Tastes

Review #052 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 51.4% Comments: aged 15 years, matured 11 years in bourbon barrels followed by four years in fresh pinot noir barriques from Grant Taylor’s Valli vintage in Central Otago, New Zealand. One of 9,400 bottles. Tasted after: Springbank 10 Appearance (no score): Brown sherry color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Raisins, charcoal, and leather stand out most. The more I nose it the sweeter it becomes, also now picking up red currants and strawberry jam. It has a creamy smoothness to the nose that makes me think of frosting, maybe vanilla? It’s absolutely mouth-watering. Palate: 35/40 Nice oily mouthfeel. Here the wine influence is very noticeable. The predominant taste is of smokey wine tannins and salt, but just the right amount. Digging beyond that I get a little bit of orange zest and dark chocolate also. Finish: 36/40 Medium long finish. Meaty and sooty and savory. Immediately I get a peppery and tannin rich flavor that makes me think of taking a sip of Cabernet Sauvignon as I’m chewing smoked pork. Some of that Springbank character comes though also as I catch faint hints of hay, wood, and metallic flavors. It’s mildly salty throughout which plays nicely against the ending grape sweetness. With Water: Do not add water to this whisky. It’s very seldom I come across a dram that doesn’t love water, but this here is one. Even just a drop will transform the entire glass to brackish salt water. Total: 88/100 Final thoughts: Great combination of peat and wine, very enjoyable. The wine influence is substantial on this one, which is alright by me. I’m looking forward the trying the next annual release I’m able to find. Price: $140 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #051 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46% Comments: aged 10 years, matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Pale gold color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 13/20 Surprisingly herbal, got me thinking of smoldering cooking herbs actually but I can’t quite pinpoint which ones. There’s some fruitiness also though I’m more inclined to say it reminds me of applesauce than fresh apples. Digging deeper I also get some nuttiness and notes of grain cereal. It’s smooth but all over the place. Palate: 15/40 Salt leads the way here, followed by more herbal notes. I may have just discovered the liquid equivalent to a dry rub for chicken! I get dry oak spice also but it’s truthfully very hard to sift past the salt to find a deeper profile. Finish: 31/40 Medium finish. Finally a little redemption for this poor bottle! There’s still salt but now it’s also sooty and smokey and savory. More of that oaky wood influence also which really dries it out. Some orange zest and vanilla are hiding in the background. Ending flavor hints at black pepper and is mildly bitter, as if I’d just chewed and swallowed some walnuts. With Water: A couple drops of water bring out vanilla and caramel apple notes on the nose. The palate is muted substantially (which isn’t a bad thing in my opinion) and I now taste some mild lemon zest as well. The finish is graced by some cinnamon which rounds it out and makes it a bit more complex. Total: 59/100 Final thoughts: I believe this is the first whisky I’ve scored below a 60. I’ve tried to give it time in hopes it would open up more after the neck pour but the flavor profile just doesn’t agree with my palate. Water is its best friend, and that discovery is probably the only reason I have not poured it down the drain. This is my first Glen Scotia, and I’ve often seen reviews by others describing it as having a “Campbeltown Funk” (which is a phrase I don’t like to affiliate with whisky, but I’ll set that aside) so I was disappointed not to find any of those machine, barnyard, or industrial profiles myself which I often affiliate with Springbank. This is a bottle that I immediately moved to my “kill” pile, and a single dram is okay but I don’t ever go back for a second. Price: $80 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #050 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46% Comments: aged 10 years, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry, 2023 bottling Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Musty and sweet are the two words that best describe this. Juicy apples, kiwis, and lemon citrus lead, but it also immediately reminds me of my grandfather’s workshop. Hay, old wooden planks, buckets of nails, chain saw bar oil, and the faint electrical smell of a power tool that’s been running for a long time. Palate: 35/40 Very enjoyable and oily texture. Primarily I get grain cereal, but also some charcoal, a mild saltiness, olive oil, and a hint of tropical fruits like pineapple and nectarine. It definitely imparts an overwhelmingly earthy flavor profile, though I can’t really point to why that is. Finish: 33/40 Medium finish. Kicks off with some burnt toast, closer to the back of the throat very interesting, but that departs as quickly as it arrived. Those tropical citrus notes turn sweeter, more akin to honey now, while in the background I get