Having recently acquired two three-bottle sets of mini-bottles from Balvenie and Glenfiddich respectively, and a half-bottle of The Macallan 12, I’m going to sqeeze as many tastings out of these Speyside puppies as I can. I also recently acquired a bottle of Suntory’s Yamazaki 12 y/o from a friend who was having a clear-out. So without further ado…
1) The Macalllan 12
2) Glenfiddich 12
3) The Balvenie Double Wood (12 y/o)
4) Yamazaki 12
Nose:
1) Malt, sherry, a bit of wood
2) Big malt, sharp, pear, bit of wood
3) Robust, honey, cream, bit of sherry
4) Dark caramel, bourbon, alcohol
On the Palate:
1) Honey, butterscotch, wood, bit of burn
2) Light, sweet, tiny bit of wood, granny smith apple
3) Thick, sweet, rich, light caramel, ripe peach
4) Rich caramel, wood
Finish:
1) Creamy sherry, burn, long and slow
2) Sharp, burn, tiny tiny bit of wood, surprisingly long
3) Woody, burn, fairly long, a bit of creamy sherry
4) Sweet, dry, wood, fades fairly fast
Parting words:
1) Solid, well crafted, enjoyable
2) Bright, tart, but not shallow
3) Beefy, but subtle with hidden depths
4) Nice everyday sipper, but nothing too life-changing
Sipology 