Random Reviews :)

Good evening Ponderers!

The boys bailed on me for the team reviews tonight so I pulled out a few samples :) tonight I'm warming up with a more mild blended malt, then an older Ardbeg, a bourbon, and a funky rum.

We're starting with Compass Box Vellichor (44.6%). Compass Box makes some of the best blended malt on planet earth, nothing like what you're used to if you're thinking of Johnnie Walker et al. I love their transparency. For example I can tell you that this blend is made up of 4% super old Caol Ila, 12% Macallan, 40% Highland Park, both in their mid-20s, and the rest made up of old blended malt.

Nose: An inviting malt and honey forward nose with oak and vanilla layers all well integrated. It's a wonderful nose but nothing too complex.

Palate: Again, wonderful blended scotch, oak and vanilla at the forefront on the palate. Great body. A hint of smoke, and some barley porridgey notes in the background.

Overall: This is a very nice dram but... I mean this is a $700 CAD bottle. I am most certaintly enjoying this dram but not a great value on this one. Rating is 88.

Alright next on the docket I've got a sample of Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist. A 16 year old Ardbeg distilled in 1990. 46% ABV.

Nose: Looooove old school Ardbeg. It's super smoky and vegetal. Think like a huge pile of salty algea beside a damp bonfire. I very much hope this tastes as good as it smells. I've let it sit for a bit and now it's turned into lumberward on a hot day with olive brine. What a wonderful nose. I'm considering not drinking this and just saving so that I can nose this forever.

Palate: Olives, briny, charred dried oak, fermented lemons, smoked meat, all super well integrated and there's zero punchiness but load of flavor. This is an absolutely gem.

Overall: If only this was affordable and if you didn't need to be careful about alcohol consumption I could drink this instead of water. Too bad most of them have gone for north of $1000 on auction over the last few years. 95/96 rating.

Alright, flying from Scotland to America. I've got a sample of Rare Character 9 year old bourbon selected by Liquor Bros. Bottled at 54.39%. Rare Character is an independent bottler. This bourbon happens to be MGP which has relatively low corn (60/36/4).

Nose: I love MGP so much haha. Buttertarts, nutmeg, pecans, pastry shop, drooling.

Palate: Good body. Buttered corn, toasted oak, buttered corn, toasted oak. With a bit of vanilla and caramel.

Overall: I love MGP so much. I shouldn't because it's mass produced industrial juice but anyway. This doesn't disappoint. My only issue with Rare Character is I'm worried it's a bit hype-y. I mean I've bought into it personally but still, you can get just as delicious MGP for half the price. Think like most of the Remus release. The Rare Character releases like this one are typically around $100 USD for reference. Anyway, loving this, 90 points.

Last but not least! Bedford Park Hampden <>H 10 year old cask 43858 (66.8%). So, just a disclaimer here. Hampden is my favorite distillery. Almost period. There are 3 maybe 4 contenders. I recently shared a bottle (a Vellier 100% tropical aged release!!!) with the Scotch & Ponder group and a bottle I scored 95 points was to everyone else a drain pour. So you do need to be careful, Hampden is kinda like blue cheese in a way. Some people can't get enough and some just... can't.

Nose: Rotten pineapple, cane sugar, swampy, vanilla, slightly vegetal, and a hint of carcass.

Palate: Super thick. Super punchy. Spent transmission oil, salty, past-due porc, palm trees. Let me add a couple drops of water on this one, it feels tight. Water opens up the nose actually. It turns way more porc-y, like if you left it out a few days. On the palate water tames it right up, loses a lot of the punchiness and the tropical flavors come out more. The bruised pineapple is more forward and the palm trees. With that wonderful hint of past-due meat.

Overall: Nothing will taste the same for the next few days I guarantee you haha. You understand why I had to finish with this. I will go to bed still tasting this even after brushing my teeth. These are still available for around $200 CAD out west, which is a great price for Hampden. I am a fan of everything Bedford Parks and some of you got a chance to try most of their inaugural release back in April when we had them over for a tasting (I spared you this Hampden haha). This one scratches the Hampden itch and makes me happy. I actually preferred it with a couple drops. Granted <>H (diamond H) isn't my favorite recipe (there are 8 Hampden recipes) but this was very nice. 87 points.

This was my first post in a year!! If you enjoyed please let me know and I'll do this more often :)

Cheers!

Simon