the first gentle whiffs of sweet smoke. It ends on a mildly bitter note, like one would find in dark chocolate, but without any of the chocolate flavor, just the bitterness. It’s not unpleasant, and if anything makes me want another sip to quench my thirst. With Water: A couple drops of water does wonders, it really opens up the palate to some of that sweetness I was picking up in the nose. Apples, brown sugar, and cherries are evident now, and they meld nicely with the other flavors. The sweetness also carries into the finish which now has some white pepper notes added on the back half. Total: 85/100 Final thoughts: There’s so much complexity in this dram, it truly is a great spirit. My only complaint is lack of availability. It’s too bad Springbank isn’t available in my home control state, so I try to snipe the occasional bottles when I see them sub $100 in my work travels. Price: $99 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #049 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 49% Comments: NAS, finished in Caribbean rum casks, from an undisclosed Islay distillery Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Tawny color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 16/20 Really enjoyable, savory and sweet, full to dripping and sizzling smoked meat, also brown sugar and vanilla, with hints of charcoal and some citrus in the background, like someone cutting up tropical fruits next to the smoker. Palate: 25/40 A little mellow on the palate, moderately sweet molasses mixing with sooty smoke and very salty bacon. Maybe some caramel too… make that salted caramel to help account for the salt-forward flavor. Mouthfeel is also noticeably thin. Finish: 28/40 Medium length. There’s a moment where it becomes a little lighter and sweeter with grilled pineapple and honeycomb, but it’s brief and gives way to bitter ashes and black pepper. It’s not an unpleasant ride, and ends with a peculiar and mildly sweet smoked coconut aftertaste, which I rather like and think may be one of the highlights. With Water: A couple drops of water opens up the nose to big vanilla notes, also getting past the smoke to find some nutty banana bread in there. That hint of coconut on the finish is also a little more evident. Total: 69/100 Final thoughts: I wanted to enjoy this bottle so much more than I actually did. It’s fine but I’d struggle to drink a second dram of it in one sitting and I won’t be buying another bottle once this one is gone. I’ve read a number of comments online from people who claim they have the “inside scoop” that this is Ardbeg, but I’m unsure that Ardbeg (owned by Louis Vuitton) would sell casks of their whisky to an IB in any volume. I also don’t see a strong correlation here between this dram and Ardbeg Drum based on my recollection of that spirit, but suppose a side-by-side comparison is in order now! Price: £45 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #048 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 44% Comments: NAS, marriage of ex-bourbon barrels, ex-olorosso butts, and ex-Cabernet Sauvignon casks Tasted after: Dalmore Port Wood Reserve Appearance (no score): Auburn color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 18/20 Very fruit forward, juicy crushed raspberries, ripe plums, sugary cherry frosting, milk chocolate, banana bread, vanilla, and cinnamon. It’s very sweet and balanced and enjoyable to nose. Palate: 30/40 Initially very dull on the palate, freshly baked warm wheat bread and walnuts, but nothing really pops. After a moment there’s some oranges, just a hint of plumbs, dark chocolate, and some caramel. I really wish some of those bold juicy fruits from the nose would make an appearance here, because while it’s nice, it’s still just a bit dull. Finish: 31/40 Medium length. It could be that it’s because I’m accustomed to sipping this when smoking a cigar, but I always get a hint of tobacco smoke at the onset of the finish. Some brown sugar is introduced here, and I also get hints of cinnamon, salted nuts, and orange peel. The ending flavor left behind is a bit bitter. With Water: Baking spices are added to the palate and the plumb flavor is more prevalent. These are a welcome “pop” of flavor. The finish pays the price though by being noticeably shortened and taking on a more intense bitter nutty flavor. Total: 79/100 Final thoughts: It’s important to mention that I’m rating this whisky here as a stand-alone product. This is always a fun bottle to break out when smoking cigars with my buddies, and I keep one on hand for that (if I can find it on sale), and pretty much no other reason. It’s a completely different whisky when paired with a cigar, it becomes sweeter and does a terrific job balancing out the bitter tobacco smoke, but it’s not a bottle I’d ever reach for to sip on inside as a post-dinner dram. Therefore my recommend and buy comments below are situational and pertain to enjoying with a cigar, which is not how I graded it in this review (that’s me acknowledging the inconsistency). Honestly I think the distillery does a grave disservice to this spirit by chill filtering it and bottling below 46%, but I’ll continue to purchase