Single Malt Scotch - 21 Reviews

It's a helluva task, but someone's got to do it....

The Flagellants at the NY Times have taken up the burden for us to taste a large number of Single-Malt, Speyside Scotch's for us.  What devotion, what noblesse, what sacrifice....

"....this was one of the most pleasant and interesting tastings I can remember. The overall quality of the whiskeys was excellent, and the range of flavors and styles was remarkable.

“This was proof that Speyside is heaven on earth,” Ethan said. “It blows my mind that these can be so close yet so different.”

We chose Speyside mostly because it has more distilleries than any other region of Scotland, including three of the best known in the United States, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Macallan. We thought it would offer a greater cross-section of single malt styles than anywhere else, and the malts were indeed diverse. Some of the whiskeys were almost sweet, with aromas and flavors of honey and heather, toffee and flowers. Others had a pronounced fruity quality, both bright citrus and fruitcake. And a few had the sort of saline, medicinal, smoky flavors most often associated with the malts of Islay."

Here's their report, and if you would like to read more, click here ....or if you'd like to listen to their scotch-soaked voices, click here ....



Tasting Report: From Just One Region, a Range of Flavors and Styles
The Balvenie Signature Batch 001 12 Years Old 86 Proof
$61
*** 1/2
Subtle, complex and smooth, with lovely citrus, caramel, dried fruit and salt flavors. (Importer: William Grant & Sons, New York)
Glen Grant bottled by Gordon & MacPhail 12 Years Old 86 Proof
$41
***
Complex floral, fruit and medicinal flavors with a touch of smoke. (Classic Wine Imports, Norwood, Mass.)
BEST VALUE
Tamdhu 10 Years Old 80 Proof
$30
***
Balanced and a tad sweet, with aromas of flowers, vanilla, beeswax and brine. (Rémy Cointreau, New York)
Cragganmore 12 Years Old 80 Proof
$43
***
Aromas of smoke, flowers, toffee and spices, with lingering saline and iodine flavors. (Diageo North America, Norwalk, Conn.)
The Glenlivet 12 Years Old 80 Proof
$44
** 1/2
Lively, elegant and subtle, with lingering sherrylike flavors. (The Glenlivet Distilling Company, Purchase, N.Y.)
The Glendronach Original 12 Years Old 80 Proof
$45
** 1/2
Aromas of fruit and brine; more complex flavors on palate. (Pernod Ricard, Purchase, N.Y.)
The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Years Old 86 Proof
$41
** 1/2
Rich and round with tangy flavors of fruit, chocolate and sherry. (William Grant & Sons)
Glendullan The Singleton 12 Years Old 80 Proof
$46
** 1/2
Complex and elegant, with flavors of orange, minerals, chocolate and toffee. (Diageo North America)
Tomintoul Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish 12 Years Old 80 Proof
$68
** 1/2
Smooth and straightforward, with aromas of iodine, toffee and malt. (Medek Wine and Spirits, New York)
Glenfiddich 12 Years Old 80 Proof
$44
** 1/2
Straightforward with aromas of orange, tropical fruit, honey and cinnamon. (William Grant & Sons)
WHAT THE STARS MEAN:

Ratings, from zero to four stars, reflect the panel’s reaction to the Scotches, which were tasted with names concealed. The Scotches represent a selection generally available in good retail shops and restaurants and on the Internet. Prices are those paid in shops in the New York region.