Tastes

As a massive Islay fan Ive read reviews on this and its heralded as some amazing shit. Is it hype or warranted we shall see. Found it at specs for 83$(great price). Poured neat, the Lap heritage is evident on the nose with salt cured bacon roasting in a fire pit, bandaids, menthol and malt just leaping out of the glass supported by ocean driftwood and dense peat smoke. Let it sit a bit and you can pull some anise and clove like spice. Rich and pungent yet ethanol is ghosted. Mouthfeel is diesel thick with palate bursting at the seams. You cannot take it all in on initial taste too much going on. Have to parse it out over subsequent samplings. Deep rich smoky malt, bbq meats, mentholated pinewood, vanilla frosted donut with creamed dark roast coffee power through your senses. Im sure if I wait this out I can pick out much more but its so damn delicious I want to take another pull. Finish is long extension of palate never going dry or tannic just maintaining and sustaining your complete enjoyment of this dram. Salty smoked meats with malt and peat enduring along side aged timbers. The cooling menthol is amplified with a drop if you choose. I can break it down based on the Laphroaig ive had. The 10yr is great and value is very high. The quarter cask is better and worth the upcharge. This is on another level and worth the $$ imo if you want to get the best Laphroaig experience under $100. I fear Im falling into the trap of high cost scotch but the old adage is true here you get what you pay for.....96/100.......pure concentration of flavors and complete lack of off notes or ethanol issues is the difference in pricing levels. Not quite on Lag 16 complexity level imo and Oogie is still a tough out but this is most certainly a major contender with tremendous depth and power

I enjoy Beam black and Distillers cut is ok too so thought id give this a go. Poured neat, nose is strong barrel wood with dusty spice, leather, cedar chips and mild vanilla. Better than average mouthfeel and nice warming heat. Palate kicks in with smooth cola and vanilla custard (like Beam Black) with plenty of barrel and char to balance it out. Expected oak fest so im pleasantly surprised. Finish is good with lingering spice, oak and cola. Overall its very similar to Black with a slight uptick in proof. Both are solid tasty bourbons that are well worth purchasing under $20. They have that Beam/Old Crow spice that I like and don't go too far with the oak maintaining balance. Id give the edge to Beam Black as its more rounded with better depth. This Devils Cut is a tad drier with more barrel and heat but is still solid.......77/100...... This and Black at least give a different profile though

Well the 12 yr kicks some imo so thought this would be 6 yrs better. Not exactly. The profile is the same with the exotic fruits, autumn leaves and malty woods( please see 12 yr review). This takes all the rich bold vibrancy of the flavor and matures and flattens it out . Still has nice depth but the fruits are dried now and the casks are old. Finish is fading dry fruit and malt with parched wood. Its a bit tannic but lasts and is pleasant enough. On its own its still very good scotch but at the price($79) it falls a little short....85/100.....I know this sounds like a high score given my review but its still good I just expected more from age/price...... doubt I would repurchase though if Im being honest as the 12yr is quite good for less than half the $$

I am a big fan of the 12 so wanted to give this a go. Sometimes you want an 80pf so you don't get your face ripped off if you want to have more than needed. This hits the spot in that regard. Its not as good as the 12 but is solid in the low proof class along with WT81(totally agree with BD on this point) Im not gonna rehash tasting notes as they are very similar to the 12 with less developed flavor power and a bit more char cutting through. For the money its good whisky but again the 12 beats it on value as well. This is for when you choose a lower proof to keep the effects in check so to speak. Recommended and good for newbies too.........74/100

I really like sherried scotch, I mean yeah its fantastic. Have been interested in this GF for some time. I do appreciate the family business model along with the direct fire heating, last of dying breed. Poured neat, nose is standard candied sugared fruits like figs , orange and berries. Which is to say its right in my wheelhouse. Honey malt and toasted oak join in as well. Some say there is smoke.... yeah ill buy that only its smelling the fire the day after its out. Mouthfeel is thinner than I expected from the stills they use but its not a problem. Palate comes in with malty barley sugars, more dark fruit along with not quite smoky singed wood notes. I was hoping for some coffee light peat notes which almost develop but fade off with just a hint. Flavors are not deep but nor is it thin either. I feel more time in the barrel would do wonders as it tastes a bit young. Finish is medium with traditional fading malt and barrel notes supported by distant jammy fruits. I like this but it cant measure up to sherry monsters such as Glendronach or for me Mac 12. Im a fan but as others have mentioned the older stock may be the way to go. Totally enjoyable despite any drawbacks though so......85/100.....I will most likely swim upstream with this distiller leaving this price point to others. I paid $45 but saw this in NH for $36 all the time, at that price point its an easy repurchase.

