Highland Queen Sherry Cask Finish

A while ago I was placing an order on whiskysite (when they still shipped here) and my usual process is to run through the sample inventory and tack on enough to make the shipping more palatable. In this instance, this dram was categorized under “Other Islay” and I wasn’t paying enough attention to notice that it (almost certainly) wasn’t. But I have the sample, so here’s my review of it. Maybe it’s a worthwhile blend.

Highland Queen Sherry Cask Finish, Scotland Blend, 40% ABV

Minutia: I guess all I know for sure is it’s 3 or more years old and saw a Sherry cask for some amount of time. Reviewed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Russet, Muscat; 1.3.

Nose: Sweetness like a cheap wine (not a $10 bottle, like Night Train or Thunderbird). You can detect a bit of raisin in there. It does not really invite you back to nose it again, and if it did you might decline.

Taste: Red fruit medicinal syrup mixed with a bit of wine and whisky. Vague honey that’s a bit off, like if you tried honey and it wasn’t the kind you like.

Finish: Similar, short. A bit of malty/nuttiness lingers and resurges a bit longer and it’s not too bad.

This is rather uninteresting to me as a fan of smoke and other strong flavors. Nothing was outright offensive, but it remained far from appealing. Unfortunately, other than getting the notes for this review, I wasn’t compelled to have any more. Not an immediate drain pour or anything, but a good chance it gets poured down the drain after being left out unfinished. If it’s cheap enough in the markets where it’s available, it’s probably ok to use in cocktails, it could even be an asset there if a whisky with a sweeter profile is desired. The lingering bit on the finish saves it a bit as it’s more pleasant than the rest of the dram.

Score: 42

Musical Evocation: Amorphis – “Far from the Sun”

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve

 

I had this at a tasting a while back and didn’t even want to swallow it. The rest of the glencairn went right into a bucket. I put it in as an example in my scale, but when I wanted to link them out to reviews it became time to get a mini and do it. So here it is. How much do I like or dislike it when focusing on it?

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, Scotland Blend, 40% ABV

Minutia: Neat in a glencairn.

Color: Deep copper, 1.0.

Nose: Vague honey, a bit grassy.

Taste: Weak sweet malt, low spice.

Finish: Weaker version of taste.

While I wouldn’t call it absolute trash, it’s on the lower side of mediocre. It doesn’t offer anything in a big way, and the palate is just so uninspiring and dancing between neutral and unpleasant. 

Score: 47