Best Shot Whisky Reviews

Glen Elgin 2004 (Lady of the Glen)

“Orange Blossom Special”

Whisky Review # 1068

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Region: Speyside

Brand: Glen Elgin 2004 - Distilled: 04-03-2004

Matured and Bottled by: Lady of the Glen (LotG) on 15-03-2021

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky - Cask # 801298
Age: 17 Years - Limited Edition - 240 Bottles

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 55.7% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Hogshead with Ex Ruby Port Barrique Finish
Chill Filtration: No
Price: Around US$ 120,00 (July 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 😏 Borderline acceptable
Buying Advice: 👍 Nice Fruity Speysider that benefits from the Port Finish

Colour:

Golden Amber (Natural Color)

Nose:

Mainly Sweet with additional Sourness from the Port cask. The Nose is Soft and slightly underwhelming. Lots of Citrus and Green/Grassy notes. It's okay but i had expected a bit more to be honest.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Honey, Yeast, Dough, Citrus Peel (Orange, Tangerine & Mandarin), Dried Fruit like Apricot, Figs, Banana and Raisins, Grass and Straw, Fortified Red Wine, Fresh Green Herbs, Dusty Oak, Aniseed, Mint and Cinnamon. There are notes of Chocolate as well but I can't make up my mind. Sometimes I get Dark Chocolate and sometimes Milk-Hazelnut Chocolate.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Wax, Cake with Cream and Strawberries, Vanilla, Toffee, Lemon, Berries, Apples and Pears, Tobacco, Leather, Varnish, Peanut Butter, Nougat, Nutmeg & Pepper.

Palate:

For me the best part of this Glen Elgin. The Alcohol is more present now and Oak and Spices come to the forefront. It remains pleasantly Fruity though with both Sweet and Sour notes. A very light Bitterness. Medium-Dry. I like it. 😃

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Honey, Buttery Cake with Cream and Strawberries, Grass & Straw, Citrus Peel (Orange, Tangerine, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Lemon) Dried Fruit (Figs, Apricot, Raisin, Apple, Pineapple), Fresh Green Herbs, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon, Pepper and Nutmeg.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Wax, Vanilla, Toffee, Sugar, Bounty Bars, Pear, Floral notes, Tea with Milk, Dark Chocolate, Tobacco, Leather, Cloves and Ginger.

Finish:

Middle-Long. Mostly Sweet & Sour notes with a very light Bitterness for balance. Dry in the end. The Alcohol is more noticeable now. I find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Wax, Citrus Peel (Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Tangerine), Red Berries, Green Apple, Cream, Nougat, Dark Chocolate, Hazelnuts, Herbal Tea, Floral notes, Red Wine, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Mint, Aniseed, Ginger and Cloves.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water that enhances the Barley and brings some juicy Peach to the Nose. On the Palate and in the Finish the Alcohol is controlled & the added Water guarantees a smooth drinking experience. I like it both ways.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is around 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

The Glen Elgin distillery is located four miles south of Elgin in the small village of Fogwatt close to the A 941. It was founded in 1898 by James Carle and William Simpson. It had its ups and downs but was finally bought by DCL in 1930. Today it's part of the Diageo Group and became one of their Classic Malts range in 2005. Most of the Spirit is destined for Blends like White Horse. The only official bottlings are the 12 Years and the limited 18 Years Edition I reviewed earlier.

As you all know I'm usually not that keen on Red Wine cask finished Single Malt. But in this case it works and the result is a very Fruity Glen Elgin that combines both Sweet and Sour notes with a slight Bitterness for balance. The Nose is a bit shy but Palate and Finish are quite pleasant and invite you to have another sip. It's not cheap of course but other than that I can recommend this Elgin if you like the Aroma/Flavour profile.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende July 10, 2025

Macaloney's St. Mallie

“Piano in the Dark”

Whisky Review # 1067

Country: Canada 🇨🇦

Region: Vancouver Island

Brand: Macaloney's St. Mallie - Single Cask Series

Type: Canadian Island Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Portuguese Re-charred Red Wine Barrique

Sample provided by: Graeme from Canada. Many Thanks!
Chill Filtration: No
Price Average: US$ 60-80 (July 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 A bit too expensive for what it offers

Buying Advice: 😐 Not bad but a little immature

Colour:

Dark Amber with Shades of Brown and Orange (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Young and slightly Thin with Sweet, Sour and Burnt notes. Lots of Dark Fruit. The Alcohol is noticeable.

