The tasting notes I’ve made so far are all for whiskies at four or even five stars. And, as long as I’m tasting from my own collection, I hope to continue such a highly rated streak. Unfortunately, sometimes lady Fortuna is against me and I’ve bought a lesser bottle. Luckily, most lesser bottles aren’t really bad, but just not my taste. A few, however, are only worth a lone star: Bruichladdich 14, Dewar Rattray Cask Collection, 54% I really tried to make something of this one, but when you finally get through the alcohol blast you don’t encounter more than a bit of lemon and grass. No depth, no flavours I’d warm up to. 1993-2007, cask 1562 Glengoyne 21, Distillery only single cask miniature, 52,2% Contrary to the Bruichladdich you barely notice the alcohol in this one. The flavours are faded and the sherry really overpowers everything. Only after half an hour in your glass will this one start to get some ‘whisky’ flavours. Way too much sherry. 1996-2008, cask 1391 Bushmills 10, 40% The regular Bushmills, but not one that appeals to me. I find this one way too sweet. If I want to taste something this honeyed and sweet, I’ll go for Drambuie. The flavours are all there, mind you, but I don’t feel like I’m drinking whisky with this in my glass. Glen Grant NAS*, 40% This one has luckily long gone into a big pan of delicious sauce! A few years ago I had a ’30 euro’ project for which I bought this one and it lost to everything else. Everyone who tasted it with me agreed on it too. Bottom shelf stuff. I don’t have any tasting notes left, but this is a dram I really though ‘bad’. * NAS: This means No Age Stated, or, no age on the bottle. Usually this indicates that the whisky is quite young.