We're the Two Army Guys - George and John.
We both came to love whisky later in life, and we followed similar paths - trying different whiskies, from different regions, with different recommendations and either loving or hating them. It was fun (and expensive) to figure out what we liked, and it took time to develop the palate and experience to know what we really enjoyed, and more importantly, why we enjoyed it.
In our slightly fuzzy journey down the whisky path, we realized that "more expensive" does not necessarily mean "better" whisky. You can get excellent whisky at a reasonable price if you look around a little bit. The same rule applies for years - older does not always mean better. We also realized that a lot of reviews didn't help at all, and while expert reviewer's notes such as "sherried fruit", "hints of smoke" or "honey" are quite clear, other reviews that included "Band-Aid" and "smoked fish" left us scratching our heads.
So, after a dram or two one evening, we came up with TAG-Whisky. Here's the mandate - We are going to review good, inexpensive whiskies (most under CA$100.00) using clear, simple language.
George, actually being Scottish, prefers the peaty and smokey notes from Islay and Western Scotland, while I (John) enjoy the more floral, honey notes from my whiskies, especially those from Speyside. Both of us appreciate the sea-salt flavours from Highland or Island whiskies as well. Our different preferences mean that you get a balance in our reviews of those wonderful drams. Given that our two collections number over 170 bottles (mostly George's, to give credit where credit is due), and most are under CA$150.00, we have a wide range to chose from.
Ultimately - and most important of all - your tastes and preferences are your own. They might change with time, experience, and a bit of experimentation. There is also the satisfaction in sipping a whisky that you enjoy, and knowing why you enjoy it.
Finally, Whisky shouldn't be intimidating or pretentious. And whether you are interested in starting a collection, buying a bottle as a special gift, or sharing some drams with your friends, we're here to help.
Drop us a note, we'd love to hear from you!
Slainte!