Shows promise, but lacks complexity.
Speyburn Braden Orach - It's young, shows promise, but lacks complexity in my opinion.
History about me: I'm a Novice, went to a Scotch tasting for the first time last summer (2015) in Wash. D.C.; the varieties offered were Aberlour, Oban, Balvenie and Yamazki 12 yr. Single Malt (SM). The pours were in plastic containers (cups)...the overhead ceiling fans were on blowing down onto the crowd and the drinks, which in my opinion oxidized the scotches just setting out at the different tasting stations...but hands down for me was the Yamazki 12 yr. SM.
My Recent M of M Purchases - Nikka W. from the Barrell (Japanese), Paul John W (Peated-Indian), Yamazaki Reserve (Japanese) and Nikka All Malt (Japanese).
Rating - Of the four scotches, Nikka fr. the Barrell was number one for me. However, my number two, was Paul John. It's simply to die for (but don't do it, live on and enjoy the scotch). The "nose" by far for me as a Novice, stands alone. When you first whiff the aroma, your olfactory glands and brain reverberate saying "Whoah, what is that"...oak, chemical, what? The aroma captivates and assaults your nose like a Muhammed Ali right hook coming at you from out of nowhere, prompting you to say, "Where'd the hell did that come from". But I do agree with the Chaps at M of M (MoM)...the nose is very earthy, not sure about the salt though. As for the palate, MoM is "spot on" BBQ Smoke" all the way. Relative to the Finish, there is something about the flavor, quite can't put my finger on it, that lingers on your tongue long after you've finished the dram, shot, snifter or whatever your choice of drinking glass is. Just do me a favor, "no plastic cups" please. Use an acceptable drinking glass and always drink responsibly.
Speyburn Braden Orach - Bought this bottle on 3/3/16. Saw it on the shelf..."hmmm, nice packaging", so I bought it. Tried some that night, it was ok, but nothing to write home about. Tried more of it the following day after sipping drams of my Nikka All Malt, Paul John Peated Select Cask, and Nikka All Barrell...(left the Yamazaki Reserve at a friend's house, because I wasn't too thrilled with it), and then circled back for a small taste of the Speyburn OB. Needless to say, it was timid and there was no "Ooooh La La".
Nose - Green Apples for sure.
Palate - timid and weak
Finish - You need to take another sip to remind yourself that your drinking scotch. Maybe that's because when you put it up against more seasoned single malts, it just doesn't square up....too young! It needs a booster seat...something to make it more positively memorable. (peat, smoke...something)
My apologies for the unsavoriness of this review, but even as a Novice, I'm not impressed with Speyburn B.O. I will however, hold onto the rest of the bottle and offer it (along with the drams of my more valued scotches) to my friends and ask for "second opinions". That's the best I can do.
Master of Malt Customer Mar 4, 2016
