Tastes

Great stuff, and if this is what single malt has the potential to taste like in Canada: sign me up for some more! The malted barley and floral notes that hit your nose feels like you're having something from Scotland, though even in a blind taste I knew it wasn't - I just couldn't figure out where the hell it was from! There's also a hint of citrus that in the mouth becomes nutty and oaky; it really all just comes together in a great way that feels balanced. The finish is smooth albeit short, but you really don't come out complaining here. And while throughout it feels light and lively so that you know it's young, it never feels immature or underaged. To Canada!

A good but in some ways disappointing whisky, especially if your love the Benromach Organic. It's slightly peated and sherried to the nose (it's hard to discern more than that) with grilled meat added to the palate. The finish is good and has legs. I wish I could sound more enthusiastic, but I think part of my problem is also the fact that, in many ways, this whisky really comes across as a toned down imitation of a Lagavulin (the Distiller's Edition) or perhaps an Ardbeg. It's nice, but I'd rather just reach out for an Islay.

Spoiler alert: This is nothing like the Jura 16. More spoiler alert: Distiller's 88 is a disgrace. Sultana raisins, prunes and vanilla hits your nose with everything you can expect and desire from a sherry influenced whisky. The palate has an added element of sweet almond paste that really bring all the aromas together (as a side note, if you're not from the UK, using words like marzipan rather than almond paste or cream is just laughable). The finish is incredibly complex with a difficult to pinpoint aroma that truthfully reminds me of marijuana (you know what I'm talking about). This is truly pleasing.

This deserves so much more than Distiller's 90 rating. From start the finish this whisky is divine. You're initially greeted with a very complex and sherried nose with hints of apples and caramel. The palate has added notes of vanilla and spice (clearly ex-bourbon) carried by a creamy and sumptuous body. The finish is incredibly smooth and long. Just wow!

An absolutely delectable whiskey with a grain complexity I probably have never come across before. Once you allow your nose and palate to tune out the influence of the oak barrels, you encounter notes of toasted barley, wheat and (I swear) cooked rice. Phenomenal!

Dayum! This ain't bourbon and you know it immediately. Orange peel, vanilla and a spiciness that betrays rye marry in your mouth and tongue to really get the reward center of your brain happy. I really enjoyed this whiskey yet was surprised by the 46% ABV because of how light it came across. If you're a novice and looking to wet your feet in American whiskey, I highly recommend this.

Fantastic whisky, and proof of two things: one, Scotland isn't the only place that makes great whisky in the United Kingdom, and two, you can enjoy good whisky without breaking the bank. This whisky is a kindred spirit to what you expect coming out of the lowlands: fruity and delicate. The nose and palate have hints of cherries, pears, and a spice I have a difficult time identifying (maybe clove) that all come together in a wonderful way. The finish is a little short and flat, but there's really little to complain about here. Cheers!

A very pleasant whiskey that screams out ex-oloroso sherry cask; there's no mention of that on Distiller, but my nose does not deceive me. The nose is quite pleasant and complex with notes of cherries, vanilla and sherry. The body is regretfully completely flat and weak, with a palate that reminds me of the speculos spread very popular in Europe (like a sugary cookie). The finish is likewise pleasant but short. Good stuff.

It took two occasions for me to be truly blown away by this whisky. The nose has a certain sherry-like quality to it, but without the typical dried fruit elements - there are notes of orange peel and caramel, with a touch of butter and a flowery bouquet (imagine you're smelling the perfumed neck of your significant other). It's all outstanding. The palate has generous doses of oak, vanilla and cinnamon. It packs heat. The finish is balanced and rewarding. An accomplishment!

A delicious whisky with a nose that has hints of coffee, unripe apples (though I wouldn't necessarily describe it as fruity), faint smoke and at certain whiffs an undetectable presence of oak. The palate is outstanding, with granulated brown sugar, nuttiness and spice, and vanilla, as if you were putting all these ingredients together and whisking them in a bowl while baking. The finish is quite long, with a mouthfeel that is pleasantly bitter and anaesthesizing.