Reviews

Review #113 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 59.7% Comments: aged 13 years, matured in a 2nd-fill bourbon barrel Appearance (no score): Golden straw color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 16/20 Light sooty smoke, glazed ham, burnt pie crust, honey, salty brine, a little vanilla, and a hint of asphalt. Not overly complex but still compelling and it comes together nicely. Palate: 35/40 Slightly oily mouthfeel. It’s ever so subtly sweet, grilled ham steaks intermingled with salted caramel, warm Pillsbury biscuits with burnt bottoms that have stuck to the baking sheet, and bit of oak spice. Finish: 36/40 Long finish. It’s a little hot on the onset, with burnt toast and salted mixed nuts to start. As the heat fades it leaves behind ashes and black pepper, then becoming a bit meatier with peppered bacon and lemon zest. Gradually it becomes increasingly dry and ends with more ashes on the tongue. With Water: A few drops of water only slightly muted the peat smoke on the nose. The largest transformation is to the palate, where it takes on a more creamy mouthfeel. It also adds a hint of licorice towards the end of the finish. Total: 87/100 Final thoughts: Ardmore is one of the few remaining distilleries that I feel produces good spirit which seems to fly under the radar and can be found at relatively good values. Admittedly I paid the standard SMWS premium for this one, but I enjoyed that they didn’t feel obligated to do one of their customary sherry finishes here. I’d imagine maturation in a 2nd-fill barrel helps to maintain the initial flavor profile of the distillate, and it’s been fun to explore that here. I was surprised by the level of consistency throughout, as I’m reading it through again I can’t help but note that some type of pork and burnt baked goods appeared in every stage of my review. Not that this is a bad thing, just uncommon. Overall this is a great bottle that I’m very happy to have procured. Price: $155 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 #112 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 61.3% Comments: aged 7 years, bottled in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, matured in a 1st-fill American oak oloroso sherry butt Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Tawny color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, it starts to bead up quickly but legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Gentle peat smoke, candied bacon, orange marmalade, brown sugar, a little maple syrup, and some salty ocean breeze. Palate: 36/40 Medium bodied mouthfeel. Dark chocolates filled with a semi-sweet orange cream is the oddly specific flavor that immediately comes to mind on my first sip. There’s campfire smoke as well, but it’s subtle and well integrated. Clover honey, salted caramel, and just enough lemon citrus to undercut the sweetness of all these flavors and round it out rather nicely. Finish: 33/40 Long long finish, though not overly complex. It starts with a puff of smoke, oak spice, and a drizzle of maple syrup. As the smoke and oak fade, they’re replaced by ash and smoked ham. Gradually it becomes increasingly salty until that drowns out the meaty flavor and becomes the sole remaining flavor. With Water: A few drops of water add some grassy notes to the nose, and on the palate there’s some black pepper and a sweet meaty flavor, similar to the crackly sugar glaze crust of a honey baked ham. The finish has a little less salt but is otherwise unchanged. Total: 86/100 Final thoughts: Despite having a higher ABV than 149.3 (Review #111) it doesn’t have the same alcohol punch and actually drinks quite a bit smoother. That said I’m trying these a day apart from one another, so it could just be my palate is in a better spot for the high-octane stuff tonight. I definitely enjoyed this bottle a bit more than its PX matured & non-peated counterpart, but I was a little disappointed in the mouthfeel and lack of complexity in the finish. Price: $155 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 #111 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 60.6% Comments: aged 6 years, bottled in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, matured in a 1st-fill American oak PX sherry butt Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Tawny color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, it starts to bead up quickly but legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Old fashioned fudge, sugar cookies, and vanilla are most prominent, accompanied by more subtle notes of molasses, honey, juicy plumbs, and freshly cut wooden boards. Palate: 32/40 A little syrupy. This whisky drinks like the high ABV might suggest it would, it’s a bit hot even after some time resting in the glass. The alcohol punch is accompanied by bold flavors of milk chocolate and almost-burnt caramel. It’s a bit challenging here, but with some effort I’m also picking out some honey, candied ginger, and licorice. Surprisingly there’s not really any discernible fruit flavors present. Finish: 34/40 Nice long and complex finish. Gingerbread and oak spice gets things started, but it mellows out quickly, gradually being replaced by dry oak tannins and tobacco. A few diced walnuts appear to round this out, then there’s a hint of lemon zest as well, so subtle you could almost miss it, but unmistakable once you’ve fount it. It rides out this way for quite some time before gradually turning to bitter dark chocolate, and ending on a note of diluted cough syrup. With Water: A few drops of water introduces a little milk chocolate to the nose, some orange peel on the palate, and mutes some of the punchier flavors of the finish. Total: 83/100 