Tastes

Drinks hot when the bottle is fresh, but really opens up and mellows once it's given time. Floral and slight citrus with some vanilla and brown sugar and oak, good finish. This bottle was 55.2% ABV.

Some vanilla and light caramel notes from the bourbon barrels. Some apricot, peach, and honey notes up front, and then eventually some orange, cinnamon, and clove notes. A good amount of oak influence from the barrels. Still has a bit of an alcohol nip to it but nothing too severe. Dried fruit, oak, and brown sugar on a finish that lasts a little longer than you'd expect at 43% alcohol whisky to last. Wouldn't pay inflated secondary prices for it but would pick it up at retail again.

Lots of coffee and young whiskey notes on the nose. Tastes sweet if somewhat rough on the palate with some decent barrel notes. Lots of coffee and chocolate notes on the finish, although the finish doesn't last as long as I would like. Not the most complex whiskey but, as a coffee lover, it was certainly interesting to try. Don't think I'd buy a second bottle though.

Lots of floral, earthy, herbal notes with a little vanilla added. Not going to be everyone's cup of tea but really enjoyable if you're looking for those kind of flavors.

Good budget Islay to keep on hand when you don't want to pour a more expensive dram. Lots of peat smoke and phenols; but still enough salt, fruit notes, and oak to keep things interesting. I have no idea what's officially inside the bottle, but to me it tastes like lots of young Laphroaig with just enough older Ardbeg (and other distillers, I'm sure) to mellow out the phenolic notes and give it some depth.

Admittedly, my palate may have been off (bought this bottle to place in a small barrel I have and was tasting the navy strength gin that I had resting in the barrel before I had tasted this) but it wasn't as spicy as I was expecting. Instead it was sweet, but not in an unpleasant way. Almost like a sweet herbal tea. Kinda earthy, mellow, and very sippable. Not the greatest rye I've ever had but still an excellent value for the price.

Not a bad malt but definite room for improvement. Some peat and salt is in there, but there's also a couple of prominent sour notes that don't really work for me.