Main Aromas:

Toasted Grain, Buttered Toast, Brown Sugar, (Dark) Red Berries & Currants, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates and Figs, Dark Honey, Dark Chocolate (80%), Seville-Orange, slightly Sour Red Wine, Charred Oak, Leather, Cinnamon and Ginger.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Vanilla, Syrup, Lemon, Grated Coconut, Apples cooked in Rum, Tobacco, Wet Rocks, Green Plants, Roasted Coffee, Nuts Liqueur, Nutmeg and Pepper.

Dr. Graeme Macaloney

Palate:

Young and slightly Hot. A mix of Sweet and Sour notes with a light Bitterness in the background. Lots of Dark Fruit and Chocolate.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Grain, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Dark Honey, Dark Red Berries and Currants, Dark Chocolate (80%), Seville-Orange, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Figs and Dates, Leather, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Buttered Toast, Yeast, Roasted Coffee, Sour Red Wine, Sliced Coconut, Cigar Box, Wet Rocks, Metal Coins, Armagnac, Charred Oak, Milk, Cloves, Licorice, Nutmeg and a distant hint of Meat.

Finish:

Young, Thin, bit Sharp & Short/Middle-Long. Sweet & Sour notes in the beginning but a light Bitterness towards the Medium Dry/Dry end. There's an "Old" feeling to it as in Old Wood and Old Books. I also find Toasted Grains, Salted Caramel, Red Berries and Currants, Brown Sugar, Dark Honey, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Figs, Dark Chocolate (80%), Roasted Coffee, Nuts & Nutshells, Tobacco, Leather, Sour Red Wine, Charred Oak, Green Plants, Seville-Orange, Sliced Coconut, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves and Ginger. A hint of Meat perhaps.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and that helps calm down the Nose. It also fortifies the Fruit and takes away the Sharp edges. You will lose some Flavors on the Palate and in the Finish but the overall creaminess is enhanced. Please try it both ways.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience:

Okay/Good

Conclusion:

This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.

The Potstill whiskies are traditional Irish-Style triple distilled whiskies. Dr. Macaloney, the founder, is a Scot of Irish Heritage who attended the Midleton Irish Whiskey Academy and learned traditional Irish methods a.o. with ex Master Distiller Brian Nation. Back in Canada he then learned to optimize the traditional whisky process following Dr. Jim Swan's methods. The resulting New Make Spirit won several global awards.

This is not a bad effort by the Canadian distillery. Light notes of dark aromas and flavours. Hence the title of this review. There are some nice notes to be found but I got an image of an armed master-distiller pointing a gun at the New Make Spirit saying "Mature Quickly or Die". I like the "Spirit" of this St. Mallie but I would love to see it matured for a longer time in the traditional way. "Call me old-fashioned but I would" as the late great Dame Edna would have said!

Cheers, Jan 🥃 July 3, 2025

Auchroisk 2008 (Pendulum Spirits Ltd)

“Thin As a Brick”

Whisky Review # 1066

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Auchroisk 2008 - Distilled: 10-04-2008

Bottled By: PSL (Pendulum Spirits Ltd) - Fable Chapter Nine Storm on 18-10-2021

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky

Age: 13 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 59% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Hogshead - Cask # 806196 - 264 Bottles
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 80-90 (June 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 It's not worth your money

Buying Advice: 👎 Not good enough for a 13 Year old Single Malt

Colour:

White Wine (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Not a lot going on here. Very underwhelming for a Single Malt. The Nose is Sweet and a little Dirty and Rough. You have to be extremely patient to dig up some faint notes. Mostly slightly Sour Fruits, Malt, Herbs and Nuts.

Main Aromas:

Toasted Barley, Toast with Margarine, slightly Sour Gooseberries, Grapefruit and Plums, Seville Orange, Lemon, Nuts, Ginger and Mint.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Heather-Honey, Caramel, Apples and Pears, Cooked Cabbage, Wet Paper, Car Repair Shop, Herbs, Plastic, Pepper and Cinnamon.

Source: Whisky.Com

Palate:

Young, Thin, Dirty and Nervous with mostly Sugary Sweet and Sour notes. It's not your average mainstream Malt. I usually like that but not in this case. It's just not good enough.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Sugar, Sour Gooseberries, Grapefruit, Apple, Seville Orange and Plums, Oak, Nuts, Pepper, Ginger & Menthol. The slightest hint of Factory Smoke.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Vanilla, Caramel, Straw, Obstler, Pear, Lemon, Cloves & Licorice.

