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Jim Beam Devil’s Cut

May 15, 2012
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Rather strong flavours in this special bourbon, but there is a bitterness that puts me off somewhat. The finish is a bit weak as well. – Rating: 73/100

Calvados Couperne VSOP

December 30, 2011

At the price of a standard blended whisky, this calvados offers a very decent value. With a rather typical and taste profile it does not have to fear its more expensive competitors. – Rating: 81/100

Draymans Solera Blend

October 11, 2011

Unfortunately the rather nice base flavour is covered by a rubberiness that is just a bit too dominant. – Rating: 68/100

It’s Rum Week!

September 5, 2011
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Summer is coming to an end. To keep up the spirit I decided to turn this week into the official Dramming Rum Week.

John B. Stetson

July 3, 2011
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A mild and obviously rather young bourbon. Driness and color hint on lightly charred barrrels. It is not very complex but nicely sippable. – Rating: 78/100

Drumguish

June 24, 2011
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An utterly unexciting and bland malt. It is cheap, but you get more for your money, if you invest the same amount in a standard blend. – Rating: 53/100

Johnnie Walker Red Label

June 17, 2011
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This top selling blend is obviously designed not to offend any palate. There are some interesting flavours, but they are hidden underneath a layer of sweetness. Rating: 67/100

Whyte & Mackay Special

April 26, 2011
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The Special is a decent enough entry level blend. It’s alright for sipping alongside a pint, but its taste profile is fairly simple – Rating: 66/100

Racke Rauchzart

March 31, 2011
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This blend is aptly named “Tender Smoke”. I really like the balance of flavours. If they were stronger, this €10 dram would beat most well-known entry level blends. But it feels much too toned down. – Rating: 62/100

Ballantine’s Finest

January 23, 2011
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One of the more recommendable entry level blends. The nose is nothing to speak of, but it’s not entirely unpleasant on the palate. – Rating: 73/100

Blackstone 18 yo

December 27, 2010

This is a typical “You get what you pay for” supermarket malt. It’s not really bad but the floral notes are much too dominant for an enjoyable older malt. – Rating: 74/100

Glen Grant The Major’s Reserve

October 26, 2010

Overall: This youngster just dosen’t cut it. It’s the cheapest single malt in competition with Loch Lomond at the price of a major brand blend. Actually I would recommend to stick to one of those like for example Teacher’s. – Rating: 62/100

Teacher’s Highland Cream

July 4, 2010
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For a NAS blend, this one is actually quite good. The roughness of the young grain is still there, but the unusually high malt content of 45% caters for a rather rich taste. – Rating: 68/100

Sikkim Black Cat Rum

June 1, 2010

This rum has a nose to die for, but it is a bit weaker on the palate. Exotic provenance but a quite decent (and very inexpensive) rum. – Rating: 80/100

Canadian Club

April 20, 2010
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It reminds a little of whisky for just a few seconds, then you are left with a generic ethanol aftertaste. Use it as flavoured vodka to beef up your long drinks. Avoid drinking it neat. – Score: 30/100

The Famous Grouse Port Wood

April 11, 2010

The nose is quite interesting and promising, but the nice taste on the palate only keeps up for a few seconds before turning into boring grainyness. Better than the standard Grouse, but not enough to make me want to buy a bottle. – Score: 62/100

Cutty Sark

February 24, 2010
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You can tell that this is very young. Much too young for my taste. It tastes almost like a German Korn. But at least it does not seem to be coloured. – Score: 58/100

Kilbeggan

December 20, 2009
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This bottle costs just €13 at our local HIT supermarket. The quality you get for this price is amazing and easily beats all other blends and single malts below €25 that I have ever tasted. – Rating: 80/100

Jameson Irish Whiskey

October 26, 2009
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Quite spicy for an Irish whiskey, too much for me as it isn’t balanced out by the other aromatic components – Score: 62/100

The Famous Grouse

September 24, 2009
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You can taste that this is a young whisky. OK for just sipping, nothing really disturbing, but it’s hard pinning down any noteworthy aromatic components. – Score: 51/100

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