While we know it’s late, William and I would like to share what we did this year for advent. We usually don’t get to spend advent together, so I’ll get a chocolate advent calendar (thanks, Mom, for introducing them to me!), and William will also try and grab one for his hotel room. This year though, while walking down the streets of Kaiserslautern, we found what I think is the coolest advent possible. A Whiskey Advent Calendar. 

That’s right, 26 days’ worth of interesting, small-batch whiskies to try together. For those who don’t know, William and I love to try different whiskeys, and we both have our favorites. William prefers bourbon a la Buffalo Trace, while I love scotch that tastes like smoking a cigar a la Laphroaig. We thought it would be fun though, to share our ratings and thoughts on some of the different whiskies we tried. We still haven’t finished the advent calendar (yes, the 12 days of Christmas are over and we’re still working through it), but we thought we’d share now instead of waiting to actually finish it. 

Berry Bros and Rudd – A Blended Malt Scotch Whiskey aged in a Sherry Cask. 

Christine: 5/10 – It’s sweet and very smooth, but it’s not anything spectacular. More for mixing, but still good. 

William: 5/10 – Vanilla on the nose, honey on the back end. It reminds me of a wager and while I would drink it regularly, it’s not anything interesting. 

Black Bull Peated Addition. Aged in Oak casks since 1864. 

Christine: 7/10 – Smells like strong hand sanitizer, but it tastes very peaty with a strong burn on the backend. Pleasant, but I’m not sure I’d pick it over Laphroaig. 

William: 6/10 – Hand sanitizer on the nose with a very peaty taste. Ultimately pleasant, and it leaves quickly. 

Signatory Vintage Speyside Single Malt. 

Christine: 7/10 – Smells strongly of apples and vanilla. Delightfully sweet taste, almost like brown sugar, with a light citrus finish. Honestly, I would use this as a dessert Whiskey. 

William: 7/10 – Apple on the nose, and tastes of vanilla, citrus, and gingerbread. 

The Story of the Spaniard by Compass Box

Christine: 4/10 – Smells like grape juice from communion, and the taste is iffy. I’d enjoy it more if there was a little bit of allspice or cloves in it. 

William: 3/10. Smelt like grape juice and tasted like peppered raisins. I would not drink it again. A disappointment because it has such a cool name. 

1770 Glasgow Single Malt Whiskey

Christine: 6/10 – It smells like BBQ with black pepper. It tastes very smokey with almost mesquite overtones. Interesting, but I’m not sure I’d drink it anywhere else but a BBQ with pork. 

William: 6/10 – Smells like pepper, while tasting like vinegar bbq. I’d love to drink with a brisket. 

Glen Spay from Duncan Taylor (Single Malt)

Christine: 4/10 – Smells like apricots and tastes warm. Almost like spiced brown sugar, but with a small kick at the end. Enjoyable, but it doesn’t stand up to other whiskeys. 

William: 8/10 – Apricot and apple on the nose. It tastes like Christmas spices with peppermint. It’s very sweet, and I greatly enjoyed it. 

Edradour Aged 10 Years, a Highland Single Malt Whiskey

Christine: 4/10 – Smells like peanuts and apples. It tastes nutty with a lingering taste of spices. It leaves a weak impression, though.  

William: 6/10 – Smells like peanuts and apples. It tastes nutty with an after of spices. Somewhat leatherish but pleasant. 

American Oak Preserve Highland Single Malt Scotch

Christine: 5/10 – tastes like a mix of honey and citrus. A pleasant taste. 

William: 5/10 – While it smells like citrus, it tastes like burnt toast coated in honey. 

Nc’Nean Organic 

Christine: 7/10 – Smells of citrus floral, but the taste has a quick burn which turns into a caramel flavor. I enjoyed it. 

William: 6/10 – It smells like florals and immediately tastes like burnt oats and ginger paste. Leaves with caramel after. 

Signatory Vintage’s Unnamed 2009 Speyside 

Christine: 8/10 – It smells sour, not unlike the inside of an Aldi. It has a strong peaty flavor with a long burn. 

William: 6/10 – Smells sour with a burnt earth and pepper taste. 

Isle of Raasay Hebridean Single Malt

Christine: Smells of sour wine and the salty sea air. It tastes like honey and is at first very smooth before giving away to a harsh smokey flavor. I love it. 

William: 6/10 – It smells mildly like Taliskers and is definitely smokey in taste. It would probably pair well with salmon. 

Berry Bros and Rudd’s Blended Malt Whiskey Speyside Reserve

Christine: 6/10 – It smells strongly of the sea air but is incredibly smooth and creamy. It tastes strongly of vanilla, with barely any burn. 

William: 4/10 – Like a Vanilla Wafer but smokey. 

Signatory Vintage Speyside Single Malt Whiskey Distilled at Benrines Distillery. 

Christine: 6/10 – Fruity with a strong apple smell. It tastes like honey and apricots with a good burn at the end. It reminds me of my favorite dried fruit snacks while I was in Russia.  

William:  7/10 – Sweetly spiced apricots. 

The Single Malt Scotland, Reserve Casks, Parcel no. 7

Christine: 5/10 – It smells strongly of pear while tasting like pepper and honey on the way down. 

William: 7/10 – It smells like a smokey pear, but tastes almost like a grilled pear on the way down. Enjoyable. 

Signatory Vintage, Aged 12 Years with a Cherry Cask Finish, Pulteney 2008. 

Christine: 6/10 – A pleasant, floral smells with a creamy, vanilla taste There is a bit of a burn on the back end. 

William: Smells like a Whiskey candle. Tastes like smoking BBQ. 

Compass Box Scotch Whiskey, Artistic Blend, Scotch Whiskey with Fruity Creme. 

Christine: 5/10 – Smells like freshly chopped wood chips, but goes down very smooth with a lightly floral taste. 

William: 7/10 – It smells like beach wood. Pleasantly smooth taste with a burning after. 

We hope you enjoyed our notes, and maybe saw a few whiskeys you might want to try. We’re planning on reusing the box next year because it is just too cute, while filling it up ourselves. We might try and put our own homemade mead in them if we can get a few going once we’re back in the states. 

Cheers, 

William and Christine.