Whisky I've Drank: Loch Lomond Original Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By ScotchMaltWhisky.co.uk
Matured in American oak casks, the Loch Lomond Original is the entry level whisky in the Loch Lomond single malt range. It has no age statement and is bottled at 40% ABV.
The Loch Lomond Original is currently available from specialist whisky shops such as Master of Malt for around £26 and will soon be rolled out in travel retail.
William Morrison's Tasting Notes:
Nose: 

Leather, a little floral, a little honey sweetness, touch of oak.
Taste: 

Very mild oak spice, orange and lemon, a little sweet vanilla, malted cereal, a little nuttiness and just the very faintest hint of smoke in the background.
Finish: 

Short, a little barley sweetness and citrus fruit which fades quickly leaving a little nuttiness a touch of dry oak.
Comment: 

This is certainly a young single malt but not as young as what I recall the old Loch Lomond no age statement single malt being which was presented in a blue tube and I found feinty. This does have its rough edges, which probably adds to the pleasure, it is more refined than the NAS of old, still easy enough to drink and certainly a step up from a standard blend, let down a little by the short finish. Certainly worth a go at its price point.
SMW Score 79/100

Whisky I've Drank: Loch Lomond Signature Blended Scotch Whisky

By hs305
I just did a private tour of Loch Lomond distillery, one of the very last sites I have not been in the stillhouse so far. The tour was done very professionally by Ibon and clarified a lot of my questions about this fascinating distillery that produces so many different styles of whisky under one roof. So this is a good reason to do some reviews of their current product range.
This single blended whisky is composed of mainly 4-5 year old whiskies all produced by the different stills of Loch Lomond distillery. These are traditional grain whiskies made of around 90 per cent wheat and 10 per cent malted barley and distilled in large Coffey stills at a detached building + single grain whisky made from 100 per cent malted barley and distilled in a small pair of Coffey stills located in the same stillhouse as the pot stills + malt whisky produced in very special Lomond stills with 17 plates installed at different places in the stills neck to allow variable cut-off points + malt whisky produced in very traditional pot stills. These whiskies mature in both freshly re-charred and refilled bourbon casks before vatted and finished in an oloroso solera process.
The nose is quite light on grassy grainy and some sherry aromas. Not so much of the malt here, just some hints of barley sugars. The arrival on the palate is smooth with some peppers developing later. The taste is again very smooth and adds some more malty flavours to the mix, notably chocolate and nutty aromas. The finish is short and sweet, now the barley sugars are much more present. All in all a nice blend for all that love light and easy-going drams without spikes and "oompf". Not too bad...

Whisky I've Drank: The Famous Grouse Smoky Black

By Jason at Malt Review
There’s a new arrival on the whisky supermarket shelf and its an old friend in new clothing. The Famous Grouse has taken its Black variant and transformed the whisky and appearance into the Smoky Black.
Ididn’t actually mind the original Black Grouse and its limited premium spin-off the Black Grouse Alpha Edition. Priced at circa £20, Smoky Black is at the lower end of the market for whisky, but for a blend a little more lavish. Such blends remain a very popular option for those who enjoy whisky yet cannot splash out on single malts every week.
Seeing the bottle on special for just £15, I couldn’t resist picking it up and experiencing the change for myself.
What is interesting is that this blend features peated whisky from Glenturret distillery, which has become the modern day home for the Grouse family. In 2013 I took part in a blending session with the Grouse Master Blender, Gordon Motion, that also included the then current Grouse range. He talked about the Ginger Grouse and infamous Snow Grouse including what prompted these and the importance of quality casks over age. During the blending event it was also mentioned that Glenturret (which we toured that day) was also producing peated whisky for a new project. I guess, this project has come to life as the Smoky Black.
I do enjoy reviewing these blends, which form the backbone of the Scotch Whisky industry and the range of supermarket offerings. I have an ongoing supermarket review series here that now and again I’ll add another review to, as and when I stumble across a new release. It’s surprising just how rarely reviewed some of these mass produced blends are!
Here’s another addition to the assortment then, lets crack open this imposing and seductively shaped black bottle.
Distillery: a blend of grain whisky and ‘rare peated Glenturret and selected malts’
Strength: 40% vol
Price: expect to pay £15-£20
The Famous Grouse Smoky Black – review

