Lismore Single Malt Whisky – 4.5 out of 5 Noses
The best contact info I could find for Lismore or for the parent company, William Lundie & Co., was through the Whisky Portal. Lismore Single Malt is a Speyside whisky. They need a website, or I need to get better at using the Google.
Packaging:
Pretty boring. Just a clear bottle with a simple label. Maybe the money was spent elsewhere…hmm.
Color:
Light honey gold. Even after a dollap of water, the color was about the same. Lovely, lovely, inexpensive gold.
Aroma:
Being a Speyside, I expected the nose to be sweet and floral. A pleasant surprise awaited me when I actually took a whiff. While the caramel, peat, and floral scents definitely were there, a noticeable aroma of the sea and even a little wood stands up and gets your attention and the peat was a little stronger than expected.
Being a Speyside, I expected the nose to be sweet and floral. A pleasant surprise awaited me when I actually took a whiff. While the caramel, peat, and floral scents definitely were there, a noticeable aroma of the sea and even a little wood stands up and gets your attention and the peat was a little stronger than expected.
Taste:
The body is light to medium with a slight lingering, not really a coating, like I said, a lingering on the tongue.After the aroma, I thought I knew what I was in for with the flavor. While the taste does stay close to the aroma, an additional nutty flavor and a heavier sweetness were nice surprises. After taking notes on the tasting, I looked at a few other reviews on teh Interwebs. Several others said exactly what I was thinking: With a little aging, this would be a great whisky. But then everyone agreed with the fact that for $20 per bottle ($15 in some places) that this is a great whisky. That’swhere all the packaging money was spent!The finish is pretty quick. If I could change one thing about this whisky, it would be that the finish last a little longer. Not a deal breaker by any means, just me being picky.
The body is light to medium with a slight lingering, not really a coating, like I said, a lingering on the tongue.After the aroma, I thought I knew what I was in for with the flavor. While the taste does stay close to the aroma, an additional nutty flavor and a heavier sweetness were nice surprises. After taking notes on the tasting, I looked at a few other reviews on teh Interwebs. Several others said exactly what I was thinking: With a little aging, this would be a great whisky. But then everyone agreed with the fact that for $20 per bottle ($15 in some places) that this is a great whisky. That’swhere all the packaging money was spent!The finish is pretty quick. If I could change one thing about this whisky, it would be that the finish last a little longer. Not a deal breaker by any means, just me being picky.
I’m giving Lismore Single Malt 4.5 out of 5 noses.
Have you already tried it? What do you think? Agree or disagree? Be sure to leave comments below!
Do you need a good drinking glass? Try this:
It's a little one note a much younger than I would like. I've had blends and other single malts that I enjoyed more for the same price ie black grouse, bowmore. But its decent and definitely better than most in its price range.
We just bought a bottle after reading your review and we agree on most counts, although we made the initial mistake of trying it with a more mature Scotch. That is like having dark chocolate and white chocolate at the same time. You can hardly taste the latter.
In the end we would have to agree somewhat with Maddie07. We really wish they would mature it a bit more. But don’t get us wrong, it was still $20 well spent. Thanks.
I agree that you shouldn’t pair this with an older Scotch. And for a ‘daily drinker’ I think it’s perfect. Any more complex and I might start thinking about how good or complex it is rather than just enjoying it in the background.
Thanks for the comments!
The Lismore Speyside is $22.95 where I buy it. The age is not designated, and that means it is not eight or more years old, but by law of course it is required to be aged at least three years. I have read old posts elsewhere which said it is a 5 or 6 year old Glen Rothes, but I do not know (but would like to know) its age and source. That said, it has a good full full-bodied but not harsh taste; there is a smoothness and sipability there that is comfortable and pleasing . The nose is pleasant. It is making a serious bid to be my routine dram of choice, especially since Tamdhu has been mothballed. Slainte.
I expected more peat, being that it’s made in Speyside, but it’s smooth for the price (21.99), plus mine came with a free single malt curvee glass. Theres another brand called McClelands (peatee) I think that’s more like Lagavulin, which is my absolute favorite thus far for about the same price.
I picked up a bottle to drink on christmas, along with the many other scotches I received as gifts. I was very surprised with this single malt. The nose had more peat than I expected from a speysider, which translated to the palate. After a few minutes in the glass the nose became substantialy more pronounced and complex, the palate experienced the same complexity strengthening as well. I was very impressed with this one, It had the characteristics and flavor profile of some other quite expensive speyside malts for half the price. I think I have found my new daily dram. I used to reach for blended scotch, like teachers or the famous grouse but for around the same price Lismore single malt is soooo much better.
I agree, Jeff. I couldn’t have been happier when I found Lismore. It’s a very good dram at a great price point. Thanks for the comment!
I received a bottle of Lismore as a birthday present from my daughter and son-in-law. It holds up very well to my favorite Glenlivit or Glenfiddich. Slightly more harsh, but just slightly. Extremely good taste for it’s price class. When this bottle is gone I’m buying some more. My old everyday whiskey was Knob Creek, but this is definitely is a my new everyday whiskey.
