Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Again I thought I'd give "shop's own" a go, at £18 it's pretty good. It's quite flavorsome and "warm", as the bottle says, "fruitcake" flavours can be detected, i.e. it's not overly fruity, but it has that characteristic. It's very smooth, no burn, fire, which is kind of disappointing. It's very easy to drink, nothing is overpowering, but it's kind of forgettable. I think I prefer the Speyside, the Highland isn't a bad drink, but there's nothing particular to recommend it.

Maybe it's a no age thing, it hasn't had chance to develop, and mature enough? It's perfectly drinkable, it doesn't need a mixer, I won't be throwing it away, but I won't be buying it again, not that there's any particularly wrong with, it just there's nothing special about it.

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Like wine, there's a lot of snobbery with whisky, actually I guess a lot of things have snobbery. However I'd imagine supermarket's own (even if it is Sainsbury's Taste the Difference) whisky, to a whisky connoisseur is probably barely above mass produced £15 a litre blended whisky ;)

There's two things worth mentioning about this whisky

1) it's v nice

2) RRP is £20 (it's currently £18)

I'd rather pay £18 for this no age whisky, than a lot of the other whiskies I've bought. It's quite light and fruity, sweet, nothing overpowering, not to confusing, just quite mellow, and tasty, with a classic whisky aftertase, a nice burn.

I'd happily buy this again, although with it being "shop's own", who knows what it is, and whether it will be the same next time? I assume there aren't J Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda distilleries in Scotland, and that this is a known brand, rebottled. Maybe when it gets near the end I'll buy another just to see if it's the same :)

They also do a Highland single malt, again currently reduced to £18 from £20. I also bought a bottle of that for my research. I didn't open that yet though, I'll post when I do...

Whisky Roundup

I've noticed my opinion changes, or rather some of these drinks take a bit of getting used to :)

I noticed another site mentions drinking with and without water etc, I always drink mine room temperature and neat.

so, here's an updated league table of my current batch

1) Aberfeldy 12 year old - I can see myself buying this again, it's very nice, smooth, and tastes well like whisky should, it's kind of a classic whisky.

2) Penderyn single malt - the more I drink it, the more I appreciate the flavours, and I was a bit harsh with it before. It's grown on me a lot. Not sure I'd buy it again, but I'd happily receive it as a gift, certainly worth trying.

3) Glenmorangie 10 Year old - it's a good whisky, a classic, there's nothing wrong with it, but nothing special about it. I doubt I'd buy it again, but wouldn't be upset to receive it as a gift, and wouldn't decline if offered at a friend's, but it's a good, but basic bog standard single malt. That's not meant to be a complaint, sometimes you just want plain and simple, no surprises :)

4) Auchentoshan American Oak - again not as nice as the Penderyn, but similar, fruit, smooth, I'm enjoying it more than I was, but won't buy again. it's OK, but there's plenty of similar and better whiskies in this price range. Certainly not worth spending full whack on.

5) Jura Elixir - a huge disappointment, won't buy this again. Glad it was on special offer in supermarket. It's supposed to be fruity and spicy, instead it's just a bit, "meh", it's smooth, but no real taste to it, very bland. Shame, as normal Jura is quite nice I seem to remember.