hs305 scored this whisky 86 points 
[July, 2019] What a funny labeling! A "Small Batch Reserve" that is diluted to 40% abv and sold worldwide - how small can this be, actually? And if a certain batch number is more delicious than the others how can I find a second bottle? This all sounds just like stupid marketing nonsense that aims to make a standard edition more sexy to collectors (but who collects Glenfiddich 18-years old bottles, anyone out there?)...
...and this tastes exactly as a standard edition should taste: Easy without any spikes or off-notes but without the complexity that makes the great editions so interesting. It is a good dram to serve to friends which are not into whisky yet, I guess most rookies will like it (somehow)...
...and this tastes exactly as a standard edition should taste: Easy without any spikes or off-notes but without the complexity that makes the great editions so interesting. It is a good dram to serve to friends which are not into whisky yet, I guess most rookies will like it (somehow)...
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The colour is old gold and the nose offers a lush honey-waxy-floral profile with notes of green apples that is not bad, actually. This is truly an old style Traditional Scotch nose which is mainly spirit-driven but it is not the most complex one. Nice to take a sniff before drinking, nothing else.
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The taste is about the same, quite fresh on home-grown fruits, honeys, waxes and some summer floral impressions and easy drinkable, for sure. It is not really interesting in terms of flavours exploration, after some chewing a milk chocolate note joins in - that is it. But there are no off-notes or imbalances either so this is what I call "quaffable" when focussing on other things (like a good football match).
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The whisky arrives warming and a little coating on the palate with no ditracting moments. The finish is of medium length and adds some bitter notes of tobacco and green tea that are welcomed first but turn a little annpying towards the end (because the finish dries out on these notes). Water is not needed on this anyhow low-proof dram.