Scotto, thanks for chiming in! Lismore vs. Knob Creek…that’s a good review idea! Are you normally a scotch drinker or is this a new found interest?
Nice review. I heartily concur. The one lingering question I have is if this distillery is located on the Isle of Lismore in the Outter Hebrides near Oban & the isle of Mull, if so, wouldn’t it rather be an Inner Hebrides / West Highland whisky rather than a Speyside? Thanks for your tarting notes. All the best – cheers.
I thought it was awful. I have had blended scotch in plastic jugs that tasted better than this crap. Thought I was going to gag every sip. Ended up giving the rest away.
WOW nice review, looks like you really know your single malt scotch — with all the other reviews saying exactly the opposite thing, maybe you should stick with a fruity white wine!
douchebag!
Glad to read your post. I bought it primarily due to price point.
I’m looling for an everyday single malt that is ml for ml worth the money. Looking forward hopefully to your same experience. Regards
totally agree…was taken back by the boring bottle and a handle no less!…a screw cap? but upon tasting? exactly what you said…a solid everyday Scotch at a great price…can’t beat it
I just tried Lismore single malt. It is surprisingly good for the price. Its hard to find a good affordable single malt but this fits the bill!
I’ve been picking this one up from Trader Joe’s for awhile and I really enjoy it. I have people try it before I tell them what it is and how little it costs. Great value and a good every day drink, like others have said.
Love this product
VEry nice, i agree w/ the above review i would Most definitely buy this again !!
on its OWN…as a mid week, cheap alternative…well worth the price!
You and I definitely had different experiences here. I didn’t find any peat or sea at all it was more of a mushy fruit and dark sweetness affair. Individual perception and all that, but I’d definitely never buy it again.
I completely agree! This is the poor and secret treasure. I’ll trade the simple label for the happy inside. I also have made this my everyday brand. The only drawback is to higher priced scotch. Lismore Speyside has become my grading reference for all the under 50s.
def worth the price…other affordable brands…Tullamore Dew, Speyburn
good luck
I discovered Lismore @ Trader Joe’s when money was tight and I wanted a Single Malt. I found it to be very good and priced just right. I will agree that it could be aged a bit longer but what the hell.
After years of drinking bourbon I’m a scotch beginner. I agree with your review that Lismore is a good daily drinker (I find it for about $20 in Colorado). It keeps me from consuming my Laphroaig as quickly. I wish it had more of a peat nose but this is a much better scotch than the blends which are about $10 more.
I have spent a small fortune on single malts and have enjoyed them all! Still do. Have some rare ones saved for my grandson. It is difficult to say enough about the Lismore for the price! Some of you should loose the arrogance and admit it is at least as good as many a $ 80 bottle of single malt…..I would compare it to some $150.00 bottles I have tried! Quit judging single malts by price…..
I completely agree! Substance over price. I challenge people to blind taste tests and I bet 9 out of 10 wouldn’t tell which is which. I rather spend $17 for a scotch that is just as good as a $60 one any day.
I was given a bottle of Lismore, and I was quite pleased with the it. It is not a well-aged scotch, but it does hold up on its own. For the price, I am quite impressed. I am a Glenlivet person, but as a drink for home after work, it is wonderful.
I drink my Lizmore from a Glenlivet glass. Enough said.
Well maybe not. When the French bought Glenlivet they messed with it and ran the price up to the point where I could not enjoy it. Once in a while someone who knows my fondness for The Glenlivet will give me a bottle of 25 year old which I do enjoy; but at the price I can drink my fill of Lizmore without thinking about the price with each drink. Lizmore is a good value.
I tried it and I liked it. It is becoming harder to find in the Denver area so I guess other people like it too. That’s all I have to say about that.
Wow, a very respectable scotch. Very smooth, slightly bitter with a sweet, maybe almond, finish. I totally recommende this one for a nightly end to your day. My most critical comment is it is a little too sweet.
I get a strong sense of cinnamon with the TJs Lismore. Maybe that’s just me. However you describe it, the flavor or a $17 bottle is incredible. Best deal in alcohol going.
They had once a sample pack of three different aged Lismores, in the small bottles. The 21 was legitimately a really good scotch. If you see a Lismore sampler, grab it.
Just a novice at whisky, but I bought this due to low price and Speyside type. Pleasantly surprised. Not too peaty, smooth and good flavor.
Looking for other Speysides that have low peat.
I just tried it tonight. Got it for 16.99 @ Trader Joes. I have to say that for the price point, You can’t beat it. I could compare to many Single Malt Scotch at double the price. Finish could be longer. But this will definitely become my everyday scotch. as far as label. Its simple but in my experience, the best ones always have simple packaging. Substance over packaging. I recommend to any whiskey fan. I have tried great $60 bottles to $650 Japanese whiskey. And Im a fan of this one for my daily.
This season TJs has the 15-year Lismore for $32 (in San Francisco) and the 18 for $43. I haven’t tried the 18, but the 15 is everything I like about the regular bottle, only more so and smoother.