Tastes

NOSE: Fresh blood orange, juicy peaches, marzipan, bitter orange marmalade, apple cider, cinnamon. TASTE: Like a fresh buttery chardonnay. Hold 10s to get a knockout punch of spicy cinnamon and fresh ginger. Sharp 70% dark chocolate on the finish. OVERALL: Juiciest whisky I’ve had, very fresh and delicious. It’s like a sharper yet slightly toned down version of the mighty Aberlour 18, at a fraction of the cost. Fantastic value!

NOTE: Current favorite daily dram! NOSE: Marzipan. Cherry jam. Dried apricots. Orange peel. Fresh tangerines and honeydew melon. Water brings out fresh red apples, cold butter, and chardonnay. TASTE: Imagine you could extract a thick buttery oil from a cinnamon swirl bun. Lingering with cocoa bitterness and sweet pickled ginger. OVERALL: Incredible mouth feel, and hits all the right notes if you’re looking for full-bodied whisky that tastes as good as it smells. Has to be one of the best whiskies for your money!

NOSE: Green grapes. Lemon. Cantaloupe. Fudge. TASTE: Buttery. Pepper. Siphon cake. Marzipan. Cinnamon. OVERALL: A bit of everything to enjoy, although smoke is barely there.

NOSE: Bread pudding. Sultanas. Pineapple. Vanilla cream. Maple syrup. TASTE: Like biting into a rich, juicy fruit bowl of blood oranges, tangerines, and nectarines. Transitions into sweet orange marmalade. Smooth creamy liquid that finishes with dry dark chocolate. OVERALL: Beautiful transition from juicy fruits and marmalade to cream and chocolate that must be experienced to be believed.

NOSE: Dark toffee and hints of lemon. TASTE: Smooth and simple, just more toffee. Finishes dry. OVERALL: Not that offensive. Totally drinkable. Can’t find any peat smoke.

NOSE: Cherry jam & fresh plums. TASTE: Toffee first. Raisin finish lingers. OVERALL: Balanced. Smooth. Good.

NOSE: Smoke dried ham. TASTE: Syrup, liquorice, lemon candy. Long lingering sweet liquorice. OVERALL: Really balanced, smooth. Smoke is mostly on the nose, contrasted nicely with sweet palate. Absolute classic Islay whisky.

NOSE: It’s like a damp pine forest with fresh green grasses, with a doused campfire from the night before adding gentle smoky notes. Quite unique. TASTE: Lime zest. Salted taffee. Green apple peel. Bold, but harmonious. FINISH: White pepper with green apples stays with you, lacking any oaky bitterness or spicyness. OVERALL: One of the best tasting whiskeys I’ve tried. Real, deep flavors rather than the usual sweet, spicy burn.

NOSE: Honey first, then hints of citrus and vanilla. Bit of glue sometimes? TASTE: Smooth with a butterscotch malt. FINISH: Lingers for a while with toffee and malt. OVERALL: Very balanced drink that would please most first timers. Great if you like smooth and sweet.

NOSE: Sweet fresh apple and lemon juice. Honeydew melon. Hints of vanilla. TASTE: A little green apple. Watery and very soft mouth feel. Pleasant, if not getting a lot of flavor. No spice or smoke. FINISH: Quite watery but silky smooth. Ends on a pleasant sweet note, albeit short that dries out. You can pick up some oaky bitterness on the tongue. OVERALL: The nose is great and fresh, and drinks really easy. Simple and enjoyable if you want a light fresh dram.