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Bailie Nicol Jarvie 8 Year Old

Great Sweet and Sharp Citrus

0 589

@VictorReview by @Victor

29th Dec 2012

0

Bailie Nicol Jarvie 8 Year Old
  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    23
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    89

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

The Bailie Nicol Jarvie is a character in Rob Roy, a novel by Sir Walter Scott. The whisky is blended by Glenmorangie, and claimed to be believed to have the highest percentage of malt contained in a blended Scotch. Estimates are at 60% malt. I had read and heard about BNJ for some time without being able to get a taste here in the US, since it is not distributed here. It is clearly very well loved in the UK, "for a blend", and it is by all accounts heavy on the citrus flavours. I had been somewhat 'heavy-citrus-averse', so I thought it good to try a very citrus-forward whisky which was well-liked and popular. A bottle was finally hand carried to me from the UK. The reviewed bottle was opened November 22, 2012, US Thanksgiving Day, and now only 20% remains. The whisky is 8 years old

Nose: citrus, vanilla, apples, malt, salt,and a little peat. Well balanced between sweet and dry

Palate: a boatload of sweet and tart barley lemon-citrus, salt, nice malt, sweet peat, and some grape-wine flavours mostly in the background. Sparkling, sharp, refreshing, bracing

Finish: this retains all of the intense citrus, while finishing on sweet peat combined with brine and a hint of wine

Balance: this is a very enjoyable blend. At our Thanksgiving dinner we had about 6 whisky drinkers try both the Bailie Nicole Jarvie and the Talisker 57 Degrees North. About half preferred each choice to the other. This is citrus-forward whisky that is extremely easy-drinking and easy to enjoy. The flavours are very bright and engaging. I am a big fan, and look forward to getting more. A bottle of BNJ goes fast, though, because it is so easy to drink.

Among blends, this would rate for me a 93. Among all whiskies an 89.

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5 comments

numen commented

@Victor, great review. I also really enjoyed this and the Talisker. I'm not sure which I liked more, but I think that it might almost be too easy to guzzle the BNJ. It reminded me somewhat of a thicker, richer, and smoother shandy.

11 years ago 0

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

Nicely done as usual @Victor. I wish we could get it here in Vancouver.

11 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@BlueNote, the BNJ is VERY drinkable stuff. Do try some when you get the opportunity.

11 years ago 0

@NAV26
NAV26 commented

@Victor, my friend brought a bottle of BNJ back from the UK today. I just set down and had a glass, your review is spot on. I feel like there is some Talisker and Clynelish in this that gives it a bit of the sweet peat, salt, brine and waxiness. It would be interesting to know more about the composition.

11 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@NAV26, I am glad that you are enjoying your Bailie Nicol Jarvie. It would be interesting to know the composition of BNJ. I miss my one bottle of it very much, and look forward to having more bottles of it in the future. It is SO easily drinkable!

11 years ago 0