Smokin' Gentleman's Dram (Duncan Taylor)

Nose: Maritime peat smoke. Kelp, sweet citrus, vanilla, treacle. Nicely subdued. Palate: Sweet-tinged peat and toffee upon entry. A distinct grain whisky character emerges as it develops. The texture is pleasing, almost creamy, with no burn whatsoever. Very smooth, buttery, and warming on the palate, with hints of mocha coffee and barbecue sauce. Finish: Medium. Soft, malty smoke flavors that fade into the aftertaste. Quite enjoyable, and perfectly acceptable given its attractive price point as a blended scotch. Don't expect a "storm-force 10" Islay single malt or a robust peated single malt from the mainland. It lacks the depth and intensity of profile found in such whiskies, but that's not a drawback. This scotch should be evaluated within its category against its peers. It sits somewhere between a mass-market mildly smoky blend like Johnnie Walker Double Black and a smoky blended malt like The Six Isles or Compass Box Peat Monster. Its grain component contributes sweetness and good texture, and at a low proof, it's very easy to drink neat. It also has enough character to hold up in mixed drinks and would work well in a coke 'n smoke or as a cocktail component. I added a couple of drops of water to half of my sample, and it responded well. The presentation became subdued quickly, so if adding water, don't overdo it – it's not delicate, just mild and can be overwhelmed. As a gently smoky dram served over ice or with water, I'm sure many would find this highly enjoyable. I certainly did. If you appreciate the flavors of Islay whisky but find most of them too intense for your palate, this might be exactly what you're looking for. Tasted from a 30ml sample. "Above Average": 82/100 (3.25 stars)

Enjoying a refined dram. Subtle, light, lacking body. Bland and watery, with no distinct taste, just a hint of sugar and dessert notes. Given its mild character, I might have rated it slightly higher. Flavorless. Dryness, red berries, caramel sweetness, gentle, mild, delicate, with noticeable dryness. Watery and uninspired, similar to drinking plain water, with sweetness appearing later. Notes of grape and light smoke emerge, and the finish is quite enjoyable. A malty, oat-like sensation coats the palate, improving with every taste, enveloping the rear of the mouth. Light smoky oak, with brief resonance.

From the advent calendar, day 2. Very pale gold, similar to chardonnay. Primarily buttery, toffee, and vanilla flavors. Light wood and smoke notes with some fruitiness and a hint of black pepper. It was okay at first, but adding a drop of water made it much better and more open.

An enjoyable, gentle dram with notes of toffee, vanilla, and subtle smoke.

Didn't enjoy this at all; it's far too thin.