Jura Origin Aged 10 Years

Jura Origin was reduced to £25 from £30, an old colleague used to drink this and recommended it, I've had it in a pub once before and liked it, and so even though I wasn't impressed by Jura Elixir or Prophecy, I thought I'd give it a go.

I'm glad I did, it definitely the best of the Jura bunch I've tried. It's another "cup of tea" whisky, it doesn't do anything too exciting, or ground breaking, but it's a good solid whisky. There's a pleasant classic whisky taste, nothing too prominent or overpowering, hints of vanilla, it's smooth, but has a slight burn (a good thing), and goes down a treat.

Another one I'd probably put it in the category of "would appreciate as a gift, but wouldn't buy again myself", worth trying, probably another "beginner's" whisky, I'm don't mean to sound patronising or give the impression I'm starting to know what I'm talking about ;)

Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold - Room Temp Vs. From the Freezer

A while ago I decanted a small amount into a small glass bottle to keep in the freeze. This evening, I thought I'd try a bit of each to see which I prefer.

I started off with the from the freezer. It's nice, drinkable, very smooth, no burn, as I said before, crisp, fruity, very pleasant, but nothing special.

Room temperature, I'm surprised I said it was my new favourite before, it's OK, it's nice enough, but nothing special. It's smooth, slight burn, but can't see myself buying it again.

Like many of these NAS whiskies, I think when they're reduced, from the artificially inflated RRP, they offer a nice drink for the money, but saying that, this was £25, round this time of year (December 2016) there's a lot of bargains in the supermarket, so you can get a good 10yo single malt for similar money, or less than that.

So in retrospect, if I had £40 to spend on whisky, I definitely wouldn't buy this, if I had £25, I'd consider it, but for example Tesco, do a couple of "Tesco Finest" 12yo single malts, which could represent better value for money. If you don't want to risk supermarket's own, Jura Origin 10yo is very good value for money at £25 (RRP £30).

Interestingly, what I've learned more than anything else, is maybe I'll try some other whiskies from the freezer to see what difference it makes, or maybe invest in some whisky stones.

Talisker Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Another of my purchases due to it having £10 off, so was £25 rather than £35. I was interested in this one, as so far I've come to the conclusion I don't like peaty whiskies, and had read this was a good introduction to peaty whiskies. It kind of is, but isn't. I can drink it, it tastes OK, but this is the problem with it, it's slightly peaty to give that peaty taste, but it doesn't have much more of anything else, so I can taste the peat enough to think, yes it's peated, but I wouldn't want it any more peaty, but for some-one who liked their whisky peated, then they would find it disappointing.

And there's the problem, it tastes a bit of peat, but, I can't taste any fruit, or any notes, or subtleties of anything else.

So I guess if you've never had peated whisky before it's sort of a good introduction, but not worth buying a bottle for anyone who likes their peat, as they will be disappointed

I think this is another example of these NAS (no age statement) whiskies, where they lack body, so they often disappoint.

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Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold (from the freezer)

I was surprised how difference the taste was following the serving suggestion of best served from the freezer.

As with most spirits, the consistency change is obvious, slightly thicker, but the taste is much sharper, has a new edge, and crispness to it. The fruit is more obvious, apple, and pear, the honey less less so!

Not sure which I prefer, it's not better or worse than neat, room temperature. just different.

Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold

Another bargain I couldn't turn down (Tesco Save £14.45 Was £39.45 Now £25.00) :)

They recommend you drink it from the freezer, I didn't have time for that so I just drank it neat, room temperature. I thought it was very nice.

Has a warm, honey, caramel flavour, it's quite smooth, but with a welcome "burn". With the aftertaste comes the spiciness, peppery, but not overpowering.

Very good, I'll buy it again, my new favourite :)

I've put some in the freezer to try next time.

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.

Penderyn Single Malt Whisky, The Madeira Finish

now this is interesting, a friend of mine recommended this as his favourite whisky. I started to write this article, and then never finished it, I was going to write…

“I can kind of see why someone may like it, but again it’s not for me. Some may say it’s a complex mix of flavours, but to me it just seems like a combination of too many, flavours, rather than a nice blend where they complement each other. It’s quite fruity, maybe caramel, smooth. it’s kind of similar to the Auchentoshan, but I would say Penderyn is a bit nicer, and more “whiskyish”, so I’d recommend if over the Auchentoshan, especially if you fancy something a little bit different.”

however, after drinking a bit more, I’ve started to really enjoy it, nicer than the Auchentoshan, and better than Jura Elixir, which is rather bland and tasteless, at least in comparison to this.

so yes, I’d still agree with my first impression, that it’s a mix of fruit and caramel flavours, but I like the complexity now, and it’s got a certain “bite” to it, but I do wish it was a little smoother.