Tastes

This is the second time Springbank leaves me on the fence with one of its expressions (the other being the 9 Gaja Barolo). A part of me gives it a 4, and another really perplexed part of me gives it a 3. The burgundy casks have really muted the typical Springbank flavor profile (and if you love this Campbeltown distillery that's a letdown). As for the predominant winy element... if you love wine finishes, you'll love this. If you don't... good luck.

GlenDronach, you have yet to disappoint me! So much to enjoy here, from nose to finish, with the ex-oloroso being really obvious. There are notes of burnt sugar (almost molasses), raisins, and malted barley (almost like cookies). Wonderful stuff. Cheers!

Limited edition, eh? Yeah... it's pretty limited alright. Limited in complexity and pleasure, this one is difficult to enjoy. In fact, I'll let Stephanie Moreno describe its aromas while I go scrub my tongue.

We have really good whiskey here, much more than merely serviceable. In fact I don't see how there's much to complain about when the price is $37 USD. Stephanie Moreno describes its flavor profile in good terms so there isn't much to add here, particularly the obvious tension between the smokier and fruitier notes - you never really know which ones will overpower your senses. I like!

Oh god what Scottish wizardry! An absolutely wonderful dram, with a nose you smell 6 feet away. It's complex, satisfying, full and long, with sweet peat, honey, cut grass, and apples along the journey. What a revelation, especially on the finish!

Delicious, and quite different. This isn't your typical scotch, and there's enough complexity to keep your nose and palate guessing for quite some time. The nose has aromas of orange marmalade, toasted barley and tea - adding a few drops of water really brings out fruitier notes like raisins and figs. The palate is positively puzzling, with roasted coffee beans and malt, enhanced with a panoply of spices. As for the finish, it's long and dry, ending the taste on a high note. Cheers!

Yeah, 93 is well-deserved. Just about everything here is delicious and enjoyable. The nose has notes of raisins, oak (a tad overcharred), and rainfall (the way the air smells after a downpour). And while I imagine the mash bill here to hardly have any rye, I found the grain to be discernible and a pleasant addition. The palate is pure fire (you need H2O here), but God what great body, with spices like cinnamon and vanilla really coming through. The finish is dry and a little short considering how assertive the palate is, but there's barely anything to complain about here. Fantastic!

Nooooo, no, no, no... This is not good. It's not gasoline, but that's not reason to want to drink this. The nose is underwhelming with notes of honeycomb and heather, reminding me of an Aberfeldy (and I'm no fan of that distillery). The palate has faint smoke with an element of cooked fat (like bacon stripped of its meat). The finish takes a nosedive from an already mediocre whisky, and is short and sweet.

Good whisky and quite complex. The nose has faint hints of pear and is mostly floral, with a predominance of wet hay (almost like wet dog fur) and a nice dose of barley. The palate is mostly spicy (but not cinnamon) with some almond. The finish is a return to fruitiness, mostly pear again, and is quite long. Cheers!

This is not a bad bourbon, but there are much better ones out there. The nose has aromas of charred oak and vanilla, and it comes across as being more sweet than it is fruity. The palate is instead quite spicy, with generous doses of peppers and nutmeg complementing a nice vanilla flavor. The finish itself is largely forgettable, though nice, and has me jonesing for a better bourbon.