Colour: 

that warming E150 glow
On the nose: tablet and caramel form the foundation of a very sweet and inoffensive aroma. It’s certainly not a peaty nose! Stewed oranges, a little cinnamon, apple and with water a touch of soap.
In the mouth: heavy on the grain, you can just taste it dominating the whole experience. As such its more alcohol than a layered journey. Bananas everywhere, I might as well be standing in the jungle. Even adding water doesn’t diminish their influence. Oh, it doesn’t really take water well whatsoever. There’s a noticeable detachment with water, it feels like the top is watery and beneath is just pure rancid alcohol. I’ve had 5 drams of this in an attempt to find some redeeming character and it’s an uphill struggle. With a little time there is a tinge of peat and waft of smoke in the background but a minuscule entry on the PPM chart.
Conclusions:
Hugely disappointed by this revamp. It feels like a cost-cutting exercise. With calls for whisky transparency currently filling the whisky void, I’d love to see the comparison between this and the previous Black Grouse in unit cost terms. The naming of Glenturret’s malt peated whisky as an inclusion in reality seems to be a feeble attempt at a smoke-screen. Except once tasted there isn’t that much smoke to warrant the name and a nagging feeling you’ve been had.
Bottom line here I paid £15 for this and I do feel cheated. £20 is far too much and even at a discounted £15, I know of several supermarket blends that give you a better whisky with change still in your pocket. Ok, not one wrapped up in a sleek redesign with a gorgeous bottle and alluring labelling. I guess you make your choice and mine is the contents within rather than the packaging. This grouse like the Scotland rugby team needs a good kick up the…
Score: 3/10

Whisky I've Drank: Logan Heritage Blend

By Jan van den Ende

“Never Judge a Whisky By the Cover”

Country: Scotland
Brand: Logan Heritage
Bottled by: White Horse Distillers, Edinburgh (Diageo)
Type: Blended Whisky
Age: NAS (Said To Be Around 8 Years)
ABV: 40%
Chill-Filtration: Yes
Whisky Review # 590
Buying Advice: 😐 Neutral. Not Good enough to sip neat. Okay over Ice.
Colour: 

Light Amber (Artificially Coloured)
Nose: 

Young, Light and mainly Sweet. The Alcohol is quite noticeable and so are the Refill Ex-Bourbon casks. The dark colour of this Blend suggests a decent portion of Caramel colouring. I also detect a very faint Peat Smoke but it's clear that the Lagavulin part in this Blend is very limited. In addition, I find Toasted Cereals, Buttered Toast, Toffee, Caramel, light Vanilla, light Heather-Honey, Salted Nuts, Dried Fruits, Cooked Vegetables, Green Apple and hints of Ginger, Cinnamon and Leather. There are no real off-notes but the Grain Alcohol tends to dominate the relatively weak Malt Aromas.
Palate: 

Young, Light and quite Sweet. The delivery is on the Thin side. I find Toasted Cereals, Caramel, Sugar, light Vanilla, Grain Alcohol, very Light Smoke, Refill Wood, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Licorice, Green Apples and Light Honey. On the Palate it's clear that the Heritage Blend does not have the same quality as the discontinued Logan 12 Years that I reviewed earlier.
Finish: 

Short and Sweet with Toasted Cereals, Refill Wood, Grain Alcohol, Sugar, Licorice, Nut Shells, Pepper, Ginger and slightly Sour Green Apples. A whiff of Smoke. Medium-Dry towards the end.
I added a little Water and on the Nose some Floral Soap Aromas develop. Palate and Finish become too Thin.
Rating: 78
Nose: 20 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 19 - Overall: 19.5
General Remarks:
The Logan Blend was first introduced in 1903 and was named after James Logan, a one time Scotch Whisky blender. The Logan Heritage was launched in 2014 in Portugal by Master Blender Caroline Martin to celebrate the 111th Birthday of the Brand Name. At the same time it replaced the Logan 12 Years Old Blend. Logan is said to use 24 Grain- and Malt Whiskies for this Blend including Lagavulin (Islay) and Glen Elgin and Craigellachie (Speyside). The Heritage Blend is not very expensive and usually sells in the 20-30 US Dollar range (January 2017).
Drinking Experience Neat: Below Average
Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay
Conclusion:

It's a real pity that Diageo discontinued the Logan 12 Years as it was a simple but quite enjoyable, highly drinkable and sufficiently matured Blend at a reasonable price. That's why it had to go of course. It has now been replaced by the Heritage, a NAS Blend that can't stand in the shadow of its former big brother. Despite the Classy, though Old-Fashioned presentation and bottle, the Heritage is in fact a relatively cheap Bottom Shelf Blend. There is nothing interesting going on and it's not suited to sip neat. Over Ice this Blend is okay though nothing special. The 12 Years will be sorely missed!

Whisky I've Drank: Hankey Bannister 12 Years Old Regency

By OlsBean - Aberdeenshire

Two Words "Absolutely Exceptional" - I'm a regular whisky drinker and I enjoy both Single Malts and Blends, I've modest collection of malts and I have a regular turnover of blends (much to my wife's dismay), Chivas 12 being my regular feet up in front of fire tipple, however if money was no option then hand on heart, Hankey Bannister 12 would have to replace it, it just has the edge when it comes to flavour.

