Experimental Grain Whisky Blended Grain CB

Kind of exciting... different.

I didn't get off to a good start with Experimental Grain, featuring peated, column-distilled Loch Lomond. Random notes of raspberry effervescent tablets, pinewood and mossy vegetation reach my nose, interrupted by smoldering wood, herbs and distant honey. On the palate, vanilla, cinnamon and banana compete with emerging peat smoke, fresh mint and bitter oranges. Whipped cream, milk chocolate and tannins mark the drying finish. Like a spy traveling under a false passport, Hedonism's alter ago remains opaque, confusing and weirdly fascinating. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Very interesting concept It helps to eliminate prejudice against grain whisky Worth trying anyway

I actually really like grain, but it doesn't really suit my taste....

A sample courtesy of Slàinte Mhath. Definitely different, definitely interesting. Will I buy a bottle? Definitely not.

Smells: The coconut milk and vanilla yogurt has a slight irritation, and the smell is very cereal-like. The sweetness is very high and has a similar feeling of hedonism. The sour coconut milk does not change much and is quite pleasant. 26.2/30 Taste: The entrance is very sweet and the irritation is not strong. The irritation in the middle and later stages of the coconut, red date and dark chocolate coffee slowly increases but does not change much. It is very simple 25.4/30 Aftertaste: There is almost no aftertaste, some woody bitter coffee or burnt coconut. The pleasantness is not as good as hedonism. It is the kind of bitterness common in low-aged bourbon barrels 25.2/30 Overall: I don’t like it, just smelling it is passable 76.8/90

Tasted on 12.02.2023. as part of 7-dram tasting: 1. Hedonism Blended Grain CB - WB22668 2. Juveniles Blended Malt CB - WB117832 3. The Story of the Spaniard CB - WB116617 4. Flaming Heart 6th Edition CB - WB116432 5. The Spice Tree CB - WB10754 6. Experimental Grain CB - WB205020 7. The Peat Monster CB - WB129838 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Nose: Fruity, grain, apples, banana, vanilla, sweet Taste: Spices, bitterness, grain, smoke but without peat

This was a sample courtesy of Peatbogger and Slainte Mhath. What it has I like but I would like it even more if it was a bit more complex. An experiment for sure, a successful one I'm not so sure.

A very interesting grain whisky. I liked it a lot and it was the best of a range of three hedonisms and this one.

Banana, toffee, light citrus, rum with a nice, creamy smokiness on the nose (22) Creamy palate of peat, toffee, vanilla, chocolate and a distinct oiliness. Lovely (22) Loooong lingering spice and marzipan. Well balanced and beauuuutiful (20) Overall, my fav of the 3 I’ve tasted. Stunner (21)

Loch Lomond peated grain evident on the finish- almost a mossy, piney, spearminty note on the finish. Tasted at Croydon Whisky Festival

Thanks to Slàinte Mhath for this sample. An exciting blended grain. Not really bad either, but it's not a whisky to enjoy or an all-day dram. This is probably because the distillate was obtained using the column still method, a method that is mainly used in bourbon production and in the mass production of spirits. This method is less complex and therefore cheaper because the distillate is obtained in one pass (continuously). In the pot still method, on the other hand, several passes are made to extract the distillate from the mash, and the aromas are richer and more complex as a result of this - and also because of the copper kettles used. You imagine a clean, rather young grain with light peat smoke aromas that is a bit too clean and fizzy. This can be marketed as an experimental grain, but really it is just simple, young grain in a beautiful bottle with clever marketing. For 30-40 euros I would probably buy a bottle, but even for that I would find it too simple compared to other whiskies in the price range.

Solid whisky. Would I go out and buy one? Probably not, but as a gift I'd drink every single drop of it.