as long as I can find it below $150 or until I find something else which does an equally good job at a better price point. Price: $145 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #047 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46.5% Comments: NAS, American white oak maturation and tawny port finish Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Burnt umber color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Lots of fruit notes, predominantly I get cherries, raisins, plumbs, and strawberries. There’s sugary notes too including brown sugar, molasses, and milk chocolate. There’s a good amount going on here, but it’s still very inviting and somehow a bit subtle at the same time. Palate: 35/40 Stewed prunes immediately come to mind on the first sip. None of the fruit flavors are fresh, it’s all dank and cooked and fermented and delicious, almost syrupy but not in an overly sweet way. There’s some oak tannins, milk chocolate, and cinnamon after a moment. On the palate it goes from being rather dark and rich to very light and airy, reminding me a bit of the sweet but finish to a dark soda like a cola or root beer. Finish: 31/40 Medium length finish. More oak spice here before ending on a nutty and creamy milk chocolate note. It’s simple but enjoyable and just the right length for what it’s offering. With Water: A couple drops dulls the flavors on the palate, reminds me a bit more of cream soda now. More walnut flavor on the finish and also a hint now of sea salted caramels. Total: 83/100 Final thoughts: This review is on the neck pour, and it’s truthfully the only Dalmore I’ve really enjoyed besides the Dalmore Cigar Malt. Not awesome value for what this bottle offers, but I was able to steal it by combining some sales and coupons so I’m happy with what I got for the price I paid. I’ve also yet to find a Dalmore that is a solid buy at MSRP. Overall this is a nice port bomb, very flavorful and an easy drinker. Would be elevated by having a more lengthy and complex finish. Price: $77 Would recommend: yes Would buy: maybe Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #046 Type: American single malt Proof: 43% Comments: distilled from unhopped stout, aged a minimum of two months, matured in heavily charred American white oak casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Chestnut color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 15/20 Cinnamon, coffee grounds, butterscotch, and overripe bananas. This honestly reminds me a bit of a Guinness, or rather what a Guinness would be with some additional heat and depth. Palate: 30/40 Vanilla, dark chocolate, and spicy oak tannins stand out most. I also get some molasses and coconut after letting it rest for a little bit. It’s very smooth on the palate, almost too smooth and a bit dull. Finish: 34/40 Big stout flavor front and center, here is where the flavor pops and this spirit really shines! Finish is medium-long, which for some reason surprised me. Slowly this transitions to bitter baking cocoa and a hint of chili peppers before becoming ashy and salty. Really nice. With Water: On the nose I’m now getting crips green pear and… watermelon rinds? It’s a uniquely sweet and also bitter aroma that wasn’t there before. The palate is unchanged but there’s some additional chili pepper heat in the finish. Total: 79/100 Final thoughts: Overall this is a solid whisky. I can’t get over how much the finish reminds me of having just swallowed a sip of a barrel-aged stout. I’ll attribute that to not enough time in the cask to get a proper amount of wood influence. It’s an enjoyable and easy sipper, but lacks complexity. It’s not something I’d seek out but I definitely know folks who’d be very happy with this spirit. Ultimately I’m very grateful to my friend Chris who got me this bottle, and grateful for the opportunity to open and share the first couple pours with him. Price: gift Would recommend: maybe Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Review #045 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 40% Comments: aged 18 years, first and second fill American oak and ex-sherry casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Mahogany color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs start forming quickly. Nose: 15/20 Baking spices, strawberries, plumbs, crunchy pears, and butterscotch. Initially it had a harsh alcohol forward nose, but that dissipated after letting it rest about 15 minutes. Palate: 38/50 Mouthfeel is a little thin, and I’m not getting any big flavors standing out. I get honey, applesauce, brown sugar, grain cereal, and orange zest. The flavors play together nicely but it’s very mild. Finish: 25/30 Medium length finish. Chili pepper heat kicks things off, and as that fades it leaves behind orange citrus before transitioning to vanilla and cinnamon. Ends on a semi-bitter floral note. With Water: Water brings out some additional stone fruit flavors to the palate, plumbs and peaches. The finish ends on a salty note now and the floral notes are gone. Total: 78/100 Scoring rubric 75-79: Good, enjoyable to drink but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again. 