Tastes

A rubik's cube. That was my first thought when sampling this whisky. It's perplexing and a little overwhelming. In fact, I wasn't actually sure whether I liked it or hated it. If this was J&A Mitchell's intentions... bravo! They had successfully created something that would leave me pondering for some time to come. The notes of subtle peat, smoke and salt felt familiar, but the rest simply didn't. There were notes of chocolate, earth and perhaps raspberries, but more importantly, there were major notes of WTF. It actually took a second occasion for me to realise the absolutely genius to this whisky, particularly on the palate and finish, because the nose is this expression's weaker point. Still... bravo.

I did not dislike this whisky, and at 50% ABV, I strongly suggest adding some water to improve its overall flavour. The nose has hints of oranges and almonds, with prodigious notes of caramel. The finish is smooth provided you've added water, and the overall experince is a good one.

I must say I feel like I dodged a bullet - a few months back I wept bitterly at this expression's lack of availability in Quebec (my province). It was one of those bottles I just needed to own. Luckily, I never did and instead sampled from my friend's collection. To summarize my opinion in a single word: disappointment. I mean I liked it, but at that price point and considering there are SIX casks at play here, you'd expect more. Like maybe the mountains trembling and the seas roaring. Alas neither occurred, and that's a damn shame. This whisky is sherried to the nose, with a palate rich in cinnamon and almonds. The finish doesn't play nice with the overall experience, being a tad bitter. Yeah... disappointing.

I'm giving this one 4 stars, but it may just merit 5. What a pleasurable whisky this is! The wood note is subtle and welcoming, with some raisins and prunes for good measure. The body is oily with hints of salted caramel, and the finish is long and warm. Worth every penny.

God this is bad. Like REALLY really bad. Look, I don't expect people to agree with me here - it's just a personal opinion. Imagine a hint of dentist with a touch of oil sands, with whiffs of cadaver. It also finishes long, which is a bad thing because I needed to eat almonds and pumpkin seeds 15 minutes later to remove the repulsive taste from my mouth.

It's winy (duh!), with aromas of malted barley, orange marmalade and almonds. Truthfully, the palate is much better than the nose and the finish starts off well but then takes a dive. Still, it's smooth and pleasurable.

A fantastic whisky, with notes of oak and caramel. I particularly enjoy the apples to the nose that become pears to the palate. The finish has a slight burn, but it's forgiven. This is REALLY good stuff!

Come for the peat and brine, leave for the bitterness. I'm not sure if I like it or dislike it, so I suppose I'm ambivalent. Other than that, if you can catch other aromas... your nose is better than mine.

Not bad at all. Really not. I like it, similar to a caramel-coated apple on a stick. Nose is weak, palate is flat, and the wood note clashes with the overall balance, but still... Not bad.

A really good whisky, and one of the more complex ones I have ever come across, though all of the aromas do not always play nice. Whereas both the Talisker 10 and 18 are five piece bands that play on beat, the 57 North is more of a grandiose orchestra, at times majestic and at other times discordant. The nose initially exposes you to asian pear, brine, and a difficult to identify disinfectant you usually smell at the dentist's office (in a good way). The palate adds layers of ocean air, subtle raisins (almost like a sherry) and sweet caramel squares. The finish itself is enveloping and smooth, though a certain undertone of bitterness takes away from the overall pleasure. Still, it's great stuff.