2017-12-13 Shetland Reel Shetland Reel Batch 3 Blended Malt

Yippie -I am caught up - doing the 13th on the 13th!

Nose: Wow- for 46% abv -very strong alcohol - but not overpowering - then - wood and gentle smoke,a touch of peat, followed by green grass and a touch of bitterness, something like red grapes, a few almonds
Colour: Clear, light gold
Palate: Starts with subtle fruit, then you get some musky wood and smoke notes, a bit of orange peel on the finish, with a smooth woody finish the tapers off nicely to a sweet note

Very nice. I like this alot. What happens with a tbsp of water:

Nose: Green grass, Smoke, Peat,grape
Palate: A touch of caramel, the fruit and sweet fruit, a bit of smoke and peat (just a touch of salt/kelp), still get that touch of citrus, and a smooth woody finish.

Gosh, this is tough. I really like this whisky - but the one I have listed so far as also all really good. Where do we end up?


  1. 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt
  2. 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt
  3. 2017-12-06 Samaroli Glenallachie 8yo Single Malt
  4. 2017-12-13 Shetland Reel Shetland Reel Batch 3 Blended Malt
  5. 2017-12-12 Secret Spirits Undisclosed Speyside 19yo Single Malt
There you have it - I slotted in in at number 4 - because I liked it more than the existing #4 - but - if I was to taste these back to back - it would be tough.

As I continue to sip, the complexity and balance is there for sure. This for sure is a top 5 at this point. But the exact order is debatable.



Links
Shetland Reel
The Singlemalting Review (I like this review alot - it catches a bunch of the key characteristics better than I did)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2017-12-19 A.D. Rattray Williamson 5 yo Single Malt

Image
Tasting this on the 21st - behind again! Nose: wow - this is a 60% abv  5yo whisky - and the nose is smooth and well integrated-apple, pear, gentle peat and smoke, yummy musk Colour: Light gold, touch of bronze Palate: Effervescent, peppery, apple, pear, nicely balanced peat and smoke, nice smooth woody finish Frankly - very impressed!A tbsp of water and test it again! Nose: Caramel and fruit come forward, but still nice smokey peat as well Palate: Smoke and peat come to the front, still has pepper, which moves to the middle, smokey peaty woody finish This definitely has a ew rough edges. You can tell it is young. I was tempted to slot this in at #5 - but decided against it. I would love to test this back to back with some of the top 5 - I might change my mind. SO - top 5 remain unchanged: 2017-12-14 A. D. Rattray  Glen Elgin 21 yo Single Malt 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-15 Wemyss Malts Pe
Read more

2017-12-17 Samaroli MacDuff Sherry 19yo Single Malt

Image
Nose: Nice sharp something - I do not have a good word - mint is wrong - but like that, grape, caramel, roasted nuts Colour:Light gold, with a touch of bronze Palate: smooth caramel, grapes, apple,light wood, a bitter almond alcohol bite on the finish - surprising -this is only 43% abv - but a nice bite on the finish This is very well integrated. I like this a lot. What happens with a tbsp of water? Nose: that interesting "sharp something"  is gone, still fruits and roasted nuts, green grass Palate: Much sweeter on the palate, apple, caramel, toasted nuts and a touch of wood on the finish. This is another really good whisky I really like it. But - my top 5 remains unchanged: 2017-12-14 A. D. Rattray  Glen Elgin 21 yo Single Malt 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-15 Wemyss Malts Peat Chimney Batch Strength 2017-12-06 Samaroli Glenallachie 8yo Single Malt I am starting to regret
Read more

2017-12-18 Secret Spirits Glenrothes 19 yo Single Malt

Image
Nose: Very mild, well integrated, green grass, apple, a touch of bitter almond (55.6% abv - but not as much bite as you would expect at that strength), a touch of strawberry, a few ketones Colour: Medium gold with just the slightest touch of haze Palate: Fruit forward, followed by a good belt from the high alcohol, a touch of toffee, a slight bit of wood on the finish and a bit of peppery bitterness Very nice, well integrated, I expect the tbsp of water to open this up nicely: Nose: Green grass comes way forward,  apple, strawberry,  caramel Palate: Caramel, toffee, apple, finish with a touch of bitter almond, and a hint of a woody note I like this a lot. It is my new number 5. 2017-12-14 A. D. Rattray  Glen Elgin 21 yo Single Malt 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-15 Wemyss Malts Peat Chimney Batch Strength 2017-12-18 Secret Spirits Glenrothes 19 yo Single Malt This is just a great example of
Read more