Tastes

A wonderful and complex whisky with notes of pear, malted barley, and toffee. The body carries a good amount of weight for its ABV, with a pleasant finish that is spicy and nutty. I very much enjoyed this.

A weaker offering than the 12. There are notes of dark chocolate, almonds and dried fruits that are almost reminiscent of sherry, all great things, but none of them work well together. The oak aroma is particularly cruel on this expression, with a finish that is off-putting.

Not a bad dram, but it certainly does not measure up to the 12. The use of casks is quite clever and gives this whisky a multilayered dimension, but it has its flaws. There are pleasant notes of Granny Smith apples, almond paste, nutmeg, and dark chocolate. They all come together nicely, but it somewhat goes sour towards the finish. Quite literary too. The finish is bitter, though the touch of salt is nice. The 17 and 21 are better options.

95? I suppose, if you're looking for something to put you to bed. I'm going to have to agree with Jim Murray: this one is a lullaby. There's malted barley, vanilla, and cinnamon. But just as important, I now have something other than chamomile to help me phase into the night.

This isn't a bad dram, and in certain circumstances I could really see myself looking forward to drinking it. I suppose my problem is its simplicity, which may be a form of sophistication for all I know. The nose is basically iodine and peat with a touch of honey. The palate has added fruit notes - not quite sure it's apples though. The finish is particularly pleasant, ending on a smooth and spicy high note. Cheers!

Disclaimer: I should probably not be reviewing rye whiskeys, seeing I generally dislike them. It's an interesting spirit where the ex-bourbon finish is quite evident. The vanilla and oak notes that you expect from a bourbon come through, with hints of apricot and of course rye. The palate is fairly straightforward and one-dimensional, with spice pretty much overpowering anything else under the surface (think cinnamon and more cinnamon). The finish is sweet yet bitter, and possibly the most complex part of this whiskey. It's not my thing.

This is most definitely not your typical whisky, but it definitely scores points for complexity. There's a certain potpourri quality to it (floral) with hints of smoke, melon, and honey. It's not actually very good. The finish is particularly bizarre, with a bitterness I find unforgiving. These 19 years were not well spent.

A run-of-the-mill bourbon that is completely uninspiring. The typical vanilla and charred oaks are present, with subtle notes of walnut and chocolate. Despite these shortcomings, the finished product is something that is actually quite smooth and pleasant to the tongue. Cheers!

Seems like everyone likes this whisky much better than I do... The flavor profile reminds me of what a blend between the Kilchoman Machir Bay and the Aberfeldy 16 would look like: freshly cut grass with a generous dose of peat. It isn't terrible. Really not. I just can't see myself ever buying a bottle.

Simply fantastic, and a joy to drink. The toasted barley with hints of smoke and citrus come together quite well, and is a testament to John Glaser's masterful skill in blending. The ABV is just right, the sweetness no more and no less than it should be, and the myriad of spices difficult to individually tease out come together especially well towards the finish. Delicious!