Tastes

Overall: Impressive presentation, interesting but somewhat beguiling nose that belies the strength displayed on the palate and finish, thank my wife for this gift! Color: Light amber Nose: Honey and leather, old paper, vanilla fudge, lemon butter, malt and wet wood, allspice, tart cherries, curry powder, hint of peat and smoke Body: Medium to full, mouth coating, clings to the glass and palate Taste: Sweet peat and spicy smoke explode, with spicy malt throughout, burning wax candles, drying towards the finish, great impact Finish: Long, soft smoke, drying oak notes and spice linger for quite some time with vanilla coming through

Overall: A peaty bruiser with a pleasant softer side. Color: Light amber Nose: Big brine hit, peat, citrus, hay, cut grass, grilled green peppers, butter, and mint, water sweetens it up a bit Body: Full and oily Taste: Buttery peat, salt, embers, fierce and monolithic initially but with time mint and vanilla emerge, water brings out more spices and some woody notes Finish: Long hot and spicy surge, very delicate vanilla lingers quite a while

Overall: The nose on this one seemed promising but it just didn't fire on all cylinders for me. Scratching my head...perhaps revisit it again sometime. Color: Light copper Nose: Sugar and soot, toasted marshmallows, unusual fruit-apricot works, perhaps some cherry like cough medicine, Ardbeg cream and limes somewhat subtle initially, also almonds Body: Appears full bodied, lighter mouth feel Taste: Initially sweet with a rapid progression to smoky, industrial, greasy Ardbeg. Some salt and tar on the wane. Finish: Shorter than I am used to from these folks, salt and tar predominantly, they are charging too much for this stuff.

Overall: Another Ardbeg delight, sweet and sour smoke, fun to drink, not as good as “the Beast.” Ardbeg is trying to displace Talisker as my favorite distillery. Color: Burnt gold Nose: Honey, smoke, oak, vanilla, citrus, buttered rum, chocolate. Water brings out a briny quality and mint (crazy) Body: Medium, silky smooth Taste: Sweet and tangy, with hardwood charcoal, spicy notes, water brings out the salt. Finish: Long and peppery, with charcoal embers, and white chocolate. Score: 88

Overall: Luxurious, definitely Ardbeg, interesting chocolate notes, reminds of Uigeadail Color: Light amber Nose: Salted meats, lime rind, soft buttery chocolate or fudge, peat smoke, hay, minty notes, water brings out salt and more peat Body: Full and smooth Taste: Smooth sweet peat smoke, citrus, dark chocolate with salt and spices, and licorice Finish: Long, dark chocolate, fragrant peat, creamy notes, pepper, and menthol Score: 88

Overall: A creamy dram, sweet, smoky, with citrusy qualities, superb whisky, a top pick of mine, one of the best bottles of scotch I have ever owned. If Corryvreckan is a rockstar, this is like a hug from grandpa (24). Color: Medium gold Nose: Lime skins and cream, vanilla, peat, malt, detergent, something herbal, salted marshmallows, a drop of water brings out the fruity qualities (24) Body: Medium to full, oily Taste: Tangy peat, soft heat, limes, little peek of vanilla in there, fluffy puffs of smoke and soot, complex (24) Finish: Medium to long, soft vanilla, smoke resurging (23) Score: 95

Overall: A lovely dram, interesting nose and origins Color: Dark gold Nose: Sweet malt, citrus, soft peat, spicy (cinnamon), almonds, balsamic notes (hay) Body: Smooth and soft, medium to full Taste: Sweet and buttery, spicy with mild pepper and a touch of smoke Finish: Medium length, pepper fades to gentle smoke and incense, whisper of cilantro?