Tastes

Highly aromatic nose, almost to a fault. I thought of hairspray, unfortunately. Full-bodied on the palate with raspberries & juicy red fruits. Finish is loooong, sweet & smoky, with brown sugar & passion fruit (the lingering effect of that hairspray note?).

The only underwhelming Compass Box whisky I've tried. The nose is light and fruity; I think of lemon-creme sandwich cookies and it's pleasant enough. But the palate is thin and wimpy. There's a buttery vanilla note, some sweet corn. The finish is short and leaves you wanting.

Currently challenging my long-time Go-To Cheap Scotch, Ardmore Traditional Cask, for that distinction. This is good and simple stuff, a steal at $24 a bottle. The nose is very agreeable and round -- some sweet peat, tart fruits, and malt. Reminds me of Golden Fruit raisin biscuits. Single-minded but solid on the tongue, buttery, very creamy. Vanilla icing comes into play. Touch of pepper in the finish. A best buy, for sure.

The nose is a bit winey -- luxurious and perfumed by exotic fruits and lavender. Palate is savory with baked dark fruits: rhubarb and cherry and plum. A little ginger and smoke in the finish. Very nice.

The nose is dominated by green apples, with the addition of a little pear and some fresh grassy notes. Light honeyed undertone. Palate is a bit thin and reminds me of apple juice. The slightly bitter finish is short, acidic, and grassy.

The nose reminds me of an assortment of yellow sweets -- banana pudding and butterscotch candies and lemon bars. The palate is sweet and creamy with luscious, custardy notes of vanilla and banana. The finish is long and spicy, with cinnamon red-hots. Beware: this one might give you cavities!

Honeyed nose with a medicinal note and dark black cherries. Palate offers lots of oak and smooth-bodied, mouth-coating flavors of autumn spices. Pleasantly warming.

Nose: Mild peat with green apple crispness; woody. Creamy on the palate with butterscotch candy sweetness fading to a briny and surprisingly long finish.

Peat's there in the nose, for sure, with something else like peanut butter (curious, indeed). Lightly floral but not perfumey. Light-bodied on the tongue, with flavors of toffee and spice. Long finish. This one needs water to sweeten and balance.