Yes, one more Scotch review before we get back to our regularly scheduled beer reviews.
This is the other bottle of Scotch I bought while shopping for Scotches back in May. This is the Red Label Cask Strength Scotch, which is produced for sale exclusively in the US. They don't post an age on this Scotch, but I'd estimate it to be somewhere between 10 and 15 years old.
Cask Strength Scotch is in a class all its own, and the descriptor is quite literal in its interpretation. Most Scotch is diluted before being bottled to a strength of somewhere between 80 and 90 proof. Cask Strength is bottled without being diluted at all, and is normally around 120 proof (this particular dram is 59.7% ABV). As such, I fully recommend adding just a touch of water to Cask Strength Scotch to help tone down what is usually an extremely hot finish and bring out the other flavors.
Color: Dark amber color with a touch of brown and red.
Aroma: Vanilla, molasses, fruity, floral. An absolute invitation to drink.
Palate: Big, bold brown-sugar sweetness hits right up front. This is followed by a zesty spice and a nutty and fruity undertone. Finish is very hot and spicy and is extremely long.
Mouthfeel: Thick and creamy.
Overall: A delicious, affordable (picked this bottle up for $55) Cask Strength Scotch with rich flavor, but it's just too much without adding a few drops of water (if you don't dilute normal Scotch - try an eye-dropper and add about 15 drops, if you like to dilute normal Scotch - dilute this one a bit more). An amazing dessert Scotch. Rating of A.
What kinds of Scotch do you like to drink? What kinds of mixed drinks can you make with Scotch?
Recommend
secretbeerreporter@xanga
Comments (3)
I don't like Scotch, but do like Whiskey. I did get to try some Michael Collins whiskey and that was amazing, it was so cheap I bought a couple bottles. (In Michigan it's pretty expensive)
This is one of my favorites... I started off drinking Macallan but as I moved on to the more smokey peaty Islay stuff, Macallan in general became a little bland to me. However, the cask is like the 12 concentrated. Wonderful wonderful stuff.
I'm more of a bourbon person (I live in Kentucky, after all), but I do appreciate a good Scotch every once in a while.