Tastes

Sweet oak and that subtle Jura smoke. Earthy palate, with an oddly less-than-stellar nose. Overall a decent dram, but the subtleties start to veer in the wrong direction. I’ll take the 10 or Jura Journey at half the price over this one. (AT)

Bordering on the sweet side, but bitter and dry notes gently put the brakes on. Caramel, hazelnut, black licorice, dark fruit, and a bitter hay influence make for a decent bottle at a fair price.

Just when you think it can’t get any better, The Parliament finds a way. Every nuance, every subtlety, every edge, refined to the core. Beautiful color. Excellent nose and palate. Think of caramel. Dark chocolate. Maple syrup. Brown sugar. Marzipan. Cherries. Dark fruit. And sweet tobacco leaves. Outstanding.🏆 (SA)

The ‘fraternal twin’ of the Deanston 12. Floral, grainy cereal notes, baked bread, and ripe vanilla bean with a little bit of butterscotch on the nose. Continuing on the palate, with a hint of spice and some caramel thrown in for karma. A slightly bitter egg nog finish makes for a good no-age expression from Deanston.

Heavy peat on the nose mixed with a hint of “new tennis balls”, which is not a bad thing. Good actually. The palate starts to wander into “Sweet Peat” territory but the lower ABV makes it better than plenty of others out there. A little floral, slightly pear-ish, and a lot of smoke. Far from great, but certainly not bad.

A little too sweet. A little too sharp. And a little too spicy. And there you have it.

Sweet and peppery on the nose. Spicy peach cobbler on the palate. Light smoke and bitter oak on the finish. This must be related to the Auchentoshan Three Wood. Cousins. Once removed. (AT)

Established in 2005, this northern Islay expression starts, keeps, and ends strong. Excellent nose - light and smokey with a hint of tropical fruit and a fresh scent cologne (🤷🏼‍♂️) far off in the background. A velvet palate with gentle smoke and a rich, malty texture. Impressive to say the least. Make way for the new kid on the block. (AT)

Caramel covered tobacco leaves with a dark chocolate finish. Is that a thing? Is now.

First off, $180 for a 25, especially this 25, Is. A. Steal. The nose is something special. Deep, rich vanilla and doughy bread notes followed by hints of dried fruits and caramel. The palate is rich and malty, buttery, and nicely refined with honey and creamy vanilla shortbread, frosted cereal flakes, lemon curd, and a light sherry spice. The finish is especially smooth, if not just a little thin. Buy a bottle. Buy 5. And call me when you crack it open, I’ll be right over.🏆