Grade: B+
Type: American, bourbon, Kentucky
Age: N/A
ABV: 50.05%
Price: $40
Availability: Better Whiskey Stores
The nose on this is quite splendid. Sweet brown sugar and caramel. On the palate some maple syrup shows up with that brown sugar. This is a really well ballanced sweetness, not to much at all. The finish has some wood taste to it with very light smoke. This is really good stuff! Elijah Craig on steroids comes to my mind.
Grade: C/C+
Type: Scotland, Blended
Age: 12 Yrs
ABV: 40.00%
Price: $25-30
Availability: Wide
The nose is floral and a bit malty. Palate, light smoke and more floral with a bit of sweetness. This is actually pretty smooth and a good option for mixing, on the rocks, inexpensive but decent. The finish is light and almost nonexistent like most blends.
Grade: A-
Type: Scotland, Single Malt, Islay
Age: 16 Yrs
ABV: 43.00%
Price: $85
Availability: Wide
This is the quintessential go to Islay style scotch that is widely available. The smoke dominates the nose with some light honey and sugar. The palate is amazing! The perfect ballance of sweet nectar and spice, like a well marinated BBQ. The finish is filled with a big peaty iodine and salt. This is truly and amazing single malt.
Grade: B-
Type: Scotland, Single Malt, Speyside
Age: 12 Yrs
ABV: 43.00%
Price: $44
Availability: Wide
This is a classic Speyside for beginners. The nose is sweet. The palate is aslo sweet with dried fruit and maybe brown sugar. This is where the classic Macallan sherry taste comes from. The finish is light and doesn’t have much going on. Macallan 12 is a solid whiskey for the beginner.
Grade: A-
Type: Scotland, Single Malt, Islay
Age: 10 Yrs
ABV: 43.00%
Price: $50
Availability: Wide
The nose is medicine, peat and a slight wood. On the palate it’s quite smooth and even a bit light until the finish hits you and then it’s big smoke. This is a peat monster. Delicious!! There is no better single malt for me at $50 or less.
Grade: B
Type: American, Bourbon/Rye, Indiana
Age: N/A
ABV: 45.50%
Price: Aprox $35-40
Availability: Craft brewing in Oregon, not sure where to buy it by the bottle in the San Francisco area??
This stuff was soaked in tawny port barrels for six months (so it’s young) It’s also around 36% Rye. The nose is interesting, cherry and chocolate with that familiar port nose. The palate is sweet and strong, I mean really sweet. I love this in small amounts. The finish has some lingering heat but not much along with some lingering dark chocolate. Craft brewing has a long way to go for sure, but this is interesting and very tasty in small amounts.
Grade: B
Type: Scotland, Single Malt, Highland
Age: 18 Yrs
ABV: 43.00%
Price: $100
Availability: Better Whiskey Stores
I really like the nose on this, sweet fruit, chocolate, coconut…citrus. The fantastic nose sets a high expectation for the palate which doesn’t fully come, light citrus and oily but not very interesting. The finish is very smooth but no stand out flavors, almost like a really good blend. I do like it, but it’s expensive.
Grade: C+
Type: Scotland, Single Malt, Speyside
Age: N/A
ABV: 43.00%
Price: $50
Availability: Rare
This bottle by Benromach was made specifically for Bevmo with less than 400 having been produced. This makes it rare, esp if you don’t live on the west coast. The nose is light and floral. The palate is sweet with some fruit. The finish has some heat to it but no real complexity. This is not a favorite whiskey of mine at all, but rare whiskey is always a bit of an interest to me. This is a cask strengt? (hard to believe)
Grade: B
Type: Scotland, Single Malt, Island
Age: 10 Yrs
ABV: 45.80%
Price: $65
Availability: Wide
The nose has some peach and heat. The palate is hot and warm with some pepper, You can taste the youth here. (Older Talisker is better) In the finish there is some real heat and a light amount of smoke. Talisker 10 is a solid whiskey in this price range.
Grade: B-
Type: Japan, Single Malt
Age: 12 Yrs
ABV: 43.00%
Price: $55
Availability: Semi Rare
The nose is similar to an American bourbon, sweet with oak and orange notes. On the palate there is some slight heat and citrus that will linger into the finish. This one isn’t overly complex but it’s a great even-keeled whiskey with some great ballance. Everyone should try this once.
Bay Area Whiskey Reviews 