Despite a family of Scotch drinkers, I never actually liked whiskey until I moved to Germany around the age of 28 for college. It felt like as soon as I landed I developed a taste for mushrooms and Scotch. Single malt bottles are also pretty cheap over there, so that probably helped.
After I graduated college and started an engineering job, I started to get a lot more adventurous with my selection and ultimately ended up with a list of whiskeys on my phone that was getting a little over crowded. I don’t discriminate between types of whiskeys, nor towards costs. I will try everything that I can find. In fact, I would go so far as to say Old Grand-Dad is equal to, or better than, Basil Hayden purely based on price. And the fact that they are the same mash bill, from the same distillery, just not aged the same amount, and they taste so similar you wouldn’t believe it.
Try a blind taste test between the 2. You will be astonished at the similarities. I promise.
Anyway, I am not good at reviewing what I’ve tried, but I’m not trying to be. I am only keeping this list going so I know what I’ve tried; it also makes it easier to share with friends. My thoughts on the tastes and smells of each individual bottle are that of an amateur just trying to leave a note for his future self on what he likes and what he thinks is overpriced.
I started off with a very simple system because I hated how wordy most reviews were. It consisted of 4 categories: ‘ + ‘ , ‘ ‘ , ‘ – ‘ , ‘ _ ‘.
+ (plus): I liked it
(empty space): It was acceptable
– (minus): It wasn’t worth it
_ (underscore): Garbage.
The simplicity of my system works great when you aren’t really digging in to that bottle, but it doesn’t leave enough description for your future, more sober self. I then started adding comments.
Long after this, I found a rating system used by SOMEONE I CAN’T REMEMBER! If this is your system, I’m kind of sorry I stole it, but also not because its perfect. It goes as follows:
98-100 (A+) = Transcendent: The best I’ve ever tasted.
93-97 (A) = Amazing: If possible I’d own a case.
90-92 (A-) = Excellent: Want to bunker a few.
87-89 (B+) = Great: A satisfying daily drinker.
83-86 (B) = Good: Might purchase now and then – not a must.
80-82 (B-) = Not bad: Has some merit – worth trying.
77-79 (C+) = Meh: Has minor flaws, a “meh” experience.
73-76 (C) = Shrug: Flawed, but not utter swill.
70-72 (C-) = Bleh: An education in bad whisky.
60-69 (D) = Future dusty: Wouldn’t buy it for any reason.
0-59 (F) = No: Not entirely sure it’s safe to drink.
Again, sorry I stole your perfection and I would totally reference your page, but not-sober me didn’t think this far ahead.
Edit: It was u/TheWhiskeyJug, can be found here if you scroll down. The fact that you can Google nonsense and it will find what you want always surprises me.
Grains and Water 