Tasting Reviews

2025-12 Chris J.

by webnoser

Here’s the one we waited all year for. This was the test. If we spend a LOT of money on our tastings, does that translate into an incredible tasting?

We pool our resources, chipping in for the big bottles, some of us taking out a second mortgage to pony up for this one. Chris hosted it in his new digs, and we hardly damaged anything at all. We played it safe and limo’ed there and back, somehow acting like responsible citizens.

The answer to the question… Well, check out the details below.

Round 1: The Macallan – The Harmony Collection – Amber Meadow

Cost: $368 CDNRegion: Speyside

Fun Facts:

  • Macallan is obsessed with oak casks and natural color – Two of the “six pillars” that defines their whisky character.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Amber
  • Nose: Loved the nose, Orange hint for everyone
  • Palate: The taste followed the nose, honey
  • Finish: Slow fade, finishes long
  • Drinkability: 6,7,7,7.5,5.8,5.8,9,6,7.8
  • Notes: Water brought some sweetness out
    • A special occasion scotch, but not worth 3x normal cost.
    • Would by as a gift, but I would want the recipient to know just how much I paid for it.

Round 2: Glenmorangie Signet

Cost: $254 CDNRegion: Highland

Fun Facts:

  • Say something fun here, or say nothing at all

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Mahogany colour
  • Nose: Chocolate, Pepper
  • Palate: Pepper
  • Finish: Quick Drop off
  • Drinkability: 4,7,3.5,5.5,4,4.8,6,5.5,4.8
  • Notes: Beautiful bottle with a graduated colouring to the glass
    • Not that good, a bit uninspiring
    • Rye Whiskey with Kool-Aid
    • Has a nose, did not like the finish
    • Nope

Spey – Royal Choice

Cost: $452 CDNRegion: Speyside

Fun Facts:

  • Royal Choice is produced exclusively under licence for Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that maintains sites like the Tower of London and Hampton Court. That’s why the bottle features royal blue accents and imagery of the Tower of London.
  • 22 Years average age for the malts in this one.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Amber
  • Nose: A nose that make itself present, Spicy,
  • Palate: Pleasant, Carmel after watering it
  • Finish: Long, Slow fade, decent, best finish of the night
  • Drinkability: 6.5,7.8,7.0,7.0,7.5,6.5,7.1,6.0
  • Notes: A richness to it
    • I LIKE THIS ONE
    • I bought because it has a nice box
    • Best one, but I’d not go hunting for it

Conclusions to the Question

Just spending more, doesn’t necessarily get you a great scotch. Out of the extra costs it seems that $200 is going to the marketing, and $100 towards the glass and box, leaving little for the betterment of the actual whisky.

This means your Nanoose Scotch Nosers are not done yet. We must continue the search for (another) perfect scotch. We shall soldier on.

Wait – what did you mean ANOTHER perfect scotch.

Oh you… Reader, you’d best review our history to find that answer.