Tastes

Not a bad blended whisky, and as a single grain aged in bourbon, it's fascinating to experience what a "bourbon" outside of its American context tastes like. There are notes of vanilla, cinnamon (?) and bananas. The finish is short and light.

A twin sibling in flavor to the The Three Ships (South African blend), this whisky is terribly unbalanced. The smoke and peat feel intrusive and foreign (unlike Islay whiskies). Not good.

A decent dram, though incomparable to the 12 Special Reserve. The nose is eerily reminiscent of apple picking season - like walking through an orchard looking for the perfect tree. The remaining experience is light and regretfully short, with a finish that almost suggests bananas. Smooth and unassuming.

Islay, where is your peat? This is good whisky that surprises by having some smoke yet no hints of that vegetable matter we come to expect from the region. There are notes of caramel and cacao, with a finish that can use some water to correct its distracting burn. If you can accept its anesthesizing effect on the mouth, you can enjoy this whisky.

Heartbreakingly uninspired after having a dram. It's light to the point of bewilderment, with a nose that has strong notes of apple juice. Not apples, apple juice. The palate is sweet and flat, with a Harry Houdini finish. Not impressed.

This is a good whisky and one I’m reappraising. I found it uninspiring the first time around, and bland, but I think must have been having a bad day or something because I really enjoyed it today. What’s more, there’s a great deal of finesse and maturity here for a 10-year-old. The nose has wonderful aromas of apples and cinnamon, with an additional layer of milk chocolate to the palate. The finish is balanced and smooth, with toasted barley at the very end. I like it.

Damn! Or should I say dram! If you enjoy an abundance of sherry influence in your whisky, this is the bottle for you. The nose has strong notes of caramel and dried fruit, particularly raisins. The liquid itself is medium bodied to the mouth, with sherry oak and raisins taking spotlight. The finish is long and almost anesthesizing, with a predominance of spice and vanilla. Quite complex and enjoyable.

A kindred spirit to the Auchentoshan Three Wood, but with more sherry and less Pedro Ximenez. The color is wonderful and authentic, without the added E150 caramel. The nose has notes of an ambiguous dried fruit that eventually reveals itself to be plum. The mouthfeel is full and pleasurable, with plum and nutmeg enveloped by sherry goodness. The PX is largely absent here, but you're not missing a thing as the finish is satisfying and prolonged. Delicious!

Disappointing and almost generic in flavor. There's nothing offputting about it, but its lack of presence is nearly unforgiving at a $100 CAD price point. You won't hate it, but you won't love it either.

Delicate and fruity with a dash of cinnamon, this is a wonderful whisky. The nose has notes of pear and honey, and while the body is disappointingly light, the balance of all these flavors more than compensates the experience. The finish is smooth, albeit short, but overall... wonderful.