You think that since you are paying more money for this older whisky it must be better, but guess what? It's not better. Whisky companies want you to think that older whisky is better whisky. Not so with Royal Salute.Ī week later, Royal Salute becomes more oakey, sweet, smooth, while losing the spiciness and complexity that was initially impressive upon opening.ĭrinking Royal Salute brings to mind the age statement illusion. You knew it was good when you opened it, and now, a couple of days later, you are assured. Return to the bottle a week later, and the wildness that was a tad unpleasant has left, leaving in its wake a fantastic whisky. Clynelish 14 can be a bit wild, untame, the sherry is too pronounced. Other whiskies can actually improve following opening. Johnnie Walker Blue Label is such a whisky and in this sense is clearly superior to Royal Salute. The flavor remains the same after opening. Some whiskies seem almost impervious to oxidation. In subsequent tastings, the whisky became much tamer. The finish to this whisky is not nearly long enough as it should be for the price.Īdding water did nothing to enhance this whisky. But, none of these flavors last very long. Some complexity mid-palate.īig malty notes, mint chocolate, heavy oak and sweet grains with good shakes of freshly ground black pepper. Pleasant but that's about it.ĭollops of wild honey on crunchy toast, zinging with tarragon, dill and other exotic spices. I expect a lot for the high price, and the impressive age of grain and malt whiskies making up this blend being not less than 21 years.ĭandelion, honey, a wee peat and ocean air laden with salt. It is Chivas Brothers ultra premium blended scotch with a 21 year age statement. Today's post is about Royal Salute 21 years (bottled Oct. I still regularly buy Teacher's, Black Bottle and Johnnie Black. Besides being a sentimentalist, I still enjoy blends. Once people start to appreciate single malts, their memory and fondness for blended scotch wanes. It was the first love, where it all began. Judging from the above, you can see how I have a soft spot for blended scotch. It offers something to both camps that is very satisfying. You see, Black Label really is the crossroads or intersection where blended scotch and single malt enthusiasts meet. When I started to appreciate Black Label, I decided to try single malts again, and this time I started to slowly develop an appreciation for them. I enjoyed smoke and sea salt and even a little peat! Hence, I progressed to Teacher's Highland Cream, Chivas Regal 12 years and Johnnie Walker Black Label. It's one thing to be sweet, but not cloyingly so.Įventually, after a couple of years, I wanted more out of my whisky. I never liked Ballantine's Finest Finest or J & B Rare. It was sweet, a little nip on the tongue. So, for a couple of years, I drank nothing, but blends. I used to wonder: " if single malt's are so great, how come they are not as smooth and sweet as blends?" And then, there was the peat in single malts. They tasted, to my untrained palate, rough, strong, just too much. I'd try a single malt and couldn't figure out what the big deal was about them. Why? As a newbie, I put a premium on smooth character. When I first started drinking scotch whisky, I was all about the blends.
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