Tastes

Really pleasant and well-balanced. Quite tasty actually. Aroma has a bit of cinnamon and some syrup, but not a very prominent aroma overall. Complex flavor – lots of namesake spice like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and orange peel. There’s some nice sweetness as well.

Really pale straw color, surprisingly light. There is a huge peaty aroma that also has notes of roasted peanuts and bacon. But the flavor doesn’t have nearly as much peat and smoke as the aroma implies. The mouthfeel isn’t as full as anticipated, and it’s a bit sharp around the edges (but is softened considerably by a couple drops of water. Some herbal and wood flavors, a bit of saltiness at the end.

Surprisingly nice for the price point, pretty flavorful. Very pretty amber color. Pleasant aroma, with a hefty dose of caramel and a bit of vanilla. Nice flavor too, with some almonds, peach, and vanilla.

Really well-balanced, easy-drinking scotch that never disappoints. Has a little bit of everything to go with anything, and a nice golden color to match. A variety of different flavors. A bit of sweetness up front with some hints of honey and a bit of pear. A good amount of sea salt, some lemon sourness, and some quality pear and earthiness fill out the flavor. Very easy finish that makes it feel fairly smooth.

Fairly solid whiskey, no major weaknesses. Good balance between sherry and bourbon casks for an overall sweet and fruity profile. Good amount of alcohol as well. Very very light on the peat and smoke, unusual for Islay, and I had hoped for a little bit more to at least be noticeable. Good amount of nutty flavor alongside the dried fruits. Lingers a long time in your mouth.

A well-balanced, easy-drinking whiskey. On the nose you get floral notes, a bit of sherry (enhanced with a couple drops of water) and hints of maple syrup and honey. On the palate it is very pure, without overly strong flavors. The honey is again present, and there’s a bit of white chocolate. A bit more bite on the finish than you expect from the smoothness and purity on the tongue. Nice to drink.

My favorite port cask scotch thus far in my exploration. Nicely balanced scotch, rich in flavor. Pretty amber color, with hints of rose from the port casks. Rather aromatic, rich in scents of caramel and honey, with hints of cherry, strawberry, chocolate, and candied apricot. It’s quite full but not harsh on the palate. Fairly rich (but not overpowering) flavor full of candied dark fruits, a bit of chocolate, hints of mint, toffee, and fig. Really well-balanced finish with very distinct Port flavor, which is exactly what I hope to get from a port-finished scotch.

Nice, more lightly peated scotch. Incredibly pale straw color, really light. Fairly light and smooth for a (presumably) quite young scotch. Light smoke and light peat, which adds a bit of character but keeps it from being as strong as most other Islays. Has just a hint of brine as well. A little bit of citrus tang, some grass and herbs, and some butterscotch flavors as well.