Buffalo Trace, Yamazaki and Benromach Organic

Around the world

I thought I travel the world and have an american bourbon, a japanese and an unusual scotch

1. Buffalo Trace 45%

Among entusiasts the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is highly rated (George T Stagg, Sazerac Rye 18yo, Eagle Rare, William LaRue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Rye)

This is the distillery's standard own bottling

This bourbon has a corn-rye-barley recipe, is younger than 4 years old (otherwise age must be labeled), its chillfiltered and bottled at 45%

I find it easy drinkable, with a woody sensation. Not being a very experienced bourbon drinker I still have problems finding the subtle notes of these compared to scotch single malts, but this is cheapest product available from this producer and even here in Denmark its 2/3 of the price of the average 12yo OB single malt. So its a great value for money whiskey.

It's a sweet, intense bourbon with a nice finish, typical bourbon as far as I know and easy drinkable. Some bitterness and a burnt sensation in the finish makes this a dram I can't sit down and drink forever thou

Rating 82 

2. Suntory Pure Malt Whisky "Yamazaki" 12yo 43%

The nose is good, floral, the palate is thin. This is just another good example that 40-43% often has a great nose but feels thin on the palate. Well, proffessional nosers do add a lot of water so this all makes sense. Off course , the fact that I am an experienced cask strength drinker, 40% whiskies usually comes out as watery to me most of the time.

I have to say, that this whisky is a tad too bitter for me. It has a slightly soapy-floral offnote which isn't that bad really considering what I experienced in other malts

Rating 81

3. Benromach Organic 43%

Going Organic, the control of the wood used for maturation can be so hard to keep in control of that Benromach decided to mature this on new wood. Apart from being organic, Benromach also paid attention to mileage of the raw materials used for this malt. They decided to use very local barley from the area around the distillery.

Benromach, essential a new distillery on the location of the old Benromach distillery (same buildings, new stills), just had a 10yo OB come of age, and before that we had bottlings from the old stock and some young of their new own production (peated whisky, golden promise barley whisky etc.)

Of their own production this has been my favourite so far

Youthfull, creamy-buttery, vanilla and woody/minty with a delightful buttery finish

Rating 87

PS : Next week I will head to head Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Jim Beam White and Jack Daniels