Finish:

Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet, Hot, Dirty & Spicy. I find Sugar, Malted Barley, slightly Sour Gooseberries, Grapefruit, Plums and Citrus, Caramel, Nuts, Heather-Honey, Apple, Pear, Oak, Pepper, Cloves, Ginger, Menthol and Licorice.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water & that helps bringing some fresh Orchard fruit to the Nose. It doesn't do a lot of good to the Palate and Finish though. Less Alcohol of course but also less flavor. This Auchroisk does not perform both with or without Water.

Rating: 6 (******)

Nose: 6 - Taste: 6 - Finish: 6

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

Drinking Experience Neat: Borderline acceptable. No serious off-notes.

Conclusion:

Auchroisk was founded in 1972 by Justerini & Brooks and became part of Diageo in 1997. The annual production arounds to 5.8 million litres. Almost all of it goes into the Diageo blends. The only official bottling is the 10 Year old Flora & Fauna.

Almost six million litres of Auchroisk Spirit disappear in the Diageo blends every year. I wonder why though. It doesn't bring much to the table apart from lots of mostly Sour Fruit. I will try to get a sample of the 10 Year old Flora & Fauna to check if it's interesting enough as a Single Malt. Based on this expression made by PSL I'm not too optimistic though. My advise is to leave this kid alone!

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende June 30, 2025

Talisker The Distillers Edition 2021

“Not So Red Hot Chili Peppers”

Whisky Review # 1065

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands - Islands - Skye

Brand: Talisker 2021 The Distillers Edition

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: Around 10 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 57.3% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: New USA Oak with a finish in Amoroso Sherried USA Wood
Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 60-75 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good

Buying Advice: 😐 I prefer the regular 10 but this is not bad as well

Colour:

Golden with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

There's a bit of Alcohol around so please refrain from Nosing in the middle of your glass. Allow this Talisker some air before nosing as well. It's quite Sweet and the Amoroso Finish is noticeable. Lots of Dried Fruit and Green and Coastal notes. The Peat and Smoke are not at all dominant and blend in well with the other Aromas. It is a little Young and Dirty but not unpleasant.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Plums and Apricots, slightly Dirty Coastal Peat, Smoke from a Distant Fire, Pork and Shell-Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Brine, Old Tarred Driftwood, Wet Grass, Grapefruit, Pepper, Aniseed, Mint and Milk Chocolate. Charred Pineapple after a while.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, slightly Sour Berries, Apple Vinegar, Wet Forest Floor, Ash, Leather, Salted Peanut Butter, Dusty Shelves with Old Books and Floral notes.

Palate:

Mainly Sweet but with some Bitter, Sour and Salty notes for balance. It's a little on the Young side and a bit Edgy. I miss some body as well but overall it's certainly not unpleasant.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Dirty Peat, Smoke from a distant Fire, Bacon, Fish and Shell-Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Charred Oak, Berries & Grapefruit, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates & Apples, Roasted Nuts, Dark Chocolate with Orange flavor, Pepper, Aniseed and Mint/Menthol.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Demerara Sugar, Toffee, Vanilla, Hospital, Ashes, Burnt Heather and Cigar Smoke, Apple Vinegar, Dusty Track, Cherry-flavored Cough Syrup, Leather, Forest Floor, Espresso, Cinnamon, Yellow Mustard and Grilled Pineapple.

Finish:

Middle-Long and mainly Bitter Sweet but also presenting Sour and Salty notes for balance. It's Oily but at the same a little Thinner than I expected given the strong ABV. It's a little Rough with some Talisker Chili towards the Medium-Dry end. I also find Sweet Barley, Toasted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Dirty Peat, Smoke from a distant Fire, Ashes, Salted Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon, Roasted Nuts, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Apples and Raisins, Apple Vinegar, slightly Sour Berries, Grapefruit, Dusty Road, Dusty Casks, Wet Rocks, Bitter Chocolate, Espresso, Mint, Licorice, Cinnamon, Pepper and Leather. Charred Pineapple is back after a while.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water leaves this Talisker very dull & thin despite the high ABV. Better enjoy it neat.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good. A little Dirty and Edgy.

Conclusion:

Talisker was founded in 1830 and is part of the Diageo Group. It produces around 3.5 Million litres of Alcohol per year. The core range consists of the the NAS Skye and Storm, the 10, 18, 25 and 30 Years, The Distillers Edition and Port Ruighe.

