Sir Edward's Blended Scotch 12 Years

Rating: 9/23 I'm quite fond of this bottle. Its shape is somewhat distinctive and refined, featuring an elegant screw cap (similar to how Roku gin conceals its screw top while making it look appealing). Nose: I detect oil immediately, along with alcohol and some hay – perhaps even pasture – and a pleasant, savory richness that surpasses Glen Logie. There's even a hint of floral sweetness in the aroma. It's not an exceptional nose, but it's adequate, and I can at least identify it as a blended whisky. Palate: It's significantly smoother than Glen Logie, though there's still some roughness and a distinct alcohol flavor. The dominant taste is slightly rancid oil, providing a nice viscosity (along with the burn, I would have easily guessed it was over 40% ABV) and complementing the savory hay and light pasture notes. There are some spices contributing to the roughness but not masking it entirely. I notice ginger, allspice, and cinnamon, but the most prominent is a peppery harshness with a slightly herbal quality that connects back to the hay and pasture. There's a floral sweetness that resembles artificial caramel, accompanied by a mineral note. The overall balance is acceptable, and the profile is somewhat unique, though not necessarily in a bad way. The individual flavors range from decent to somewhat unpleasant, but they are subtle enough that the blend generally works. Finish: This is primarily alcohol, some light, slightly rancid oil, and a harsh burn. It's frankly a poor finish and a significant disappointment after the decent (well, somewhat decent) nose and palate. There's no complexity here, and what remains is unpleasant. This isn't particularly great, but it's considerably better than Glen Logie. It falls into the category of being unexciting yet slightly off, with just enough redeeming qualities to not be outright bad. I'm awarding it an 8 out of 10, and 9 seems appropriate.

Rating: 13/23 Oh, wow, I'm nearing the end of my bottle and I've forgotten to update my rating. This bottle has benefited from air exposure and I've grown to appreciate it more. Drinkable Scotch isn't inexpensive, but this one is surprisingly sippable at a low price. N: Oily, a bit fruity (tangerine and orange). Some alcohol comes through. Some other unusual note is present. There's decent complexity, but it's hard to pinpoint. P: Oily and surprisingly rich and viscous given its low proof. There's some sweet maltiness with an herbal funkiness that blends well with the slightly bitter oily flavor. There's a mineral quality, but it doesn't make the dram seem thin. Hints of tangerine and floral character emerge at times, and there's other depth here that's difficult to describe. It's actually quite a solid palate. F: Oily, a bit more bitter than the palate. A more bitter tangerine oil character emerges. Some of the mineral remains, but it still doesn't make the dram seem thin. Still somewhat herbal. - Conclusion - This is much better than my initial rating. I've come to appreciate the oiliness, and it also responded well to air. I gradually increased my rating from a 9 to a 10 to an 11 to a potential 12 for this, and now I'm considering an 11 to a 14. I don't think it quite reaches a 14, but I'm giving it a 13 in its highly aerated state. I'm not sure I'd serve it at a gathering as it's somewhat challenging, but if I had just $20 to spend on a scotch for sipping, this would likely be the choice.

The nose has notes of orange peel, apples, brown sugar, and ethanol. The palate is grainy and semi-sweet, with a brief, somewhat rough finish. Adding a bit of water greatly improves it, making the palate creamy with notes of toffee, and the finish develops a nice honey character.

Amber color. Banana, chocolate, vanilla, walnut, smooth. On the palate, it's sweet with a slight tingle, smooth, burnt wood, prune. Short, sweet, caramelized finish. Lingers on the palate with toasted bread.

Excellent price for a 12 year old. Allow it to breathe in your glass for about 15 minutes, and you'll discover sweet, syrupy raisin flavors with a touch of oak. Definitely purchasing more.

Vanilla on the nose, plum in taste, and toffee in the finish.