Final thoughts: A very different Ardnamurchan, with none of the minerality and coastal notes I’ve come to enjoy from their official bottlings. This makes me wonder if the cask maturation off-site at the SMWS warehouse was the cause of this, or if the sherry just totally overwhelmed the natural flavor of the distillate? More experimentation is required! I think the combination of youth and higher ABV makes this a somewhat challenging dram, but it’s very nice to sip on when I’m in the mood to wrestle through it. I’ll be honest, it took me more sips than typical to discern some of the more subtle flavors on the palate (though I thoroughly enjoyed every one!) and by the time I finished my notes and added water my mouth was a bit numb from the alcohol heat, so my notes there may not be the most accurate. It was rather expensive at the time given lack of supply but price parity has gotten better so I’d likely buy something similar again given the opportunity. Price: $140 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 #110 Type: American rye Proof: 50% Comments: NAS, unofficially these are aged approximately 6 years then finished for up to 18 months in Caribbean XO Plantation Rum barrels that were previously Maison Ferrand Cognac casks, 95% rye and 5% malted barley mash bill 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: 17/20 This one is such a pleasure to nose, the integration of sweet and rye spice is wonderful. Maple sugar candies, butterscotch, vanilla ice cream, gingerbread, and green unripe banana. There’s a little lemon citrus and mint leaf in here too, but it’s well integrated and somewhat masked by the rye. Palate: 31/40 Oily and almost sticky mouthfeel. It’s very smooth considering the high ABV and there’s very little burn, it drinks like 40%! Molasses, graham crackers, vanilla, rye spice, and black pepper. There’s a hint of a little spiced dark rum as well. Finish: 33/40 Medium-long finish. Spicy oak tannins flare up alongside gingerbread, and as these subside they’re replaced by some tobacco and maple. The maple flavor is present but there’s no sugary sweetness accompanying it anymore. Gradually some rye spice and black pepper return, but much more muted than previously observed on the palate. The finish ends on a lightly dry note, reminiscent of bubble gum. With Water: A few drops of water thins the texture on the palate, it’s noticeably less syrupy and oily. It’s less sweet here, the rye spice is more noticeable and accompanied by oak spice as well. Both these flavors are further enhanced a bit on the finish also. Total: 81/100 Final thoughts: Another regular bottle of mine that I chose to spend some additional time with this evening. This is among my favorite rye whiskies, which admittedly is probably because the rye comes across a bit muted. Instead of being punchy it’s more subtle and sweet and decidedly a dessert dram, though not one I’ve ever attempted to make a cocktail with. Given the muted flavor profile I’m not sure it would hold up well there. I think they do a great job of taming the rye bite and presenting the same flavors in a slightly calmer way, and overall think it’s very well integrated with the rum cask sweetness. Price: $81 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 #109 Type: bourbon Proof: 45.2% Comments: NAS, matured in charred American virgin oak barrels, finished 6-12 months in new heavily toasted / lightly charred oak barrels Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Old oak color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs form moderately quickly. Nose: 16/20 Immediately this comes across as rich, layered, and very sweet. Vanilla and toffee are most evident, interwoven with cinnamon, baking cocoa, and dark cherries. There’s also more subtle aromas of leather, charred oak, and burnt marshmallow. Palate: 29/40 Thin mouthfeel. Very oak forward, but in more of a woody sawdust type of way. A little oak spice is present as well, in the accompaniment of cinnamon, bitter chocolate, and other baking spices I can’t quite pinpoint. It’s not very sweet here at all, actually coming off as a bit drying. Finish: 32/40 Medium finish. Gets started with oak and rye spices, a few raisins I think too. I don’t think of raisins as juicy, but this subtle note really pops a bit after and how dry the palate comes across. As these flavors fade, they’re replaced by leather and spent coffee grounds, with the final ending note is reminiscent of the aftertaste that comes with taking cough syrup. With Water: A few drops of water softens the wood flavors on the palate, and now I’m able to pull out hints of vanilla and caramel. I didn’t discern any meaningful differences to the nose or finish. Total: 77/100 Final thoughts: This bourbon is one of my favorites for making bourbon-based cocktails (when I can find it), but I haven’t enjoyed any pours directly from it in some time. This particular bottle was a gift from a friend, and it served us well that evening in helping shape some absolutely beautiful smoked old fashioned’s which we enjoyed by the lake during a cool summer night. The capacity that whisky has to take us back and revisit memories with just a sip is remarkable. I’ll definitely be on the hunt to buy another of these bottles once this one has been depleted, but mixing it into cocktails is the primary way I’ll plan to enjoy it as I can easily come up with a half dozen other bourbons at similar price points which are, for me, more flavorful. Price: gift Would recommend: maybe 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 #108 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 44% Comments: aged 18 years, American white oak ex-bourbon cask matured, red wine cask