The 2021 Talisker Distillers Edition is Young, Mellow, Modern & not Unpleasant. But I don't really want that from Talisker. I want the fiery Peppers from the 10 Years or the mature balance of the 18 Years. Those two are certainly amongst my favorite peated Single Malts. This Distillers Edition 2021 is not but it's not a bad place to start your adventure with peated Whisky. And it's pleasantly priced!

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende May 1, 2025

Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2

“Burning Love”

Whisky Review # 1064

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2 (129.7 PPM)

Series: The Impossible Equation

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Bottled: July 2021

Age: Around 5 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 57.3% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with 18 months finish in Sauternes casks
Chill Filtration: No

Average Price: Around US$ 220 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😒 Quite Expensive for such a young Single Malt

Buying Advice: 😃 Not as good as the 10.2 but certainly enjoyable

Colour:

Golden/Light Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The slightly Dirty Smoke and Peat are there but the 12.2 is not a Peat Monster as the high PPM might suggest. They are leading the way though, accompanied by Fruity, Burnt, Coastal and Herbal notes. The Alcohol is reasonably well-integrated.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Dirty Factory Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Yeast, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Cooked Fruit (Pineapple, Pear & Apple), Salted Pork, Fish & Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Charred Oak, Dairy, Nectarine, Red Berries and Chili Pepper.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Burnt Matches, Glue, Ashes, Hospital, Forest Floor, Orange, Melon, Wet Rocks and Sand, Pine Resin, Milka Raisin and Hazelnut Chocolate, Perfumed Tea, Polished Leather, Seaweed, Soot and a hint of Licorice.

Palate:

There is a bit of Alcohol but you don't really feel the 57.3%. The Palate is in line with the Nose. The Sauternes Finish combines nicely with the raw Island spirit. It is still a bit Dirty and not overly well-rounded but enjoyable nevertheless.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Yeast and Dough, Dirty Factory Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Soot, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Salted Fork and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Cooked Apples and Pears, Charred Oak, Chili Pepper and Cinnamon.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Wax, Tar, Hospital, Ashtray, Forest Floor, Tobacco, Leather, Nectarine, Toasted Almonds, slightly Sour Orange & Grapefruit, Cocoa Powder, Apple Vinegar, Slivovitz, Ginger, Aniseed, Paprika Powder, Nutmeg and Licorice.

Finish:

Middle-Long. Bitter-Sweet with additional Sour & Salty notes. The Alcohol is more noticeable now but the Finish certainly invites you to have another sip. It's still a bit Dirty and Edgy but at this point you're almost used to it. Medium-Dry towards the end. I find Toasted Grains, Dirty Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Soot, Ash, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Honey, Demerara Sugar, Vanilla, Toffee, Salted Pork and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Cooked Apple & Pears, Espresso, Dark Chocolate, Charred Oak, Licorice, slightly Sour Green Papaya & Yellow Plum, Mint, Aniseed, Leather, Chili Pepper as in Talisker, Paprika Powder, Cinnamon & Ginger.
Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and while the Nose loses Power you will get extra Fruit on the Palate. Peach and/or Apricot come to mind. I prefer it neat but you can play with a little Water.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 by Barnett Harvey. During its history it was mothballed various times, the last time in 1998. In 2012 the Islay distillery was bought by Remy Cointreau (France). Since, Bruichladdich is showing a healthy growth again. The distillery produces 3 types of Single Malt, i.e. the unpeated Bruichladdich & the heavily peated Port Charlotte & Octomore. The basic core range includes the Classic Laddie and a 10-year old Port Charlotte. The annual production amounts to around 1.1 million litres. About 10% of that is Octomore. Octomore means " The Big Eighth". This is a medieval division of common ground.

Bruichladdich spirit combines well with a Sauternes finish. My personal favorite is the 10.2 as it is more rounded and compact when compared to the 12.2. But the latter, while more "Dirty", "Burnt" & Nervous is still quite enjoyable and consistent from Nose to Finish. It's a bit expensive given its Youth but it's certainly worth a try.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende April 24, 2025

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014

About this site

There are a lot of people writing about whisky. There are few people that write independent reviews. If you have to believe the first category, there are only excellent whiskies. That just is not true. There are a lot of excellent whiskies yes. As there should be because whisky today is expensive! But there is a lot of indifferent product and some stuff is just not good enough. There is a clear need for independent reviewers. I am one of them. I have nothing to do with the industry. I don't sell anything. I don't have the perfect Palate. My opinion is as good as yours! I just taste whiskies and tell you what I think about them. That's all.