight. This expression isn't as good as that one, but it arguably serves as a better starter than the typical choices of Glenfiddich 12 or Glenmorangie Original. At its price point, it offers reasonable value as an everyday dram. Alongside Strathisla 12, it's also one of my preferred nightcap drams when I desire something particularly sweet, easy, and relaxing. "Above Average": 80/100 (3 stars)

Finished the week. Still holding strong in my March Madness pools. The weather remains cold (ugh!). Time to sample this pour provided by a friend. I've never had this particular whisky before nor have I ever seen it on a shelf. I'm unsure what to anticipate. Served neat: the nose presents heather, honey, floral notes, apricots, coconut, marshmallows, and orange marmalade. A subtle hint of cinnamon spice lingers in the background. The palate initially reveals a light honey-tea sweetness. As the sweetness fades, notes of white pepper spice and peat emerge. Orange and apricot notes are faintly present. This is all supported by a medium-light body. What remains is a drying palate with hints of bitter orange and ginger root, accompanied by a touch of char. A warming sensation provides a pleasant, comforting feeling on this cold winter evening. This isn't an overly complex dram, but it offers good aromas and flavors. It's balanced in a linear fashion rather than a yin-yang way. If this whisky retails for $45 to $50, it's a good value. Worth trying. [85/100][Tasted: 3/16/18]

This expression truly caught me off guard. I anticipated a typical, uninspired Diageo 12-year-old malt, but it turned out to be exceptionally good. When the Game of Thrones collection was released, the bottling from this distillery saw a dramatic price increase, leading me to believe they had something special. However, subsequent reviews were mixed, prompting me to investigate personally. My observations are as follows: Bottled at 40% ABV. On the nose, it's nearly perfect, contributing significantly to its high score: notes of cherry and caramel are present, alongside the most exquisite vanilla aroma I've ever experienced in a dram. Sugar, lemon, orange, apricot, peach, and cinnamon are also detected. Quite pleasing. On the palate, the experience is good enough to earn points, though not nearly as impressive as the aroma. It features peaches, apples, and vanilla, and little else. The finish carries a cider or apple note, providing a pleasant and clean fruity conclusion. Overall, this dram earns a solid 86 out of 100, primarily due to its remarkable aroma. While the palate could be significantly improved, it still manages to pass muster.