finished Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Auburn color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs form moderately quickly. Nose: 17/20 Delicate and sweet, with sticky raisins, nutmeg, milk chocolate, orange peel, a drizzle of molasses, and a hint of char, more akin to a burned log than to actual smoke. Palate: 33/40 Unfortunately thin mouthfeel. The first sip is a burst of dark chocolate and black currants, though it feels a bit muted and suppressed. On subsequent sips there’s also notes of bitter coffee grounds, oak, baking spices, and dry wine tannins. Finish: 29/40 Medium finish. Oak spice is the dominant flavor throughout, though at the beginning it’s intermingled with some smooth and sweet caramel. This is replaced by light char note, then fresh espresso, and finally begins become increasingly dry, with the ending notes reminiscent of more wine tannins. With Water: A few drops of water completely changes this whisky. On the nose, the addition of juicy plumbs and strawberry yogurt. The biggest improvement comes on the palate, where the texture transitions from watery to almost silky. The the bitter, spicy, and dry components are more restrained, the dark chocolate and black currants from the first sip are back, now also accompanied by toffee and dark cherries. The finish has a puff of smoke integrated now and is much less dry, but unfortunately a bit shorter. Total: 79/100 Final thoughts: This is an easy sipper that I tend to always have a bottle of on-hand. And while this isn’t the first bottle I’ve enjoyed, it is the first time I’ve sat down and really tried to get to know it. It’s a smooth and not remarkably complex, but being able to pickup an 18 year old over 43% for under $85 isn’t super common these days. Just a little water is required to help it open up and reveal its full potential, and my scores are based off that enhanced profile versus prior to dilution. Overall I think this is a a unique and elegant expression that demonstrates Jura makes good whisky and is capable of releasing good product if they wanted to. Hopefully some day the team that decides what comes out of the casks and goes into the bottles starts to take themselves seriously. I’ve also had some wonderful indie Jura expressions, but this remains the only distillery bottling I’ve enjoyed to date. Price: $84 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 #107 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 52.2% Comments: aged 17 years (9 days shy of 18 years), refill cask matured, Hungarian Tokaji white wine cask finished 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: 18/20 Gentle peat smoke, fuzzy peach skins, dried apricots, white grapes, tart grapefruit, and honey. Accompanied by just the faintest hints of sizzling bacon and maple syrup. The peat is present but not overpowering, and well integrated into the other aromas. Palate: 34/40 Nice silky mouthfeel. Oak spice mingles with salty heavily-charred meat. Less so the actual meat, more the flavor of the char and that place where the grill grate seared its mark. There’s a beautiful minerality here as well, further rounded out by sweet honey, juicy grapefruit, and some lemon zest. Finish: 35/40 Long finish. A puff of campfire smoke to start, but it’s well integrated with a dollop of honey and some oak spice. As the smoke fades it reveals lemon rind and a little salt. Gradually it becomes a bit earthy, like a crumbly dry dirt on an ocean cliff side with a stiff sea breeze. The ending note isn’t exactly minty, it’s more like chewing bitter and earthy wintergreen leaf. With Water: A few drops of water brings out some sea spray aromas on the nose, and somewhat dull the oak spice and salt on the palate. And there’s a hint of grilled pork chops on the nose and in the finish. Total: 87/100 Final thoughts: It’s no secret amongst those who know me that I really love Bunnahabhain. They are such a diverse distillery, producing beautiful spirit ranging from non-peated to heavily-peated (and everything in-between!), renowned for incredible sherried whiskies, but not afraid to venture into less common cask types. The mark of a great distillery is that it’s not a one-trick pony. I’ve read some less than kind reviews about some of their Móine expressions, but this one is a gem. I have truthfully enjoyed most bottles of Bunnahabhain that I’ve owned, but these expressions with subtle and well integrated peat are my favorites. Glad I got to experience this bottle and am enjoying my time with it, well done! Price: £210 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 #106 Type: bourbon Proof: 46.5% Comments: NAS, matured in new American oak barrels, bottle originating from barrel no. 3362 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 Honey, orange peel, and molasses are most prevalent. After some time resting and additional nosing, there’s hints of pink bubble gum, cinnamon, and vanilla as well. Palate: 28/40 The mouthfeel is a bit watery, and the flavors here are somewhat muted. There’s a little oak spice, some vanilla, red apple skins, and a bit of honey. It’s one of those drams where you think to yourself, “there’s multiple flavors at work here, but they’re all so dull, nothing stands out”. Really digging in reveals additional very subtle flavors of charcoal, rye spice, and leather. Finish: 31/40 Medium finish. Oak and rye spice kick in immediately, here’s the flavor punch I’ve been waiting for! As these subside, vanilla becomes more prominent, interwoven with cinnamon and orange peel. The cinnamon prevails throughout to the end, morphing almost into black pepper as it fades. Very flavorful, but not so complex. With Water: A few drops of water adds some additional orange zest to