Tastes

This isn't your typical Highland, and that's not a bad thing. It also doesn't come across as a 12-year-old, showing great maturity and complexity. Lastly, you could have fooled me that it has a port wood finish, because while certainly fruity and sweet to the finish, port is simply not what comes to mind. The nose is perplexingly peated, with a touch of caramel and lemons. The palate is the real kicker, with elements of salt , sugar and hazelnut (like a delicious sweet and salty treat). The finish sustains and carries itself, leaving you for minutes on end with sweetness that then becomes savory salt. This is really good!

Both wonderful and tragic, and I'm awarding it four stars only because its outstanding nose makes up for weak palate and finish. Besides, whatever reservations I may have can be easily remedied: a higher ABV. This delicious bourbon suffers by being under proof. The body is completely flat and its aromas ephemeral, and the finish is completely nonexistent, which is unfortunate because the nose is so rich with notes of vanilla, ripe raisins, cherries and charred oak. Oh well...

A very pleasant Springbank, with those familiar aromas you either love or hate depending on your point of view. I personally enjoy it and found this expression to be crisp and fresh, with notes of soft peat and salt. The smoke is so faint it almost isn't there, and while some reviews have identified fruity aromatic compounds, I mostly experience very complementary floral notes and barley (sweet and toasted). Interestingly the palate is a little bit of a departure from what one usually experiences with Springbank, with the body being much less oily and full-bodied - it's rather light for something at 46% ABV. As for the finish: prolong and satisfying. I can see myself buying this bottle. Cheers!

Great opener, not a great finisher. The nose is actually much better than the palate, with burnt sugar, oak and chocolate greeting your nose. The palate is painfully spicy (think cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and satan) which I struggled to appreciate. The finish, in opposition to the palate, is quite smooth, though it's overall 40% ABV created an impression that is weak and fleeting.

A standard whisky that betrays the spirit of exploration and discovery, playing it rather safe. That said, I liked it. There are hints of pears, nuttiness and vanilla with the just right touch of honey. And the finish... wow! Definitely the best of the trio.

Great whisky, but where's the red wine? I was not expecting something this floral and herbaceous, with a touch of smoke. The additional notes of vanilla and honey really made this one a pleasure to enjoy, but again... where's the red wine?

Sometimes brilliant and sometimes mediocre, with sudden changes occurring within milliseconds, this was a whisky I wanted to love but only could come away liking. The nose is better than the palate, with orange zest and caramel notes leading the experience until the proverbial baton is passed to unpleasant bitterness. It's too bad.

Wow! A phenomenal whisky, and a complete surprise to me (Juras have been hits-and-misses with me). It's slightly peated, with pleasant wood notes. Just as importantly, the flavour is imbued with a wonderful malty dimension (like a rich and flavorful beer). The body and finish are incredibly smooth, and at some points you're wondering whether you're enjoying a hitherto unknown Talisker. Accomplished and highly recommended!

God I love me some whisky that is both delicious and unusual, and this one is definitely both. Exotic and familiar, both the palate and nose have notes of pears, oak and wood spices. Keep digging, and you may just find additional hints of cinnamon. The finish is where things slightly derail, with and without added water (and I recommend adding water). Nonetheless, this is amazing stuff!

82? Come on you guys! This whisky deserves more than 82! It's very good, and quite complex. The nose has wonderful notes of apricot, caramel and smoke(!). And though the body is a little lighter than I usually prefer, the finish is outstanding (a great closer). It's a hard to come by bottle, but definitely worth buying.