Tastes

Natural color, brilliant presentation. Nose opens with old fashioned butterscotch candies and questionable honey, the kind that just may be cut with corn syrup. Old fashioned dry ginger ale, vanilla butter-cream frosting and something rich and sharp underneath it all that reminds me of Irish cream or white cheddar popcorn. Once on the palate it's unbelievably smooth, even buttery, with some grilled peppers and coconut that carries through the finish with faint (very faint) wisps of sweet charcoal smoke. It's a fascinating, creative and quality dram, for sure, but I still can't justify the overweight price tag. Thanks as usual goes to our supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Pranay for the ALMOST FULL FIFTH! A RIGHT-HONORABLE, STAND-UP FELLOW, IF-THERE-EVER-WAS-ONE, FULL-STOP.

Nose begins with sweet maraschino cherries, heavy oak spices. Then opens to become beerish, almost hoppy with a touch of acetone. Astringent on the palate, sweet spices, mostly hot cinnamon, more cherry. Drying finish with some bitter wood. Mostly uninspiring, but a big thanks to the resplendent Pranay for the generous sample! Dry glass: soft green wood and a hint of powdered cocoa.

The Beach Campfire Malt. Aromas of powerful rich peat smoke, vanilla creme, buttered and slightly burnt toast, bracing ocean spray along with the sand (the kind that's followed you home in your towels and shoes), along with hints of chlorine and motor oil. Round in the mouth, oily with buttery malt and a touch of lemon (You can see why this might pair well with grilled fish). The finish is long and drying with earthy iodine, lemon eucalyptus (thanks for pinning that Adaminak) and smoldering incense. A bit of a challenge, but a worthy adversary! Dry glass: New car smell on a hot day.

What a beauty... Nose pulls you in with fresh baked pineapple upside-down cake and a bready note like rich Challah. Little snatches of Nutella... Tell-tale Glenfarclas on the palate; fruity, bold spices and cedar, with a certain bittersweet maturity. Powerful musty oak finish, dark and looming, coats the back of your throat and stays there! Generously sampled from the current drinking collection of the splendiferous Pranay, a no-brainer purchase, I will be seeking a fifth! Dry glass: Nutty marzipan.

50th Note! Undeniably Macallan, but on a new and different plane. The nose is rich, intense and humming with floral honey and woody spices. With water and time to open, a glorious suffusion of macadamia nuts and warm vanilla, along with a wonderful undercurrent of malt chocolate. Hint of distant smoke. On the palate it's full, with zesty orange peel and candied ginger. The finish starts with cinnamon sugar, then finds a very old, stalwart piece of good oak and sands it. One of the very best bottles I've ever had... I may have to defenestrate my entire rating scale. Dry glass: Chocolate covered strawberries!

My grandfather is a whiskey man, he would have a "tot" every night before bed, and still does, at 93! Now his brand was Imperial (shudder), but every time I visit I bring him a bottle of something proper, he's earned it. But his real poison of choice was a stiff Manhattan, I've many a fond childhood memory of nipping his boozy cherry from an empty glass... Nosing this Crown Royal brought those memories flooding back. In fact the nose is reminiscent of his basement home bar! Old dusty oak, woodsy spices and a sticky jar of maraschino cherries. It's powerful and a touch hot, almost menthol-like at the back of your nose, calling you to attention. However, it's surprisingly smooth and amiable on the palate with rich spices and sweet grainy vanilla, transitioning through a playful seam of horseradish into the warming finish. Graciously shared by the preeminent Pranay, my first Canadian and my first rye influenced whiskey... Oh how our little worlds expand!

Long overdue for review! Nose starts with malty vanilla, citrus and a light sweet draft of charcoal smoke. Palate is zesty, alcohol forward with toffee and dark honey. Finishes bittersweet with a touch of menthol. Mostly inoffensive, fairly unadventurous, and sadly overpriced. I would never say no to a dram, but I would never buy a whole fifth for myself. If you enjoy Black Label, find a fifth of Green Label, a 15 year old blended malt (no grain) that's almost twice the price but easily ten times the quality. Dry glass: a hint of earthy peat.

Tasted at "Local Bar", an upscale (read: overpriced) restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Tart nose, nutty sherry, sweet malt and citrus, oak-heavy spices, layer of vanilla. Thick palate, starts with rich cinnamon-sugar before quickly turning bitter, mirroring a surprisingly quick finish for an 18 year-old. Meh, bit of a let-down. Enjoyed it enough, but wouldn't drop coin for a fifth. Clashed a bit with the (sadly overdone) Elk chop and truffled mashed potatoes.

Neat: Go find a nice ripe, firm, bright colored orange and (without peeling it) take a big ol' bite, as if 'twere an apple. Over Ice: practically disappears into the ether of boringness. If this were any lighter it would be a gas. Bottom line: While not revolting, it's simply not a scotch whisky experience. Even my wife enjoys it (Irrefutable proof). P.S. props to the indomitable Pranay for the bottle!