Scotch Review: The Balvenie DoubleWood 12

Double the cask, double the flavor?! Maybe...

The Balvenie Doublewood was the first doublewood I purchased and it wont be the last. I like the concept of using both varieties of casks to bring out the best flavors from each. It is like the SUV of Scotches! But do doublewoods actually draw the best flavors?



Color: chestnut, oloroso sherry
Body: medium to watery
Nose: Oloroso sherry, honey and vanilla (from the double casks!)
Palate: prickly, cinnamon and spice with sherry and a little taste of the honey
Finish: long and some flavors from the honey (oak) and the vanilla (sherry), has a little bite to it though

This is a spicy and sweet doublewood but it is a little rough on the edges. The flavors just seem to rush from one to the other, but without ruining the experience. You can defiantly tell there are two very different casks involved here, and it makes for a fun drinking experience. This is a great little change from my normal sherry cask preference. It is a tad spicier but still keeps some of the balance. I give this interesting sweet/spicy dram a 7 of 10.

Questions for you! What is your favorite doublewood Scotch?

Cigar Review: Montecristo Cabinet Seleccion

There is truly something special about fall. The cool breezes, changing of the leaves, start of football season (close call this year!), and of course the pumpkin beer! 


I was watching some football I decided to pull out a Montecristo Cabinet Selection and a Sam Adams Pumpkin Ale. I don't think there is a better way to spend a fall day than this, you must try it.
The Montecristo was very pleasant. It was perfectly constructed and burned fine. It had a great nutty taste and finished smooth. It was creamy and had some spice on the palate. I am not sure if I would have liked to see a little more spice in this cigar, but it was still really good without it. I would describe this cigar's taste as toasted almonds. It did go nice with a pumpkin beer!
The Sam Adams was a deep reddish amber beer with a hint of spice and real pumpkin. It was good with a nice smooth Montecristo. Not my favorite Sam Adams but definitely my favorite pumpkin ale. The pumpkin played nice with the smooth rich cigar.
Back to the cigar, it really changed as it burned down. It became progressively spicier and intense as it burned down. It was just a good cigar, not my favorite but worth buying. The finish was my favorite part. It was clean and balanced, not ashy or too spicy. Well I would give this cigar a sturdy 7 of 10 but with a good pumpkin ale, an 8!