Tastes

Nose: Sweet molasses syrup, light brown sugar, vanilla bean, very slight malty peat, lemon, toast Nose after swirl: Very similar nose, but with a hint of iodine and heat sting. Nose after water: Tropical fruit, sweet funk Palate: Medium mouthfeel. No heat, much heavier palate than nose; slight floral or apothecarian notes. Palate after water: Black pepper, raisin, bready yeast, leather. Finish: Medium finish. Mulling spices, sulfur, leather.

Nose: Light fruits, honeycomb, caramelized orange peel, light vanilla, smells like an Icewine Nose after swirl: Very airy and sweet notes Nose after water drop: Much more aggressive burn gives way to honey-dipped fruits. Palate: Thin, oily mouthfeel. Oddly enough... Honey Nut Cheerios! Like a honeycomb-enveloped malty grain. Very slight, light fruitiness, but nowhere near as much as the nose. Palate after water drop: Medium heat, much darker notes; stone fruit, peat. Finish: very little heat (almost none), light notes fade into dark grainy finish. Slight linger.

Nose: Delightful sweet notes, ripe pitted fruits, gentle smokiness, honey, extremely slight burn. Nose after swirl: Cider cider cider! Fruity sweetness gives way to a much stronger smoke note. Palate: Medium mouthfeel, juicy! Obvious cider undertones, much smokier on the tongue, toasty cocoa, dried stone fruit, gentle maltiness. Finish: slightly dry, fruity sweetness gives way to long-finishing smoky malt.

Nose: Peat and malt Nose After swirl: Sesame? Maybe it's because I'm in a Japanese Steakhouse Palette: Similar to other Nikka whiskies. Soft on the palette with virtually no heat. Lychee, slight oak, and gentle peat dominate the flavor. Finish: Short with diminishing oak

Nose: dried orange peel, caramel, red grape, mountain air, very light peat, and butterscotch . Nose After Swirl: Heavier notes of pitted fruits, fig, extremely noticeable honey note . Pallete: Medium mouthfeel, surprising heat, light peat, butterscotch, raisins, cacao nibs . Finish: Medium-long finish, dry oak, toffee, floral and fruity notes linger ever so slightly

Nose: Oak, apple, dark honey, grape, cherry, tobacco, raisin, white pepper, allspice Nose After Swirl: Floral, green apple, fig, cinnamon Palate: Oak, caramel, vanilla, fig, green apple, slightly dry mouthfeel, very slight ethanol burn, bigger mouthfuls bring out peat and dark oak notes Finish: Medium finish, dry mouthfeel wets up, dark notes overcome by fruit and light sweetness

Nose: How in the world is this much peat so balanced? Honeysuckle and light fruits dominate the deep peat and woodsmoke. Grape and lychee punch through and dissipate with campfire. Nose After swirl: Iodine forward with heavier dark notes, rubber bands?? Palate: Beautiful balance of peaty woodsmoke, BBQ burnt tips, spiced raisins, mulled berries, and honeysuckle. Finish: One of the longest finishes I've ever experienced. I just took a sip over 2-3 minutes ago, and I'm still tasting the balanced peat and fruit. Incredible. Light notes disappear after ~60 seconds leaving the deep, dark flavors.

Nose: Cold air campfire in the woods, smoke, peat peat peat Palate: Deep peat with oak, very slight tinge of iodine, surprising light flavors (but not necessarily fruity... *maybe* grape or citrus) dance on top of the deeper notes Finish: Slight lingering leaves out all lightness favoring the Islay dark notes, mid-long finish

I hate to say it, but it tastes like a better bourbon that's been cut with water. Finish was even stronger than full palette, oddly enough.

Pallete: extremely oaky, reminiscent of a tannin-heavy Cabernet Sauvignon