4 stars. Final thoughts: Saw this lonely bottle sitting on the shelf in the hotel bar, and couldn’t pass it up when the bartender told me the price. In fact I ordered a double, and I’ve had much worse for the price. Glad I had the opportunity to try this one, it was enjoyable to drink but I’m a bit disappointed by how mellow it is. The bottle was below 3/4 (when I usually hurry up to finish mine) and who knows how long it’s been open, so that could be a factor. This might be good for someone getting their feet wet with scotch, but I can also think of others that are more enjoyable for a lower price point. Price: $15 pour, my local liquor store sells these bottles for $150 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last. 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, I will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection if feasible. 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, I will likely try to keep a bottle of this in my collection if feasible. 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, still it may make regular appearances in my collection. 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable to drink but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again. 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it. 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable. 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain. 2.5 stars or less.

Review #044 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 43% Comments: aged 12 years, European oak oloroso sherry maturation Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Not really able to assess color or legs with the blue plastic cup this was served in. I’ll update if I have the opportunity to have this served in a glass on a future flight. Nose: 16/20 Apples, sticky raisins, caramel, and warm banana bread. Palate: 35/50 Simple but nice. Mostly I get oak spices and tannins, but also getting subtle hints of salted dark chocolates, lemon zest, and dinner rolls. Finish: 23/30 Vanilla and butterscotch, for just a moment there’s chocolate covered cherries and maybe a hint of coconut, then ending on an earthy and salty note. Lots of good sweet flavors without being sickeningly sweet. The finish is moderately short and non-complex, but also has no noticeable alcohol burn. With Water: Short flight and was cut short by beginning our descent so wasn’t able to try. I’ll assess and update the next time I’m able to snipe a free upgrade to first class! Total: 74/100 Scoring rubric 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it. 3.75 stars. Final thoughts: Couldn’t say no to a free pour of this at 28,000 feet somewhere between Burlington VT and Dulles VA. I guess all that work travel is finally starting to pay off… I’m surprised by how little sherry influence this has given 12 years of olorosso maturation. The oak influence is a lot more noticeable. Guessing this may be a byproduct of being watered down to 43% ABV and perhaps the use of 2nd and 3rd fill barrels. I feel like I’d enjoy this much more at +50% ABV. Price: complimentary with business class upgrade on United Airlines Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last. 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, I will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection if feasible. 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, I will likely try to keep a bottle of this in my collection if feasible. 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, still it may make regular appearances in my collection. 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable to drink but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again. 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it. 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable. 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain. 2.5 stars or less.

Review #043 Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): • Medium gold color • Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form Nose: 16/20 • Honey, smoke, and green apples mostly, continued nosing also yields sticky raisins and molasses Palate: 34/50 • Charcoal, heavily burnt toast, maybe a little asphalt too, also some cinnamon, with hints of red apple, toffee, and vanilla Finish: 21/30 • Short finish, starts with a big puff of campfire smoke, but it doesn’t last long, makes way for some chili pepper heat, then turns salty before ending with mild bites of vanilla Total: 71/100 • 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it. 3.75 stars Final thoughts: • I wasn’t impressed with the last Glenfiddich experimental bottle I picked up (IPA Cask) but I saw this one on the shelf at a clearance price too good to pass up so I rolled the dice on it • It doesn’t make for an impressive dram but it’s definitely drinkable and was a good value for the price I paid, it went down easy when a friend of mine broke into it with me the other night and there’s not much left now… • A drop of water brings some additional brown sugar sweetness and grapefruit citrus to the palate, but also reduces the smokiness of the finish Price: $35 Would recommend: no Would buy: maybe