Consumables (Reviews)

For me, Ardbeg 10 is the embodiment of an Islay and it is that Islay essence that sets Scotch whisky apart from other whiskies of the world. Smoky peat and the smells of the sea are what come to mind first when I think of single malt Scotch. It is because of this that Ardbeg 10 is my favorite Scotch, though not necessarily the one I most enjoy drinking. Here at B&B, we're all familiar with the word "reformulation" and just like shaving creams and soaps, spirits with the same...

I'm surprised that nobody reviewed this item... It's one fine drop! I keep a bottle in the bar as I love drinking this one neat. At 45%, you need to go easy on this but it's surprisingly smooth! I almost finished my 3rd bottle of Single Barrel and know this one will be a regular. A lot of caramel and vanilla, very smooth, not smoky at all. I would not say it's a very complex Whiskey but it has a nice range of flavours. I probably lack some experience in tasting my spirits. The...

The packaging is what caught my eye, but the aroma and the smoothness remind me of Macallan 18, just at a much lower price (well, at the time I bought this off the shelves anyway). Lightly sweet and spicy with a moderately long finish. Note: There were multiple bottlings of the Glenrothes 1989. I've tried the 11y.o. "bottled in 2001" and the 12 y.o. "bottled in 2003". The extra year in the sherry casks does a lot to smooth the edges. The 11 y.o. is still a somewhat raw whisky...

Aberlour a'bunadh is a unique experience among Scotches . . . cask strength and intensely sherried, rich, deep and complex. There are many wonderful Scotches out there, but this one is something truly special, and in a category of its own. Packaged in a slightly squat, thick-necked bottle, its color is a deep ruby red in the bottle, and a rich mahogany in the glass. Depending on presentation, the Aberlour's nose ranges from caramel and apple, to sherry and almonds, to lightly floral ...

A very soft nose, with little complexity, I think of pears and butter. The color is quite pale, like a weak green tea. More grass and earth flavors on the palate with a faint kiss of peaty smoke. The finish is very soft and fades away gently with no alcohol burn whatsoever. Very refined, albeit very mild. It is not highly complex, and experienced Scotch drinkers are likely to be underwhelmed by it's lack of hearty flavors and aromas.

A little over a year ago my lovely wife and I made a trip to Scotland. In part it was to feed my love of Single Malts with tours of several distillery. In the village of Pitlochry we visited Edradour. Edradour is the smallest distillery in Scotland. There are only three employees, and all of the whiskeys are hand crafted. The water flows down a river through the distillery and the barley has come from the surrounding valleys for over 100 years. The copper still is small, by...

Let me first give the three helpful tips for selecting a great scottish whiskey. You should look for a bottle that fits these guidelines: 1) single malt 2) un-chill-filtered 3) no color added With this, the full unrestricted nose and palate, as anticipated by the master distiller, is thereby preserved and perfectly transfered from cask to bottle. These points layout the traditional style of making fine scottish whisky. Most large bottling companies do not follow these guidelines...

Bushmills 10yo is my go to drink. This whiskey has won a few awards and New York times voted it their best in 2006. Packaging is great and has a historic feel to it and the bottle is just the right shape and size. Once opened a lovely aroma is noticed, not too sweet with vanilla, sherry, bourbon and rum. Tasting notes are just as lovely as the aroma with vanilla, christmas cake, fudge, bourbon and sherry. Fairly complex with a lot of flavors and a slightly smooth oily texture...

When the contest for the Glencairn glasses was announced, I decided it was finally time to submit a whisky review to the good old B&B. I also knew that the first one I wanted to review was…. Glenfiddich 15. Now I know what you are thinking, ‘That old stuff? That’s what I pour on my Cheerios.’ (Come on, admit it, I can’t be the only one.) Glenfiddich is what many of us cut our single malt teeth on, the single malt Scotch that every liquor store will have available even if it’s the...

I will preface my review by stating I am in no way a Scotch expert, though I did get quite an education on my last trip to Scotland. That's where I found this Bowmore Single Malt 34 Year 1971 Edition. I was at Deacon Brodie's Tavern in Edinburgh, along the Royal Mile, one of my required stops when I'm in the neighborhood. The bartender told me I was in for a treat and he was right. The dram he put before me was going to be the best Scotch I ever drank in my life. But, I'm getting a little...

The Macallan 12 Year Single Malt Scotch --This is a review I posted on my website on: May 16, 2007 well, i have never really been a big drinker. ok, once a long time ago… in hawaii, while in the military there was that one time. but that's it i promise. i digress… last weekend my wife and i went to a new wine shop to buy her mom a mothers day gift. this place was crazy, it was a mega liquor store. they had probably the biggest selection of wine i have every seen. Total Wine & More. they...

There is a long tradition in Continental Europe of alcoholic bitters. Formerly marketed as “tonics”, these are now generally sold as digestifs but are often simply enjoyed whenever the occasion demands. Only a few of the dozens of the bitters produced in Europe make their way outside of their country of origin. Of those that are exported outside of Europe, Jägermeister and Underberg (both from Germany) are probably the best known but are comparatively mild in flavour. Fernet-Branca from...

Finlaggan Old Reserve costs 16.99 at trader joe's. I've heard it rumored that it's actually a younger Lagavulin, but I don't know for certain if it's true. It is smoky, peaty, has rough edges, and definitely medicinal. There is absolutely no doubting that it is an Islay malt. My only complaint is that the smell is VERY strong. The smell lingers for a long time. It's a good smell, but it is more medicinal smelling than say Laphroig. Overall, the scotch I drink the most because I...

As far as whiskeys/whiskys go this along with Laphroaig Quater Cask are my top picks. This has a lovely smooth character that goes down easy. First notes are like butterscotch/sherry and bourbon then leads to a nice warm feeling with a hint of bourbon to finish it off. Long lasting with a flavour to savour. This is an all year round drink that can be sipped or slammed down. No acidy taste or reflux with this gem. You can relax with this beauty and keep looking forward to the next glass...

Hands down my top Scotch, very smooth and exciting. Feels like I'm drinking Earth, nice peatyness without the acid/burn taste. Goes down beautifully all the way to my belly button. This has a burnt earth/coal/peat/scottish ocean taste at the start that leads to a nice warm long finish with a hint of peat to round things off. Funnily enough it makes me feel part of the earth when I drink it. Don't be put off by my tasting notes, you gotta try it to understand it. A lovely drink for a cold and...

The story of Pinch, the fourth largest blended Deluxe Scotch whisky in the world, is reflected in the spirit of over 350 years` of whisky distilling and blending experience. When farmer/distiller Robert Haig was summoned before the church elders in 1655 for operating his still on the Sabbath (Sunday), this marked the earliest documented reference to a distillery company still operating today. The art and craft of whisky distilling were passed down through generations of the Haig family...

This is the mostest bestest Bar-B-Q I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. You wouldn't think it from seeing the restaurant, by boy howdy can them boys do BBQ right! You can get the sauce at most Brookshire's & various other grocery stores in about a 30-45 mile vicinity, so any time I'm anywhere near, I grab a few bottles. This stuff is awesome! Has just the right kick, spice, flavor, without being overpowering. Their ribs are their own food group. And they (the ribs) have bumper...

Slivovitz is really strong, has poor flavor, and burns like hell. It is distilled from plums in Serbia or Hungary and is around 100 proof.

Very smooth affordable Scotch (though price has increased).

Excellent Value on a fairly nice, well-rounded Scotch. Faint smoke, faint woods, strong peat, great roundness. Sometimes 1.75 liter is around $20