Most Disappointed

I was very excited when I came across a single malt that had been finished in a chardonnay cask. I thought this would be fantastic: the combination of my favourite spirit with my favourite white wine variety. I also thought this would be a wonderful treat for Python, my fellow Charddy slurper, when he next visited my office.

I bought a bottle as soon as I saw it online, without reading any reviews or tasting notes. It came in a nice little wooden box.

Last Tuesday the big day arrived and Python and I cracked open the bottle. Python was wearing the full uniform as befitted such a special occasion. I took a quick snap of Python in eager anticipation:

Oh Dear!

As soon as I sipped it I knew we were in trouble. It was horrible. Python was trying to be polite but he soon conceded it was most disappointing.

After a long run of brilliant single malts in Scotland and upon my return I suppose a less than perfect example was bound to come along. But this one really was unpleasant.

We did everything right. We let the whiskey air. We added a bit of water. We tasted it very carefully. Nothing helped. For the first time in my life I didn't even finish one glass, and down the sink it went. 

Yesterday I tried another small glass just in case there was something about Tuesday that gave me a false reading. There wasn't. It was still extremely unpleasant and again I didn't finish the  glass.

Only possible use is to give to Thygo if he doesn't learn how to say no.

After this experience I searched online and I couldn't find any nice reviews like the other two brilliant whiskies previously posted. I found one short review of "Not Good" from Whisky-Lads. I wholeheartedly agree with their use of "rotting vegetation".  They scored the whisky 75/100 which is excessively generous.

 

 

Tasting notes from Shirley:

Fills the mouth with an off vegetable taste. Totally consistent obnoxious taste that doesn't vary in any way from beginning to end. Reminded me of a balloon of foul air being released in my mouth. Medicinal alcohol at 53.3%. A distinctive smokiness but the most disagreeable smokiness I have experienced so far.

Does no credit to either single malts or chardonnay.

Most disappointing is an understatement. Unfortunately I just can't give it 50 or above so it's a 49.

Rankings:

1.    The Balvenie Caribbean Cask. 14 years. 90/100.

2.    The GlenDronach Parliament. 21 years. 85/100.

3.    Edradour Chardonnay Cask Matured. 12 years. 49/100.

 

 

Comments

[Paul]

Vindaloo might crush the horrible rotting vegetable taste, but I wouldn't count on it.

[PythonMagus]

I suggest blending it with a Beef Vindaloo would work!

[Thygocanberra]

blend it with something else ?

The idea of chardonnay + scotch doesn't strike me as a winner to start with ...

[PythonMagus]

There was some alcohol in there. I recall a time when Scholl's sherry was a treat! I would give it a 60/100 as a whiskey and 15/100 as a Chardie = 75 /100.