The LCBO is currently out of inventory, but I managed to pick up a bottle when they were heavily discounted. I thought it would be worthwhile reviewing anyway, as it may give you an idea of what to expect from other Rare Cask Reserves whiskies in the future. A tasting sample also comes from Redditor WDMC-905.<\/p>\n
Here’s how some of the core William Grant & Sons scotches fare in my database:<\/p>\n
Balvenie 17yo Doublewood: 8.72 \u00b1 0.24 on 11 reviews ($$$$$)
\nBalvenie 21yo Port Wood: 8.73 \u00b1 0.39 on 13 reviews ($$$$$)
\nGlenfiddich 18yo: 8.55 \u00b1 0.40 on 16 reviews ($$$$$)
\nGlenfiddich 19yo Age of Discovery (Bourbon Cask): 8.74 \u00b1 0.31 on 7 reviews ($$$$$)
\nGlenfiddich 19yo Age of Discovery (Madeira Cask): 8.33 \u00b1 0.43 on 11 reviews ($$$$$)
\nGlenfiddich 21yo Gran Reserva: 8.66 \u00b1 0.34 on 12 reviews ($$$$$)
\nGrant’s Blended Sherry Cask: 8.00 \u00b1 0.21 on 5 reviews ($)
\nGrant’s Family Reserve Blended: 7.61 \u00b1 0.63 on 13 reviews ($)
\nKininvie 17yo: 8.82 \u00b1 0.33 on 9 reviews ($$$$$+)
\nKininvie 23yo: 8.62 \u00b1 0.29 on 7 reviews ($$$$$+)
\nMonkey Shoulder 8.29: \u00b1 0.41 on 16 reviews ($$)<\/p>\n
Let’s see what I find in the glass for the Storas 21 yo blended scotch:<\/p>\n
Nose<\/strong>: Sweet, with lighter fruits (green apple, pear, and plum) and some golden raisins and sultanas. Grape nuts. A good amount of vanilla. Something a bit dusty, like dried barley. Some classic grain notes come through as well, along with a bit of smoke. No solvent smells or off-notes. Definitely seems somewhat Glenfiddich-like overall, but with a touch of a sherry cask finishing.<\/p>\n Palate<\/strong>: Sweet, but tends more toward the dried fruits than fresh ones. More spicy kick than I was expecting, with cinnamon and cloves leading the way. Caramel joins the vanilla, plus some milk chocolate. A bit more oaky now, reminiscent of some common Balvenie editions. Smooth mouthfeel, great balance with the grain. Easy drinking, and perfectly sippable – a good blend, tangy and tasty.<\/p>\n Finish<\/strong>: Medium length. The oaky bitterness builds a little, but its well balanced to the dominant sweet caramel\/vanilla.\u00a0 No new notes here – just a slow fade of the light fruitiness.\u00a0 Actually pretty decent.<\/p>\n![\"storas-21\"](\"http:\/\/whiskyanalysis.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Storas.21.jpg\")
Not an overly complex whisky, but easily sippable.\u00a0 The nose doesn’t really do justice to the caramel\/vanilla backbone that dominates the palate and finish. I suppose you could say it blends some of the best characteristics of Glenfiddich and Balvenie. Overall, it also reminds me of some of the similarly aged vintage Glenrothes. Perhaps a bit overpriced at the original $190 CAD, but a good deal at the current $90 CAD clearance price, if you ask me.<\/p>\n