I won't bore anyone with my amateurish interpretation of the flavours and notes but just to say - delightful. I shared a bottle at Christmas with family after purchasing it at a discount in a Lightning Deal and whisky drinkers and non whisky drinkers alike had nothing but good things to say about it! Sadly it did not last long and just the memory of it is making salivate as I sit here and write this little review.

Slàinte

By MasterOfMalt

Hankey Bannister & Co. was established by Beaumont Hankey and Hugh Bannister in 1757 and their blended whiskies would, in time, become favourites of the likes of Sir Winston Churchill. The brand is now owned by Inver House, owners of distilleries such as Balblair and Knockdhu, whose malts are used to create this 12 year old blend. In 2012 Regency won a Silver Medal at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) in 2012.

Whisky I've Drank: Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch

By Josh Peters
Evan Williams 1783 is Heaven Hill’s “small batch” release that’s meant to elevate itself above the regular Evan Williams Black Label. According to Heaven Hill’s web site the “Evan Williams 1783 is a small batch extra aged line extension of Evan Williams Black Label that is named after the year in which Evan Williams first established his distillery”. Take the origin story with a grain of salt.q
Evan Williams 1783 Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Heaven Hill
Mashbill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% barley
Cask: new charred oak
Age: NAS
ABV: 43%
Price: $15
Evan Williams 1783 Review
EYE
Leather
NOSE
Remarkably fruity with notes of honey, cornmeal, caramel syrup, dried dark fruit, artificial sweetener and peanuts. The peanut isn’t incredibly strong, but definitely noticeable.
PALATE
Watery character with mild notes of caramel, imitation vanilla, grits, citric acid, sugar, peanut butter taffy, wood and mint. It’s an odd tasting whiskey for sure.
FINISH
Short and layered with notes of citric acid, cornmeal, vanilla, peanut butter taffy and wood.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Off balanced, weak thin body and a watery feel. Not a fan of the experience that accompanies the notes.
OVERALL
Evan Williams 1783 is a let down for me. Because it’s the same whiskey it’s easy to see the similarities between this, the Evan Williams Black Label and the Evan Williams Bonded, but I like the EWBL and Bonded more, much more. Tasting them all side-by-side they’re both noticeably richer, tastier whiskeys – especially the bonded – with comparatively deeper characters.
The Evan Williams 1783 is too weak and peanutty for my tastes and with it being “extra aged” I would expect it to taste closer to the Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintages, but instead it comes across more like a water down version of the black label. It’s possible I got an off batch of this “small batch” offering, but at the moment I’m thinking I’d rather save $3 and pick up the EWBL or spend $3 more and pick up the excellent EWB instead. Either one is a better value in my mind.
SCORE: 78/100

Whisky I've Drank: Buffalo Trace

By Derek Sun
Buffalo Trace Distillery proudly proclaims itself to be the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States, and traces its roots back to pioneers settling westward during the 18th century. Even during Prohibition, the distillery remained open through the creation of “medical” whiskey, and up through today has won a number of accolades for its products, including seven “Distillery of the Year” awards at various international whiskey competitions.
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which is the distillery’s entry level American whiskey, is a masterful creation I found that particularly excels in bringing smoothness, subtle taste and crispness with each sip.
The name of the distillery and whiskey comes from the traces, or trails, left by people and bison walking across the plains. Aged for seven years in white oak barrels and arriving in a gorgeously curved round bottle, the whiskey pours out to give a moderately amber and orange color.
The aroma takes some effort to pick up, but it is immediately attractive and delicious, with full woody scents and sweeter and fruitier elements as well. The mash consists of corn, rye, and barley malt, and is responsible for the presence of flavors of fruits, nuts, and toffee. The vanillins released by the white oak during aging also deliver sweet vanilla flavors. Unlike many other basic whiskies, Buffalo Trace is unbelievably smooth and flows effortlessly through the mouth. A lot of whiskey possesses smoky and bitter flavors and may discourage some neophytes from consuming more whiskey, but there is very little of that in this bourbon. Smokiness is present in only a very small amount, which makes this bourbon a great choice for people who are new to whiskey and generally are not used to regularly enjoying whiskey. The feeling of drinking it is invigorating and inviting.
While the taste is consistently light and smooth, it’s a huge mistake to describe it as bland or boring. Not many other entry level bourbons can achieve the unique sort of soft yet memorable impression on the palate that Buffalo Trace generates. True craftsmanship is evident in the palate and finish. A robust flavor of woodiness and rich grains lingers for a long time.
Buffalo Trace is an incredibly affordable whiskey, available for only about 20 to 30 dollars for a 750 mL bottle. It offers a novel formula for bourbon, has some unconventional aspects and deserves all the praise and prizes it has received over the years. Some whiskey drinkers might crave a smokier and more intense flavor, but there is plenty to enjoy and admire about this bourbon.
I give the Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon a rating of 93.