The standard issue MM is ok imo but im a hound for high proof so picked this up. My bottle is 113.3 proof . Poured neat, nose has cinnamon rolls and dryer lint tempered with cornbread and buttery oak. Palate is wallop of dusty shortbread cookie, butter and oak with some baking spice roundout. Touch of ethanol fumes float along but does not interfere. Finish is cinnamon oak dryout with some old cardboard and bread dough. This is some good bourbon. The higher proof delivers a healthy flavor dose with richness and depth. Blows MM out of the water and strong value as well. Easy recommendation.........89/100.....if you enjoy wheaters you really have to buy this

Im a massive fan of Bunna 12 as well as smoky scotches so this peated malt was a no brainer. Specs on sale for$59.99!! NAS but still no coloring and un-chillfiltered. Poured neat, nose has BBQ smoke and peat with malt, honey and animal cracker sweetness. Its soft but its extremely deep, smooth and rich. Inhale to your hearts content without ethanol interfering. I drive by the Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood Tx everyday and this reminds me of the smell from the pits that wafts out to the road. Oily mouthfeel brings waves of dense flavor. Strong smoky brisket, sweet heavy malt, mild pepper, birch wood, raw honey, vanilla pudding skin and a dusty note in the back. Carries some heat but the level of flavor here is worth it (I may hear angels singing when I drink this). Finish is long fade of the sweet very smoky malt, vanilla, honey and drying charred wood. This does not have the dark fruit notes of the Bunna12. Profile is similar to combo of Bruichladdich Classic, one of my top scotches and Ardbeg 10 with loads of luscious smoke. If you enjoy the smokies you need try this. The BBQ smoke/honey sweetness on this is intoxicating. .............91/100.......Its pricey but Ill have to buy it again(will try and make this one last)

Finally stumbled across this in the wild(I was shocked to see it) at specs while searching for Laphroaig Lore. Im a drinker not a collector so cracked it right open to see what all the fuss is about. Poured neat, nose is....well its pretty subdued. I like the descriptor of refined as it truly nails it. There is some honey graham cracker, butterscotch, soft gentle oak, light mandarin orange and plum skins all fluttering around with ZERO trace of ethanol. Time and a drop will no doubt bring out more nuance. First sip is so smooth and delicate you need to focus to pull the flavors out. Seriously this is so easy to drink while simultaneously delivering complex bourbon flavors without even a hint of ethanol explains why everyone raves about this. People who cannot handle high proof, beginners who only seek smoothness as well as seasoned drinkers will all find happiness here. Palate is runny caramel and seasoned oak with some nutmeg/allspice baking flare. Not much rye coming through but no matter. There is oiled catchers mitt, melted butter and cashew nuttiness with hint of dust on the back end . Finish is long salted oak, nut butter and caramel /butterscotch fading just a bit dry with cigar leaf and black tea. I think its fantastic and overrated at the same time. I appreciate the exquisite experience this offers yet I don't think it deserves the absolute adoration it receives. It is so hard to find and the price gouging has just added to the mystique. Do I think its excellent bourbon? Yes it is but by no means should you pay ridiculous $$ for it........90/100.........I paid $57 and at that price by all means grab it. Ive seen it going for $100 plus and would have to pass at that level.

Well I loved the LL 12 year and saw this for $24 so scooped it. Poured neat, the nose, palate and finish are all reminiscent of the 12 yr but dialed back. The flavors aren't as defined and don't have the vibrancy or depth of the age statement release. That said this is still solid scotch. It has the lovely fruit, smoke/peat and wood notes all for a budget price. This and Speyburn Bradan Orach are my top value scotches. Think of this as Highland Park 12 on the cheap as it has a similar profile. ........78/100......easy repurchase for low cost single malt (though the superior 12 year can be had for about $10 more )

Ive mentioned many times my dislike for Canadian whisky but...... This is actually a quality product. Poured neat, nose is familiar to genre with ginger maple, spicy rye, bit of barrel notes but we can add some dusty cardboard and a hint of caramel. This has an honest to goodness nose with some depth. Palate is spiced up pretty good. Peppery rye, Christmas, baking all appear with some sweet caramel maple and dry oak. Gotta say the pot still is a huge plus with nice viscosity and mouthfeel. Finish(wait a Canadian with a finish.. yes) is solid with sweet maple syrup and rye drying to oaky barrel. All the way through the flavor and experience has richness unlike most flat weak competitors. Lets not get too crazy its not as good as high quality bourbon or scotch but for what it is im very impressed........76/100....... Best true Canadian whisky Ive had and only one I would (so far) recommend......This kinda reminds me of those maple candies you can get at a trading post