the nose, and a light drizzle of caramel is now present on the palate. Total: 75/100 Final thoughts: This is a bourbon whiskey that smells and tastes just like you’d expect a good bourbon to smell and taste. So if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck… well then I guess it’s a good bourbon. But it’s only good. Around the US, there’s a tremendous clamor and excitement for this stuff, it’s on allocation in control states (such as where I live) and everywhere else unbelievable price gouging is at work. When a buddy of mine scooped this bottle, he had to reach out to the state department of liquor control and request information about when allocations were being dispatched, then mark his calendar and camp out at a store a couple hours in advance of the delivery. It’s a decent value when you can find it at the state controlled price of $65, but the amount of effort that goes into procuring a bottle is ridiculous. This is a round about way of saying that in my humble opinion, it’s not worth the hype or inflated prices you often see it selling for, as there’s much better bourbons out there that are easier to find and better quality. I truly believe the hype is all around the bottle and the pewter horses on the cork that people like to collect (and not drink, which is a travesty!) I enjoyed partaking in the first half this bottle with my friend after he was able to scoop it, and have fond memories of that evening. I’m also very grateful he left it for me to shelve in my library, but I don’t think I’ll be going out of my way to replace it once I’ve finished it off. 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 #105 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 63% Comments: aged 14 years, matured in first-fill Spanish oak Oloroso hogsheads & refill American oak Pedro Ximenez butts Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Treacle color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are very slow to form. Nose: 19/20 Raisins, apricots, prune juice, and dark chocolate are most prevalent. Nosing further yields vanilla, buttered toast, and hint of something floral. The sherry maturation is evident, but it’s well balanced. Very complex, intriguing, and enjoyable! Palate: 34/40 Nice oily mouthfeel, and surprisingly smooth given the ABV. There’s lots of wood influence here though; it’s a dram that is certainly true to its name and not at all mild. Bitter oak is rounded out by sweet caramel and dried fruits, with milder flavors of walnuts and milk chocolate. Finish: 36/40 Medium-long finish. Spicy oak tannins come out swinging accompanied by cough syrup and ginger. Some dark chocolate emerges as these initial flavors fade, and there’s some smooth espresso and dusty old books interwoven, followed by a surprise small pop of chili pepper heat at the end. With Water: A few drops of water tames the wood influence a bit, the palate becomes a bit smoother still, and cough syrup and hard candies dominate the finish. Total: 89/100 Final thoughts: What a treat it was to try this! So glad we have independent bottlers who can bring to market great examples of what Macallan is capable of. This was a free sample, but if I had been a SNWS member back in 2023 I certainly would have tried to acquire one of these bottles for myself at $175 USD. On an aside, I found myself idly nosing the empty glass for a time after I had finished my dram, really enjoying the lingering and unmistakable aroma of chocolate dipped dried apricots that it left behind. Thanks to my brother @Mark-Watson2 for the sample. Price: gifted sample 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 #104 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 58.2% Comments: aged 12 years, matured in a Pedro Ximénez Puncheon Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Burnt umber color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are very slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Cinnamon coffee cake, dark chocolate covered cherries, sticky raisins, a whiff of new leather which reminds me of “new car smell”, and a bit of the floral and sweet smell that one smells from honeycomb flowers. Palate: 35/40 Nice oily mouthfeel, though not as sweet as the nose may have suggested, and surprisingly smooth given the high ABV. Spicy and dry oak tannins dominate, accompanied by some raisins and brown sugar. There’s still more subtle hints of char and cigar wrappers lingering in the background, which I think help to round the flavor profile out nicely. Finish: 35/40 Medium-long finish. Dry oak tannins from the palate carry forward to kick things off, accompanied by some cinnamon and chili pepper heat. There’s some bitter baking coco that emerges as these fade, then nutmeg and plumbs, finally ending on a leathery note. With Water: A couple drops of water enhance the floral aromas on the nose, and introduce the very slightest hint of ripe and juicy grapefruit citrus to the finish. Overall very little discernible difference. Total: 87/100 Final thoughts: I believe this might be my first ever unpeated BenRiach, and this single cask they put forward is a terrific sherry bomb. I should note that it needed time to rest, as all I initially smelled was paint thinner after pouring the sample bottle into my glencairn. After about 15 minutes though it opened up beautifully! I have a couple different single cask bottles from this distillery which I haven’t gotten around to opening yet, but after enjoying this dram I am looking forward to that! This made for a very enjoyable dram to take my time with by the fire during a winters evening. Thanks to my brother @Mark-Watson2 for the sample. Price: gifted sample 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.