Tastes

4.25 Thought I was getting the regular peated 18 year. Ooops

Nose: Salted chocolate, aggressive, powerful, cherry, vanilla, heather. Just a magnificent nose Palate: Salted caramel, vanilla, smoke, some toffee, just the best possible kind of "sweet". Finish: Balanced and long chocolate/peanut butter combination. Gets spiky at the very end. It's a fitting end to this whisky-drinking "experience" Summary: Next level in every way. I didn't know a drinking a beverage could ever produce an experience like this. It's a truly masterful achievement. Score: 9.7/10

Solid if not exceptional. Good classic bourbon notes of vanilla and caramel with some toffee. A slight metallic thinness drops the 5th star for me.

Nose: Warm spice, mild Palate: Sherry, low abv, brine, molasses Finish: Sticky, oily, average length Notes: Solid, but loses out to the others tasted tonight Score: 7.8

Nose: Spice, orange zest, warm pie crust Palate: Deep, warm, velvety. Refined on the tongue but sprightly on the sides. Finish: Shortbread cookie turning into warm pudding. Medium-long finish. Notes: Lovely all around Score: 86

Nose: Dried Fruit, mint, Anise, Robotussin, with a hint of Ash Palate: Rich, meaty, deep, concentrated smoke, sharp cheese, vanilla cream Finish: Wet oak, oily seaweed, sides of the tongue. Long and strong but mellows out gradually. Notes: So rich and delicious. Score: 92

Nose: Cherry, Vanilla, Kosher Salt, End of a Glowing Fire Palate: Peat, Grass, Earth, mild astringent Finish: Long, starting sharp and ending only slightly less sharp. Nice. Notes: Very Good but not great. But it's the one you enjoy immensely every once in a while.